Nita Lowey

Nita Lowey
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Eliot Engel
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 18th district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	José Serrano
Succeeded by	Sean Maloney
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 20th district
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Joseph J. DioGuardi
Succeeded by	Benjamin A. Gilman
Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Patrick J. Kennedy
Succeeded by	Bob Matsui
Personal details
Born	(1937-07-05) July 5, 1937 New York City
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Stephen Lowey
Residence	Harrison, New York
Alma mater	Mount Holyoke College
Occupation	U.S. Representative
Religion	Judaism

Nita Melnikoff Lowey (born July 5, 1937) is the U.S. Representative for New York's 17th congressional district. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She previously represented the 20th district from 1989 to 1993, and the 18th district from 1993-2013.

Early life, education, and early political career

Lowey was born in the Bronx in New York, New York and she graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a bachelor's degree. She served as a government official before entering elected politics and was once the Assistant Secretary of State of New York.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Lowey was first elected to the House of Representatives from New York's 20th congressional district in 1988. Following redistricting after the 1990 Census, Lowey was elected from the 18th district. Her district is located in the northern suburbs of New York City and includes most of Westchester County including New Rochelle, White Plains, Chappaqua, Greenburgh, Scarsdale, Tarrytown, Mamaroneck, Ossining, and part of Yonkers, as well as part of eastern Rockland County, including the county seat New City, Haverstraw, and Congers. She used to represent parts of Queens and the Bronx, until redistricting after the 2000 Census created her current district.

Lowey strongly considered running for the United States Senate in 2000, but stepped aside when First Lady of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her candidacy. Lowey was considered a top contender for appointment to Clinton's Senate seat after Clinton was nominated to be Secretary of State, but in a December 1, 2008 phone interview with the Associated Press, she stated that she isn't interested in giving up her senior seat on the House Appropriations Committee.

In 2004, Lowey received 69% of the vote against political newcomer Richard A. Hoffman, a Wall Street Investor and largely self-funded candidate who ran on a platform of opposing special interests and cutting federal taxes. Lowey emphasized her track record on homeland security issues, notably her work to reform the formula for distributing homeland security grants to states.

In 2006, also against Hoffman, Lowey won with 70%.

Lowey was re-elected to an eleventh term in 2008, with 68% of the vote against unsupported James C. "Jim" Russell.

Tenure

Lowey received an "A" on the Drum Major Institute's 2005 Congressional Scorecard on middle-class issues. She received 12% on the Club for Growth's 2007 congressional scorecard. According to the conservative Heritage Foundation, Lowey consistently votes in support of the policies of the Democratic party, and is seen as a strong and effective progressive voice in that legislative body.

Early in her Congressional career, Lowey sponsored an earmark for the purpose of "dredging the Mamaroneck Harbor." According to the local newspaper, The Journal News, the dredging was proposed because "the harbor was becoming too shallow 'to accommodate the larger yachts.'"

In 2001–2002, Lowey was the first female chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. She was a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

One of the notable causes she supports is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in support of which she appeared at a congressional hearing accompanied by Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie.

Lowey has been a vocal advocate for a Security Council Resolution on the conflict in Darfur. She is responsible for the $500 million in the Emergency Spending Bill for Aid in Darfur. She is also pushing for $1.2 Billion in the next fiscal year.

Lowey voted for HR 2454, the "Cap and Trade" legislation.

Lowey voted for HR 1105, the 2009 Budget Bill.

Congresswoman Lowey, with Federal Emergency Management Agency Director David Paulison and then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, during 2007 floods in New York.

In early 2009, Lowey introduced the Transportation Security Workforce Enhancement Act, which calls for collective bargaining rights for federal workers at the TSA and Department of Homeland Security. However, some statements from the TSA dispute the necessity of collective bargaining.

She was strongly critical of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which places limits on taxpayer-funded abortions in the context of the November 2009 Affordable Health Care for America Act. Because of the rancor and disruptions which marked so many of the so-called Town Hall meetings held in the summer of 2009 to discuss Health Care Reform, Lowey chose to present her point of view on Health Care Reform in a telephone conference call, the effectiveness of which was questioned by some of her constituents. However, Lowey routinely appears around her district to talk one-on-one with her constituents at town fairs, events and public meetings.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Appropriations (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (Ranking Member)

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Women's Caucus
• House Pro-Choice Caucus
• Hudson River Caucus
• International Conservation Caucus
• Israel Allies Caucus
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• National Eating Disorders Awareness Caucus

Personal life

Nita Lowey has been married to Stephen Lowey for over 45 years. Stephen Lowey is a named partner in the law firm of Lowey Dannenberg Cohen & Hart, P.C., which is located in White Plains, NY. According to the West Corporation, his practice areas include Securities Law, Antitrust Law, and Consumer Protection. Nita and Stephen Lowey have three children, and eight grandchildren.

External links

• U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey official U.S. House site
• Nita Lowey for Congress official campaign site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Financial information (federal office) at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance (federal office) at LegiStorm.com
• Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
• Voting record at The Washington Post
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Profile at SourceWatch

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Joseph J. DioGuardi	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 20th congressional district 1989–1993	Succeeded by Benjamin A. Gilman
Preceded by Jose Serrano	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 18th congressional district 1993–2013	Succeeded by Sean Maloney
Preceded by Eliot Engel	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th congressional district 2013–present	Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Eliot Engel D-New York	United States Representatives by seniority 31st	Succeeded by Jim McDermott D-Washington