Barney Frank

Barney Frank
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts's4thdistrict
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Robert Drinan
Succeeded by	Joe Kennedy III
Ranking Member of theHouse Financial Services Committee
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Spencer Bachus
Succeeded by	Maxine Waters
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	John LaFalce
Succeeded by	Spencer Bachus
Chair of theHouse Financial Services Committee
In office January 4, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Mike Oxley
Succeeded by	Spencer Bachus
Member of theMassachusetts House of Representatives
In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Eliot Wadsworth
Succeeded by	Thomas Vallely
Constituency	5th Suffolk(1973–1979) 8th Suffolk(1979–1981)
Personal details
Born	Barnett Frank (1940-03-31)March 31, 1940 Bayonne, New Jersey,U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jim Ready ​ (m.2012)​
Education	Harvard University(BA,JD)

Barnett Frank(born March 31, 1940) is a retired American politician. He served as a member of theU.S. House of RepresentativesfromMassachusettsfrom 1981 to 2013. ADemocrat,Frank served as chairman of theHouse Financial Services Committeefrom 2007 to 2011 and was a leading co-sponsor of the 2010Dodd–Frank Act.Frank, a resident ofNewton, Massachusetts,was considered the most prominent gay politician in the United States during his time in Congress.

Born and raised inBayonne, New Jersey,Frank graduated fromBayonne High School,Harvard CollegeandHarvard Law School.He worked as a political aide before winning election to theMassachusetts House of Representativesin 1972. He was elected to theU.S. House of Representativesin 1980 with 52 percent of the vote. He was re-elected every term thereafter by wide margins. In 1987, he publiclycame outasgay,becoming the first member of Congress to do so voluntarily. From 2003 until his retirement, Frank was the leading Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, and he served as committee chairman when his party held a House majority from 2007 to 2011. In July 2012, he married his long-time partner, James Ready, becoming the first member of Congress to marry someone of the same sex while in office.Frank did not seek re-election in2012,and was succeeded by fellow DemocratJoe Kennedy III.Frank's autobiography,A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage,was published in 2015.

Prior to his time in the House of Representatives, Frank served in theMassachusetts House of Representativesfrom 1973 to 1981.

Early life, education, and early career

Frank was born inBayonne, New Jersey,one of four children of Elsie (néeGolush) and Samuel Frank.His family was Jewish, and his grandparents had emigrated from Poland and Russia.Frank's father ran a truck stop inJersey City—a place Frank has described as "totally corrupt" —and when Frank was 6 or 7, his father served a year in prison for refusing to testify to agrand juryagainst Frank's uncle.Frank was educated atBayonne High School,before matriculating atHarvard College,where he resided in Matthews Hall his first year and then inKirkland HouseandWinthrop House.He graduated in 1962.

Frank's undergraduate studies were interrupted by the death of his father, and Frank took a year off to help resolve the family's affairs prior to his graduation.In 1964, he was a volunteer in Mississippi duringFreedom Summer.He taught undergraduates at Harvard while studying for a PhD in Government, but left in 1968 before completing the degree, to become Boston mayorKevin White's Chief Assistant, a position he held for three years. He then served for a year as Administrative Assistant to CongressmanMichael J. Harrington.In 1977, Frank graduated fromHarvard Law School,where he was once a student ofHenry Kissinger,while serving as a Massachusetts state representative.

Pre-congressional career

In 1972, Frank was elected to theMassachusetts House of Representativeswhere he served for eight years.He made a name for himself in the mid-1970s as a political defender of theCombat Zone,Boston's notorious red light district. Neighborhoods in Frank's district bordered the Combat Zone. As a means of dealing with crime in the area (including violence, police corruption and the infiltration by organized crime), he introduced a bill into theMassachusetts General Courtthat would have legalized the sex-for-hire business but kept it quarantined in a red light district, which would have been moved to Boston's Financial District.

In 1979, Frankwas admitted to the barin Massachusetts. While in state and local government, he taught, part-time, at theUniversity of Massachusetts Boston,theJohn F. Kennedy School of Governmentat Harvard, and atBoston University.He published numerous articles on politics and public affairs; in 1992, he publishedSpeaking Frankly,an essay on the role the Democratic Party should play in the 1990s.

