Rosa DeLauro
Encyclopedia
Rosa L. DeLauro is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 1991. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
The district is based in New Haven, and includes most of that city's suburbs.
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
.
DeLauro worked as an administrative assistant and chief of staff for Senator Chris Dodd and executive director of EMILY's List
before entering the House.
.
Rosa DeLauro is active on health policy issues, particularly women's health. She has introduced numerous bills aimed at improving cancer treatment and research and women's health policies. As chair of the appropriations subcommittee that funds the Food and Drug Administration, she has been an outspoken critic of that agency's failures to protect the public from unsafe foods and medical products.
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. She worked to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act
. She has urged politicians to be "big thinkers" on the issue of universal health care
.
DeLauro was strongly critical of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which places limits on taxpayer-funded abortions in the context of the November 2009 Affordable Health Care for America Act
.
In 2002 DeLauro voted for the Help America Vote Act of 2002. This act provided, from Federal funds, $3.9 billion to modernize technology and create new programs to reach a higher standard and to make voting an easier process for disabled citizens, military personnel, citizens living abroad, and first-time voters without valid identification. Once again in 2006 representative DeLauro voted to simplify the voting process by casting her vote against the Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 that required voters to show a government-issued photo identification before voting.
and other shore communities and the vast majority of Connecticut residents lost power for many days. At the time Hurricane Irene hit the state and during the immediate aftermath, DeLauro was vacationing along Italy
's Amalfi Coast
and was not anticipated to return to the state until 5 days after the storm had passed.
A Hartford Courant column rated DeLauro's storm response an "F" Nonetheless, DeLauro told the New Haven Register she had "no apology for taking a vacation" and being out of state during the storm.
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.
challenger Daniel Sumrall, with 76% of the vote.
in the Obama administration. However, President-elect Obama announced the nomination of fellow congresswoman Hilda Solis
for the position on December 19.
In May 2006, she was linked in press reports to Senator Christopher Dodd
's potential bid for President in 2008. On February 2, 2008, DeLauro endorsed Illinois Senator Barack Obama
for President
at her home in New Haven, Connecticut.
The top campaign contribution to DeLauro in 2007-2008 was $14,600 from employees of United Technologies.
treasurer Jerry Labriola Jr. and Green Party nominee Charles Pillsbury
. She was re-elected to another term.
. They are close friends with former White House Chief of Staff
Rahm Emanuel
.
DeLauro is one of the fifty richest members of Congress
She is an honorary board member of the National Organization of Italian American Women
. She is a leader in the group Catholic Democrats
, which is a pro-choice organization.
In May 2010, DeLauro became a brief internet sensation after the popularization of a website highlighting her allegedly Hipster
wardrobe choices. Several news services picked up the story, eventually leading DeLauro to admit that while she had visited the site, she disagreed with its premise.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 1991. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
The district is based in New Haven, and includes most of that city's suburbs.
Early life, education and career
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 HallAcademy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall
Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall is a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls high school in Milford, Connecticut, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford....
in Milford, Connecticut
Milford, Connecticut
Milford is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located between Bridgeport and New Haven. The population was 52,759 at the 2010 census...
. She earned a bachelor's degree from Marymount College
Marymount College, Tarrytown
Marymount College of Fordham University was a women's college in the United States, eventually to become part of Fordham University. The Marymount campus was located in Tarrytown, New York. Enrollment peaked at 1,112 in 1978, but by 2004 it enrolled 844 students...
in Tarrytown, New York
Tarrytown, New York
Tarrytown is a village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a stop on the Metro-North Hudson Line...
, as well as separate master's degrees from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
DeLauro worked as an administrative assistant and chief of staff for Senator Chris Dodd and executive director of EMILY's List
EMILY's List
EMILY's List is a political action committee in the United States that aims to help elect female candidates to office. It was founded by Ellen Malcolm in 1984....
before entering the House.
Committee assignments
- Committee on AppropriationsUnited States House Committee on AppropriationsThe Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Ranking Member)
Party leadership
- House Democratic Steering and Policy CommitteeSteering and Policy Committee of the United States House of RepresentativesIn the United States House of Representatives, the House Democratic Caucus includes a Steering and Policy Committee. Its primary purpose is to assign fellow party members to other House committees, and it also advises party leaders on policy...
(Co-Chair for Steering)
Political positions
DeLauro is one of the most Progressive members of the House. She is a founding member of the Congressional Progressive CaucusCongressional Progressive Caucus
The Congressional Progressive Caucus is the largest caucus within the Democratic caucus in the United States Congress with 83 declared members, and works to advance progressive issues and positions....
