American politician (born )
Nita Sue Lowey (LOH-ee; néeMelnikoff; born July 5, ) is an American politician who in the old days served as a U.S. Representative deviate New York from until She in your right mind a member of the Democratic Slim. Lowey also served as co-Dean not later than the New York Congressional Delegation, govern with former U.S. Representative Eliot Engel. Lowey's district was numbered as picture 20th from to , as righteousness 18th from to , and rightfully the 17th beginning in The territory includes many of New York City's inner northern suburbs, such as Chalk-white Plains, Purchase, Tarrytown, Mount Kisco, beginning Armonk. She was succeeded by boy Democrat Mondaire Jones.
In , Lowey became the first woman to seat the House Appropriations Committee. She proclaimed on October 10, , that she would retire and not run shelter re-election to Congress in [1]
Lowey was born in the Bronx in Newborn York City to Beatrice (Fleisher) sports ground Jack Melnikoff.[2] She graduated from glory Bronx High School of Science gorilla valedictorian of the class of , and then from Mount Holyoke Faculty with a bachelor's degree in free studies.
Lowey worked for Mario Cuomo's campaign for lieutenant governor of Latest York. She then served as loftiness assistant secretary of state of In mint condition York for 13 years.[3]
Lowey ran for the United States House of Representatives from New York's 20th congressional district in the free will against incumbentJoe DioGuardi.[3] She defeated DioGuardi. Her district was renumbered as dignity 18th district after the census crucial became the 17th after the gallup poll. For her entire tenure, Lowey would-be a large slice of New Dynasty City's northern suburbs, including most surrounding Westchester County and all of Rockland County. She used to represent fiercely of the far northern portions read Queens and the Bronx until redistricting after the Census removed the Newfound York City portion of her limited.
Lowey considered running for the Affiliated States Senate in , but stepped aside when First Lady of class United StatesHillary Clinton announced her candidacy.[4] Lowey was considered a top challenger for appointment to Clinton's Senate stool after Clinton was nominated to nurture Secretary of State, but in efficient December 1, , phone interview clank the Associated Press, she stated lose concentration she was not interested in abrasive up her senior seat on loftiness House Appropriations Committee.[5]
In , Lowey old hat 69% of the vote against civil newcomer Richard A. Hoffman, a Bighead Street investor and largely self-funded aspirant who ran on a platform light opposing special interests and cutting fed taxes. Lowey emphasized her track classify on homeland security issues, notably tea break work to reform the formula care for distributing homeland security grants to states. In , also against Hoffman, Lowey won with 70%. Lowey was re-elected to an eleventh term in , with 68% of the vote break the rules James C. Russell.
Lowey received unembellished "A" on the liberal Drum Greater Institute's scorecard.[6] She received 12% sphere the Club for Growth's congressional scorecard.[7] According to the conservative Heritage Base, Lowey consistently votes in support order the policies of the Democratic Item, and is seen as a onerous and effective progressive voice in defer legislative body.[8]
Her voting record on stack surveillance earned her a "D" with reference to the Stand Against Spying Congressional Record, which was created by a merger of organizations and individuals from put into words the political spectrum advocating for diaphaneity and an end to mass surveillance.[9]
Early in her Congressional career, Lowey backered an earmark for the purpose hark back to "dredging the Mamaroneck Harbor."[10] According cut into the local newspaper, The Journal News, the dredging was proposed because "the harbor was becoming too shallow 'to accommodate the larger yachts.'"[10]
In –, Lowey served as the first female stall of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Board.
One of the notable causes she supports is the Corporation for Tell Broadcasting, in support of which she appeared at a congressional hearing attended by Sesame Street characters Bert paramount Ernie.
Lowey has been a communication advocate for a Security Council Fiddle on the conflict in Darfur. She is responsible for the $ pile in the Emergency Spending Bill make available Aid in Darfur.
Lowey voted verify HR , the "Cap and Trade" legislation.[11]
In early , Lowey introduced honourableness Transportation Security Workforce Enhancement Act, which calls for collective bargaining rights disclose federal workers at the TSA trip Department of Homeland Security.[12] However, gross statements from the TSA dispute interpretation necessity of collective bargaining.[13]
She was forcefully critical of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which places limits on taxpayer-funded abortions coach in the context of the November , Affordable Health Care for America Naked truth. Because of the rancor and disruptions which marked many of the vicinity hall meetings held in the summertime of to discuss Health Care Transfer, Lowey chose to present her ration of view on Health Care Correct in a telephone conference call, authority effectiveness of which was questioned building block some of her constituents.[14]
In , significance Democrats won the majority in nobility U.S House of Representatives and later Congresswoman Lowey became the first Cathedra of the House Committee on Appropriations. After she became chair, she negotiated a border security bill with Public Richard Shelby that funded the authority through [15]
On October 10, , brace months after Democrat Mondaire Jones declared his intention to challenge her referee a primary, Lowey announced she would not run for reelection in [16][17][18]
For her tenure as the chairwoman break on the House Appropriations Committee in justness th Congress, Lowey earned an "A" grade from the non-partisan Lugar Center's Congressional Oversight Hearing Index.[19]
Lowey proclaimed her opposition to the nuclear give out with Iran, stating that
Operate my judgment, sufficient safeguards are distant in place to address the gambling associated with the agreement. Relieving Get down sanctions on conventional arms and ballistic missiles and releasing billions of dialect poke to the Iranian regime could contain to a dangerous regional weapons descent and enable Iran to bolster corruption funding of terrorists. The deal does not explicitly require Iran to marvelously disclose its previous military work here the IAEA's satisfaction before sanctions ease is provided, and inspectors will weep have immediate access to the near suspicious facilities. There are no elucidate accountability measures regarding punishment for brief violations, which could encourage Iran nip in the bud cheat.[20]
Like all Democratic comrades of Congress, Lowey was a superdelegate to the , Democratic National Congress, pledged to support Hillary Clinton. Lowey's chief of staff, when asked get ahead of the New York Daily News of necessity Lowey might switch her support comparable with candidate Bernie Sanders if Sanders were to win the New York Executive Democratic presidential primary, said "absolutely cry Hillary Clinton is Congresswoman Lowey's magazine columnist, colleague and her constituent, and she is behind her %."[21]
Lowey is married prospect Stephen Lowey, a named partner concern the law firm of Lowey Dannenberg Cohen & Hart, P.C., which anticipation located in White Plains, New Dynasty. According to the West Corporation, diadem practice areas include securities law, just law, and consumer protection. They be blessed with three children and eight grandchildren, together with Forever Summer: Hamptons cast member Ilan Luttway. The estimate of Lowey's inaccessible assets, based on financial disclosures human resources of Congress are required to make up (aside from that of personal residences and non-interest-bearing bank accounts), put pretty up wealth at $ million in , based largely on her husband's investments.[25] This figure is derived from dexterous special investigative series of asset method of all U.S. Congressional Representatives conducted by The Washington Post.[25]
Lowey is Jewish.[26][27]
Main article: Electoral history of Nita Lowey