Jewish Members of Congress: Al Franken (Senator, Minnesota)

Al Franken is serving his first term in the United States Senate, having been officially sworn in July 2009. Franken, a graduate of Harvard University, is best known for his writing on the NBC comedy-program Saturday Night Live. Franken serves on the Committee of the Judiciary, Committee on Indian Affairs, and the Special Committee on Aging.

Among his other ventures, Franken is the author six books, three of which have been number one on the New York Times best-sellers list. His work includes, Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right, and The Truth (With Jokes). Franken was also the host of the Al Franken Show on the Air America radio network for three years, and has contributed pieces to the Huffington Post.

Franken has spent time volunteering for the United Service Organizations (U.S.O) since 1999. In that time, he has entertained soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as visiting military hospitals to brighten the days of wounded troops. He was awarded the Merit Award for a decade of service with the U.S.O.

Franken has been married to his wife, Franni, for over thirty years and has two children.