Nita Lowey

Nita Lowey

Democratic Party

Prior offices

New York Assistant Secretary of State

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U.S. House New York District 20

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U.S. House New York District 18

Successor: Sean Maloney

Predecessor: José Serrano

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U.S. House New York District 17

Successor: Mondaire Jones

Predecessor: Eliot Engel

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Compensation

Net worth

(2012) $34,290,511.50

Education

Bachelor's

Mount Holyoke College

Personal

Religion

Judaism

Profession

Civil Servant

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Nita Lowey (Democratic Party) was a member of the U.S. House, representing New York's 17th Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2013. She left office on January 3, 2021.

Lowey (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the U.S. House to represent New York's 17th Congressional District. She won in the general election on November 6, 2018.

On October 10, 2019, Lowey announced that she would not seek re-election in 2020.

Lowey was first elected in 1988. She previously served in the 20th and 18th Districts.

Prior to her congressional career, Lowey served as New York assistant secretary of state from 1985 to 1987. Click here for more information on Lowey's career.

In the 116th Congress, Lowey became the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee. She was the first woman to serve as committee chair.

In 2001-2002, Lowey became the first female to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. She was a member of the Congressional Women's Caucus, the United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus, and the Congressional Arts Caucus, among others.

Lowey passed away on March 15, 2025.

Biography

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Lowey was born in New York, N.Y.. She earned a B.A. from Mount Holyoke College in 1959.

After earning her degree, Lowey served as assistant to the New York Secretary of State for Economic Development and Neighborhood Preservation, as Deputy Director of the New York State Division of Economic Opportunity from 1975-1985 and as New York Assistant Secretary of State from 1985-1987.

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Lowey's academic, professional, and political career:

• 2013-2021: U.S. Representative from New York's 17th Congressional District
• 1993-2013: U.S. Representative from New York's 18th Congressional District
• 1989-1993: U.S. Representative from New York's 20th Congressional District
• 1985-1987: New York State Assistant Secretary of State
• 1975-1985: Deputy director, New York State Division of Economic Opportunity
• 1959: Graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a B.S.

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2017-2018

At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Lowey was assigned to the following committees:

• Committee on Appropriations

2015-2016

Lowey served on the following committees:

• Appropriations Committee, Ranking Member
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Ranking Member

2013-2014

Lowey served on the following committees:

• Appropriations Committee, Ranking member
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Ranking member

2011-2012

Lowey served on the following committees:

• Appropriations Committee
  • Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2021