U.S. House of Representatives

1981,Congressional Pictorial Directory– Frank's first term as Congressman

Elections

In 1980, Frank ran for theU.S. House of Representativesin the 4th congressional district, hoping to succeed ReverendRobert Drinan,who had left Congress, following a call byPope John Paul IIfor priests to withdraw from political positions. In the Democraticprimaryheld on September 16, 1980, Frank won 52% of the vote in a four-candidate field.As the Democratic nominee, he facedRepublicanRichard A. Jones in the general election and won narrowly, 52–48%.

For his first term, Frank represented a district in the western and southern suburbs of Boston, anchored byBrooklineand his hometown ofNewton.However, in 1982,redistrictingforced him to run againstRepublicanMargaret Heckler,who represented a district centered on theSouth Coast,includingFall RiverandNew Bedford.Although the newly configured district retained Frank's district number—the 4th—it was geographically more Heckler's district. Frank focused on Heckler's initial support for PresidentRonald Reagan's tax cuts, and won with 60% of the vote.

Frank did not face another serious race again for a quarter-century.From 1984 to 2008, he won re-election 12 times with at least 67% of the vote.In 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, Frank won with more than an overwhelming 97% of the vote, with no challenge from a major political party.

In 2010, Frank ran for his 16th term. Public opinion polling showed him facing his first credible challenge since defeating Heckler in 1982. His opponent was RepublicanSean Bielat,a U.S. Marine veteran and businessman.In mid-September, an internal poll showed Frank leading 48–38%.In late October, he loaned his campaign $200,000.In early October,The Cook Political Reportchanged its assessment of the district from "solid Democratic" to "likely Democratic" —meaning that while Frank was favored, a victory by Bielat could not be entirely ruled out. While Frank had a 3-to-1 advantage in terms of cash on hand, Bielat outraised him in September.On October 25, a survey byThe Boston Globeshowed Frank leading 46–33%.Frank won re-election to his 16th term, 54–43%.

On November 28, 2011, Frank announced at a news conference that he would not seek re-election in 2012.

Tenure

Scandal

In 1985, Frank was still publiclycloseted.That year he hired Steve Gobie, amale prostitute,for sex, and they became "more friends than sexual partners."Frank housed Gobie and hired him with personal funds as an aide, housekeeper and driver and paid for his attorney and court-ordered psychiatrist.

In 1987, Frank evicted Gobie after being advised by his landlord that Gobie kept escorting despite the support and was doing so in the residence.Later that year, Gobie's friends persuaded him that he had a gay male version ofMayflower Madam,a TV movie about an escort service.In 1989, Gobie tried to initiate a bidding war for the story betweenWUSA-TV(Channel 9),The Washington Times,andThe Washington Post.He then gave the story toThe Washington Timesfor nothing, in hopes of getting a book contract.

Amid calls for an investigation, Frank asked theHouse Ethics Committeeto investigate his relationship "in order to ensure that the public record is clear."The Committee found no evidence that Frank had known of or been involved in the alleged illegal activity and dismissed all Gobie's more scandalous claims; they recommended a reprimand for Frank using his congressional office to fix 33 of Gobie's parking tickets and for misstatements of fact in a memorandum relating to Gobie's criminal probation record.The House voted 408–18 to reprimand Frank.

The attempts tocensureand expel Frank were led by RepublicanLarry Craig.Eventually, Frank would criticize Craig for hypocrisy after Craig's ownarrest in 2007for lewd conduct in a public restroom.Despite the controversy, Frank won re-election in 1990 with 66 percent of the vote, and by larger margins until the2010 mid-term electionswhen his victory margin went down to eleven points.

In 2003, a documentary film about Barney Frank entitledLet's Get Frankwas released. The documentary recounted Barney Frank's struggle coming out in public and political life as a prominent gay man, the height of which was his reprimand following the Gobie scandal, and documented Frank's dedicated defense ofU.S. President Bill Clintonduring his impeachment trial in January and February 1999.At the time of its release,Let's Get Frankreceived mixed reviews, some celebrating the film, as Ken Eisner did inVariety,and others struggling with Everly's distinct style and the dual telling of Frank's own personal story along with that of theClinton Impeachment Trialthrough Frank's eyes, as Ed Halter did inThe Village Voice.This work has since been included in the film canon, and is now considered to be a classic.

