Martin Frost is the senior member of Congress from Texas, serving his 12th term from the 24th congressional district of Texas. Frost was re-elected in November 2000 with 62 percent of the vote.
In November 2000, Frost was also elected to a second term as chairman of the Democratic Caucus, making him the third ranking member in the House Democratic leadership. In addition, he is the ranking democratic on the House Rules Committee.
During his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, Frost has occupied a number of positions of responsibility. Between 1995-1998, he chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). In that time, Democrats made gains in the House in consecutive election cycles.
Frost has voted in favor of legislation providing for an increase in the minimum wage, a strong national defense, and balanced budget legislation. He has been a strong supporter of business issues, and has been recognized by national business organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for his votes in favor of free enterprise.
Frost has also worked on national defense issues and matters affecting economic development in Texas. The son of an aerospace engineer, he was a principal author of defense conversion legislation passed by the House in 1992 and headed a special House task force to deal with defense conversion issues. He has worked on funding for development of defense projects like Lockeed Martin’s F-22 fighter and Bell Helicopter’s V-22 Osprey and has been presented the National Security Leadership Award by the American Security Council for his work on defense and foreign policy issues.
Frost has taken a strong stand against crime by winning passage of the Amber Hagerman Child Protection Act. He authored this legislation in response to the kidnapping and murder of a nine-year-old girl from Arlington, Texas. The bill was designed to protect the nation's children from sex offenders. The legislation created a "Two Strikes" law which mandates life in prison after a second sex offense against a child.
Frost was instrumental in keeping Northrop Grumman from moving their facility in Grand Prairie. He successfully brokered an agreement between Northrop and the Navy that saved 5,000 jobs.
Frost served as a law clerk for Federal Judge Sarah T. Hughes of the northern district of Texas and practiced law in Dallas until his election in 1978. Prior to that, he worked as a newspaper and magazine reporter and was a staff writer for the Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report.
Frost received both Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Arts in History degrees from the University of Missouri in 1964 and his law degree from the Georgetown Law Center in Washington, D.C. in 1970.
Frost is descended from two old Texas families. His maternal grandfather served as mayor of Henderson, Rusk County, and his uncle was Rusk County Judge and a state senator. He grew up in Fort Worth.
Frost is married to Brigadier General (P) Kathy George Frost. He has three daughters.
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