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Former U.S. Representative Bill Frenzel has been named director of the Brookings Governmental Affairs Institute, President Michael H. Armacost announced today. Frenzel, who served in Congress for 20 years until he came to Brookings as a Guest Scholar in 1991, succeeds acting director Jane Gruenebaum.
The Governmental Affairs Institute (GAI) moved to the Brookings Center for Public Policy Education in 1995 from the Office of Personnel Management as part of the Clinton administration’s privatization initiative. The Institute conducts education and in-service training programs on Congress for officials and staff members of the Executive Branch.
Known as one of the most thoughtful and hard-working members of Congress, Frenzel was the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee and a member of the influential Ways and Means Committee.
“Bill Frenzel combines wide-ranging experience on Capitol Hill and hands-on knowledge of the legislative process that will add an important dimension to our research and educational activities,” said Armacost. “He will strongly augment Brookings’ continuing mission to help federal executives learn more about the working of the Legislative Branch and issues affecting Congress.”
Frenzel became known as an expert in budget and fiscal policy, election law, trade, taxes and congressional procedures and was a negotiator in the 1990 budget summit. He has also served as vice chairman of the Committee on House Administration and vice chairman of the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards.
In the House, Frenzel represented Minnesota’s Third District, which includes the southern and western suburbs of Minneapolis. Since coming to Brookings, he served as a special advisor to President Clinton on passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Prior to winning election to Congress, Frenzel served eight years in the Minnesota State Legislature. He is a former president of the Minneapolis Terminal Warehouse and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He holds bachelor of arts and master of business administration degrees from Dartmouth College.
He and his wife, Ruth, have three daughters.
About Brookings
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to conduct in-depth, nonpartisan research to improve policy and governance at local, national, and global levels.