Public image

"Mr. Frank has earned a reputation during his 28 years in Congress as a sharp-tongued and quick-witted debater," summarizedThe New York Timesin 2008.In one quip, he said he was unable to complete his review of theStarr Reportdetailing PresidentBill Clinton's relationship withMonica Lewinsky,complaining that it was "too much reading aboutheterosexualsex ".In 2004 and again in 2006, a survey of Capitol Hill staffers published inWashingtoniangave Frank the title of the "brainiest", "funniest", and "most eloquent" member of the House.In 2008, the same survey named him "brainiest", and runner up for "workhorse", and "most eloquent";in 2010, he was named "brainiest", "workhorse", and "funniest".He is also widely considered to have been, during his tenure, one of the most powerful or smart members of Congress.Democratic speech writer—and later U.S. representative for New Jersey—Josh Gottheimer,in his bookRipples of Hope: Great American Civil Rights Speeches,describes Frank as "one of the brightest and most energetic defenders of civil rights issues."

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Frank was scrutinized for campaign contributions fromFannie MaeandFreddie Mac.OpenSecretsreported in 2009 that Frank received over $42,000 in campaign contributions from the two organizations since 1989.Fannie Mae also made grants in 1994 and 2001 of $75,000 to a charity cofounded by Frank's mother.Bill Sammon,political editor ofFox News,claimed the donations from Fannie and Freddie influenced his support of their lending programs, and said that Frank did not play a strong enough role in reforming the institutions in the years leading up to theeconomic crisis of 2008.In their 2011 bookReckless Endangerment,New York Timesbusiness reporterGretchen Morgensonand co-author Josh Rosner called Frank a "major recipient of Fannie Mae's largesse, albeit indirectly" and "a perpetual protector of Fannie."

Additionally, in 1991, Fannie Mae hired Herb Moses, Frank's domestic partner, to a managerial position following a recommendation by Frank. While with Fannie Mae from 1991 to 1998, Moses oversaw projects "relaxing Fannie Mae's restrictions on home improvement loans and small farm mortgages", wrote Morgenson and Rosner.During a 1991 hearing of the House Banking subcommittee on housing and community development, Frank objected to a proposal byCongressional Budget OfficedirectorRobert Reischauerto make "safety and soundness" the primary objective for Fannie Mae, aggressively enough that subcommittee chairHenry B. Gonzalezneeded to intervene to allow Reischauer a chance to speak. In 2006, a Fannie Mae representative stated in SEC filings that they "did not participate in large amounts of these non-traditional mortgages in 2004 and 2005."In response to criticism, Frank said, "In 2004, it was Bush who started to push Fannie and Freddie into subprime mortgages, because they were boasting about how they were expanding homeownership for low-income people. And I said at the time, 'Hey—(a) this is going to jeopardize their profitability, but (b) it's going to put people in homes they can't afford, and they're gonna lose them.'" In 2009 Frank responded to what he called "wholly inaccurate efforts by Republicans to blame Democrats, and [me] in particular" for thesubprime mortgage crisis,which is linked to thefinancial crisis of 2007–2009.He outlined his efforts to reform these institutions and add regulations, but met resistance from Republicans, with the main exception being a bill with RepublicanMike Oxleythat died because of opposition from President Bush.The 2005 bill included Frank objectives, which were to impose tighter regulation of Fannie and Freddie and new funds for rental housing. Frank and Mike Oxley achieved broad bipartisan support for the bill in the Financial Services Committee, and it passed the House. But the Senate never voted on the measure, in part because President Bush was likely to veto it. "If it had passed, that would have been one of the ways we could have reined in the bowling ball going downhill called housing," Oxley told Frank. In an op-ed piece inThe Wall Street Journal,Lawrence B. Lindsey,a former economic adviser to President George W. Bush, wrote that Frank "is the only politician I know who has argued that we needed tighter rules that intentionally produce fewer homeowners and more renters."Once control shifted to the Democrats, Frank was able to help guide both the Federal Housing Reform Act (H.R. 1427) and the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act (H.R. 3915) to passage in 2007.Frank also said that the Republican-ledGramm–Leach–Bliley Actof 1999, which repealed part of theGlass–Steagall Actof 1933 and removed the wall between commercial and investment banks, contributed to the financial meltdown.Frank stated further that "during twelve years of Republican rule no reform was adopted regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In 2007, a few months after I became the chairman, the House passed a strong reform bill; we sought to get the [Bush] administration's approval to include it in the economic stimulus legislation in January 2008; and finally got it passed and ontoPresident Bush's desk in July 2008. Moreover, "we were able to adopt it in nineteen months, and we could have done it much quicker if the [Bush] administration had cooperated."

