Frank Wolf

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Frank Wolf
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 10th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 1981
Preceded by Joe Fisher
Personal details
Born January 30, 1939 (1939-01-30) (age 72)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Carolyn Stover
Residence Vienna, Virginia
Alma mater Penn State University, Georgetown University Law Center
Occupation Attorney
Committees House Appropriations Committee
Religion Presbyterian
Military service
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1962-1967

Frank Rudolph Wolf (born January 30, 1939) is the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 10th congressional district, serving since 1981. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Contents

[edit] Early life, education, and early political career

Wolf was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He overcame a speech impediment, a stutter, early in life.[1] He attended Pennsylvania State University where he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and earned a degree in political science. He received a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He then joined the United States Army as a reservist and became a lawyer for the military.

Wolf got his start in politics when he became a legislative assistant to U.S. Representative Edward Biester, beginning in 1968. From 1971 to 1975, Wolf served as an assistant to Secretary of the Interior Rogers Morton.

[edit] U.S. House of Representatives

1981, Congressional Pictorial Directory, Wolf as a first term Congressman

[edit] Elections

Wolf first ran for Congress in 1976 for Virginia's 10th congressional district, losing in the Republican primary. In 1978, he won the Republican nomination, but lost the general election incumbent Democrat U.S. Congressman Joseph L. Fisher 53%-47%.[2] In 1980, Wolf ran again and defeated Fisher in a rematch 51%-49%.[3]

In 1982, Wolf won re-election with just 53% of the vote.[4] Since then, he's never won re-election with less than 57% of the vote.[5]

The 10th District has seen extensive changes since Wolf took office. Initially a purely Northern Virginia district covering Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun counties, the 1990 redistricting by a Democratic Virginia General Assembly moved the district away from Arlington to the west and south to allow for the creation of a new congressional district. They also gerrymandered Wolf and U.S. Congressman George Allen into the same district. Allen chose not to challenge Wolf, instead running for Governor of Virginia in 1993. The district kept approximately the same complexion after the 2000 apportionment by a Republican Virginia General Assembly, but lost territory in the outlying areas of the district to allow for population growth in Fairfax and Loudoun. Today, the Fairfax portion of the district holds about 40% of the population, Loudoun county holds 30%, and the remainder of the district at 30%.

2006
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2006#District 10

In his bid for re-election in 2006, he defeated Democrat Judy Feder 57%-41%. This was his worst re-election performance since 1982.[6]

2008
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2008#District 10

He defeated Feder in a rematch 59%-39%.[7][8]

2010
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2010#District 10

Wolf defeated Democrat Jeff Barnett 63%-35%.[9]

[edit] Tenure

Wolf has been especially prominent in three areas: transportation, human rights, and gambling. He is the current co-chair of the US Congress Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, formerly the Human Rights Caucus.[10]

The National Rifle Association gives him a A- and the American Civil Liberties Union gives him a 0%. Some other rankings include 0% from Clean Air Flow Energy, 100% from National Right to Life, 0% from the Human Rights Coalition, 17% from the National Educational Association, 5% from the League of Conservation Voters, 92% from the United States Border Control and 10% by the Alliance for Retired Americans.

Human rights

Wolf has traveled extensively to places around the world where people are suffering, including five times to the Sudan since 1989. He has advocated for relief of the genocide in Darfur.[11] He has also convened conferences in his district to address human rights issues around the world.

After the trial of the leadership of the Bahá'í community of Iran was announced on February 11, 2009[12] Wolf voiced he was deeply disturbed over the "systematic persecution" of the Bahá'ís.[13] On February 13 Wolf offered a resolution on the subject of the trial of the Iranian Bahá'í leadership co-sponsored by seven others in H. RES. 175 - "Condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights" which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.[14] The situation has gathered international attention including defense of Nobel Laureate attorney Shirin Ebadi in June[15] after she received threats in April warning her against making speeches abroad, and defending Iran's minority Baha'i community[16] - see Arrest of Bahá'í leaders.

