Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, is the seventh-most powerful member of the US Congress, according to Knowlegis.

Frank has championed the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, which would provide states a framework to regulate online gambing, which would effectively end the prohibition set up by the UIGEA.

Brad Fitch, CEO of Knowlegis, said rankings are determined by the legislator's position, indirect influence, legislative activity and earmarks.

"It's flattering," Rep. Frank said in a phone interview. "You grow up reading about people and now you're one of the people you read about."

As chairman of the Financial Services Committee, Rep. Frank is in a position to affect legislation with this year's declining economy and the ongoing mortgage crisis.

"It's an exclusive committee, one of the most powerful in Congress," Mr. Fitch said. "He has the opportunity to do a great deal of work on financial legislation."

Rep. Frank said he did not expect this much responsibility and attention for his position when he was appointed chairman.

"I am working harder than I have worked in my entire life," he said. "It's what I came here for, to have an impact on public policy."