The 116th United States Congress began on January 9, 2019, and ended on January 3, 2021. At the start of the session, Democrats held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (235-200), and Republicans held the majority in the U.S. Senate (53-47). Donald Trump (R) was the president and Mike Pence (R) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2021
Vote	Bill and description	Status
Yea	Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020   The Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020 (H.R. 1044) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives seeking to increase the cap on employment-based visas, establish certain rules governing such visas, and impose some additional requirements on employers hiring holders of such visas. The bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended.	Passed (365-65)
Yea	The Heroes Act   The HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to address the COVID-19 outbreak by providing $1,200 payments to individuals, extending and expanding the moratorium on some evictions and foreclosures, outlining requirements and establishing finding for contact tracing and COVID-19 testing, providing emergency supplemental appropriations to federal agencies for fiscal year 2020, and eliminating cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatments. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (208-199)
Yea	For the People Act of 2019   The For the People Act of 2019 (H.R.1) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to protect election security, revise rules on campaign funding, introduce new provisions related to ethics, establish independent, nonpartisan redistricting commissions, and establish new rules on the release of tax returns for presidential and vice presidential candidates. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (234-193)
Yea	CARES Act   The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on March 27, 2020, that expanded benefits through the joint federal-state unemployment insurance program during the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation also included $1,200 payments to certain individuals, funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and funds for businesses, hospitals, and state and local governments. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.	Passed (419-6)
Yea	Equality Act   The Equality Act (H.R. 5) was a bill approved by the House Representatives that sought to ban discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity by expanding the definition of establishments that fall under public accomodation and prohibiting the denial of access to a shared facility that is in agreement with an indiviual's gender indenitity. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (236-173)
Yea	Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019   The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 (H.R. 8) was a bill approved by the House that sought to ban firearm transfers between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (240-190)
Yea	American Dream and Promise Act of 2019   The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R.6) was a bill approved by the House Representatives that sought to protect certain immigrants from removal proceedings and provide a path to permanent resident status by establishing streamlined procedures for permanant residency and canceling removal proceedings against certain qualifed individuals. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (237-187)
Yea	National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020   The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (S. 1790) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on December 20, 2019, setting policies and appropriations for the Department of Defense. Key features of this bill include appropriations for research/development, procurement, military construction, and operation/maintenence, as well as policies for paid family leave, North Korea nuclear sanctions, limiting the use of criminal history in federal hiring and contracting, military housing privatization, and paid family leave for federal personnel. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (377-48)
Yea	Families First Coronavirus Response Act   The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on March 18, 2020, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing access to unemployment benefits and food assistance, increasing funding for Medicaid, providing free testing for COVID-19, and requiring employers to provide paid sick time to employees who cannot work due to COVID-19. The bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.	Passed (363-40)
Yea	Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019   The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (H.R. 1994) was a bill passed by the House Representatives that sought to change the requirements for employer provided retirement plans, IRAs, and other tax-favored savings accounts by modfying the requirements for things such as loans, lifetime income options, required minimum distributions, the eligibility rules for certain long-term, part-time employees, and nondiscrimination rules. The bill also sought to treat taxable non-tuition fellowship and stipend payments as compensation for the purpose of an IRA, repeal the maximum age for traditional IRA contributions, increase penalties for failing to file tax returns, allow penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans if a child is born or adopted, and expand the purposes for which qualified tuition programs may be used. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (417-3)
Yea	Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act   The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) was a bill approved by the House Representatives that sought to address the price of healthcare by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate prices for certain drugs, requiring drug manufactures to issue rebates for certain drugs covered under Medicare, requiring drug price transparency from drug manufacturers, expanding Medicare coverage, and providing funds for certain public health programs. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (230-192)
Yea	Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020   The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 1865) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on December 20, 2019, providing appropriations for federal agencies in fiscal year 2020. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (297-120)
Yea	Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019   The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 (S. 1838) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on November 27, 2019, directing several federal departments to assess Hong Kong's unique treatment under U.S. law. Key features of the bill include directing the Department of State to report and certify annually to Congress as to whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous from China to justify its unique treatment, and directing the Department of Commerce to report annually to Congress on China's efforts to use Hong Kong to evade U.S. export controls and sanctions. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.	Passed (417-1)
Yea	MORE Act of 2020   The MORE Act of 2020 (H.R. 3884) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to decriminalize marijuana by removing marijuana as a scheduled controlled substance and eliminating criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana. This bill required a simple majority vote from the House.	Passed (228-164)
Yea	Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020   The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 6074) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 6, 2020, providing emergency funding to federal agencies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Key features of the bill include funding for vaccine research, small business loans, humanitarian assistance to affected foreign countries, emergency preparedness, and grants for public health agencies and organizations. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to suspend the rules and pass the bill.	Passed (415-2)
Yea	Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019   The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.J.Res. 31) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on February 15, 2019, providing approrations for Fiscal Year 2019. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (300 -128)
Yea	John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act   The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S. 47) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Doanld Trump on March 12, 2019. This bill sought to set provisions for federal land management and conservation by doing things such as conducting land exchanges and conveyances, establishing programs to respond to wildfires, and extending and reauthorizing wildlife conservation programs. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.	Passed (363-62)
Yea	William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (On passage)   The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and vetoed by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020. Congress voted to override Trump's veto, and the bill became law on January 1, 2021. The bill set Department of Defense policies and appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021. Trump vetoed the bill due to disagreement with provisions related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the renaming of certain military installations, limits on emergency military construction fund usage, and limits on troop withdrawals. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House on passage, and a two-thirds majority vote in the House to override Trump's veto.	Passed (335-78)
Yea	William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Overcoming veto)   The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and vetoed by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020. Congress voted to override Trump's veto, and the bill became law on January 1, 2021. The bill set Department of Defense policies and appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021. Trump vetoed the bill due to disagreement with provisions related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the renaming of certain military installations, limits on emergency military construction fund usage, and limits on troop withdrawals. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House on passage, and a two-thirds majority vote in the House to override Trump's veto.	Passed (322-87)
Yea	Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019   The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (S.24) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on January 16, 2019, that requires federal employees who were furloughed or compelled to work during a lapse in government funding to be compensated for that time. The bill also required those employees to be compensated as soon as the lapse in funding ends, irregardless of official pay date. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to suspend the rules and pass the bill.	Passed (411-7)
Yea	Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. (Article 1)   The 2020 impeachment of Donald Trump (R) was a resolution before the 116th Congress to set forth two articles of impeachment saying that Trump abused his power and obstructed congress. The first article was related to allegations that Trump requested the Ukrainian government investigate former Vice President Joe Biden (D) and his son, Hunter Biden, in exchange for aid, and the second was related to Trump's response to the impeachment inquiry. The House of Representatives approved both articles of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of either charge. The articles of impeachment required a simple majority vote in the House.	Guilty (230-197)
Yea	Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. (Article 2)   The 2020 impeachment of Donald Trump (R) was a resolution before the 116th Congress to set forth two articles of impeachment saying that Trump abused his power and obstructed congress. The first article was related to allegations that Trump requested the Ukrainian government investigate former Vice President Joe Biden (D) and his son, Hunter Biden, in exchange for aid, and the second was related to Trump's response to the impeachment inquiry. The House of Representatives approved both articles of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of either charge. The articles of impeachment required a simple majority vote in the House.	Guilty (229-198)

Key votes: Previous sessions of Congress

Key votes (click "show" to expand or "hide" to contract)