Subprime mortgage crisis

As former chairman of theHouse Financial Services Committee,beginning in 2007, Frank was "at the center of power".Frank has been a critic of aspects of theFederal Reservesystem, partnering with some Republicans in opposition to some policies.Frank says that he and Republican CongressmanRon Paul"first bonded because we were both conspicuous nonworshipers at the Temple of the Fed and of the High PriestAlan Greenspan."

Frank has been involved in mortgage foreclosure bailout issues.In 2008 Frank supported passage of the American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act, intended to protect thousands of homeowners fromforeclosure.This law,H.R. 3221,is considered one of the most important and complex issues on which he worked.In an August 2007 op-ed piece inFinancial Times,Frank wrote, "In the debate between those who believe in essentiallyunregulated marketsand others who hold thatreasonable regulationdiminishes market excesses without inhibiting their basic function, thesubprime situationunfortunately provides ammunition for the latter view. "Frank was also instrumental in the passage ofH.R. 5244,theCredit Cardholders' Bill of RightsAct of 2008, a measure that drew praise from editorial boards and consumer advocates.In 2007. Frank co-sponsored legislation to reform the Section 202 refinancing program, which is for affordable housing for the elderly, and Section 811 disabled programs.Frank has been a chief advocate of the National Housing Trust Fund,which was created as part of theHousing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008and was the first affordable housing program to be enacted by the Congress since 1990.

During thesubprime mortgage crisis,Frank was characterized as "a key deal-maker, an unlikely bridge between his party's left-wing base and...free marketconservatives "in the Bush administration.Hank Paulson,theU.S. Treasury Secretaryfor the Bush administration, said he enjoyed Frank's penchant for brokering deals, "he is looking to get things done and make a difference, he focuses on areas of agreement and tries to build on those."

The New York Timesnoted that theFederal Housing Administration's crucial role in the nation's housing market, providing low-down-payment mortgages during the crisis of 2007–2010 when no mortgages would otherwise have been available, "helped avert full-scale disaster" by helping people purchase or refinance homes and thereby putting a floor under falling home prices. However, due to the tighter flow of credit from the banks, total FHA loans in 2009 were four times that of 2006, raising concern that year that if the economy were to dip back into recession, more Fed funds could be required to keep those loans afloat. Frank's response was that the additional defaults—2.2% more of the total portfolio in 2009 than the year before—were worth the economic stabilization of the broader policy, noting "It was an effort to keep prices from falling too fast." In that context, he opined, "I don't think it's a bad thing that the bad loans occurred." In fact, the unprecedented number of loans made since 2008 were noted to be performing far better than those in the prior two years.

Political positions and votes

Frank in 2002 in his congressional office

Abortion

In 2009 Frank had a 100% rating fromNARAL Pro-Choice America,indicating apro-choicevoting record.He voted against thePartial-Birth Abortion Ban Act,against theUnborn Victims of Violence Actand against restrictions on the transportation of minors across state lines by non-family members to circumvent local abortion laws. In 1993 Frank co-sponsored the "Freedom of Choice Act" (H.R.25) (1993-H25) to "protect the reproductive rights of women".In 2006, he co-sponsored the "Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act" (S.3945) (06-S3945), a bill for "emergency contraception for rape victims".In 2007 he co-sponsored the "Compassionate Care for Servicewomen Act" (S.1800 & HR.2064) (07-HR2064) to "providing emergency contraception at military facilities"; the "Prevention First Act" (S.21&H.R.463 2009-S21) to "expand access to preventive health care services that help reduceunintended pregnancy,reduce abortions, and improve access to women's health care ".

Civil rights

In 1987, Frank was the Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations in the100th Congress.In this position, he was one of the staunchest supporters of redress and reparations forJapanese American internmentduringWorld War II.In 2001, Frank co-sponsored anamendmentto theU.S. Constitutionto applyequal rightsbased ongender differences.In 2002 he co-sponsored the "Federal Agency Protection of Privacy Act" (H.R.4561) to require a "Privacy Impact Statement" on new federal rules.In 2002 he was scored at 93% by theAmerican Civil Liberties Unionon civil rights issues indicating a pro-civil rightsvoting record.

In 2006, Frank was one of three Representatives to oppose theRespect for America's Fallen Heroes Act,which restricted protests (notably those ofFred Phelps'Westboro Baptist Church) at soldiers' funerals. He opposed the bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate, oncivil libertiesandconstitutionalgrounds. Frank said of the vote, "I think it's very likely to be found unconstitutional. It's true that when you defend civil liberties you are typically defending people who do obnoxious things... You play into their hand when you let them provoke you into overdoing it. I don't want these thugs to [make the] claim [that] America is hypocritical."TheNational Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoplescored him at 100% in 2006 indicating a pro-affirmative-actionstance.

