Prior to becoming a United States Senator, Robert Menendez of the state of New Jersey was ranked as the highest-ranking Hispanic in the history of Congress when he was elected as the Chairman of the House of Democratic Caucus, led the Task Forces on Education and Homeland Security. Menendez is currently serving on the Senate Committees on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Energy and Natural Resources, Budget and Foreign Relations. He also retained various elective posts before he became a US Senator such as Mayor of Union City from 1986 to 1992 and also became a member of the United States Congress representing the State of New Jersey.
A perusal of his present committee membership shows that Menendez has sponsored about 178 bills since January of 1997 and 141 of it did not make it out of the committee while two of which were enacted successfully. However, these two bills successfully enacted were considered to be averagely done while the other 141 bills which did not pass the committee hearings were considered poorly done by Menendez’ peers. Being a radical Democrat, Menendez is one of those senators who is staunchly against the United States’ war against Iraq and has consistently been raising his voice in advocating for the end of such war.
He strongly believed that the war in Iraq was misguided and that it was pointless for thousands of American soldiers to go to Iraq and get killed in a senseless war. Hence, it is but natural that most of his committee membership is focused on international relations under the aim of providing for the American families. However, this is totally in contradiction to his political and committee profile in the Senate considering that organizations relating to trade, transportation and finances were not given emphasis by Menendez.
Instead, most of it was focused on abortion issues, social security and services. Sciences and national journals were not of his top priorities. Moreover, little emphasis is given on issues of trade, technology and communication which only garnered an average of fifty to fifty-six percent. His voting record indicates that most of the bills he voted upon mainly were relating to family planning and abortion issues. This gives the impression that economic as well as crime issues are not his primary concerns.
Although Menendez is a Democrat, he still supported national issues and the like and has shown it through his voting record on bills relating to defenses. But it is definitely disturbing to note that this Senator gives greater emphasis on issues relating to the war in Iraq, abortion and others instead of focusing issues like education, transportation and trade. It would have made more sense if a senator like him, who had prior experience working as mayor and representative would have known what issues and needs that people in America especially in New Jersey might have.
