Nita Lowey

Nita Lowey
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 18th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1989
Preceded by	Joseph J. DioGuardi
Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Stephen Lowey
Residence	Harrison, New York
Alma mater	Mount Holyoke College
Occupation	U.S. Representative

Nita M. Lowey (born July 5, 1937) is a politician from the U.S. state of New York.

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.

Lowey was first elected to the House of Representatives from the New York 20th district as a Democrat in 1988 and now serving in 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 U.S. Census created her current district.

In 2001–2002, Lowey was the first female chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. She is currently a member of the House Homeland Security Committee and the House Appropriations Committee. She is the Chair of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.

Lowey has had a progressive voting record. A notable cause supported by her is public broadcasting, and she appeared at a congressional hearing with Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie in support of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lowey hasn't had a hard time keeping her seat, and was re-elected to an eleventh term in 2008.

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. Congresswoman 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 1st, 2008 phone interview with the Associated Press, she stated that she isn't interested in giving up her seniority seat on the House Appropriations Committee.

In 2004, Lowey received 69% of the vote against political neophyte 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%. She captured 68% of the vote in 2008 against Republican Jim Russell.

Congresswoman 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 received an "A" on the Drum Major Institute's 2005 Congressional Scorecard on middle-class issues, but she received only 12% on The Club For Growth's 2007 congressional scorecard..

Committee assignments

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

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, Bemporad & Selinger, 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
• Profile at Vote Smart
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Nita Lowey profile