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 committees, Sensenbrenner is widely regarded as one of the most influential members of Congress. However, he didn't garner fame or notoriety until his introduction of a controversial anti-immigration bill in 2006. Since then, he's become -along with Lou Dobbs- the foremost proponent of nativist sentiment in the United States, over Patrick Buchanan and Jon Kyl, and even entire organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, the American Nazi Party, and the Aryan Brotherhood.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, James Sensenbrenner was born into the wealthy Sensenbrener 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[1]. He attended Milwaukee Country Day School and graduated in 1961. Though receving mediocre grades, he was accepted into 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. Sensenbrenner married Cheryl Warren in 1977, with whom he has two sons, Frank, born in 1981, and Bobby, born in 1984. His youngest son, Bobby, has aspired to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming active in Republican politics and even becoming president of Standford University's College Republicans. However, his first-born son, Frank, followed a different career path by studying art and a decidedly different personal path by "coming out of the closet" in 2005. When not in Washington, Sensebrenner resides in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin spending most of his spare time reading, managing his finances on his home computer, fishing, watching football, and drinking his beloved "Wisconsin Beers".

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.[2]

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 who has never held elective office. 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. Jim Sensenbrenner attached the controversial act as a rider on military spending bill HR418. Subsequently, it was passed by the Senate without debate. [3]

Sensenbrenner believes in criminal prosecution of broadcasters and cable operators who violate decency standards as opposed to the current FCC regulatory methods.[4]

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.

• Jim Sensenbrenner has been the top-ranking House member in terms of travel costs paid by private interests since 2001.[5]
• In January 1998 Congressman Sensenbrenner won $250,000 on a lottery ticket, purchased on December 18, 1997 at Congressional Liquors, the liquor store in Capitol Hill. At the time, the legislator was already worth well over $8 million. [6]
• Rep. Sensenbrenner is an Episcopalian.
• Congressman Sensenbrenner's favorite dish is Grilled Swordfish with Potatoes Au Gratin.
• Sensenbrenner is known to be frugal and it is this personal quality of which the typically dry congressman is solely boastful. Between April 1, 2005 and March 31, 2006, Sensenbrenner received $330,315 (or 71.6% of his campaign funds) from PACs, $128,048 (27.8%) from individual contributions, and not a single penny from his own pocket though he is worth at least $11 million. [7]

• 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