Rockland’s former Representative in the House, Nita Lowey, has died. The Associated Press reported the first woman to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee, passed away Saturday peacefully in her home in Harrison, surrounded by her husband, children and grandchildren. She had been battling metastatic breast cancer. She was first elected to Congress in 1988 and served until she retired instead of seeking re-election in 2020. Lowey took to the House floor in September 2019 to speak passionately about the terror attacks on our country on its then 18th anniversary…
In December 2020, she once again took to the House floor to deliver her farewell remarks…
During her years in the House, Lowey pushed for federal funding to combat AIDS and for economic aid to developing nations. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who served with Lowey in Congress, ordered flags flown at half-staff through the end of the day today. Rockland County Executive Ed Day did the same here in the county, calling Lowey “a champion” with whom he had the privilege to work. Hudson Valley Congressman Mike Lawler praised Lowey’s “bipartisan spirit, commitment to our community, and dedication to the country.” A private funeral, burial and memorial service will be held at a later date. Lowey was 87.