Rep. Hoyer Issues Statement on Death of Rep. Slaughter

WASHINGTON, March 16 -- House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-New York, ranking member of the Rules Committee:

"I was deeply saddened to learn the news this morning of Louise's passing. She was a dear friend and a respected colleague for more than three decades. Her passing is a loss for all of us who served alongside her, for the people of Rochester she represented so ably, and for our entire country. The daughter of a Kentucky blacksmith from a coal mining town, Louise came into public service with a keen sense of the challenges faced by working men and women as they seek a pathway into the middle class. In her early years in local and state government in New York, Louise drew on those experiences as well as her work in public health and business to fight for policies that promoted cleaner air and water and safer communities.

"As Chairwoman of the House Rules Committee from 2007-2011, Louise had a significant role in the shaping of nearly every piece of legislation that Democrats passed during our Majority, including the Affordable Care Act, Wall Street reforms, and the Recovery Act that helped put our economy back on track after the Great Recession. Later, as Ranking Member, she helped lead opposition to proposals that sought to turn the clock back and endanger working families' access to opportunities. Her intellect, determined spirit, and devotion to working people left a lasting imprint on all of the legislation she touched.

"Louise also served on the Helsinki Commission, which I chaired. In 1991, we traveled together to visit newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, where I saw firsthand Louise's commitment to the principles of democracy and human rights. On that visit, I also had the opportunity to get to know her late husband Bob and I enjoyed a close relationship with him and Louise since then.

"Her courage, her compassion, and her principled advocacy were a hallmark of her service both in the state of New York and the Congress of the United States. I offer my condolences to Louise's daughters Megan, Amy, and Robin and their families, including Louise's seven grandchildren. Surely, they live in a better country and a better world because of Louise's tireless work. All of us who served with her and spent years alongside her in the House will miss her dearly."