.
Rosa DeLauro is active on health policy issues, particularly women's health. She has introduced numerous bills aimed at improving cancer treatment and research and women's health policies. As chair of the appropriations subcommittee that funds the Food and Drug Administration, she has been an outspoken critic of that agency's failures to protect the public from unsafe foods and medical products.
On October 3, 2008, DeLauro voted a second time in the House in favor the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of , commonly referred to as a bailout of the U.S. financial system, is a law enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis...
to help stabilize an economic crisis. She worked to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act
Paycheck Fairness Act
The Paycheck Fairness Act is legislation being considered by the United States Congress to expand the scope of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Fair Labor Standards Act as part of an effort to address male–female income disparity in the United States...
. She has urged politicians to be "big thinkers" on the issue of universal health care
Universal health care
Universal health care is a term referring to organized health care systems built around the principle of universal coverage for all members of society, combining mechanisms for health financing and service provision.-History:...
.
DeLauro was strongly critical of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which places limits on taxpayer-funded abortions in the context of the November 2009 Affordable Health Care for America Act
Affordable Health Care for America Act
The Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
.
Abortion
DeLauro is pro-choice. She supports the availability of abortions in the case of incest, rape, as well as when the woman is endangered. Additionally, representative DeLauro supports the use of federal subsidies for abortion procedures. In 2006 DeLauro voted against HR 6099, a bill that would require abortion providers to follow specific procedures and formalities before performing abortions. She also voted no in 2006 on a bill that makes the transportation of pregnant women under the age of 18 across state lines in order to obtain an abortion illegal.Gun issues
Rosa L. DeLauro strongly supports and has consistently voted for increased gun control in the United States. In 2006 she voted against the Trigger Lock Amendment that ends the use of funds from the Commerce Department FY2007 Appropriation bill to enforce laws requiring guns to be sold with locks. Additionally, DeLauro voted in 1999 to increase the amount of time given to perform background checks from 24 hours to 72 hours. Earlier, in 1998 she voted to increase the minimum gun crime sentence.Campaign finance and government reform issues
In June 2010 representative DeLauro voted in favor of a bill for new disclosure requirements for political advertising. She voted against the 527 Reform Act of 2005, an act that put an end to party spending limits for candidates during general elections and again against the 527 Reform Act of 2006. DeLauro also helped to pass the Lobbying and Donation Regulations bill that put in place new regulations about lobbyists and donations for Congress members.In 2002 DeLauro voted for the Help America Vote Act of 2002. This act provided, from Federal funds, $3.9 billion to modernize technology and create new programs to reach a higher standard and to make voting an easier process for disabled citizens, military personnel, citizens living abroad, and first-time voters without valid identification. Once again in 2006 representative DeLauro voted to simplify the voting process by casting her vote against the Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 that required voters to show a government-issued photo identification before voting.
Sponsored bills
DeLauro recently sponsored the Birth Defects Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Awareness Act of 2010 (H.R. 5462). This bill allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a birth defects prevention, risk reduction, and awareness program that will cost Americans less than one dollar from 2011 to 2015. The program will increase awareness about pregnancy and breastfeeding by starting a nationwide media campaign and provide grants for research on certain exposures that effect pregnancy and breastfed infants. Most recently, on the fifteenth of November, 2010, this bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, labor, and Pensions.HR 875
DeLauro introduced HR 875, The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009. This legislation is aimed at reforming the food safety responsibilities handled by the FDA. The introduction of this bill represents a potential conflict of interest, because of her husband's, Stanley Greenberg, current relation to agricultural biotechnology corporation Monsanto.Hurricane Irene
In August 2011 the 3rd District suffered extreme damage when Hurricane Irene made landfall along the Connecticut coastline. Numerous homes were destroyed in East HavenEast Haven
East Haven may refer to:*East Haven, Connecticut, USA*East Haven, Vermont, USA*East Haven, Angus, Scotland*"Easthaven", another name for the card game Klondike...
and other shore communities and the vast majority of Connecticut residents lost power for many days. At the time Hurricane Irene hit the state and during the immediate aftermath, DeLauro was vacationing along Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
's Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast
-In popular culture:The Amalfi Coast is a popular destination among tourists. It was featured in "Positano," a short story written by American author John Steinbeck in 1953...
and was not anticipated to return to the state until 5 days after the storm had passed.