Key votes: 115th Congress, 2017-2018 For detailed information about each vote, click here. Votes on domestic policy (click to expand) Voted Yea on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (Conference report) (HR 2)  Bill Passed (369-47) on December 12, 2018 Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance through fiscal year 2023. Voted Nay on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2 (second vote))  Bill Passed (213-211) on June 21, 2018 Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance. It also proposed modifying the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as the food stamp program. Voted Nay on: Securing America’s Future Act of 2018 (HR 4760)  Bill Failed (193-231) on June 21, 2018 Proposed funding a border wall, limiting legal immigration, a mandatory worker verification program, allowing DACA recipients to apply for legal status, and preventing separation of families at the border. Voted Yea on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2)  Bill Passed (369-47) on December 12, 2018 Reauthorizes through FY2023 and modifies some Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Voted Nay on: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HR 36)  Bill Passed (237-189) on October 3, 2017 Proposed amending the federal criminal code to make it a crime for any person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus was 20 weeks or more. The bill provided exceptions for an abortion: (1) that was necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. Voted Nay on: Kate's Law (HR 3004)  Bill Passed (257-167) on June 29, 2017 Proposed increasing criminal penalties for individuals in the country illegally who were convicted of certain crimes, deported, and then re-entered the U.S. illegally. Voted Nay on: No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (HR 3003)  Bill Passed (228-195) on June 29, 2017 Proposed withholding federal funds from states and localities that chose not to follow federal immigration laws. Voted Nay on: American Health Care Act of 2017 (HR 1628)  Bill passed (217-213) on May 4, 2017 Proposed modifying the budgetary and fiscal provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. Votes on economic affairs and regulations (click to expand) Voted Yea on: Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 6157)  Bill Passed (361-61) on September 26, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education. Voted Yea on: Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 5895)  Bill Passed (377-20) on September 13, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs. Voted Yea on: Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 6157)  Bill Passed (359-49) on June 28, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education. Voted Nay on: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 5895)  Bill Passed (235-179) on June 8, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs. Voted Nay on: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S 2155)  Bill Passed (258-159) on May 22, 2018 Proposed exempting some banks from the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Voted Yea on: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1625)  Bill Passed (256-167) on March 22, 2018 Proposed providing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes. Voted Nay on: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (HR 1892)  Bill Passed (240-186) on February 9, 2018 Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018. Voted Nay on: Further Extension Of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1892)  Bill Passed (245-182) on February 6, 2018 Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018. Voted Nay on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)  Bill Passed (266-150) on January 22, 2018 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 8, 2018. Voted Nay on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)  Bill Passed (230-197) on January 18, 2018 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 16, 2018. Voted Nay on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1370)  Bill Passed (231-188) on December 21, 2017 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through January 19, 2018. Voted Nay on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)  Bill Passed (227-203) on December 19, 2017 Proposed providing for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018. Voted Nay on: Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes (HJ Res 123)  Bill Passed (235-193) on December 7, 2017 Proposed funding the government until December 22, 2017. Voted Nay on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)  Bill Passed (227-205) on November 16, 2017 Proposed amending the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits, and deductions for individuals and businesses. Voted Nay on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)  Bill Passed (216-212) on October 26, 2017 Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027. (This bill proposed adopting the Senate's budget resolution.) Voted Nay on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)  Bill Passed (219-206) on October 5, 2017 Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027. Voted Nay on: Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3354)  Bill Passed (211-198) on September 14, 2017 Proposed providing FY2018 appropriations for the federal government. It combined 12 appropriations bills. Voted Yea on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (Included amendments to suspend the debt ceiling and fund the government) (HR 601)  Bill Passed (316-90) on September 8, 2017 Proposed suspending the debt ceiling and funding the government until December 8, 2017, and providing funding for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma relief efforts. Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 601)  Bill Passed (419-3) on September 6, 2017 Proposed providing $7.85 billion for disaster relief requirements, including response and recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey. Voted Nay on: Financial CHOICE Act of 2017 (HR 10)  Bill passed (233-186) on June 8, 2017 Proposed amending the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, among other acts. Voted Yea on: Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (HR 244)  Bill passed (309-118) on May 3, 2017 Proposed a $1.2 trillion budget to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2017. Votes on foreign policy and national security issues (click to expand) Voted Yea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (HR 5515)  Bill Passed (351-66) on May 24, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities Voted Nay on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 695)  Bill Passed (250-166) on January 30, 2018 Proposed providing appropriations for military functions administered by the Department of Defense and for other purposes, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018. Voted Yea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018—Conference report (HR 2810)  Bill Passed (356-70) on November 14, 2017 Proposed authorizing FY2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. Voted Nay on: Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3219)  Bill Passed (235-192) on July 27, 2017 Proposed making appropriations for defense, military construction, Veterans Affairs, the Legislative Branch, energy and water development, and for other purposes for the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2018. Voted Yea on: Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (HR 3364)  Bill Passed (419-3) on July 25, 2017 Proposed providing congressional review and measures to counter aggression by the governments of Iran, the Russian Federation, and North Korea, and for other purposes. Voted Yea on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180, second vote)  Bill Passed (380-35) on July 28, 2017 Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes. Voted Nay on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180)  Bill Failed (241-163) on July 24, 2017 Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes. Voted Yea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 2810)  Bill Passed (344-81) on July 14, 2017 Proposed authorizing fiscal year 2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It did not provide budget authority. Voted Yea on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 1301)  Bill passed (371-48) on March 8, 2017 The $577.9 billion fiscal year 2017 defense spending bill proposed $516.1 billion in base budget funding and $61.8 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism funding. 114th Congress The first session of the 114th Congress enacted into law six out of the 2,616 introduced bills (0.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 1.3 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the first session. In the second session, the 114th Congress enacted 133 out of 3,159 introduced bills (4.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 7.0 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session. For more information pertaining to Lowey's voting record in the 114th Congress, please see the below sections. Economic and fiscal Trade Act of 2015 See also: The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, 2015 Trade adjustment assistance On June 12, 2015, the House rejected the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015—by a vote of 126-302. Trade adjustment assistance (TAA) is a federal program providing American workers displaced by foreign trade agreements with job training and services. The measure was packaged with trade promotion authority (TPA), also known as fast-track authority. TPA is a legislative procedure that allows Congress to define "U.S. negotiating objectives and spells out a detailed oversight and consultation process for during trade negotiations. Under TPA, Congress retains the authority to review and decide whether any proposed U.S. trade agreement will be implemented," according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Lowey was one of 144 Democrats to vote against the bill. Trade promotion authority On June 12, 2015, the House passed the trade promotion authority (TPA) measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015 —by a vote of 219-211. TPA gives the president fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements sent to Congress without the opportunity for amendment or filibuster. Although the House approved TPA, it was a largely symbolic vote given the measure was part of a package trade bill including trade adjustment assistance (TAA), which was rejected earlier the same day. Lowey