Barney Frank facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barney Frank
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 4th district
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Robert Drinan
Succeeded by	Joe Kennedy III
Ranking Member of the House 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 the House Financial Services Committee
In office January 4, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Mike Oxley
Succeeded by	Spencer Bachus
Member of the Massachusetts 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 (age 85) 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 was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Massachusetts from 1981 to 2013. As a Democrat, Frank led the House Financial Services Committee from 2007 to 2011. He was also a key supporter of the 2010 Dodd–Frank Act, a law that helped regulate the financial system.

Frank was born and grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey. He went to Bayonne High School, Harvard College, and Harvard Law School. Before joining Congress, he worked as a political helper. In 1972, he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He then won his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980. He was re-elected many times after that.

In 1987, he openly shared that he was gay. This made him the first member of Congress to do so voluntarily. From 2003 until he retired, Frank was a top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee. He became the committee's leader when his party had the most members in the House. In 2012, he married his partner, James Ready. This made him the first member of Congress to marry someone of the same sex while in office. Frank decided not to run for re-election in 2012. His autobiography, A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage, was published in 2015.

Early Life and Education

Frank was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. He was one of four children. His family was Jewish, and his grandparents came from Poland and Russia. Frank went to Bayonne High School. After high school, he attended Harvard College and graduated in 1962.

His college studies were paused for a year after his father passed away. In 1964, he volunteered in Mississippi during Freedom Summer. This was a time when people worked to help African Americans register to vote. He taught at Harvard while studying for a PhD in Government. However, he left in 1968 to work for Boston mayor Kevin White. He later worked for Congressman Michael J. Harrington. In 1977, Frank earned his law degree from Harvard Law School. He was also serving as a Massachusetts state representative at that time.

Before Congress

In 1972, Frank was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He served there for eight years. In 1979, he became a licensed lawyer in Massachusetts. While working in state and local government, he also taught part-time. He taught at the University of Massachusetts Boston, the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and Boston University. He wrote many articles about politics. In 1992, he published Speaking Frankly. This book shared his ideas on what the Democratic Party should do in the 1990s.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

Barney Frank in 1981, during his first term as a Congressman.

Winning Elections to Congress

In 1980, Barney Frank ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. He wanted to take the place of Reverend Robert Drinan. Drinan had left Congress after Pope John Paul II asked priests to leave political jobs. In the primary election, Frank won with 52% of the votes. He then faced Republican Richard A. Jones in the main election. Frank won by a small amount, 52% to 48%.

For his first term, Frank represented areas west and south of Boston. This included his hometown of Newton. In 1982, the district lines were redrawn. This meant he had to run against Republican Margaret Heckler. Frank focused on Heckler's support for President Ronald Reagan's tax cuts. He won that election with 60% of the votes.

After 1982, Frank did not face another very close election for 25 years. From 1984 to 2008, he won re-election 12 times. He always won with at least 66% of the votes. In some years, he won with over 97% of the votes. This was because no major political party ran a candidate against him.

In 2010, Frank ran for his 16th term. Polls showed he was facing a tough challenge. His opponent was Republican Sean Bielat, a U.S. Marine veteran. Frank won re-election to his 16th term, 54% to 43%. On November 28, 2011, Frank announced he would not run for re-election in 2012.

Key Work in Congress

Financial System Reforms

Barney Frank was a key figure in financial policy. He was the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. He worked to make sure financial institutions like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were regulated. These organizations help people get home loans. Frank believed in strong rules to prevent financial problems.

He tried to pass laws to make these institutions safer. In 2005, he worked with Republican Mike Oxley on a bill. This bill aimed to add tighter rules for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It also included money for affordable housing. The bill passed in the House of Representatives. However, the Senate did not vote on it.

Frank also said that a 1999 law, the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act, caused problems. This law removed some rules that separated different types of banks. He believed this contributed to the financial crisis. After Democrats gained control, Frank helped pass important laws. These included the Federal Housing Reform Act and the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act in 2007.

Responding to the Subprime Mortgage Crisis

As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Frank was at the center of efforts to fix the financial crisis. This crisis, called the subprime mortgage crisis, happened when many people could not pay their home loans. Frank worked with some Republicans to change parts of the Federal Reserve system. He often disagreed with some of their policies.

In 2008, Frank supported the American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act. This law aimed to help many homeowners avoid losing their homes. It was one of the most important laws he worked on. Frank also helped pass the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2008. This law gave more protections to people who use credit cards.

Frank also helped create the National Housing Trust Fund. This fund was part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. It was the first new affordable housing program passed by Congress since 1990. During the crisis, Frank was known for finding ways to make deals. He helped bring together different political groups. Hank Paulson, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, said Frank was good at getting things done.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) played a big role during the crisis. It helped people get low-down-payment mortgages when other loans were not available. This helped prevent a bigger disaster in the housing market. Frank supported the FHA's actions. He said that helping people buy or refinance homes was important for the economy.

Political Beliefs and Votes

Frank in 2002 in his congressional office.

Supporting Civil Rights

Barney Frank was a strong supporter of civil rights. In 1987, he helped lead efforts to provide payments to Japanese Americans who were unfairly held during World War II. In 2001, he supported an amendment to the U.S. Constitution for equal rights based on gender differences. He also supported a law to make sure federal agencies protected people's privacy. The American Civil Liberties Union gave him a high score for his civil rights voting record.

