Joe Crowley: “It is with a heavy heart that I rise to remember my colleague from New York, the former dean of our delegation and the…”

“It is with a heavy heart that I rise to remember my colleague from New York, the former dean of our delegation and the first woman to chair the House Rules Committee, Louise McIntosh Slaughter. Louise was a wonderful soul whose love of public service, the institution of Congress, and her home of western New York each and every day. Louise grew up in a coal mining community in Kentucky as one of 5 children. Inspired by the loss of her sister to pneumonia as a child, Louise chose to study microbiology and pursue a master's degree in public health. Her passion for health care inspired her work throughout her career as she championed numerous bills and efforts to help the American people gain real access to care. After obtaining her degrees, Louise met her husband, Robert, and the couple moved to New York. While living near Rochester, Louise became involved in local community groups and eventually sought to get involved in electoral politics. Her long career in public service took Louise from the county legislature to Gov. Mario Cuomo's staff, the New York State Assembly, and eventually the Congress. I had the honor of serving alongside Louise in the Assembly before eventually joining her in Congress. She had a perfect blend of southern charm and New York hustle, and was a steadfast champion for the people of western New York and Americans across the country. I will miss her relentless passion, her wit, and above all, her friendship.…”