was one of 157 Democrats to vote against the measure. Trade promotion authority second vote After the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) and trade promotion authority (TPA) did not pass the House together on June 12, 2015, representatives voted to authorize TPA alone as an amendment to HR 2146—the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act—on June 18, 2015. The amendment passed by a vote of 218-208, with all voting members of the House maintaining his or her original position on TPA except for Ted Yoho (R-Fla.). Lowey was one of 158 Democrats to vote against the amendment. Trade adjustment assistance second vote The House passed HR 1295—the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015—on June 25, 2015, by a vote of 286-138. The Senate packaged trade adjustment assistance (TAA) in this bill after the House rejected the TAA measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015. Along with trade promotion authority (TPA), which Congress passed as part of HR 2146—the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act—TAA became law on June 29, 2015. Lowey was one of 175 Democrats to vote in favor of HR 1295. Defense spending authorization On May 15, 2015, the House passed HR 1735—the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016—by a vote of 269-151. The bill "authorizes FY2016 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation." Lowey voted with 142 other Democrats and eight Republicans against the bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 18, 2015, by a vote of 71-25. President Barack Obama vetoed the bill on October 22, 2015. On November 5, 2015, the House passed S 1356—the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016—by a vote of 370-58. The second version of the $607 billion national defense bill included $5 billion in cuts to match what was approved in the budget and language preventing the closure of the Guantanamo Bay military prison. Lowey voted with 134 other Democrats and 235 Republicans to approve the bill. On November 10, 2015, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 91-3, and President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 25, 2015. 2016 Budget proposal On April 30, 2015, the House voted to approve SConRes11, a congressional budget proposal for fiscal year 2016, by a vote of 226-197. The non-binding resolution was designed to create 12 appropriations bills to fund the government. All 183 Democrats who voted, including Lowey, voted against the resolution. 2015 budget On October 28, 2015, the House passed HR 1314—the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015—by a vote of 266-167. The bill increased military and domestic spending levels and suspended the debt ceiling until March 2017. Lowey voted with 186 Democrats and 79 Republicans in favor of the bill. It passed the Senate on October 30, 2015. President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 2, 2015. Foreign Affairs Iran nuclear deal See also: Iran nuclear agreement, 2015 On May 14, 2015, the House approved HR 1191—the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015—by a vote of 400-25. The bill required President Barack Obama to submit the details of the nuclear deal with Iran for congressional review. Congress had 60 days to review the deal and vote to approve, disapprove, or take no action on the deal. During the review period, sanctions on Iran could not be lifted. Lowey voted with 176 Democrats to approve the bill. Approval of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action On September 11, 2015, the House rejected HR 3461—To approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna on July 14, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran—by a vote of 162-269. The legislation proposed approving the nuclear agreement with Iran. Lowey voted with 24 Democrats and 244 Republicans against the bill. Suspension of Iran sanctions relief On September 11, 2015, the House approved HR 3460—To suspend until January 21, 2017, the authority of the President to waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran—by a vote of 247-186. HR 3460 prohibited "the President, prior to January 21, 2017, from: limiting the application of specified sanctions on Iran or refraining from applying any such sanctions; or removing a foreign person (including entities) listed in Attachments 3 or 4 to Annex II of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) from the list of designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the Department of the Treasury." Lowey voted with 185 Democrats against the bill. Presidential non-compliance of section 2 On September 10, 2015, the House passed H Res 411—Finding that the President has not complied with section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015—by a vote of 245-186. Section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 required the president to submit all materials related to the nuclear agreement for congressional review. House Republicans introduced the resolution because two agreements between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran were not submitted to Congress. Lowey voted with 185 Democrats against the resolution. Export-Import Bank On October 27, 2015, the House passed HR 597—the Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2015—by a vote of 313-118. The bill proposed reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank and allowing it to resume offering assistance in the form of loans and insurance to foreign companies that wanted to buy U.S. goods. Lowey voted with 185 Democrats and 127 Republicans in favor of the bill. Domestic USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 On May 13, 2015, the House passed HR 2048—the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act of 2015 or the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015—by a vote of 338-88. The legislation revised HR 3199—the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005—by ending the bulk collection of metadata under Sec. 215 of the act, requiring increased reporting from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, and requiring the use of "a specific selection term as the basis for national security letters that request information from wire or electronic communication service providers, financial institutions, or consumer reporting agencies." Lowey voted with 141 Democrats and 196 Republicans to approve the legislation. It became law on June 2, 2015. Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act On May 13, 2015, the House passed HR 36—the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act—by a vote of 242-184. The bill proposed prohibiting abortions from being performed after a fetus was determined to be 20 weeks or older. The bill proposed exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. Lowey voted with 179 Democrats against the bill. Cyber security On April 23, 2015, the House passed HR 1731—the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act of 2015—by a vote of 355-63. The bill proposed creating an information sharing program that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. It also proposed including liability protections for companies. Lowey voted with 134 Democrats and 220 Republicans to approve the bill. On April 22, 2015, the House passed HR 1560—the Protecting Cyber Networks Act—by a vote of 307-116. The bill proposed procedures that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. Lowey voted with 104 Democrats and 202 Republicans in favor of the bill. Immigration On November 19, 2015, the House passed HR 4038—the American SAFE Act of 2015—by a vote of 289-137. The bill proposed instituting additional screening processes for refugees from Iraq and Syria who applied for admission to the U.S. Lowey voted with 134 Democrats and two Republicans against the bill. 113th Congress The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 224 out of the 3215 introduced bills (7 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session. For more information pertaining to Lowey's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections. National security NDAA Lowey voted in support of HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote. DHS Appropriations Lowey voted in opposition of HR 2217 - the DHS Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 and was largely along party lines. Keystone Pipeline Amendment Lowey voted in favor of House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines. CISPA (2013) Lowey voted in opposition of HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill permitted federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities. The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party. Economy Farm Bill See also: United States Farm Bill 2013 Lowey voted against the Farm Bill on July 11, 2013. The bill passed in a 216-208 vote. The bill passed included farm policy, but did not include food stamps. King Amendment Lowey signed a letter sent to Collin Peterson in August 2013, asking him to keep Steve King's amendment out of the final Farm Bill. The "Protect Interstate Commerce Act" amendment prevents states from applying their own laws on agricultural products to agricultural products from another state. King introduced the amendment in response to a law in California, requiring a larger size cage for egg-producing chickens. King represents Iowa, which is a large egg producer. Government shutdown See also: United States budget debate, 2013 On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201. At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference. Lowey voted against the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate. The shutdown ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies. The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Lowey voted for HR 2775. Immigration Morton Memos Prohibition Lowey voted against House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain individuals residing in the United States without legal status. The vote largely followed party lines. Healthcare Repealing Obamacare Lowey voted against all attempts to repeal or delay the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Social issues Abortion Lowey voted against HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The resolution passed the House on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 228 - 196. The purpose of the bill was to ban abortions that would take place 20 or more weeks after fertilization. Previous congressional sessions Fiscal Cliff Lowey voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. She was 1 of 172 Democrats that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.

