Rosa DeLauro
Rosa DeLauro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 3rd district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Bruce Morrison |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Stan Greenberg |
| Residence | New Haven, Connecticut |
| Alma mater | Marymount College, Columbia University |
| Occupation | political assistant, nonprofit program coordinator |
Rosa L. DeLauro (born March 2, 1943), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1991, representing Connecticut's 3rd congressional district. The district is based in New Haven, and includes most of that city's suburbs.
DeLauro was born to an Italian-American family in New Haven, and earned her high school diploma from The Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall in Milford, Connecticut. She earned a bachelor's degree from Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, as well as separate master's degrees from the London School of Economics and Columbia University. She worked as an administrative assistant and chief of staff for Senator Chris Dodd and executive director of EMILY's List before entering the House.
DeLauro won the Democratic primary for the 3rd District after four-term incumbent Bruce Morrison gave up the seat to make an ultimately unsuccessful run for governor. She defeated State Senator Thomas Scott in a very competitive contest, taking 52 percent of the vote. However, she has never faced another contest nearly that close, and has been reelected nine times.
She is married to political strategist Stan Greenberg.
Politics
DeLauro votes with the left-leaning caucus of her party in most instances, and has been characterized as "Far-left Democrat" by GovTrack.org's analysis of bill sponsorship.[1]
While discussing Hurricane Katrina and President Bush's plan, she was quoted in the New York Times as saying, "Poor people are going to get the short end of the stick, despite all the public sympathy. That's a great irony."[2]
She is currently working to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. She is an honorary board member of the National Organization of Italian American Women. She is a leader in the group Catholic Democrats. [3]
In May 2006, she was linked in press reports to Senator Christopher Dodd's potential bid for President in 2008.
In the 2006 election she was re-elected to a ninth term, defeating Republican challenger Joseph Vollano and Green Party challenger Daniel Sumrall, with 76% of the vote. [4]
DeLauro is the chairwoman of the Agriculture Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. She also serves on the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Subcommittees of the Appropriations Committee. Additionally, she is one of the leading members on the House Budget Committee, the same committee her most popular CT-03 predecessor, Robert Giaimo, ran as chairman until 1981.
In November 2007 DeLauro had a hip replaced.[5] She has urged politicians to be "big thinkers" on the issue of universal health care.[6]
On February 2, 2008, DeLauro endorsed Illinois Senator Barack Obama for President at her home in New Haven, Connecticut.[7]
On October 3, 2008, DeLauro voted a second time in the House in favor the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to help stabilize an economic crisis.[8]
The Wall Street Journal reported on December 17, 2008, that DeLauro was "a top contender" for the position of Labor Secretary in the Obama administration.[9] However, President-elect Obama announced the nomination of fellow congresswoman Hilda Solis for the position on December 19.[10]
The top campaign contribution to DeLauro in 2007-2008 was $14,600 from employees of United Technologies. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have identified UTC as the 38th-largest corporate producer of air pollution in the United States as of 2008 . UTC released roughly 110,000 pounds of toxic chemicals annually into the air including manganese, nickel, chromium and related compounds.
In 1993 The United Technologies Corporation agreed to pay $5.3 million in penalties for violating environmental laws at seven plants in the state.
HR 875
DeLauro has introduced HR 875 [1], The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009. This legislation is aimed at reforming the food safety responsibilities handled by the FDA. It would split the agency into an agency responsible for food safety (the Food Safety Administration) and another responsible for regulation of drugs and devices. The bill has been the subject of what FactCheck.org calls "Internet hysteria," including claims that the bill would outlaw organic farming and even backyard gardening. Numerous sources, including Food & Water Watch, have refuted these rumours, although some activists do describe the bill's "one-size-fits-all" approach as harmful to smaller producers.[2][3][4]
Committee assignments
Party Leadership
- House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee (Co-Chair for Steering)
References
- ^ govtrack.us
- ^ Liberal Hopes Ebb in Post-Storm Poverty Debate
- ^ Defining Ourselves as Catholic Democrats
- ^ CNN.com Election 2006 Results, U.S. House of Representatives, CT 3rd District
- ^ courant.com
- ^ middletownpress.com
- ^ Rosa Will Back Obama - Courant.com
- ^ [http://www.newstimes.com/danbury/ci_10601034?source=rss ]
- ^ Shaiken Emerges as Top Candidate for Labor Secretary
- ^ Kornblut, Anne E. (2008-12-19). "Obama to Announce Final Cabinet Picks". The Washington Post. p. A02. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
External links
- Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro official U.S. House website
- Rosa DeLauro for Congress official campaign website
- 1943 births
- Living people
- American Roman Catholics
- Columbia University alumni
- Female members of the United States House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut
- Alumni of the London School of Economics
- Italian-American politicians
- People from New Haven, Connecticut
- Connecticut Democrats
- Women in Connecticut politics