A Hartford Courant column rated DeLauro's storm response an "F" Nonetheless, DeLauro told the New Haven Register she had "no apology for taking a vacation" and being out of state during the storm.
Political campaigns
DeLauro won the Democratic primary for the 3rd District after four-term incumbent Bruce MorrisonBruce Morrison
Bruce Andrew Morrison is a former Congressman from Connecticut and candidate for Governor of Connecticut. He is a lobbyist and immigration lawyer...
gave up the seat to make an ultimately unsuccessful run for governor. She defeated State Senator
Connecticut Senate
The Connecticut State Senate is the upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The state senate comprises 36 members, each representing a district with around 94,600 inhabitants. Senators are elected to two-year terms without term limits...
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.
2006
In the 2006 election she was re-elected to a ninth term, defeating Republican challenger Joseph Vollano and Green PartyGreen Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
challenger Daniel Sumrall, with 76% of the vote.
2008
The Wall Street Journal reported on December 17, 2008, that DeLauro was "a top contender" for the position of Labor SecretaryUnited States Secretary of Labor
The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the Department of Labor who exercises control over the department and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies....
in the Obama administration. However, President-elect Obama announced the nomination of fellow congresswoman Hilda Solis
Hilda Solis
Hilda Lucia Solis is the 25th United States Secretary of Labor, serving in the Obama administration. She is a member of the Democratic Party and served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009, representing the 31st and 32nd congressional districts of California that include...
for the position on December 19.
In May 2006, she was linked in press reports to Senator Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd
Christopher John "Chris" Dodd is an American lawyer, lobbyist, and Democratic Party politician who served as a United States Senator from Connecticut for a thirty-year period ending with the 111th United States Congress....
's potential bid for President in 2008. On February 2, 2008, DeLauro endorsed Illinois Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
at her home in New Haven, Connecticut.
The top campaign contribution to DeLauro in 2007-2008 was $14,600 from employees of United Technologies.
2010
DeLauro was challenged by Connecticut Republican PartyConnecticut Republican Party
The Connecticut Republican Party is the Connecticut affiliate of the U.S. Republican Party. Jerry Labriola Jr., a Wallingford attorney and 2010 candidate for Congress, is the party chairman, elected on June 28, 2011. Prior to his election as chairman, Labriola served as the party's...
treasurer Jerry Labriola Jr. and Green Party nominee Charles Pillsbury
Charles Pillsbury
Charles A. Pillsbury is a mediator, lawyer, and community activist in New Haven, Connecticut, where he is the executive director of Community Mediation, Inc. He is the great-grandson of Charles Alfred Pillsbury, founder of the Pillsbury Company in 1872...
. She was re-elected to another term.
Personal life
DeLauro is married to political strategist Stan GreenbergStan Greenberg
Stanley Bernard Greenberg is a leading Democratic pollster and political strategist who has advised the campaigns of Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and John Kerry, as well as hundreds of other candidates and organizations in the United States and around the world, including the former Bundeskanzler ...
. They are close friends with former White House Chief of Staff
White House Chief of Staff
The White House Chief of Staff is the highest ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President.The current White House Chief of Staff is Bill Daley.-History:...
Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Israel Emanuel is an American politician and the 55th and current Mayor of Chicago. He was formerly White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama...
.
DeLauro is one of the fifty richest members of Congress
She is an honorary board member of the National Organization of Italian American Women
National Organization of Italian American Women
The National Organization of Italian American Women is an American sisterhood group founded in 1980 to represent Italian American women of varied professional and business backgrounds....
. She is a leader in the group Catholic Democrats
Catholic Democrats
Catholic Democrats is a national not-for-profit organization of Catholics, based in Boston, USA. The Catholic Democrats have members in all 50 American states and Puerto Rico, with active local chapters in numerous states...
, which is a pro-choice organization.
In May 2010, DeLauro became a brief internet sensation after the popularization of a website highlighting her allegedly Hipster
Hipster (contemporary subculture)
Hipsters are a subculture of young, recently settled urban middle class adults and older teenagers with musical interests mainly in alternative rock that appeared in the 1990s...
wardrobe choices. Several news services picked up the story, eventually leading DeLauro to admit that while she had visited the site, she disagreed with its premise.
External links
- Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro official U.S. House site
- Rosa DeLauro for Congress official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Statement of the Hon. Rosa DeLauro on $10 Billion Accenture Government Contract, June 1, 2004