Issues

2016 presidential endorsement

✓ Lowey endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

See also: Endorsements for Hillary Clinton

Elections

2020

See also: New York's 17th Congressional District election, 2020

Nita Lowey did not file to run for re-election.

2018

See also: New York's 17th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House New York District 17

Incumbent Nita Lowey defeated Joseph Ciardullo in the general election for U.S. House New York District 17 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nita Lowey (D)	88.0	170,168
		Joseph Ciardullo (Reform Party)	12.0	23,150

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 193,318 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 17

Incumbent Nita Lowey advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 17 on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Nita Lowey

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
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Reform Party primary election

Reform Party primary for U.S. House New York District 17

Joseph Ciardullo advanced from the Reform Party primary for U.S. House New York District 17 on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Joseph Ciardullo

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: New York's 17th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Nita Lowey (D) ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections.

U.S. House, New York District 17 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Nita Lowey Incumbent	100%	214,530
Total Votes				214,530
Source: New York Board of Elections

2014

See also: New York's 17th Congressional District elections, 2014

Lowey won re-election to the U.S. House to represent the 17th Congressional District of New York on November 4, 2014. Lowey ran unopposed for the Democratic and Working Families nominations in the primary on June 24, 2014. She attempted to run for the Independence Party nomination as well, but her petitions with the New York Board of Elections were invalidated.

U.S. House, New York District 17 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Nita Lowey Incumbent	56.4%	98,150
	Republican	Chris Day	43.5%	75,781
	N/A	Write-in votes	0.1%	123
Total Votes				174,054
Source: New York State Board of Elections, NYS Board of Elections Rep. in Congress Election Returns November 4, 2014," accessed August 30, 2021

2012

See also: New York's 17th Congressional District elections, 2012

Lowey won re-election in 2012. Because of New York's redistricting, Lowey ran in the newly drawn 17th District. Politico reported that the new district was less supportive of Lowey.

