Robert Menendez
- Previous profession
- Associate, Lowenstein Sandler LLP, 2011 to 2017 (counsel, 2018 to 2023)
- First public office
- 2021Commissioner, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 2021 to 2022
- Years in public office
- 4of 15 years since 2011, the first year the biography gives for any work
Confirmed from the official recordSource: Congressional Directory for the 119th Congress (2025-2026), February 20, 2026. We saved our copy on October 8, 2026.
What these lines mean
These lines come from this official’s entry in the Congressional Directory, which Congress publishes. Each member’s office supplies or approves its entry. We save our own copy and sort each part of the entry by fixed rules. No AI is used.
Previous profession lists the work the entry names outside public office, in the Directory’s own words. Public office here means an elected or appointed position, staff work for an elected official or a legislature, and party or campaign work.
Lifelong politician means: Congress’s biography lists no occupation outside public office. It also means the entry lists no military service. A person on our side confirms these words before they appear.
Years in public office counts elected and appointed positions only. Staff work and party work are left out. Each year counts once.
Since the current Congress began on January 3, 2025, Menendez has a recorded vote on 60 laws that passed, and 1 vote on a resolution that passed a law.
The tally counts votes on passage. 1 vote on a resolution that passed a law is listed apart.
This record covers laws that passed. Votes on bills that did not become law are not included yet.
The record in plain language
Of the 118 laws passed since January 3, 2025, 60 came to a recorded vote on passage in the House while Menendez is a member. On 1 more, the recorded House vote is on a resolution. Menendez votes No on H.Res. 590, the resolution that passed the Rescissions Act of 2025 in the House. The rest passed the House by voice vote or without objection, which records no individual votes.
Menendez votes Yes on the GENIUS Act on stablecoins (digital tokens pegged to the dollar), the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and the Russia and Iran sanctions law.
On funding the government, Menendez votes Yes on the January 2026 funding law for science, energy, Interior and the EPA, and the September 2026 funding extension, and No on the March 2025 full-year funding law, the November 2025 law that ended the 43-day shutdown and the February 2026 funding law for a further group of agencies.
Menendez votes No on the Laken Riley Act on immigration detention; the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the 2025 tax and spending law; the HALT Fentanyl Act; the defense policy law for fiscal year 2026; and the Secure America Act, a 2026 budget law.
Congress cancelled 24 federal rules by recorded vote in the House in that time. Menendez votes to cancel 1 and against cancelling 23. The rules Menendez votes to cancel come from: Treasury: Internal Revenue Service (1).
Menendez votes differently from most House Democrats on 7 of 60 Yes and No votes: Yes on the Russia and Iran sanctions law, No on the law that extends again the surveillance authority that lets intelligence agencies collect the communications of foreigners abroad from U.S. providers without individual warrants, No on the defense policy law for fiscal year 2026, No on the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025, Yes on the GENIUS Act on stablecoins (digital tokens pegged to the dollar), No on the HALT Fentanyl Act and Yes on the law that cancels an IRS rule that would have required decentralized finance platforms to report their customers' digital asset sales the way stockbrokers do.
Votes on laws that passed
Gives the Department of Homeland Security extra money for border and immigration enforcement, in seven amounts that add up to $69.545 billion.
Extends again the surveillance authority that lets intelligence agencies collect the communications of foreigners abroad from U.S. providers without individual warrants.
Cancels a federal order that had closed about 225,000 acres of national forest in northeastern Minnesota, near the Boundary Waters, to new mining leases for 20 years.
Cancels a District of Columbia law that changed how D.C.'s income and business taxes follow federal tax rules.
Full-year fiscal 2026 funding for a further group of federal agencies.
The annual defense policy law.
Cancels a land agency decision that limited oil and gas leasing on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Cancels a land agency plan for northeastern Wyoming that ended new federal coal leasing in the Buffalo area.
Cancels a land agency plan for central Alaska that set aside large areas for conservation and limited development.
Cancels a land agency plan for federal lands in North Dakota that limited where coal, oil and gas could be leased.
Cancels a land agency plan for eastern Montana that ended new federal coal leasing in the Miles City area.
Cancels a land agency plan that limited oil and gas leasing in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
Renews federal programs for preventing and treating opioid addiction and supporting recovery.
Ends the 43-day government shutdown of fall 2025.
Permanently places fentanyl-related substances in the most restricted drug category, which carries the strictest criminal penalties, and eases registration for researchers who study them.
Cancels an EPA rule that had stopped certain large sources of toxic air pollution from being moved into a less strictly regulated category.