In 2007, Frank co-sponsored the "Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act" (S.2521/H.R.4838) to "provide benefits todomestic partnersof Federal employees ".That same year, he co-sponsored the "Equal Rights Amendment"(S.J.RES.10/H.J.RES.40) to" strengthen the ongoing efforts of women across the country to obtain equal treatment. "In 2009, he signed bills recognizing the 40th anniversary of theStonewall riotsand the 100th anniversary of the NAACP.

Frank has been outspoken on manycivil rightsissues, including lesbian, gay,bisexualandtransgender(LGBT)rights.In 1987, he publiclycame outas gay.In 1990, Frank was instrumental in crafting the1990 Immigration Act,which restated the reasons for which a person could be denied entry into the country. The act did not include "sexual preferenceexclusion[s] ", reforming earlier immigration law which allowed persons to be excluded for a sexual deviance" afflict[ion] ".He said in a 1996 interview: "I'm used to being in the minority. I'm aleft-handedgay Jew. I've never felt, automatically, a member of any majority. "In 1995, then-RepublicanHouse Majority LeaderDick Armeyfamously referred to Frank as "BarneyFag"in a press interview. Armey apologized and said it was" a slip of the tongue ". Frank did not accept Armey's explanation, saying" I turned to my own expert, my mother, who reports that in 59 years of marriage, no one ever introduced her as Elsie Fag. "In 1998, Frank founded the national LGBT Democratic organization,National Stonewall Democrats.

In 2006, Frank and incomingHouse SpeakerNancy Pelosiwere accused by Rep.John Hostettler(R-IN) of having a "radicalhomosexual agenda";Frank responded" I do have things I would like to see adopted on behalf of LGBT people: they include theright to marry the individual of our choice;theright to serve in the militaryto defend our country; and theright to a job based solely on our own qualifications.I acknowledge that this is an agenda, but I do not think that any self-respectingradicalin history would have considered advocating people's rights to get married, join the army, and earn a living as a terribly inspiringrevolutionaryplatform. "Frank's stance onoutinggay Republicans has been called the "Frank Rule" whereby aclosetedperson who uses her or his power, position, or notoriety to hurtLGBTpeople can be outed.The issue became relevant during theMark Foley scandalof 2006, during which Frank clarified his position onHBO'sReal Time with Bill Maher:"I think there's aright to privacy.But the right to privacy should not be a right tohypocrisy.And people who want to demonize other people shouldn't then be able to go home and close the door and do it themselves. "

In February 2009, Frank was one of threeopenlygay members of Congress, along withTammy BaldwinofWisconsinandJared PolisofColorado.In April 2009, Frank was named in the LGBT magazineOut's "Annual Power 50 List", landing at the top spot.

In 2006 theHuman Rights Campaignscored him at 100% indicating a pro-gay-rightsstance.

Crime

In 2000, Frank was rated at 89% byCitizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants,indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes.He co-sponsored "Innocence Protection Act of 2001" (H.R. 912, S.486) to "reduce the risk that innocent persons may be executed [by examining DNA evidence more thoroughly]" and the "National Death Penalty Moratorium Act of 2001" (H.R.1038, S.233) to limit capital punishment until theNational Commission on the Death Penaltyreviewed the "fairness of the imposition of the death penalty".In 2001, he also co-sponsored the "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" (01-HR1343) to "provide Federal assistance to States and local jurisdictions to prosecutehate crimes."Frank co-sponsored the "Recidivism Reduction and Second Chance Act of 2007" to reducerecidivism.(this became Public Law No: 110-199).

