Congresswoman Nita Lowey, a trailblazing advocate for gender equality and one of the most influential women to ever serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, passed away March 15, 2025. She was 87.
Serving New York’s 17th Congressional District from 1989 to 2021, Lowey’s legacy is defined by her unwavering commitment to women’s rights, reproductive freedom, and economic equity. She was a fierce fighter in Congress, where she broke barriers not just in policy, but in leadership—becoming the first woman to ever chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
Lowey was instrumental in securing funding for women’s health initiatives, both at home and abroad. As a staunch defender of reproductive rights, she led efforts to protect Title X family planning programs and fought against the Global Gag Rule, recognizing that women’s autonomy was fundamental to global health and development. Her leadership helped ensure access to contraception and maternal care for millions of women worldwide.
She also championed legislation to combat domestic violence and sexual assault, co-sponsoring the landmark Violence Against Women Act and advocating for increased funding for shelters, legal services, and education programs. Lowey understood that protecting women’s safety was not only a moral imperative, but also a prerequisite for full civic participation.
Throughout her 32 years in Congress, Lowey mentored countless women, staffers and elected officials alike, fostering a new generation of leaders committed to gender justice. Her work laid the foundation for much of today’s progress in women’s political representation and legislative priorities.
Rep. Lowey’s former colleagues took to social media to share their condolences:
Congresswoman Nita Lowey was a trailblazer. A tough-as-nails negotiator & the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones. Rep. Lowey leaves behind an unforgettable legacy: a fighter for working people & women's rights.
— Senator Patty Murray (@murray.senate.gov) March 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I am devastated to hear of the passing of former Congresswoman Nita Lowey—a trailblazer and champion for working people. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of New Yorkers and people across the country. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones during this time.
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@ocasio-cortez.house.gov) March 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched, the policies she shaped, and the doors she opened for women across the country. She leaves behind a model of what determined, principled leadership can achieve in the fight for equality. Rest in power Congresswoman Lowey.