A Democrat, she represented Westchester County for three decades and became the first woman to lead the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

"With great sadness, we announce that former Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey died peacefully on March 15 at the age of 87, surrounded by her loving husband, children, and grandchildre

Former U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, a long serving New York Democrat who was the first woman to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee, has died. She was 87. Lowey's family, in a statement shared by the Westchester County Democratic Committee,