Drugs

In 2001, Frank authored the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act (H.R. 2592), an attempt to stop the federal government from preemptingstate medical marijuana laws.He consistently voted for the bipartisanHinchey–Rohrabacher amendment,annually proposed byMaurice Hinchey(D-NY) andDana Rohrabacher(R-CA), to prohibit theJustice Departmentfrom prosecuting individuals complying with state medical cannabis laws.In March 2008, he proposed thePersonal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008(HR 5843), which would havelegalized at the federal level small amounts of the drug,but which died in committee during the 110th Congress. On June 18, 2009, he re-introduced the bill as thePersonal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009(HR 2943).On June 23, 2011, Frank introduced theEnding Federal Marijuana Prohibition Actto remove marijuana from theControlled Substances Act.Commenting on legislation to remove federal criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, Frank stated "In a free society a large degree of human activity is none of the government's business. We should make criminal what's going to hurt other people and other than that we should leave it to people to make their own choices."In 2003, he was rated "A" by Vote Hemp, indicating a pro-hemp voting record.In 2006 he was rated "+30" byNORML,indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.In 2007 he co-sponsored the "Drug Sentencing Reform & Kingpin Trafficking Act" ((S.1711) 07-S1711) to "target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine".In 2008, Frank sponsored "Removing Impediments to Students Education" (RISE) ((H.R.5157) 08-HR5157) to allow rehabilitated drug offenders to get student loans.

In 2009 Frank signed the "Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention Act" (HR 179 2009-H179) to "use Federal funds forsyringe exchange programsfor purposes of reducing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, including HIV and viralhepatitis"and theIndustrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009(H.R.1866 2009-H1866) to "grant each state regulating authority for the growing and processing of industrial hemp."

Economic issues

Frank was a member of the Congressional Internet Caucus established in 1996 to "promoting growth and advancement of the Internet and advance the United States' world leadership in the digital world".In 2001, he co-sponsored the "Anti-Spamming Act" (01-HR718) to protect people and businesses from "unsolicited and unwanted electronic mail". In 2006, Frank voted for the "Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act" (Bill HR 5252 Amendment 987) to "establish"network neutrality"(non-tiered Internet)."In 2008, Frank voted against the "FISA Amendments Act" (Bill HR6304) which would give retroactive immunity for those involved in theNSA warrantless surveillance controversy.That same year, he co-sponsored overturningFCC approval of media consolidation(S.J.RES.28&H.J.RES.79 2008-SJR28).

Environment

In 1993, Frank co-sponsored "Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments" (H.R.3392) to regulate more contaminants under theClean Water Act.In 2001, he co-sponsored the "National Forest Protection and Restoration Act" (H.R.1494) to "prohibiting commercial logging on Federal public lands".In 2003, he was rated 95% by theLeague of Conservation Voters,indicating pro-environment votes.In 2007, he co-sponsored the "Great Cats and Rare Canids Act" (H.R.1464) to "provide financial resources and to foster international cooperation for promoting conservation of rarefelids&canids".In the same year, he co-sponsored the "Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act" (S.261/H.R.137) to "strengthen prohibitions againstanimal fighting".

Military

In 1996 Frank co-sponsored the "Federal Law Enforcement Dependents Assistance Act" (H.R.4111. Became Public Law No: 104–238.) "to provide educational assistance to the dependents of Federal law enforcement officials who are killed or disabled in the performance of their duties."In 2001 Frank co-sponsored "the MX Missile Stand-Down Act" (01-HR2718) to take fiftyPeacekeeper missilesoff of high-alert status as well as the Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance Act (01-HR948).As of December 2003, Frank had an 89% rating byPeace Action,indicating a pro-peace voting record.In 2005, he co-sponsored "Rail Security Act" (S.1379/H.R.153) (05-S1379) giving higher priority to rail transportation security.In 2008, he co-sponsored the "Veterans Suicide Study Act" ( (S.2899/H.R.4204) 08-S2899) designed to study and address suicides among veterans.Frank advocated for a 25-percent reduction in the overallMilitary budget of the United States."The math is compelling: if we do not make reductions approximating 25 percent of the military budget starting fairly soon, it will be impossible to continue to fund an adequate level of domestic activity...," wrote Frank. He claimed that such a significant reduction would have no effect on the United States' ability to defend itself. "If," he said, "beginning one year from now, we were to cut military spending by 25 percent from its projected levels, we would still be immeasurably stronger than any combination of nations with whom we might be engaged."Frank supports having fewerF-35 Joint Strike Fighter planes,but also supports a $3-billionbackup engine projectthat the Pentagon does not want.Frank toldMSNBC'sKeith Olbermannthat he actually wanted to cut the entire F-35 program, but as long as military spending continued, he would fight for his district's share of it.