On September 30, 2010, Wolf spoke against human trafficking during a Black Women United for Action conference at Mount Vernon, George Washington's historic home.

Wolf has vocally criticized the human rights record of China.[17] Around the time of the 1995 International Women's Conference in Beijing, Wolf called for the MFN status of China to be revoked alleging that human fetuses were considered a delicacy in China .[18] He was one of the leading congressman trying to stop the grant of permanent MFN status to China in 1999. [19] When Wolf and Congressman Chris Smith were in Beijing shortly before the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Chinese security service prevented them from a dinner meeting with local human rights lawyers.[20]

In the 2011 United States federal budget, Wolf inserted a clause prohibiting NASA and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy from any joint scientific activity with China for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year. Wolf remarked, "We don't want to give them the opportunity to take advantage of our technology, and we have nothing to gain from dealing with them. And frankly, it boils down to a moral issue. ... Would you have a bilateral program with Stalin?"[21] This prohibition resulted in Chinese journalists being denied access to the launching of Space Shuttle Endeavour on the mission STS-134, which was carrying the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer which was built in part by Chinese scientists.[22]

Iraq War

During the Bush administration, Wolf voted consistently the President's positions. For example, Wolf voted in favor of military action in Iraq in 2002. He also voted to make the Patriot Act permanent, opposed requiring Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants for wiretaps within the United States, and supported the president in restricting congressional oversight for CIA interrogations.[11]

However, in March 2006, Congress, at Wolf's suggestion by inserting an earmark into a supplemental appropriation bill, and in a breach with the Bush administration, announced the creation of the Iraq Study Group to reassess the U.S. strategy in Iraq.[23][24]

Social issues

Wolf believes abortion should be illegal and he opposes subsidized birth control for federal employees. Congressman Wolf has also voted to deny funding to Planned Parenthood. He also opposes funding for international family planning in developing countries. Frank Wolf is against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act for fear it would destroy religious freedom. He believes marriage is between one man and one woman.

[edit] Committee assignments

[edit] Caucus memberships

In the 109th Congress, Wolf was chairman of Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs, and its ranking minority member in the 110th. He is co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus with Jim McGovern, who replaced the late Tom Lantos.[25] Wolf is a member of the Moderate Republican Main Street Partnership.

[edit] Electoral history

Virginia's 10th congressional district: Results 1978–2010[26][27]
Year Republican Votes Pct Democrat Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
1978 Frank Wolf 61,981 47% Joseph Fisher 70,892 53%
1980 Frank Wolf 110,840 51% Joseph Fisher 105,883 49%
1982 Frank Wolf 86,506 53% Ira Lechner 75,361 46% Scott Bowden Independent 2,162 1%
1984 Frank Wolf 158,528 63% John Flannery 95,074 37%
1986 Frank Wolf 95,724 60% John Milliken 63,292 40%
1988 Frank Wolf 188,550 68% Robert Weinberg 88,284 32%
1990 Frank Wolf 103,761 61% N. MacKenzie Canter 57,249 34% Barbara Minnich Independent 5,273 3% Lyndon LaRouche Independent 2,293 1%
1992 Frank Wolf 144,471 64% Ray Vickery 75,775 33% Alan Ogden Independent 6,874 3%
1994 Frank Wolf 153,311 87% (no candidate) Alan Ogden Independent 13,687 8% Bob Rilee Libertarian 8,267 5%
1996 Frank Wolf 169,266 72% Robert Weinberg 59,145 25% Gary Reams Libertarian 59,145 3%
1998 Frank Wolf 103,648 72% Cornell Brooks 36,476 25% Robert Barnett Independent 4,506 3%
2000 Frank Wolf 238,817 84% (no candidate) Brian Brown Libertarian 28,107 10% Marc Rossi Independent 3,226 6%
2002 Frank Wolf 115,917 72% John Stevens 45,464 28%
2004 Frank Wolf 205,982 64% James Socas 116,654 36%
2006 Frank Wolf 138,213 57% Judy Feder 98,769 41% Wilbur Wood Libertarian 2,107 1% Neeraj Nigam Independent 1,851 1%
2008 Frank Wolf 223,140 59% Judy Feder 147,357 39% Neeraj Nigam Independent 8,457 2%
2010 Frank Wolf 131,116 63% Jeff Barnett 72,604 35% William Redpath Libertarian 4,607 2%

[edit] References

  1. ^ Presence TeleCare Telepractice - Frank Wolf Interview
  2. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=53723
  3. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=50466
  4. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=37440
  5. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=1845
  6. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=207750
  7. ^ https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2008/07261AFC-9ED3-410F-B07D-84D014AB2C6B/Official/6_s.shtml
  8. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=336047
  9. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=515066
  10. ^ "About the Committee". Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. http://tlhrc.house.gov/about.asp. Retrieved 21 May 2011. 
  11. ^ a b "Frank Wolf on the Issues". OnTheIssues.Org. http://www.ontheissues.org/VA/Frank_Wolf.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-05. 
  12. ^ "Iran to try Bahais for spying for Israel". AFP. 2009-02-11. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gm3BC6Bpgv5iJ4wPzxgp9HftDhrA. 
  13. ^ "Iran Continues Systematic Persecution of Baha'is" (Press release). House of Representatives, Congressional Record. 2009-02-11. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?position=all&page=E246&dbname=2009_record. Retrieved 2009-03-01. 
  14. ^ "Condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights. (Introduced in House)" (Press release). House of Representatives, Congressional Record. 2009-02-13. http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.RES.175:. Retrieved 2009-03-01. 
  15. ^ "Local Baha'is worry about their fellow believers in Iran" (Press release). The Chatham News. 2009-02-24. http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1447519. Retrieved 2009-03-02. 
  16. ^ BBC NEWS. Top Iranian dissident threatened
  17. ^ Congressman Frank R. Wolf : China
  18. ^ Cannibalism and the Chinese Body Politic: Hermeneutics and Violence in Cross-Cultural Perception
  19. ^ Wolf, Frank (March 24, 2004). "U.S.– China trade debate filled with questions". Association for Asian Research. http://www.asianresearch.org/articles/1972.html. Retrieved 2008-11-05. 
  20. ^ Yardley, Jim (2008-07-02). "China Blocks U.S. Legislators’ Meeting". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/world/asia/02beijing.html?scp=1&sq=china+frank+wolf&st=nyt. Retrieved 2008-01-22. 
  21. ^ Mervis, Jeffrey (21 April 2011). "Spending Bill Prohibits U.S.-China Collaborations". ScienceInsider. American Association for the Advancement of Science. http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/04/spending-bill-prohibits-us-china.html. Retrieved 23 May 2011. 
  22. ^ Hao, Cindy (20 May 2011). "Chinese Journalists Barred From Shuttle Launch". ScienceInsider. American Association for the Advancement of Science. http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/05/chinese-journalists-barred-from.html. Retrieved 23 May 2011. 
  23. ^ Barone, Michael; Richard E. Cohen (2008). The Almanac of American Politics. Washington, D.C.: National Journal Group and Atlantic Media Company. pp. 1688–1692. ISBN 9780892341177. 
  24. ^ Kirkpatrick, David D. (2006-12-05). "An Earmark With an Impact". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/05/us/politics/05pcong.html?_r=1&oref=slogin. Retrieved 2008-01-22. 
  25. ^ Barr, Andy (2008-06-12). "McGovern Replaces Lantos as Human Rights Co-Chair". The Hill (Washington, D.C.: Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications Inc.). http://briefingroom.thehill.com/tag/frank-wolf/. Retrieved 2008-01-22. 
  26. ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html. Retrieved 2010-12-23. 
  27. ^ "Election results". Virginia State Board of Elections. http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Election_Information/Election_Results/Index.html. Retrieved 2010-12-23. 

[edit] External links

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United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Joseph L. Fisher		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 10th congressional district
1981–present		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Chris Smith
R-New Jersey		 United States Representatives by seniority
21st		 Succeeded by
Steny Hoyer
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