Melquiades Rafael "Mel" Martinez (born October 23, 1946) is a Cuban-born American politician, currently a United States Senator from Florida. Previously, Martinez served as the 12th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George W. Bush. Sen. Martinez is a Republican and a Roman Catholic.

Martinez resigned his cabinet post on December 12, 2003 to run for an open U.S. Senate seat in Florida being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Bob Graham. Martinez secured the Republican nomination and narrowly defeated the Democratic nominee, Betty Castor. His election made him the first Cuban-American to serve in the U.S. Senate. Furthermore, he and Ken Salazar are the first Hispanic U.S. Senators since 1977. They were joined by Bob Menendez in January 2006.

Biography

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Martinez was born in Sagua La Grande, Cuba. He came to the United States in 1962 as part of a Roman Catholic humanitarian effort called Operation Peter Pan, which brought into the U.S. more than 14,000 children. Catholic charitable groups provided Martinez a temporary home at two youth facilities. At the time Martinez was alone and spoke virtually no English. He subsequently lived with two foster families, and in 1966 was reunited with his family in Orlando.

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washingtonpost.com: Recent votes in Congress

Congress 110, House vote: Vote 566: On Motion to Adjourn
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Adjourn. Category: Adjourn Result: Passed, 213-197, with 24 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 565: H RES 1316
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree. Bill: H RES 1316 Vote description: Honoring the Service of the Navy and Coast Guard Veterans Who Served on the Lst Amphibious Landing Craft During Wwii, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and Global Operations Through 2002 Result: Passed, 415-0, with 19 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 564: H RES 1008
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, As Amended. Bill: H RES 1008 Vote description: Condemning the Persecution of Baha is in Iran Result: Passed, 408-3, with 23 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 563: H R 6599
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Passage. Bill: H R 6599 Vote description: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriation, Fy 2009 Result: Passed, 409-4, with 21 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 562: H R 6599
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair. Bill: H R 6599 Vote description: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriation, Fy 2009 Result: Passed, 230-184, with 20 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 561: H R 6599
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Agreeing to the Amendment. Bill: H R 6599 Result: Failed, 143-275, with 21 not voting.

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