Mel Martinez

Senator Martinez is a United States senator from Florida, a Republican, a Cuban American, and the former U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George W. Bush. Born in Cuba, Mr. Martinez arrived in the United States at age 15. Not knowing a word of English, Mel learned the language, earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Florida State University, and went on to practice law for 25 years. Today, Sen. Martinez serves as the first Cuban American in the U.S. Senate.