Louise M Slaughter

Louise M. Slaughter served New York in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 until her death on March 16, 2018. Slaughter was the first woman to serve as chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules and one of the longest-serving Democrats in Congress.

Slaughter was born in Harlan County, Kentucky, August 14, 1929. In 1951, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in microbiology; and in 1953, she received her Master of Science in public health, both from the University of Kentucky. After graduate school, Slaughter worked for Procter & Gamble in New York doing market research and became increasingly involved with local political and community issues.

From 1976 to 1979, Slaughter served on the Monroe County (NY) Legislature. While in office, she was regional coordinator to Mario Cuomo from 1976 to 1978 while he served as secretary of state and from 1979 to 1982 while he served as lieutenant governor. From 1983 to 1986, Slaughter served in the New York State Assembly.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, Slaughter was one of the leading advocates in Congress for women's rights, co-chairing the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues for the 108th Congress. She had a leading role in crafting and passing the Affordable Care Act and was a leading proponent in New York for federal investment in high speed rail.

For more information on Slaughter's policy subject areas, committee appointments and sponsored/co-sponsored legislation during her time in the U.S. House of Representatives, please visit her profile on https://www.congress.gov.