Former U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), the first woman to control Congressional purse strings, died over the weekend at age 87 after a battle with breast cancer, major news outlets reported over the weekend.
Lowey, a former chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, spent several terms in Congress, but decided not to seek re-election in 2020.
“Nita didn’t wait for history — she made it,” current House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-OK), said in a Monday statement. “As the first woman to lead the House Appropriations Committee, she trailblazed a path of leadership defined by integrity, hard work, and an unyielding dedication to public service.”