Cancels a bank regulator's rule that changed how proposed bank mergers are reviewed, restoring the earlier, faster process.
Cancels the EPA approval that let California set stricter smog-pollution limits for heavy-duty truck engines.
Cancels the EPA approval that let California phase out sales of new gasoline-only cars by 2035.
Cancels the EPA approval that let California require truck makers to sell a rising share of zero-emission trucks.
Cancels an EPA rule that tightened limits on toxic air emissions from tire manufacturing plants.
Cancels a National Park Service rule that restricted where off-road vehicles could drive in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Cancels a rule that would have put the largest digital payment apps under the consumer bureau's regular supervision.
Cancels a consumer bureau rule that would have limited overdraft fees at the largest banks and credit unions.
Cancels an Energy Department efficiency standard for commercial refrigerators and freezers.
Cancels an Energy Department rule on how appliance makers certify, label and report the energy use of their products.
Cancels an Energy Department efficiency standard for walk-in coolers and freezers used by stores and restaurants.
Cancels an Energy Department efficiency standard for tankless gas water heaters.
Funds the federal government through September 30, 2025, mostly at the prior year's levels, with more for defense and less for non-defense programs.
Cancels a rule that required offshore oil and gas leaseholders to submit archaeological surveys of the seabed before drilling.
Cancels an EPA rule that set up how oil and gas facilities would be charged a fee for excess methane emissions.
Requires immigration authorities to detain non-citizens without legal status who are charged with, arrested for or convicted of theft-related crimes, assaulting a police officer, or crimes causing death or serious injury.
Votes on a resolution that passed a law
Cancels about $9 billion that Congress had already approved: roughly $8 billion in foreign aid and about $1 billion for public broadcasting.
What this member says about laws and orders
This section has two lists: statements in the official record, and excerpts from this member’s own press releases. Together they name 3 laws.
From the official record
Statements from the official record: Not checked yet. A statement appears here after a person reviews our account of the law or order it is about.
From this member’s press releases
From a secondary sourceThese are excerpts from press releases on this member’s official website that name a law or an executive order. We save a copy of each one.
3 excerpts
- One Big Beautiful Bill ActJune 24, 2026
“Republicans’ first reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, cut nearly $1 trillion from healthcare and $200 billion from nutrition assistance. Under the guise of “protecting” federal programs and to distract from these cuts, Republicans prohibited lawfully present immigrants from receiving certain federal benefits, including Medicaid and SNAP.”
-
“WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Rob Menendez called out House Republicans for refusing to consider his amendments to H.R. 7147, which provides FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Menendez’s amendments included provisions barring DHS from spending taxpayer dollars to renovate or operate warehouse facilities for immigrant detention and would require immigrant detention facilities to provide safe and”
- FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024March 11, 2025
“In the 118 th Congress, he was a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he worked to pass the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The bill included several provisions focused on ensuring the FAA has the tools it needs to adequately staff key safety operations, including for air traffic controllers.”
Member-requested spending
Congress printed 15 spending items this member requested, $19,142,000 in all, in the lists read for 4 laws.
Laws read: Public Law 119-37, Public Law 119-74, Public Law 119-75, Public Law 119-86.
