[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 25, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E250-E251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF CONGRESSWOMAN NITA LOWEY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RITCHIE TORRES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 25, 2025

  Mr. TORRES of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
our dear colleague, Nita Lowey, who served as the U.S. Representative 
for New York's 17th Congressional District from 1989 to 2021. 
Congresswoman Lowey made a profound and lasting impact on this body, 
and her dedication to public service will be remembered for years to 
come. Today, we reflect on her tireless work, her trailblazing 
leadership, and the legacy she leaves behind.
  Representative Lowey's career was defined by her unwavering 
commitment to advancing key issues such as healthcare, women's rights, 
support for Israel, combating anti-Semitism, and the well-being of her 
constituents. In 2019, the Congresswoman made history as the first 
woman to serve as the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, 
Through this influential position, she played a critical role in 
shaping and directing the federal budget, ensuring that vital programs 
in healthcare,

[[Page E251]]

education, and infrastructure received the funding they needed to 
thrive. As a strong advocate for healthcare, Representative Lowey 
played an active role in supporting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and 
worked tirelessly to secure federal funding for services that benefited 
underserved communities. Her advocacy also extended to women's health, 
where she fought for access to reproductive healthcare and made sure 
that healthcare was available to women in need.
  Beyond her healthcare work, Congresswoman Lowey was an outspoken 
advocate for women's rights and gender equality. She supported the 
reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and pushed for 
policies that promoted gender equality and women in leadership. The 
Congresswoman was also deeply committed to global issues, particularly 
U.S.-Israel relations, serving as a senior member of the House Foreign 
Affairs Committee. Her leadership led to the passage of the Nita M. 
Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act. This bill provides 
extraordinary funding to foster economic cooperation between Israelis 
and Palestinians to help build lasting peace.
  Representative Nita Lowey's legacy in Congress is one of tireless 
service, advocacy, and leadership. Her work in securing funding for 
healthcare, education, foreign aid, and her unwavering support for 
women's rights, Israel, and the Jewish people will continue to 
influence the policy agenda for years to come. As we move forward in 
Congress, let us remember the example she set--a reminder that public 
service is about improving the lives of others and fighting for what is 
right. I offer my deepest gratitude for her decades of dedicated 
service. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones as we honor her 
memory.

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