Nita Lowery, the former New York Congresswoman who represented New York City’s northern suburbs over three decades has passed away after a long battle with breast carcinoma, her family revealed on Sunday.
The family released a statement that read: “With great sadness we announce that former Congresswoman Nita Lowey passed peacefully at age 87 on March 15, surrounded by her husband, her children and her grandchildren. Nita fought metastatic breast carcinoma in recent years, with the same tenacity, strength and courage that she displayed throughout her 32-year Congress career for women, families and children in the U.S.
Lowey became a powerful House committee chairman
Lowey was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 1988. She was elected to the powerful House Appropriations Committee in 1988 and served for 28 years. She later became the chair of the committee. She was honoured with a portrait in the committee chamber ahead of her retirement in 2021 after 16 terms.
The Empire State, and the whole country, have lost an incredibly principled and passionate public servant in Nita Lowery. Hakeem Jeffreys, House Minority leader, said that during her long career Congresswoman Lowey bravely served her New Yorkers and stood up to them while breaking multiple glass ceilings.
State Senate Majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins reflected as well on Lowey’s legacy.
She was a role model, a mentor and a godmother. Stewart-Cousins stated, “She was everything.” She always had the right value. She knew what was important and was willing to invest time, money, and passion into making the right things happen.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has ordered that flags be flown in New York at half-staff Sunday and Monday. She said in a statement that she was “deeply sorry” about Lowey’s death, and added, “Nita showed me the ropes when I was learning to navigate Washington.” She was an unrelenting fighter for New York, and she never stopped fighting for Westchester and Rockland.
Lowey became the first woman in history to head the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and to chair the Appropriations Committee. She raised $2,000,000 for a 2000 U.S. Senate campaign, but dropped out when the then-first lady Hillary Clinton decided to run.
“A true public servant, she lived by the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam – repairing the world. The family statement said that she was a tireless fighter who worked across party lines to achieve results for all Americans and her constituents. She sponsored life-changing bills in education, medical research and international relations.
Lowey’s husband of 64-years, her three daughters, and her eight grandchildren survive her. Her family has announced that a private burial and funeral, as well a memorial service will be held later.