In 2006, Frank was one of only three Representatives to vote against a bill about protests at soldiers' funerals. He believed the bill went against civil liberties and the Constitution. He said that defending civil liberties sometimes means defending people who do unpopular things. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) gave him a perfect score for his support of affirmative-action.

In 2007, Frank supported laws to provide benefits to domestic partners of federal employees. He also supported the "Equal Rights Amendment" to help women get equal treatment. In 2009, he signed bills recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and the 100th anniversary of the NAACP.

Frank was very open about LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) rights. In 1987, he publicly shared that he was gay. In 1990, he helped create the Immigration Act of 1990. This law changed the reasons why someone could be denied entry into the country. In 1998, Frank started the National Stonewall Democrats. This is a national organization for LGBT Democrats.

In 2006, some people accused Frank of having a "radical homosexual agenda." Frank replied that his goals for LGBT people were simple. He wanted them to have the right to marry, serve in the military, and get jobs based on their skills. He said these were not "revolutionary" ideas. Frank believed that people who speak out against LGBT rights should not hide their own identities. In 2009, he was named one of the top 50 most powerful LGBT people by Out magazine. The Human Rights Campaign gave him a perfect score for his support of gay rights.

Economic and Internet Issues

Frank was part of the Congressional Internet Caucus. This group worked to help the Internet grow and keep the U.S. as a leader in the digital world. In 2001, he supported a law to protect people from unwanted emails. In 2006, Frank voted for a law to keep the Internet "neutral." This means all Internet traffic should be treated equally. In 2008, he voted against a law that would protect those involved in warrantless surveillance. He also supported overturning a decision that allowed more media companies to be owned by fewer people.

Protecting the Environment

Frank also worked on environmental issues. In 1993, he supported changes to the Clean Water Act to regulate more pollutants in drinking water. In 2001, he supported a law to stop commercial logging on federal public lands. The League of Conservation Voters gave him a high rating for his pro-environment votes. In 2007, he supported laws to protect rare wild cats and dogs. He also supported a law to make animal fighting illegal.

Military and Defense

In 1996, Frank supported a law to help families of federal law enforcement officers. This law provided money for education if officers were killed or disabled. In 2001, he supported taking some missiles off high-alert status. He also supported a law to remove landmines and help victims. Peace Action gave him a high rating for his pro-peace voting record.

Frank suggested reducing the overall Military budget of the United States by 25 percent. He believed this would not harm the United States' ability to defend itself. He argued that if military spending was not cut, it would be hard to fund important domestic programs. Frank supported having fewer F-35 Joint Strike Fighter planes. However, he also supported a backup engine project for these planes. He said that as long as military spending continued, he would fight for his district's share of it.

Online Gambling Rights

Frank worked with Republican Ron Paul to support online gambling rights. In 2006, they both strongly opposed laws that would ban Internet gambling. In 2007, Frank sponsored a bill to create rules and licenses for online gaming sites. This bill would have included age checks and protections for people with gambling problems. In 2008, he and Paul introduced a bill to pause the enforcement of a law against online gambling. Frank, who does not gamble himself, was praised by poker players and online gamblers for these efforts.

Relations with Israel

Frank was a strong supporter of the State of Israel. He said that the Israeli government has always been a democracy. He believed it was one of the freest democracies in the world. In 2009, a private memo from the Israeli consul general in Boston was leaked. The memo said that Israel's actions were hurting its relationship with the U.S. Frank defended the consul general in a letter to the Israeli Prime Minister. He said that honest reporting, even if it's not good news, is important.

After Congress

After leaving Congress in 2013, Frank was interested in being appointed to the U.S. Senate. This was to fill the seat left by John Kerry. Kerry was leaving to become United States Secretary of State. Frank had first said he was not interested. But he changed his mind, saying that the financial situation in early 2013 was very important. He said he would not run in the special election for the seat.

On June 17, 2015, Frank joined the board of directors for Signature Bank in New York. In 2018, Frank appeared on Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy show Who Is America?. He discussed topics like the Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape. Frank eventually left the interview. On December 8, 2022, Frank was present in the House of Representatives when the Respect for Marriage Act was passed. This law protects same-sex and interracial marriages.

Personal Life

Frank lives in Newton, Massachusetts. His husband, Jim Ready, enjoys surfing. Frank met Ready at a political fundraiser in Maine. On July 7, 2012, Frank and Ready got married in suburban Boston. Frank chose not to take part in the Congressional pension system. He believed he would not live long enough after retirement to benefit from it. His sister, Ann Lewis, worked as a senior adviser for the Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign.

Beliefs about Religion

In 2013, on a TV show, Frank seemed to agree with the host's atheism. However, in his biography, Frank clearly states he is not an atheist. He is uncomfortable having strong views on questions he cannot answer. Frank's agnosticism (not knowing if God exists) led him to decide that if he became a senator, he would take his oath of office on the United States Constitution, not the Bible. For most of his life, Frank was known as a Jew. He still feels a strong connection to the Jewish community. He was careful that his personal beliefs did not negatively affect other Jews. For example, when he stopped going to temple services on important holidays, he stayed home. This was so others would not criticize Jews using his example.

In May 2014, the American Humanist Association gave Frank the Humanist of the Year award. In his speech, he talked about his beliefs and working in government. He spoke about the case of Terri Schiavo. This case involved government involvement in personal healthcare decisions. He also talked about how people's views on government and healthcare have changed.

Electoral History

Film and Media

• Let's Get Frank (2003) by Bart Everly
• Compared to What: The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank (2014) by Sheila Canavan and Michael Chandler

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 United States representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded