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About
Frank Rudolph Wolf is an American politician and lawyer who served as the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 10th congressional district from 1981 to 2015. Born on January 30, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he grew up in Essex County, New Jersey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University in 1961 and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1964. After law school, Wolf worked as a legislative assistant to Representative Edward G. Biester Jr. and later as a staff member for the House Appropriations Committee, gaining experience in government operations before entering politics himself.
A member of the Republican Party, Wolf was first elected to Congress in 1980, defeating incumbent Democrat Joann Spear. He served 17 terms, becoming a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and chairing the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, where he oversaw homeland security and counterterrorism funding and influenced funding for NASA and law enforcement. Known for his bipartisan approach and advocacy on human rights, particularly religious freedom and the plight of the persecuted globally, Wolf co-chaired the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. He authored legislation like the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and was instrumental in efforts to locate missing American journalist Austin Tice in Syria.
Wolf announced his retirement in December 2013, citing a desire to focus on international human rights work outside Congress. He was succeeded by Barbara Comstock, his former chief of staff. Post-retirement, Wolf has continued his advocacy as a Distinguished Senior Fellow of Human Rights at the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative and has remained active in faith-based initiatives. Throughout his career, he was recognized for his integrity and commitment to constituent services, earning high approval ratings in his district.