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Jim Sensenbrenner

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Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (born June 14, 1943), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1979, representing the Fifth Congressional District of Wisconsin ([map]). A former Chairman of the House Science Committee and the current Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Sensenbrenner is widely regarded as one of the most influential members of Congress. Sensenbrenner was most recently in the news for his introduction of a controversial anti-illegal-immigration bill, H.R. 4437, in 2006.

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Background

Born in Chicago, Illinois, James Sensenbrenner was born into the wealthy Sensenbrenner family. His great-grandfather Frank J. Sensenbrenner invented the Kotex feminine hygiene product shortly after World War I, then used the money from that venture to become Kimberly Clark's largest single shareholder and eventually its CEO Goldman, T.R. ["The Man With The Iron Gavel"] Legal Times May 2, 2005. He was raised in Shorewood, Wisconsin and attended the private Milwaukee Country Day School, from which he graduated in 1961. He matriculated at Stanford University and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science in 1965. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1968. In 1977, Sensenbrenner married Cheryl Warren, daughter of the influential Wisconsin Republican, former state attorney general and US district court judge Robert Warren. The couple has two sons, Frank (born 1981), and Bob (born 1984). When not in Washington, Sensenbrenner resides in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. His family also owns a summer home on Pine Lake near Delafield, Wisconsin.

In 1984, as Sensenbrenner slept at the family's home in Alexandria, Virginia, while Cheryl and the couple's sons were in Wisconsin, he awoke to smoke and flames. He escaped the house fire by jumping from a second-story window, fracturing a vertebra and suffering smoke inhalation and burns.

Political career

While still at Stanford, Sensenbrenner served as staff assistant to Congressman J. Arthur Younger from California. Before becoming a member of Congress, Sensenbrenner served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1969 to 1975 and the Wisconsin State Senate from 1975 to 1979.

Formerly Chairman of the House Science Committee, Sensenbrenner is (as of 2006) the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and is also a member of the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property. In addition, Sensenbrenner serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Bryan Kennedy, a Democrat and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from Glendale has announced plans to seek the Democratic nomination for Sensenbrenner's seat in the 2006 Congressional elections. [Brian Kennedy for Congress website] Kennedy also ran against Sensenbrenner in 2004.CNN [2004 profile of Brian Kennedy]

Legislative record and stance on issues

Sensenbrenner held an important role in the impeachment of former U.S. President Bill Clinton, acting as one of the House managers.

Sensenbrenner introduced the USA PATRIOT Act to the House on October 23, 2001. Sensenbrenner did not write the USA PATRIOT Act; the primary author was Assistant Attorney General of the United States Viet Dinh. In November 2004, Sensenbrenner and California Congressman Duncan Hunter objected to provisions of a bill that, among other things, created a Director of National Intelligence, a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.

In 2005, Sensenbrenner authored the Real ID Act which requires additional scrutiny of citizenship before issuing drivers' licenses and creates a federal database of state-issued identification. He attached the controversial act as a rider on military spending bill HR418. Subsequently, it was passed by the Senate without debate. Barrett, Ted. CNN["House, Senate agree on $82 billion war spending bill"]

Sensenbrenner believes in criminal prosecution of broadcasters and cable operators who violate decency standards as opposed to the current FCC regulatory methods.Boliek, Brooks. ["Sensenbrenner to cable execs: Indecency is criminal act"] The Hollywood Reporter, April 5, 2005.

On December 16, 2005, Sensenbrenner introduced the Digital Transition Content Security Act.

On June 10, 2005, Sensenbrenner, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, abruptly ended a meeting where Republicans and Democrats were supposed to be debating the renewal of the PATRIOT Act and walked out in response to Democratic members raising issues regarding human rights violations at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay and the ongoing Iraq war. He ordered the court reporter to halt transcriptions of the proceedings, C-SPAN cameras covering the meeting be shut off, and that discussion on the issue be halted. Sensenbrenner defended his actions by claiming that the Democrats and witnesses had repeatedly violated House Rules in discussing issues he believed to be unrelated to the subject of the meeting.United States House Committee on the Judiciary press release["Sensenbrenner Floor Statement Regarding Question of Personal Privilege"], June 16, 2005 His abrupt walkout was contrary to House parliamentary procedure, which is to adjourn either on motion or without objection. Afterward, the microphones were turned off by Majority Judiciary Counsel Robert Tracci.

In 2006, it was reported that Sensenbrenner would help lead the effort to pass the Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2006, which is supported by large copyright holders and opposed by fair use activists. McCullagh, Declan. ["Congress readies broad new digital copyright bill"] CNET News.com, April 23, 2006

Sensenbrenner was the main sponsor of H.R. 4437, a bill passed by the House in 2005 that would provide additional criminal penalties for aiding and abetting illegal immigration.["H.R. 4437: Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005"], GovTrack.us

Sensenbrenner receives high marks from the National Taxpayers Union, an anti-tax non-profit organization.["Representative Sensenbrenner - Interest Group Ratings"], vote-smart.org

Sensenbrenner joined with House Speaker Dennis Hastert in expressing outrage concerning the FBI raid of the congressional office of Rep. William J. Jefferson, asserting constitutional concerns over separation of powers. He held Judiciary Committee hearings in May 2006 on ths issue. Many Republican and conservative pundits, including Rush Limbaugh took a dim view of this stance, deeming it politically damaging to the Republican Party, and a June 1, 2006 ABC news poll found 86% of Americans supported the right of the FBI to search a congressional office when they obtain a warrant.

Trivia

See also

Notes

External links

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