Online gambling

Frank has partnered withRon Paulin support of online gambling rights. In 2006, both strongly opposed H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, and H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.To restore online gambling rights, in 2007 Frank sponsored H.R. 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act.This bill would have established licensing and regulation of online gaming sites. It provided for age verification and protections for compulsive gamblers. In 2008, he and Paul introduced H.R. 5767, the Payment Systems Protection Act, a bill that sought to place a moratorium on enforcement of theUnlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006while theUnited States Treasury Departmentand theFederal Reservedefined "unlawful Internet gambling". As a result of these efforts, Frank (who does not gamble) has been praised bypokerplayers and online gamblers, including many Republicans.

Relations with Israel

Frank has been a determined supporter of theState of Israel."The Israeli government has been a wholly democratic one from the beginning," he said in a lecture to students. "It is one of the freest democracies in the world".He attributed the primary reason for Israel's long war to his belief that Palestinians are unwilling to make concessions.

In August 2009, a confidential memo written by theconsul general of Israelin Boston,Nadav Tamir,was leaked to the Israeli media. In the memo, Tamir said that Israel's dealings with theObama administrationon differences oversettlementswere erodingUS support.After Tamir was reprimanded by theIsraeli government,Frank defended Tamir in a letter sent to Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu,in which Frank wrote: "I was sorry to learn that he (Tamir) is being criticized because of his accurate reporting of significant (negative) sentiment in the United States... If the people who work for me did not give me the kind of straightforward, thoughtful analysis that the consul is providing, even if it wasn't the most welcome news, that failure — not the information — would cause me unhappiness."

Post-House career

In the wake of thefiscal clifflegislation at the start of 2013, Frank statedthat he was interested in the interim appointment that GovernorDeval Patrickwas expected to make to fillJohn Kerry'sU.S. Senateseat once the latter resignedto serve asUnited States Secretary of State.Frank had initially said he was not interested in the seat, but went on to change his mind, noting that "that [fiscal cliff] deal now means that February, March, and April are going to be among the most important months in American financial history". He said he would not run in the special election that would be held to fill the seat for the remainder of Kerry's term.

Frank joined the board of directors of the New York-basedSignature Bankon June 17, 2015.

In 2018, Frank was featured onSacha Baron Cohen's spoof comedy seriesWho Is America?,discussing theDonald TrumpAccess Hollywoodtapeand thePizzagate conspiracy theorywith Baron Cohen's alter ego Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr. Frank eventually walked out of the interview.

On December 8, 2022, Frank, despite being retired from the U.S. Congress, was present on the floor of the House of Representatives when theRespect for Marriage Actwas successfully passed.[1]

Personal life

Frank resides in a studio apartment complex inNewton, Massachusetts.His husband, Jim Ready, is asurfingenthusiast whom Frank met during a gay political fundraiser inMaine.On July 7, 2012, Frank married Ready at the Boston Marriott Newton in suburbanBoston.Frank's net worth was estimated byOpenSecretsto be between $619,024 and $1,510,000.Frank chose not to participate in theCongressional pensionsystem. He said he did not believe that he would live long enough after retirement to reap benefits over contributions, and that he was convinced that he would remain single and have no beneficiary.His sister,Ann Lewis,served as a senior adviser for theHillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign.

Religion

Subsequently, after leaving office, I half jokingly objected when Bill Maher, one of my favorite TV hosts, asked if I felt uncomfortable sitting next to a pot-smoking atheist on the set of his show. I replied that that there were two of us on that stage who fit those categories. The media reached the conclusion that I had come out as an atheist. In fact, I am not an atheist. I don't know enough to have any firm view on the subject, and it has never seemed important to me. I have had a life-long aversion to wrestling with questions that I know I can never answer. My tolerance for intellectual uncertainty is very low.

On August 3, 2013, Frank expressed sympathy with the host'satheismon the television programReal Time with Bill Maher.In his biography, however, Frank states unequivocally that he is not an atheist and is uncomfortable expressing firm views on questions for which he is unable to provide an answer. Frank's agnosticism led him to resolve—if he had been appointed as interim senator—to take theoath of officeon theUnited States Constitution,rather than the Bible. For most of his life and entire congressional career, Frank was known as a Jew. Frank continues to identify strongly with the Jewish community and has been careful throughout his career that his agnosticism not reflect negatively on other Jews. For example, when he stopped going to temple services on theHigh Holy Dayshe was careful to remain at home and out of the public eye so that other Jews would not be criticized using his example.

In May 2014, theAmerican Humanist Associationawarded Frank the Humanist of the Yearand during his acceptance speech he spoke about his personal beliefs and the complexities of working in government. He talked primarily about the politicized case ofTerri Schiavoand the public's evolving view about government intrusion into personal healthcare decisions.

