Frank Wolf (politician)

Frank Wolf (politician)
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Name	Frank Wolf
Caption	Official portrait, 2009
State	Virginia
District	10th
Term start	January 3, 1981
Term end	January 3, 2015
Predecessor	Joseph L. Fisher
Successor	Barbara Comstock
Party	Republican
Birth name	Frank Rudolph Wolf
Birth date	30 January 1939
Birth place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	Pennsylvania State University (BA), Georgetown University (JD)
Spouse	Carolyn Stover, 1968

Frank Wolf (politician). Frank Rudolph Wolf is an American politician who served as the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 10th congressional district from 1981 to 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he was known for his advocacy on international human rights, religious freedom, and transportation issues. Wolf did not seek re-election in 2014, concluding a 34-year career in Congress.

Early life and education

Frank Rudolph Wolf was born on January 30, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Pennsylvania State University in 1961. Following his undergraduate studies, Wolf served as an officer in the United States Army from 1962 to 1964. He then attended Georgetown University Law Center, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1965. After law school, he worked as a lawyer in private practice and later served as a legislative assistant to Congressman Edward Biester from Pennsylvania.

U.S. House of Representatives

Wolf was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1980, defeating incumbent Democrat Joseph L. Fisher in the 10th district, which included parts of Northern Virginia such as Fairfax County and Loudoun County. He was re-elected sixteen times, often by wide margins, becoming one of the most senior members of the Virginia congressional delegation. During his tenure, Wolf held significant committee assignments, including serving as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. He also served on the House Appropriations Committee and was a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee.

Political positions and legislation

Wolf was considered a moderate Republican with a strong focus on bipartisan issues. He was a leading voice for international human rights, co-founding the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and authoring legislation that established the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. He was a persistent critic of human rights abuses in countries like Sudan, China, and North Korea. Domestically, Wolf was a key figure in transportation policy, securing funding for major projects like the Silver Line of the Washington Metro and improvements to the Interstate 66 corridor. He also championed government accountability, leading investigations into the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Post-congressional career

After retiring from Congress, Wolf joined the law firm Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough as a senior counsel. He also became a distinguished fellow at the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative, a nonprofit focused on global religious freedom. In 2015, he was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom by then-Speaker John Boehner. Wolf remains an active speaker and writer on human rights, authoring op-eds for publications like The Washington Post and participating in forums at institutions like the Heritage Foundation.

Personal life

Wolf married Carolyn Stover in 1968, and they have two adult children. The family resides in Vienna, Virginia. He is an elder at the McLean Presbyterian Church in McLean, Virginia. Wolf is known for his personal frugality, famously refusing to use the private Congressional gym and driving a modest car. His faith has been cited as a central motivator for his human rights advocacy throughout his career.

Category:1939 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia Category:Pennsylvania State University alumni Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni