Rodney P. Frelinghuysen 1946

Rodney P. Frelinghuysen was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives in 1994 as a Republican and has represented the people of New Jersey’s 11th Federal Congressional District since January 1995. He is viewed to be a moderate Republican and is the only New Jersey Republican Representative in the U. S. House of Representatives who is Pro Choice on the abortion issue.

Frelinghuysen was born in New York City on April 29, 1946. His father was Peter Hood Ballantine Frelinghuysen, Jr. who was a New Jersey member of the U. S. House of Representatives before his son Rodney. Rodney Frelinghuysen is the sixth member of the Frelinghuysen political dynasty, who has represented New Jersey in the U. S. Congress since the first Frelinghuysen Congress member, Senator Frederick Frelinghuysen [1753-1804]. Frederick became the first Frelinghuysen family member to join the U. S. Congress as a U. S. Senator. The first four Frelinghuysens in the political dynasty all became U. S. Senators, and the last two Frelinghuysens, Rodney and his father Peter, became House Representatives. As far as the author of this biography knows, the Frelinghuysen political dynasty is the longest U. S. political dynasty, at least in terms of service in the U. S. Congress, and all six Frelinghuysens represented the same State, the State of New Jersey. Rodney was a great-great-great-great grandson of Frederick Frelinghuysen referred to above.

Rodney Frelinghuysen earned his B. A. Degree from Hobart College, Geneva, New York, in 1969. He then started doing graduate work in history at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut. His graduate studies were interrupted shortly thereafter when he had to enter military service. He served in Viet Nam with the 93rd Engineer Battallion in the Mekong River Delta until 1971. Following his military service, Frelinghuysen worked for the Morris County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders until he was elected to serve as a Freeholder in 1974. In 1983 he became a member of the New Jersey General Assembly and held that position until he was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives in 1994.

In the House of Representatives Frelinghuysen serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, and within that Committee he serves on the Subcommittee on Defense, and on the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies.

Rodney Frelinghuysen resides in Harding, New Jersey, and his Main District Office is in Morristown, New Jersey. He is an Episcopalian and is married. His wife’s name is Virginia. There is no information on whether the couple has any children.