Nita Lowey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nita Lowey
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| Chair of the House Appropriations Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Rodney Frelinghuysen |
| Succeeded by | Rosa DeLauro |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York |
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| In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Joe DioGuardi |
| Succeeded by | Mondaire Jones |
| Constituency | 20th district (1989–1993) 18th district (1993–2013) 17th district (2013–2021) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Nita Sue Melnikoff
July 5, 1937 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | March 15, 2025 (aged 87) Harrison, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Stephen Lowey
(m. 1961) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Mount Holyoke College (BA) |
Nita Sue Lowey (born Nita Sue Melnikoff; July 5, 1937 – March 15, 2025) was an American politician. She served as a U.S. Representative for New York from 1989 to 2021. She was a member of the Democratic Party.
Lowey also shared the title of co-Dean of the New York Congressional Delegation. This means she was one of the longest-serving members from New York in Congress. Her district changed numbers over the years. It included many northern suburbs of New York City, like White Plains and Tarrytown. She was followed in office by Mondaire Jones.
In 2018, Lowey made history. She became the first woman to lead the House Appropriations Committee. This committee decides how the government spends money. She announced in October 2019 that she would retire and not run for re-election in 2020.
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Early Life and Education
Nita Lowey was born in the Bronx, New York City, on July 5, 1937. Her parents were Beatrice and Jack Melnikoff. She was a very bright student. She graduated at the top of her class from the Bronx High School of Science in 1955. Later, she earned a bachelor's degree from Mount Holyoke College.
Starting Her Political Career
Lowey began her political work in 1974. She worked for Mario Cuomo's campaign for lieutenant governor of New York. After that, she served as the assistant secretary of state for New York for 13 years. This role helped her learn a lot about how government works.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Nita Lowey served in the United States House of Representatives for many years. She represented parts of New York state.
Her Elections to Congress
Lowey first ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1988. She ran against the person already in office, Joe DioGuardi. Lowey won that election. Her district numbers changed a few times over the years. However, she always represented a large area of New York City's northern suburbs. This included most of Westchester County and all of Rockland County.
In 2000, Lowey thought about running for the United States Senate. But she decided not to when First Lady of the United States Hillary Clinton announced her own plans to run. Lowey was also considered for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat later on. However, Lowey chose to keep her important role on the House Appropriations Committee.
She won re-election many times. For example, in 2004, she won with 69% of the votes. In 2006, she won with 70%. In 2008, she was re-elected for her eleventh term with 68% of the votes.
What She Did in Congress
Lowey was known as a strong voice for progressive ideas. She often voted to support the policies of the Democratic Party.
One of her early actions in Congress was to support funding for dredging the Mamaroneck Harbor. This project helped make the harbor deeper for larger boats.
From 2001 to 2002, Lowey was the first woman to lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. This group helps elect Democrats to Congress.
She was a big supporter of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This organization helps fund public TV shows like Sesame Street. She even appeared at a hearing with Bert and Ernie from the show!
Lowey also spoke out about the conflict in Darfur. She helped get $500 million in emergency aid for the region. She also voted for the "Cap and Trade" legislation, which aimed to control pollution.
In 2009, Lowey introduced a bill to give federal workers at the TSA and Department of Homeland Security the right to form unions.
In 2018, Democrats gained control of the U.S. House of Representatives. This allowed Congresswoman Lowey to become the first woman to chair the House Committee on Appropriations. In this role, she helped negotiate a bill to fund the government through 2020.
She announced her retirement on October 10, 2019. This meant she would not run for re-election in 2020.
Her View on the Iran Nuclear Deal
Lowey did not support the nuclear deal with Iran. She believed it did not have enough safety measures. She worried that lifting sanctions on Iran could lead to more weapons in the region. She also felt it might allow Iran to fund terrorist groups. She was concerned about inspectors not having immediate access to all facilities.
Her Role as a Superdelegate
In 2016, Lowey was a superdelegate for the Democratic National Convention. Like all Democratic members of Congress, she was pledged to support Hillary Clinton. She remained a strong supporter of Clinton throughout the election.
Committees and Groups She Joined
During her time in the 116th Congress, Lowey was the Chairwoman of the Committee on Appropriations. She also led the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. As the Chairwoman of the main committee, she could also be part of all other subcommittees.
She was also a member of several other groups in Congress, including:
- Congressional Women's Caucus
- Hudson River Caucus
- United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
- Israel Allies Caucus
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- National Eating Disorders Awareness Caucus
- Congressional Crohn's and Colitis Caucus
- Afterschool Caucuses
Personal Life
Nita Lowey was married to Stephen Lowey. He is a lawyer who works with securities, antitrust, and consumer protection law. They had three children and eight grandchildren.
In 2010, her family's wealth was estimated at $41.2 million. This was mainly due to her husband's investments.
Lowey was Jewish. She passed away from breast cancer at her home in Harrison, New York, on March 15, 2025. She was 87 years old.
See also
- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
