Nita Lowey

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Nita Lowey
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 18th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1989
Preceded by	Jose Serrano
Born	July 5, 1937 (1937-07-05) (age 70) New York City, New York
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Stephen Lowey
Religion	Jewish

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. She 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, 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 liberal 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, being re-elected eight times.

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.

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%.

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.

[edit] Committee Assignments

• Appropriations Committee
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (Chair)
• Homeland Security Committee
  • Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response

[edit] 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 seven grandchildren.

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey, House site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Nita Lowey profile