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Carolyn Maloney
Carolyn Maloney, official portrait, 116th congress.jpg
Chair of the House Oversight Committee
In office
November 20, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Acting: October 17, 2019 – November 20, 2019
Preceded by Elijah Cummings
Succeeded by James Comer
Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee
In office
January 3, 2019 – January 16, 2020
Preceded by Mike Lee
Succeeded by Don Beyer
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by Bill Green (redistricting)
Succeeded by Jerry Nadler (redistricting)
Constituency 14th district (1993–2013)
12th district (2013–2023)
Member of the New York City Council
In office
January 1, 1983 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by Robert Rodriguez
Succeeded by Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff
Constituency 8th district (1983–1991)
4th district (1992–1993)
Personal details
Born
Carolyn Jane Bosher

(1946-02-19) February 19, 1946 (age 79)
Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse
Clifton Maloney
(m. 1976; died 2009)
Children 2
Education Greensboro College (BA)

Carolyn Jane Maloney (born February 19, 1946) is an American politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 30 years, from 1993 to 2023. As a member of the Democratic Party, she represented parts of New York City, including areas of Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn.

Maloney was known for breaking barriers. She was the first woman to represent her New York City Council district and the first woman to chair two important government groups: the Joint Economic Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Early Life and Career

Carolyn Jane Bosher was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, on February 19, 1946. After graduating from Greensboro College, she moved to New York City in 1970.

At first, she worked as a teacher and administrator for the city's schools. Later, she took a job with the New York State Legislature, where she held important staff positions. In 1976, she married Clifton Maloney, and they had two daughters.

New York City Council

In 1982, Maloney was elected to the New York City Council, where she served for 10 years. She was the first council member to have a baby while in office.

On the council, she worked to make government more honest by creating a system to track city contracts. She also introduced laws to support families, such as making child care easier to find and afford.

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1992, Maloney was elected to the U.S. Congress. She represented a district that included the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She was reelected many times over the next 30 years.

Tenure in Congress

Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Carolyn Maloney, and Jack Kingston
Maloney with President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Congressman Jack Kingston in 1999.

During her time in Congress, Maloney was known for being a very active lawmaker. She often proposed more bills than many other representatives. She worked on many important issues, from helping 9/11 survivors to protecting consumers.

Helping 9/11 Responders

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney speaks at a press conference with members of the 911 Commission and 911 families
Maloney speaks at a press conference with members of the 9/11 Commission and their families in 2004.

After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Maloney fought to get federal money to help New York City recover. She was a key leader in passing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

This important law provides money for medical care and monitoring for the rescue workers, volunteers, and survivors who became sick from the dust and smoke at Ground Zero. Thanks to her work, the fund was made permanent, ensuring that these heroes would be cared for for decades to come.

Protecting Consumers

Maloney was the main author of the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights, which became law in 2009 as the Credit CARD Act of 2009. This law protects people from unfair practices by credit card companies. It helped save consumers billions of dollars by banning sudden interest rate hikes and unclear fees. Money magazine called her the "best friend a credit card user ever had."

Fighting for Women and Families

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Joe Crowley, and Carolyn Maloney
Maloney (right) with Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Joe Crowley in 2005, speaking about women's health.

Throughout her career, Maloney was a champion for women and families. She was a strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, which aims to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex.

She also worked for years to create a national museum dedicated to women's history. In 2020, her bill was signed into law, and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum is now being planned for the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Maloney also wrote laws to help victims of crime. She helped pass the Debbie Smith Act, which provided funding to test DNA evidence from crime scenes. This helped solve many cases and bring justice to victims.

Healthcare Issues

Maloney worked on many healthcare topics. She helped pass a law that requires Medicare to cover yearly mammograms to screen for breast cancer.

Early in her career, she raised questions about vaccine safety. However, her views changed over time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked hard to bring testing and vaccination sites to her district. In 2022, she said she regretted her earlier positions on vaccines.

Personal Life

Maloney was married to Clifton Maloney for 33 years. They had two daughters, Christina and Virginia. Her husband was an experienced mountain climber. In 2009, he died after successfully climbing Cho Oyu, the sixth-highest mountain in the world.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Carolyn Maloney para niños

  • Women in the United States House of Representatives
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