Former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank Dies at 86

Barney Frank, a Massachusetts congressman who served more than three decades in the House, died this week at age 86. Frank chaired the House Financial Services Committee during the subprime mortgage crisis. The committee passed reforms that protected homeowners from foreclosure, restricted certain risky trades by commercial banks, and returned more than 21 billion dollars to defrauded consumers.

In 1987 Frank became the first House member to voluntarily disclose that he is gay. He later became the first U.S. representative to marry someone of the same gender.

Frank helped write legislation limiting unfair credit-card practices and supported measures allowing same-sex couples to serve in the military and marry. He also defended the First Amendment in public exchanges with constituents. Frank once told a New York Times Magazine interviewer, "I'm a left-handed gay Jew.

" His congressional service spanned multiple administrations and included both financial oversight and civil-rights legislation.