Lowey ran on the Democratic and Working Families tickets. She was unopposed in the primaries and defeated Joe Carvin (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.

U.S. House, New York District 17 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Nita Lowey Incumbent	64.4%	171,417
	Republican	Joe Carvin	34.5%	91,899
	Independent	Francis Morganthaler	1%	2,771
	N/A	Write-in votes	0%	118
Total Votes				266,205
Source: New York State Board of Elections, "NYS Board of Elections Rep. in Congress Election Returns Nov. 6, 2012," accessed September 1, 2021

Full history

To view the full congressional electoral history for Nita Lowey, click [show] to expand the section.

2010 On November 2, 2010, Nita Lowey won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Jim Russell (R) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey incumbent 61.9% 114,810      Republican Jim Russell 37.7% 70,015      N/A Write-in votes 0.4% 761 Total Votes 185,586 2008 On November 4, 2008, Nita Lowey won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Jim Russell (R) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 2008 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey incumbent 68.5% 174,791      Republican Jim Russell 31.5% 80,498      N/A Write-in votes 0% 22 Total Votes 255,311 2006 On November 7, 2006, Nita Lowey won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Richard A. Hoffman (R) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 2006 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey incumbent 62.4% 124,256      Republican Richard A. Hoffman 25.8% 51,450      N/A Blank/Void/Scattering 11.8% 23,567 Total Votes 199,273 2004 On November 2, 2004, Nita Lowey won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Richard A. Hoffman (R) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 2004 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey incumbent 58.8% 170,715      Republican Richard A. Hoffman 25.5% 73,975      N/A Blank/Void/Scattering 15.7% 45,525 Total Votes 290,215 2002 On November 5, 2002, Nita Lowey won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Michael J. Reynolds (Right to Life) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 2002 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey incumbent 52.1% 98,957      Right to Life Michael J. Reynolds 4.5% 8,558      N/A Blank/Void/Scattering 43.4% 82,503 Total Votes 190,018 2000 On November 7, 2000, Nita Lowey won re-election to the United States House. She defeated John G. Vonglis (R) and Florence T. O'Grady (Right to Life) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 2000 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey incumbent 55.6% 126,878      Republican John G. Vonglis 25.4% 58,022      Right to Life Florence T. O'Grady 1.6% 3,747      N/A Blank/Void/Scattering 17.3% 39,600 Total Votes 228,247 1998 On November 3, 1998, Nita Lowey won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Daniel McMahon (Conservative), Marion M. Connor (Right to Life) and Giulio A. Cavallo (I) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 1998 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey incumbent 55.2% 91,623      Conservative Daniel McMahon 7.6% 12,594      Right to Life Marion M. Connor 1.9% 3,234      Independent Giulio A. Cavallo 2% 3,251      N/A Blank/Scattering 33.3% 55,344 Total Votes 166,046 1996 On November 5, 1996, Nita Lowey won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Kerry J. Katsorhis (R), Concetta M. Ferrara (I) and Florence T. O'Grady (Right to Life) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 1996 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey incumbent 57.4% 118,194      Republican Kerry J. Katsorhis 25.1% 51,665      Independent Concetta M. Ferrara 2.1% 4,283      Right to Life Florence T. O'Grady 1.8% 3,758      N/A Blank/Scattering 13.5% 27,852 Total Votes 205,752 1994 On November 8, 1994, Nita Lowey won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Andrew C. Hartzell (R) and Florence T. O'Grady (Right to Life) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 1994 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey incumbent 53.1% 91,663      Republican Andrew C. Hartzell 32.2% 55,636      Right to Life Florence T. O'Grady 1.7% 2,873      N/A Blank/Scattering 13% 22,497 Total Votes 172,669 1992 On November 3, 1992, Nita Lowey won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Joseph J. DioGuardi (R) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 18 General Election, 1992 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey incumbent 51.6% 115,841      Republican Joseph J. DioGuardi 33% 74,076      N/A Blank/Scattering 15.4% 34,529 Total Votes 224,446 1990 On November 6, 1990, Nita Lowey won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Glenn D. Belitto (R), John M. Schafer (Conservative) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 20 General Election, 1990 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey incumbent 58.6% 82,203      Republican Glenn D. Belitto 25.4% 35,575      Conservative John M. Schafer 6.1% 8,610      N/A Scattering 9.9% 13,819 Total Votes 140,207 1988 On November 8, 1988, Nita Lowey won election to the United States House. She defeated Joseph J. DioGuardi (R), Florence T. O'Grady (Right to Life) and Henry M. Levine (Liberal) in the general election. U.S. House, New York District 20 General Election, 1988 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Nita M. Lowey 53.3% 102,235      Republican Joseph J. DioGuardi 44.3% 84,951      Right to Life Florence T. O'Grady 1.5% 2,932      Liberal Henry M. Levine 0.9% 1,631 Total Votes 191,749