| Recipient | Law | Purpose | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| on STAG--Clean Water Stat Revolving Fund | Public Law 119-74 | e NJ North Hudson S Authority for Treatment Pla ReconstructioEnvironmentAgency · al Protecti | None printed | $1,092,000 |
| on STAG--Clean Water Stat Revolving Fund | Public Law 119-74 | e NJ Town of Gutten Pipe ImprovemEnvironmentAgency · al Protecti | None printed | $1,092,000 |
| on STAG--Clean Water Stat Revolving Fund | Public Law 119-74 | e NJ Township of No Woodcliff Dra Improvements RehabilitatioEnvironmentAgency · al Protecti | None printed | $1,092,000 |
| on STAG--Drinking Water S Revolving Fund | Public Law 119-74 | tate NJ City of Elizab Service Line ProjectEnvironmentAgency · al Protecti | None printed | $1,000,000 |
| Township of Weehawken | Public Law 119-74 | Weehawken Police Department Public Safety Communications ProjectDOJ · COPS Tech | None printed | $775,000 |
| Borough of East Newark | Public Law 119-74 | Public Safety Equipment and Infrastructure EnhancementDOJ · COPS Tech | None printed | $1,031,000 |
| NJ | Public Law 119-75 | Route 440 Pedestrian Bridge ProjectDepartment of Transportation · Highway Infrastructure Programs | NJ | $2,000,000 |
| NJ | Public Law 119-75 | City of Newark--Safe Gateway Pedestrianization and Safety Improvements ProjectDepartment of Transportation · Highway Infrastructure Programs | NJ | $1,500,000 |
| NJ | Public Law 119-75 | Passaic Avenue Safety ImprovementsDepartment of Transportation · Highway Infrastructure Programs | NJ | $3,000,000 |
| City of Hoboken | Public Law 119-75 | 800 Monroe Resiliency Park ProjectDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | NJ | $850,000 |
Show all 15
| Recipient | Law | Purpose | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Union City | Public Law 119-75 | Manhattan Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Demolition and ReplacementDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | NJ | $2,000,000 |
| Town of West New York | Public Law 119-75 | West New York Recreation Center Development and ConstructionDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | NJ | $1,200,000 |
| Town of Harrison | Public Law 119-75 | Public Safety Building Construction ProjectDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | NJ | $850,000 |
| North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue | Public Law 119-75 | Facilities Rehabilitation and System UpgradesDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | NJ | $1,410,000 |
| Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs | Public Law 119-75 | Riverfront Parks ImprovementDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | NJ | $250,000 |
Read from the lists Congress printed for 4 laws. An item requested by several members appears under each of them, so sums across members count such an item more than once. A list the Congressional Record printed on two days is counted once, from the later printing. A requester is tied to a member only when exactly one member serving in that chamber on that day has the printed name.
Campaign promises
Promises kept: Not checked yet
Not checked yetA person has not reviewed this member’s campaign promises yet. This is what we hold so far.
- Campaign website: www.robmenendez.com. The Federal Election Commission’s record of MENENDEZ FOR CONGRESS gives this address.Confirmed from the official record
- Pages of www.robmenendez.com: Not checked yet.Not checked yet
Online ads
From a secondary sourceThese are records from public ad libraries, for advertisers tied to this member. We show an ad only after we save our own copy of it.
Menendez for Congress Google Ads Transparency Center
Evidence for the tie: The library lists FEC committee number C00799767 for this advertiser, and the FEC committee file names this member as that committee’s candidate.
The library lists 20 ads by this advertiser since January 3, 2025.
We have not saved our own copy of these 20 ads yet, so this page shows none of them. Cause: Google’s data file carries no words, picture or video of the ad.
Read from Google Ads Transparency Center, its data file of October 7, 2026. Meta Ad Library: Not started. An ad counts when the library last shows it on or after January 3, 2025.
Campaign money
For the 2026 election cycle, Menendez's campaign reports receiving $1,958,765.95 and reports spending $1,555,714.77, as of June 30, 2026.
Confirmed from the official record| What the filing reports | 2026 cycleFEC number H2NJ08232as of June 30, 2026 | 2024 cycleFEC number H2NJ08232as of December 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Money raised (total receipts) | $1,958,765.95 | $2,384,982.94 |
| Money spent (total disbursements) | $1,555,714.77 | $2,463,492.82 |
| Cash on hand (at the end of the period) | $679,736.74 | $276,685.56 |
| Debts (owed by the committee) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Where it comes from
| Reported as received from | 2026 cycleFEC number H2NJ08232as of June 30, 2026 | 2024 cycleFEC number H2NJ08232as of December 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals, itemized | $1,113,790.22 | $1,545,882.49 |
| Individuals, unitemized | $13,337.21 | $12,811.36 |
| Other political committees | $734,489.23 | $822,382.79 |
| Party committees | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| The candidate, contributions | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| The candidate, loans | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Committees
- MENENDEZ FOR CONGRESS Principal campaign committee · 2024 and 2026 · FEC committee C00799767
- RESILIENT MAJORITY PAC Leadership PAC · 2024 and 2026 · FEC committee C00847095
Every figure is copied from the Federal Election Commission. The campaign's committee reports each one.
See contributions by size and by state, and the saved FEC files
Who funds this member
Not checked yetWho funds this member: Not checked yet.
Not started. This official's FEC lists are not saved yet.
Reported stock trades
Confirmed from the official recordThe Clerk's index for 2025 and 2026 lists no Periodic Transaction Report under this member's name and district.
Source: Periodic Transaction Reports filed with the Clerk of the House. The Clerk's index for 2025 and 2026 was saved October 8, 2026.
Where this comes from
We saved our own copy of each official House vote file listed here before writing this page. A code beside a file is its fingerprint, a short code that changes if the file's contents change.