Barney Frank

Barney Frank is a United States Congressman representing the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts.http://www.house.gov/frank/about/index.html Congressman Frank has served as the representative of the The Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts, which consists of approximately 600,000 residents, since he was first elected to the office in 1980.http://www.house.gov/frank/about/index.htmlhttp://www.house.gov/frank/district/index.html While in the United States Congress, Barney Frank has introduced and co-sponsored bills on a variety of subjects, including financial regulations, the environment and veterans affairs.http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d111:FLD003:@1(Rep+Frank)|/bss/d111query.html Barney Frank currently serves as the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.http://www.house.gov/frank/about/index.html

Congressman Barney Frank was elected to chair the Financial Services Committee in 2006 and served in the role during the global financial crisis of 2008. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/barney_frank/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=barney%20frank&st=cse During his chairmanship, Barney Frank authored and co-authored several bills relating Wall Street regulation. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/barney_frank/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=barney%20frank&st=cse In July of 2010, Barney Frank helped to author the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, legislation that sought to provide financial services regulation and protection for consumers. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d111:FLD003:@1(Rep+Frank)|/bss/d111query.html President Barack Obama said that because of the legislation, “the American people will never again be asked to foot the bill for Wall Street’s mistakes. There will be no more taxpayer-funded bailouts. Period.” http://www.house.gov/frank/pressreleases/2010/07-21-10-wall-street-reform-signing.html

Born in Bayonne, New Jersey on March 31, 1940, Barney Frank was raised in the Jewish faith. http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/5121 He was educated at Harvard University and broke into politics by serving as a campaign aide to Boston Mayor Kevin White. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/barney_frank/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=barney%20frank&st=cse Before being elected to the U.S. Congress, Barney Frank was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/barney_frank/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=barney%20frank&st=cse In 1987, Barney Frank publicly announced his homosexuality.http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2005/10/02/to_be_frank/ Frank was involved in a nationally-publicized sex scandal in 1989, but did not suffer defeat in the polls in elections following the controversy.http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2005/10/02/to_be_frank/ He has been cited as one of the most influential openly gay individuals, topping OUT Magazine’s “Power 50” list in 2009. http://features.outinamerica.com/2009/04/09/out-magazines-3rd-annual-power-50/

According to The New York Times, Barney Frank is a "sharp-tongued and quick-witted debater."http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/barney_frank/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=barney%20frank&st=cse Because of this characteristic, former President George W. Bush gave Barney Frank the nickname, “saber tooth.”http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/11/60minutes/main4663945_page2.shtml

As Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, Barney Frank supported and saw through the passage of several major pieces of financial reform legislation, including the American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act in 2008.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4SXyc02Mfg Barney Frank also supported the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2008, a piece of legislation that sought to protect consumers from credit card companies.http://www.house.gov/frank/pressreleases/2009/11-04-09-new-credit-card-bill-passes-house.html As an advocate for gay rights, Barney Frank was a supporter the bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” http://www.house.gov/frank/pressreleases/2010/12-14-10-DADT-stand-alone-bill.html He has joined with Congressman Ron Paul in demanding increased oversight of the Federal Reserve and support for curtailing the U.S. Military budget. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/05/frank_wants_100.html http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/magazine/22Paul-t.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ei=5070&en=bf8dec405a435ea7&ex=1186459200