Campaign themes

2016

The following issues were listed on Lowey's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“	Security & Public Safety: Providing public safety is government’s first responsibility. Whether defending against the threat of international terrorism, preparing for natural disasters, or cracking down on violent crime, Nita is determined to keep our communities safe and secure. Educational Opportunity: As a former PTA President, a mother of three, and a grandmother of eight, Nita knows that improving educational opportunities for all Americans and giving them a chance to succeed will ensure that our nation has the most talented and educated workforce. That means focusing on early childhood education programs like Head Start, investing in math and science education, and improving access to college and skills training that prepare our children to compete in the global economy. Defense & International Affairs: The United States plays an indispensable role in the world. Nita believes that American global leadership can strengthen the forces of democracy, improve international security, and raise living standards. Economic Growth & Fiscal Responsibility: While the Great Recession may be over and the economy is slowly recovering, millions of Americans are still struggling to make ends meet. Nita supports a comprehensive, fiscally responsible strategy for job creation and economic growth. We must end wasteful spending while making critical investments in education, research, and infrastructure to grow our economy. She has stood against irresponsible legislation that would wipe out millions of jobs and stall the national recovery. Quality, Affordable Health Care: Quality, affordable health care is a critical priority for all Americans, just as cutting healthcare costs is essential for businesses, taxpayers, and our nation’s long-term fiscal health. Nita backed landmark reforms that ended insurance company abuses, helped millions of previously uninsured Americans obtain health coverage, and brought the rate of healthcare cost inflation to its lowest level in decades. We must keep these reforms and make improvements to help New York families, such as expanding tax credits to help high cost of living areas like the Lower Hudson Valley.	”
—Nita Lowey's campaign website, http://www.loweyforcongress.com/issues

2012

Lowey listed her campaign themes on her website:

• Environmental Protection & Energy Independence
• Security & Public Safety
• Educational Opportunity
• Defense & International Affairs
• Economic Growth & Fiscal Responsibility
• Quality, Affordable Healthcare

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Nita Lowey campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2018	U.S. House New York District 17	Won general	$1,610,876	$1,349,828
2016	U.S. House, New York District 17	Won	$1,701,049	N/A**
2014	U.S. House (New York, District 17)	Won	$2,133,891	N/A**
2012	U.S. House New York District 17	Won	$2,165,669	N/A**
2010	U.S. House New York District 18	Won	$2,062,770	N/A**
2008	U.S. House New York District 18	Won	$1,394,481	N/A**
2006	U.S. House New York District 18	Won	$1,344,129	N/A**
2004	U.S. House New York District 18	Won	$1,636,465	N/A**
2002	U.S. House New York District 18	Won	$1,227,782	N/A**
2000	U.S. House New York District 18	Won	$1,758,439	N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Personal Gain Index

See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)

The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:

• Changes in Net Worth
• The Donation Concentration Metric

PGI: Change in net worth

See also: Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) and Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Lowey's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $12,816,023 and $55,765,000. That averages to $34,290,511.50, which is higher than the average net worth of Democratic representatives in 2012 of $5,700,168.36. Lowey ranked as the 20th most wealthy representative in 2012. Between 2004 and 2012, Lowey's calculated net worth decreased by an average of 1 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.

Nita Lowey Yearly Net Worth
Year	Average Net Worth
2004	$36,878,745
2012	$34,290,511
Growth from 2004 to 2012:	−7%
Average annual growth:	−1%
Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.

The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.

PGI: Donation Concentration Metric

See also: The Donation Concentration Metric (U.S. Congress Personal Gain Index)

Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). In the 113th Congress, Lowey is the ranking member of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations. Lowey received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Securities & Investment industry.

From 1989-2014, 34.34 percent of Lowey's career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.

Nita Lowey Campaign Contributions
Total Raised	$19,534,253
Total Spent	$18,210,729
Ranking member of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations
Top five industries that contributed to campaign committee
Securities & Investment	$2,008,156
Lawyers/Law Firms	$1,592,968
Real Estate	$1,192,350
Retired	$1,152,515
Pro-Israel	$762,209
% total in top industry	10.28%
% total in top two industries	18.43%
% total in top five industries	34.34%

Analysis

Ideology and leadership

See also: GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Lowey was a rank-and-file Democrat as of August 2014. This was the same rating Lowey received in June 2013.

Like-minded colleagues

The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often. The results include a member from each party.

Lowey most often voted with:

• David Price
• Chris Gibson

Lowey least often voted with:

• Jim Matheson
• Justin Amash

Lifetime voting record

See also: Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives

According to the website GovTrack, Lowey missed 481 of 17,014 roll call votes from January 1989 to September 2015. This amounted to 2.8 percent, which was higher than the median of 2.2 percent among representatives as of September 2015.

Congressional staff salaries

See also: Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Lowey paid his congressional staff a total of $870,292 in 2011. Overall, New York ranked 28th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.

Staff bonuses

According to an analysis by CNN, Lowey was one of nearly 25 percent of House members who gave their staff bonuses in 2012. Lowey's staff was given an apparent $6,000.00 in bonus money.

National Journal vote ratings

See also: National Journal vote ratings

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Click the link above for the full ratings of all members of Congress.

2013

Lowey ranked 92nd in the liberal rankings in 2013.

