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Former longtime New York Rep. Nita Lowey, who served in Congress for 32 years and became the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, died at 87, her family said.
The Democrat – a staunch ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and friend of the Clintons – died Saturday at her home in suburban Harrison after a years-long battle with metastatic breast cancer, according to a statement from her family obtained by CBS New York’s Tony Aiello.
“Nita’s family was central to her life as she was to all of ours,” the statement said. “We will miss her more than words can say and take great comfort in knowing that she lives a full and purposeful life.”
The congresswoman was born in the Bronx and first elected to Congress in 1988 and served three decades and 16 terms until 2020, when she retired as a representative for New York’s 17th Congressional District.
At her retirement she represented Westchester and Rockland counties, but due to reshaping of district lines over the years she had also represented parts of the Bronx and Queens during her tenure.
She became chair of the House Appropriations Committee in 2018.
