Former Rep. Nita Lowey, who represented New York in Congress for 32 years and became the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, died at 87, her family said.
The Democrat – a staunch ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and friend of the Clintons – died Saturday at her home in suburban Harrison after a years-long battle with metastatic breast cancer, according to a statement from her family obtained by CBS New York’s Tony Aiello.
“Nita’s family was central to her life as she was to all of ours,” the statement said. “We will miss her more than words can say and take great comfort in knowing that she lives a full and purposeful life.”
The congresswoman was born Nita Sue Melnikoff in the Bronx in 1937 to a homemaker mother and accountant father, according to a lohud profile.
She graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and received a degree from Mount Holyoke College in 1959, her congressional bio stated.
In 1961, she was married to high-powered attorney Stephen Lowey and the family lived for a time in Queens, where they were neighbors to the Cuomos, the lohud profile stated. They moved to Harrison in 1981.
Lowey was first elected to Congress in 1988, serving three decades and 16 terms until 2020, when she retired as a representative for New York’s 17th Congressional District.
At her retirement she represented Westchester and Rockland counties, but due to reshaping of district lines over the years she had also represented parts of the Bronx and Queens during her tenure.
She became chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee in 2019, after serving as a member in its ranks for years.
During her time in Congress, she became an influential lawmaker backing liberal policies, including the law that requires companies to list allergens on food packaging.
In 1995, Lowey backed Public Television funding at the Appropriations Committee using Bert and Ernie hand puppets.
As chairwoman she clashed with President Trump over funding for the border wall and taking over during an extended government shutdown.
“The president is an embarrassment and as a member of the Congress and as the leader of the appropriations committee, we have the responsibility to serve the people,” Lowey told lohud in 2019 after announcing her retirement.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Lowey ” principled, passionate and powerful public servant” in a tribute Sunday.
“Over the course of her historic career, Congresswoman Lowey courageously served her constituents and stood up for New Yorkers while shattering multiple glass ceilings along the way,” Jeffries said in a statement, calling Lowey a “mentor and friend.”
Lowey is survived by her husband, three children and eight grandchildren, according to her family.