2012

Lowey ranked 115th in the liberal rankings in 2012.

2011

Lowey ranked 118th in the liberal rankings in 2011.

Voting with party

The website OpenCongress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus.

2014

Lowey voted with the Democratic Party 94.6 percent of the time, which ranked 49th among the 204 House Democratic members as of August 2014.

2013

Lowey voted with the Democratic Party 96.5 percent of the time, which ranked ninth among the 201 House Democratic members as of June 2013.

2016 Democratic National Convention

• Delegate to the 2016 DNC (click to expand)

  See also: Democratic National Convention, 2016

  Nita Lowey
  Democratic National Convention, 2016
  Status:	Superdelegate
  State:	New York
  Supporting:	Hillary Clinton
  Delegates to the DNC 2016
  Calendar and delegate rules overview • Types of delegates • State election law and delegates • Superdelegates by state

  Lowey was a superdelegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention from New York. Lowey was one of 44 superdelegates from New York. Superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention were not bound by the results of their state’s primary or caucus to support a specific presidential candidate. Lowey supported Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. Clinton formally won the Democratic nomination for president on July 26, 2016.

  What is a superdelegate?

  See also: Superdelegates and the 2016 Democratic National Convention

  Superdelegates in 2016 were automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention, meaning that, unlike regular delegates, they were not elected to this position. Also unlike regular delegates, they were not required to pledge their support to any presidential candidate, and they were not bound by the results of their state's presidential primary election or caucus. In 2016, superdelegates included members of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic members of Congress, Democratic governors, and distinguished party leaders, including former presidents and vice presidents. All superdelegates were free to support any presidential candidate of their choosing at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

  New York primary results

  See also: Presidential election in New York, 2016

  Hillary Clinton won the New York Democratic primary election, beating Bernie Sanders by 16 points. She carried all five New York City boroughs and the city's surrounding counties as well as the counties of Erie, Monroe, and Onondaga. According to exit poll data, Clinton outperformed Sanders with women, older voters, and non-white voters. African Americans, who made up 22 percent of the New York electorate, supported her over Sanders 75 to 25 percent. Sanders, on the other hand, performed well with younger voters, particularly voters between the ages of 18 and 24, who supported him over Clinton 81 to 19 percent.

  New York Democratic Primary, 2016
  Candidate	Vote %	Votes	Delegates
  Hillary Clinton	57.5%	1,133,980	139
  Bernie Sanders	41.6%	820,256	108
  Blank or void	0.8%	16,664	0
  Totals		1,970,900	247
  Source: The New York Times and New York State Board of Elections

  Delegate allocation

  See also: 2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules

  

  New York had 291 delegates at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Of this total, 247 were pledged delegates. National party rules stipulated how Democratic delegates in all states were allocated. Pledged delegates were allocated to a candidate in proportion to the votes he or she received in a state's primary or caucus. A candidate was eligible to receive a share of the state's pledged delegates if he or she won at least 15 percent of the votes cast in the primary or caucus. There were three types of pledged Democratic delegates: congressional district delegates, at-large delegates, and party leaders and elected officials (PLEOs). Congressional district delegates were allocated proportionally based on the primary or caucus results in a given district. At-large and PLEO delegates were allocated proportionally based on statewide primary results.

  Forty-four party leaders and elected officials served as unpledged delegates. These delegates were not required to adhere to the results of a state's primary or caucus.

See also

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• Summary, biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile and news at Roll Call
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• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
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• Collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Collected news and commentary at The Washington Post

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Eliot Engel	U.S. House of Representatives - New York District 17 2013-2021	Succeeded by Mondaire Jones (D)
Preceded by José Serrano	U.S. House of Representatives - New York District 18 1993–2013	Succeeded by Sean Maloney
Preceded by Joseph J. DioGuardi	U.S. House of Representatives - New York District 20 1989-1993	Succeeded by Benjamin A. Gilman
Preceded by '	New York Assistant Secretary of State 1985-1987	Succeeded by '

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New York's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Kirsten Gillibrand (D)

Chuck Schumer (D)

Representatives

District 1

Nicholas LaLota (R)

District 2

Andrew Garbarino (R)

District 3

Tom Suozzi (D)

District 4

Laura Gillen (D)

District 5

Gregory Meeks (D)

District 6

Grace Meng (D)

District 7

Nydia Velazquez (D)

District 8

Hakeem Jeffries (D)

District 9

Yvette Clarke (D)

District 10

Daniel Goldman (D)

District 11

Nicole Malliotakis (R)

District 12

Jerrold Nadler (D)

District 13

Adriano Espaillat (D)

District 14

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D)

District 15

Ritchie Torres (D)

District 16

George Latimer (D)

District 17

Michael Lawler (R)

District 18

Pat Ryan (D)

District 19

Josh Riley (D)

District 20

Paul Tonko (D)

District 21

Elise Stefanik (R)

District 22

John Mannion (D)

District 23

Nick Langworthy (R)

District 24

Claudia Tenney (R)

District 25

Joseph Morelle (D)

District 26

Tim Kennedy (D)

Democratic Party (21)

Republican Party (7)