Former Rep. Nita Lowey Dies

Former U.S. Representative Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat, died at the age of 87 after a battle with metastatic breast cancer. Lowey served in Congress for 32 years, from 1988 until her retirement in 2020/2021, and made history as the first woman to chair the powerful United States — United States House Committee on Appropriations. Throughout her career, she was a staunch advocate for women, children, and families, pushing for federal funding for AIDS combat, economic aid to developing nations, women's health care, and education initiatives. She notably led a successful fight to provide contraception coverage to federal workers. Her passing was met with tributes from colleagues across the political spectrum, including Governor Kathy Hochul of United States — New York (state), who ordered flags flown at half-staff in her honor, and current and former members of Congress like Rosa DeLauro, Mike Lawler, and Hakeem Jeffries, who remembered her as a dedicated public servant and trailblazer.