Carolyn McCarthy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carolyn McCarthy
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McCarthy in 2012
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 4th district |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Dan Frisa |
| Succeeded by | Kathleen Rice |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Carolyn Cook
January 5, 1944 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | June 26, 2025 (aged 81) Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (before 2003) Democratic (2003–2025) |
| Other political affiliations |
House Democratic Caucus (1997–2015) |
| Spouse |
Dennis McCarthy
(m. 1967; died 1993) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Glen Cove Nursing School |
Carolyn McCarthy (born Carolyn Cook; January 5, 1944 – June 26, 2025) was an American politician. She was a member of the Democratic Party and served in the United States House of Representatives. She represented New York's 4th district from 1997 to 2015.
Carolyn grew up in Mineola, New York, on Long Island. Before becoming a politician, she worked as a nurse. She was originally a Republican. However, a tragic event changed her life: her husband was killed and her son was hurt in a shooting in 1993. This motivated her to get involved in politics. She became a strong supporter of gun control laws. In 1996, she was elected to the House of Representatives as a Democrat. She served for nine terms.
On January 8, 2014, she announced she would not run for re-election because of her health. She retired in January 2015. Kathleen Rice, also a Democrat, took her place.
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Early Life and Career
Carolyn Cook was born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 5, 1944. She grew up in Mineola, New York. Her father was a boilermaker, and her mother worked at Woolworth. As a young person, she loved sports and wanted to be a physical education teacher. However, she found reading difficult and later learned she had dyslexia.
She then decided to study at the Glen Cove Nursing School. After seeing how well nurses cared for a friend who was in a car accident, she chose to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. In 1967, she married Dennis McCarthy. They had a son named Kevin and lived in Mineola.
A Life-Changing Event
In 1993, Carolyn's husband and son both worked in Manhattan. They rode the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to get to work. On December 7, 1993, a terrible event happened. A man named Colin Ferguson opened fire on passengers on an LIRR train. Carolyn's husband, Dennis, was killed, and her son, Kevin, was badly injured. Six people died and 19 were wounded in this shooting.
This tragedy led Carolyn McCarthy to start a campaign for stricter gun control laws. Her efforts eventually led her to run for Congress in 1996. She ran as a Democrat and won against the Republican who was already in office, Dan Frisa. A 1998 TV movie called The Long Island Incident told her story.
Serving in Congress
During her time in Congress, Carolyn McCarthy became known as a leading voice for gun control. People often called her "the fiercest gun-control advocate in Congress." While she tried to work on other issues, she was always strongly linked to her work on gun safety. She once said that even though she was known for her work in education and her district, people still called her "the gun lady."
McCarthy was a registered Republican before she ran for Congress. However, she ran as a Democrat and became a strong supporter of Democratic policies. She often voted with her party.
Key Responsibilities in Congress
Carolyn McCarthy served on important committees in the House of Representatives. These committees help create laws and oversee different parts of the government.
- Committee on Education and the Workforce
- Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education (She was a top member here)
- Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training
- Committee on Financial Services
- Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
- Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance
She was also part of several groups called "caucuses." These groups bring together members of Congress who share common interests.
- Co-chair, Congressional Hearing Health Caucus
- Congressional Glaucoma Caucus
- Financial Literacy Caucus
- International Conservation Caucus
- U.S.-Israel Security Caucus
- Women's Caucus
Her Political Views
Gun Safety Laws
Carolyn McCarthy became a strong advocate for gun control after her husband was killed in the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting.
In 1997, she proposed a bill that would require trigger locks on guns. After another shooting in 1997, she suggested a law to stop guns from being sold to tourists visiting the U.S. She even received threats because of her strong views. Later, she tried to stop a rule that allowed certain modified weapons to be brought into the country.
After the Columbine High School massacre, McCarthy proposed a bill. This bill would make firearms safer for children. It would also make it harder for young adults to buy guns and would regulate gun shows.
When the Federal Assault Weapons Ban ended in 2004, McCarthy worked to bring it back. In 2007, she introduced a bill to reauthorize it.
After the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007, McCarthy pushed for laws to prevent more gun violence. She introduced a bill (H.R. 2640) to fix problems with background checks for gun buyers. This bill, supported by the National Rifle Association, became law. McCarthy then focused on closing the "gun show loophole."
In 2012, McCarthy and Senator Dianne Feinstein proposed a bill. It aimed to ban the sale of many specific firearms. These included semi-automatic rifles or pistols with large magazines or military-style features.
Supporting People with Hearing Loss
As a former nurse, McCarthy was a strong supporter of helping people with hearing loss. She worked to pass the Hearing Aid Tax Credit Act. This act was designed to help people afford hearing aids.
Helping Children and Students
McCarthy, who had dyslexia herself, spoke out for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. She also supported a law to fund early detection of dyslexia.
In 2007, McCarthy supported adding $35 billion to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This program helps provide health care for children whose families cannot afford private insurance. She believed no child should go without medical care. The bill passed but was stopped by President George W. Bush.
Supporting Medical Research
McCarthy supported federally funded stem cell research. She believed it should be limited to using embryos that would otherwise be discarded. In 2007, she supported the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. This bill passed Congress but was also stopped by President Bush.
Political Campaigns
The district McCarthy represented had been mostly Republican for a long time. In 1996, the Republican in office, Dan Frisa, was running for re-election. At the same time, McCarthy spoke at a hearing against a Republican effort to end the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.
After Frisa voted to end the ban, McCarthy, who had been a Republican her whole life, decided to run against him. She ran as a Democrat with support from local and national Democratic parties. She also got the endorsement of Newsday, a local newspaper. McCarthy defeated Frisa by a large margin.
She faced tough re-election campaigns in 1998 and 2004. In 2004, she won easily against James Garner, taking 63% of the votes. Even though she always served as a Democrat, she officially changed her voter registration from Republican to Democrat in 2003.
2010 Election
In 2010, some thought McCarthy might lose her seat. However, she won against Republican challenger Francis X. Becker, Jr. She won with 54% of the votes.
Earlier in 2010, McCarthy considered running for a Senate seat against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. McCarthy was concerned about Gillibrand's support for gun rights. McCarthy said she would challenge Gillibrand if no one else did, because she did not want New York to be represented by someone with a perfect rating from the NRA. However, McCarthy later decided not to run against Gillibrand.
2012 Election
In 2012, there was a question about whether McCarthy's district might be changed due to new district maps. In the end, her district stayed mostly the same. She won her re-election campaign that year.
Illness and Passing
On June 3, 2013, Carolyn McCarthy announced she had a treatable form of lung cancer. She had been a smoker for many years. She believed her cancer was also caused by asbestos, a material her father and brother worked with.
Carolyn McCarthy moved to Fort Myers, Florida after she left Congress. She passed away at her home on June 26, 2025, at the age of 81.
Recognition
In January 2025, President Joe Biden honored Carolyn McCarthy with the Presidential Citizens Medal. This award recognizes Americans who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or fellow citizens.
See also
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
