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From Suffrage to the Senate America's Political Women: An Encyclopedia of Leaders, Causes & Issues

Lowey, Nita Melnikoff (b. 1937)

Democrat Nita Lowey of New York entered the U.S. House of Representatives on January 3, 1989. Congresswoman Lowey chaired the Appropriations Committee in the 116th (2019-2021) Congress.

Her political career began with a neighborhood gathering in 1974 to help the then-Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, Mario Cuomo. He lost that election but was appointed New York secretary of state, and he appointed Lowey to the anti-poverty division of his office, where she served from 1975 to 1985. She then became assistant secretary of state, a position she held until 1987.

Lowey was among the congresswomen who marched to the U.S. Senate in October 1991 to discuss Anita Hill’s accusations that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her. The action contributed to the U.S. Senate holding additional hearings before confirming Clarence’s appointment.

Lowey supported the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994 and Medicaid funding for abortions for poor women. She opposed a rule that prohibited abortion counseling and referrals in federally funded planning clinics and also opposed legislation to make partial birth abortion illegal. In 1998, Lowey succeeded in gaining House and Senate approval for a measure providing contraceptive coverage for federal workers whose health insurance included pharmaceuticals, but the conference committee deleted it. In a compromise, Lowey proposed exempting physicians who oppose contraceptive coverage for religious or moral reasons and obtained its approval.

Education, child care, health, and nutrition have also been priorities for Lowey, particularly as they relate to poor people, women, minorities, and the elderly. She successfully worked for a bill that provided funding for drug education and counseling services for students. As a minority member of Congress, she passed a measure that requires food allergen labeling identifying the eight most common food allergies. Lowey introduced the first legislation requiring clear, concise food allergen labeling, which was enacted in 2006.

When Republican leaders threatened to eliminate the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), Congresswoman Lowey invited Bert and Ernie, two of the Muppets from the educational program Sesame Street to a congressional hearing. The publicity that followed helped save the network.

Lowey co-founded the Hudson River Congressional Caucus in 2004. Also that year, she obtained $500,000 for the Hudson River National Heritage Area. In the 104th, 105th, and 106th Congresses (1995-2001), she held the leadership position of minority whip at large. In the 107th Congress (2001-2003), she chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which raises funds for congressional candidates, and set fundraising records during her term. Lowey also co-chaired the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues in the 105th Congress (1997-1999). Born in the Bronx, New York, Lowey received her BA from Mount Holyoke College in 1959.

See also: Congress, Women in; Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues; Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994; Hill, Anita Faye; Reproductive Rights; Sexual Harassment

References: “About Nita,” http://lowey.house.gov/about-nita (accessed July 26, 2012 and April 7, 2019); Congressional Quarterly, Politics in America 1994 (1993), Politics in America 1998 (1997); CQ Weekly, December 28, 2002; http://www.house.gov/lowey.

Citation Types

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MLA 9th
"Lowey, Nita Melnikoff (b. 1937)." From Suffrage to the Senate America's Political Women: An Encyclopedia of Leaders, Causes & Issues, edited by Suzanne O’Dea, Salem Press, 2019. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Suffrage3e_0578.
APA 7th
Lowey, Nita Melnikoff (b. 1937). From Suffrage to the Senate America's Political Women: An Encyclopedia of Leaders, Causes & Issues, In S. O’Dea (Ed.), Salem Press, 2019. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Suffrage3e_0578.
CMOS 17th
"Lowey, Nita Melnikoff (b. 1937)." From Suffrage to the Senate America's Political Women: An Encyclopedia of Leaders, Causes & Issues, Edited by Suzanne O’Dea. Salem Press, 2019. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Suffrage3e_0578.