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 chairman of both the House Science and Judiciary committees, Sensenbrenner is widely regarded as one of the most influential members of Congress.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Sensenbrenner graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Political Science in 1965. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1968. Sensenbrenner married Cheryl Warren in 1977, with whom he has two sons, Frank, born in 1981, and Bob, born in 1984. When not in Washington, Sensebrenner resides in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

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.

Sensenbrenner receives high marks from the National Taxpayers Union, an anti-tax non-profit organization.

Bryan Kennedy, a Democratic Party professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee living in Glendale, Wisconsin who ran for Congress in 2004, has announced plans to again run against Sensenbrenner in the 2006 Congressional elections.[1]

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. 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.^{[citation needed]}

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. Jim Sensenbrenner attached the controversial act as a rider on military spending bill HR418. Subsequently, it was passed by the Senate without debate. [2]

Sensenbrenner believes in criminal prosecution of broadcasters and cable operators who violate decency standards as opposed to the current FCC regulatory methods.[3]

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. During this meeting, Democratic members had also also talked about Guantanamo Bay and the 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.

• H.R. 4437, 2006 border/immigration bill introduced by Sensenbrenner.
• Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005

• Sensenbrenner's Congressional website
• Sensenbrenner for Congress
• Sensenbrenner's positions on issues
• Sensenbrenner's opening statement at the Clinton impeachment trial