That notion, that there was a religious obligation to intervene in human affairs, angered most of the American people. You've got to show people what the implications are of the view that religion should govern our public affairs, as opposed to being merely a personal guide.

Sexuality

According to Stuart Weisberg's 2009 biographyBarney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman,Frank dated women in an effort to deny his homosexuality. His last romance with a woman was a nearly two-year-long affair with Irish-American CatholicKathleen Sullivan,a Boston School Committee member and the daughter of formerNew England PatriotsownerBilly Sullivan,that began in 1974. When the two split up, at Frank's instigation, he admitted to her that he was gay. He was still closeted publicly. According to Frank, he "realized it was crazy" to try to have a romance with someone he cared for but was not sexually compatible with due to his homosexuality. "That was the last effort to avoid being gay," Weisberg quotes Frank as saying. Frank never again dated a woman.In 2015, in an interview withBoston Magazine,Frank said it was unfair to Sullivan to date her with him being gay.

Frank startedcoming outas gay to friends before he ran for Congress and came out publicly on May 30, 1987, "prompted in part by increased media interest in his private life" and the death ofStewart McKinney,"aclosetedbisexualRepublican representative from Connecticut ". Frank toldThe Washington Postafter McKinney's death that there was "An unfortunate debate about 'Was he or wasn't he? Didn't he or did he?' I said to myself, I don't want that to happen to me."Frank's announcement had little impact on his electoral prospects.Shortly after coming out, Frank met and began dating Herb Moses, an economist and LGBT activist; their relationship lasted for eleven years until an amicable break-up in July 1998.Moses, who was an executive at Fannie Mae from 1991 to 1998, was the first partner of an openly gay member of Congress to receive spousal benefits and the two were considered "Washington's most powerful and influential gay couple".

Bibliography

• Financing Foreign Aid: A Case Study in the Budgetary Process(1962)
• Budget for a Strong America(1989)
• Speaking Frankly: What's Wrong with the Democrats and How to Fix It(1992)
• Improper Bostonians: Lesbian and Gay History from the Puritans to Playland(Foreword by Barney Frank)(2000)
• "American Immigration Law: A Case Study in the Effective Use of the Political Process" in J. D'Emilio (Ed.),Creating Change: Sexuality, Public Policy, and Civil Rights (pp 208-235).St. Martin's Press (2000)
• Positively Gay: New Approaches to Gay and Lesbian Life(Foreword by Barney Frank)(2001)
• "Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or HR 4173 (with 111th Congress and Christopher J. Dodd)"(2010)
• Crossing the Barriers: The Autobiography of Allan H. Spear(Foreword by Barney Frank)(2010)
• On the Brink: Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial System(Foreword by Barney Frank)(2011)
• Time on Two Crosses: The Collected Writings of Bayard Rustin(Afterword by Barney Frank) "(2014)
• Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage(2015)
• "Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, HR 4173 (with 111th Congress and Christopher J. Dodd)"(2017)
• "The Economic and Political Implications of the Dodd-Frank Act" in S. O'Halloran & T. Groll (Eds.),After the Crash: Financial Crises and Regulatory Responses (pp 261-280).Columbia University Press (2019)

Filmography

• Let's Get Frank(2003)by Bart Everly (executive produced by Jonathan Van Meter, co-produced by Ruth Rachel Anderson-Avraham),Library of Congress(LOC) Catalog
• Compared to What: The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank(2014)by Sheila Canavan and Michael Chandler, IMDb

See also

• LGBT culture in Boston
• List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
• List of LGBT members of the United States Congress
• List of federal political scandals in the United States
• List of federal political sex scandals in the United States
• List of United States representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded

Further reading

• Frank, B. (2015).Frank: a life in politics from the Great Society to same-sex marriage.New York:Farrar, Straus and Giroux.ISBN9780374280307.
• Ruttman, L.(2013). "Barney Frank: Fan and Congressman".American Jews and America's Game.Lincoln:University of Nebraska Press.pp.55–64.ISBN9780803264755.
• Weisberg, S. (2009).Barney Frank: the Story of America's only left-handed, gay, Jewish congressman.Amherst:University of Massachusetts Press.ISBN9781558497214.

External links

• AppearancesonC-SPAN
• Biographyat theBiographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office)at theFederal Election Commission
• ProfileatVote Smart
• FilmographyonIMDb (the Internet Movie Database)