Barney Frank, a former Massachusetts Democratic representative who served in Congress for more than three decades, died Tuesday night at age 86, his family confirmed to NBC10 Boston.

Frank's sister, Doris Breay, said he had been receiving hospice care at his home in Maine after dealing with congestive heart failure. "He was, above all else, a wonderful brother. I was lucky to be his sister," Breay said Wednesday morning.

Frank was one of the first openly gay members of Congress and became a prominent advocate for LGBTQ rights during his career. He served in the House of Representatives from 1981 to 2013, representing Massachusetts's 4th congressional district.

One of his most significant legislative achievements was co-authoring the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act following the 2008 financial crisis. The comprehensive financial reform legislation, passed in 2010, increased regulation of the banking industry and created new consumer protection measures.

Frank was known for his sharp wit and forceful debating style during committee hearings and floor debates. He served on the House Financial Services Committee and became its chairman in 2007.

Throughout his congressional career, Frank was recognized as a liberal voice on economic and social issues, advocating for financial regulation, affordable housing, and civil rights protections.