He grew up the son of Cuban immigrants in a tenement building in Union City and has risen to become one of 100 United States Senators. He is currently the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and served as Ranking Member in the 116th Congress. He has earned a national reputation for his international leadership in the Senate, which pairs with his long-time reputation as a fighter for New Jersey families who puts their economic security ahead of powerful special interests.
New Jersey farmers grow some of the finest fruits and vegetables in the nation, from delicious Jersey Corn and Jersey Tomatoes to our blueberries, cranberries, peaches, and more. By supporting farmers, fighting against cuts to nutrition assistance, and promoting local, sustainable produce, Bob is working to protect and preserve New Jersey's identity as the Garden State.
Bob is an award-winning leader in the Senate for animal welfare. By protecting animals from inhumane and unnecessary research, supporting an end to international animal trafficking, working to prohibit market-related abuses, and supporting federal funding for animal welfare laws, he's committed to preventing animal cruelty and finding constructive solutions that will improve the lives of all animals.
From his early days as Mayor, when he expanded affordable child care options in Union City, to his work in the Senate protecting health care funding for low-income kids, ensuring all of New Jersey's children have the tools and opportunities they need to reach their full potential is one of Bob's top priorities. His commitment to America’s future is why Bob authored the Autism CARES Act and secured reauthorization of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program and the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers.
As a child who grew up in an immigrant community, Bob knows firsthand that our nation's laws must honor the civil rights, liberties, and values of every individual—no matter their race, creed, gender, or sexual orientation. His mother always told him that if he did his best, this country would afford him tremendous opportunities to achieve the American dream. From standing up against hate crimes and ending discrimination in the LGBTQ+ community, to combating violence against women and ensuring we have a justice system that works for everyone, Bob is fighting so every American can share in that dream.
For generations, building wealth through home ownership has been the bedrock of the American dream. To strengthen our communities, create economic opportunities, and truly transform our most distressed neighborhoods, Bob believes we must take a comprehensive approach that recognizes the need to connect affordable housing with good schools, good jobs, and good transportation.
It’s simple: Bob believes in standing up for the little guy. From passing the TRACED Act to crack down on illegal robocalls and phone scammers to stopping fraudulent practices by credit card and mortgage companies, Bob is always ready to stand up for New Jersey consumers when they are being misled, abused, or ripped off.
As someone who attended New Jersey’s public schools and relied on Pell Grants and federal student aid programs to become the first in his family to graduate from college, Bob knows firsthand that education opens doors. He will continue to fight to make educational opportunity a national priority and believes we must teach our children not only how to read and write, but also how to think and build a skill-set that will prepare them to thrive in the 21st-century economy.
Bob knows that we need bold action on climate change, and we need it now. From fighting offshore drilling, to calling for a speedy transition to a net-zero economy and supporting renewable energy, Bob will always fight to ensure New Jersey is, and will continue to be, a leader in climate action. He also understands that a healthy environment is critical to the health and quality of life of New Jerseyans, and is fighting to protect our clean air and water, clean up our Superfund sites, and keep our oceans pristine and healthy.
As the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob has fought for a robust American foreign policy that champions the values of democracy, peace, and the preservation of human rights—frequently reaching across the aisle to ensure the United States remains fully engaged across the globe. He is the Senate leader in pursuing a foreign policy that counters malign Kremlin influence, strengthens relations with our closest partners in the Western Hemisphere, promotes policies that reinforce the transatlantic relationship, and builds a strong national security posture in the face of malign actors in Russia, Iran and Syria and beyond.
Bob has been a tireless advocate for common-sense gun violence prevention measures that save lives. From supporting the original Assault Weapons Ban in 1994 to authoring the Keep Americans Safe Act to ban high-capacity magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition and are designed for shooting en masse, and recently cosponsoring the Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act, a comprehensive bill that works to end the epidemic of gun violence in America, Bob continues to push for meaningful actions before another senseless tragedy tears families apart.
Bob believes every New Jerseyan should have access to high-quality, affordable health care. That’s why Bob helped write and pass the historic Affordable Care Act, expanding coverage to nearly one million New Jersey residents, strengthening community health centers, and protecting Medicaid from Republican attacks. Affordable health care should be a right—not a privilege for the wealthy.
As the son of immigrants, Bob knows that immigration is the cornerstone of our nation’s history and success. From standing up for Dreamers and fighting against family separation, to reforming our broken immigration system by passing the Border Security Economic and Immigration Act of 2013 in the Senate as a member of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight”, Bob is fighting for justice and family unity. Bob believes all immigrant families deserve a chance to contribute to America’s exceptionalism.
Without the strength, sweat, and skills of American workers, this great nation would have no foundation upon which to build another American century. Bob is committed to protecting workers’ rights by making it easier to form a union and collectively bargain on working conditions. He’s also committed to ensuring workers in the 21st century have rights that are consistent with other modern economies such as equal pay for equal work, paid family leave, paid sick leave, and assistance with childcare.
As the highest-ranking Latino in the U.S. Congress, Bob is a champion for Hispanics across America. As the fastest-growing demographic bloc in the nation, the prosperity of Hispanic Americans is tied to America’s economic strength. That’s why Bob fights for better opportunities, education, and health care for Latino communities in New Jersey and beyond because he knows our diversity makes us stronger.
A grateful nation not only goes to a Veterans’ Day observance or marches in a Memorial Day parade, but shows its gratitude in the opportunities, services, and benefits we provide to our veterans and all men and women in uniform. Bob believes in giving service members and military families the support they need and fighting for vital national security missions operating out of New Jersey’s Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Picatinny Arsenal, 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City, Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, and Naval Weapons Station Earle.
The safety of our communities must be a top priority. That’s why Bob is fighting to pass commonsense gun violence prevention legislation, invest in the first responders who keep us safe, and protect our ports, cities, and other critical infrastructure from terrorism.
New Jerseyans remember the tragedy of Superstorm Sandy all too well and many are still recovering. Bob secured more than $60 billion in federal funding to provide disaster relief to the people of New Jersey and others who suffered devastating losses, and helped fix the unfair flood insurance claims process. Now, he’s fighting to reform the National Flood Insurance Program so no American will have to experience what thousands of New Jersey homeowners did after Sandy.
Seniors now—and in the future— must be able to afford the benefits they deserve and earned in order to enjoy lives of dignity and security. That’s why Bob works tirelessly to protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security and fights for legislation to guard seniors from financial scams and predatory financial practices. Bob is also a champion in Congress in leading the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
A good transportation system helps communities. It leads to good-paying jobs, thriving local businesses, faster and safer travel, less time commuters have to spend in traffic, and more time they can spend with loved ones. Bob has been a tireless fighter for the Gateway Project, which would replace New Jersey’s century-old infrastructure with a new Portal Bridge and trans-Hudson rail tunnel, and has secured record transit funding for the state in his role as the Ranking Democrat on the Senate’s transit subcommittee.
When it comes to women’s rights, Bob will fight for all women until America realizes true equality—equal rights, equal pay, equal treatment, equally affordable health care. He is the lead Senate sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment, and was a leading supporter of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a critical step towards pay equity.
What’s good for the middle class is good for New Jersey and the nation. That’s why Bob is fighting for pro-growth economic policies that increase wages, empower the middle class, and foster social mobility—from training programs that prepare workers for jobs in demand to tax policies that penalize outsourcing and encourage companies to create good-paying jobs here in America. Bob is leading the fight in the Senate to fully restore the property and state income tax write-off so New Jerseyans won’t be hit with double taxation and has fought for fair trade policies so New Jersey workers and businesses can compete on a level playing field.