Carolyn B. Maloney

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Carolyn Maloney

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 14th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 1993
Preceded by S. William Green
Born February 19, 1946 (1946-02-19) (age 64)
Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Clifton Maloney
(1976–2009, his death)
Children Christina Maloney
Virginia Maloney
Residence New York, New York, U.S.
Alma mater Greensboro College
Occupation United States Congresswoman
Religion Presbyterian

Carolyn B. Maloney (born February 19, 1946) is a New York Democrat who has served in the United States House of Representatives as the Congresswoman for New York's 14th congressional district since 1993. This district, popularly known as the "silk stocking district", includes most of Manhattan's East Side; Astoria and Long Island City in Queens; and Roosevelt Island.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Maloney was born as Carolyn Bosher in Greensboro, North Carolina and graduated from Greensboro College. In 1970, she visited New York City and decided to stay.[1]

[edit] Political career

Maloney was elected to the New York City Council in 1982, defeating incumbent Robert Rodriguez [2] in a heavily Spanish-speaking district based in the El Barrio neighborhood of East Harlem. She served as a Councilmember for 10 years.[3] On the Council, she served as the first Chair of the Committee on Contracts, investigating contracts issued by New York City in sludge and other areas. She authored legislation creating the City's Vendex program, which established computerized systems tracking information on City contracts and vendors doing business with the City.[4] Maloney also introduced the first measure in New York to recognize domestic partnerships, including those of same-sex couples.[5] She was the first person to give birth while serving as a City Councilmember.[6]

In 1992, Maloney was elected to the House of Representatives, narrowly defeating a 15-year incumbent, liberal Republican Bill Green, in a victory considered an upset. She is the first woman to ever represent the district, and has been re-elected eight times. She faced significant opposition from Republican City Councilman Charles Millard in 1994,[7] the year of a Republican tidal wave in the midterm congressional elections. Maloney defeated Millard handily and hasn't faced serious opposition since. The 14th and its predecessors had been one of the few districts in the city where Republicans usually did well; in fact, they held the seat for all but eight of the 56 years between 1937 and Maloney's victory. Following Maloney's win, Republicans continued to hold most of the State Senate, Assembly, and City Council seats on Manhattan's East Side for nearly another decade. Since 2002, the Democrats have dominated the area, and now hold all of the area's seats in the state legislature and City Council.[8]

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Maloney worked to ensure that the Bush administration maintained its commitment to New York's recovery and security efforts, prompting Wayne Barrett of the Village Voice to write that Maloney was "like a tiger in the House on every dollar due New York." [9] After the 9/11 Commission published its findings, Maloney co-founded the bipartisan House 9/11 Commission Caucus [10] and helped write and secure the enactment into law of many of its recommendations to reform the nation's intelligence agencies [11][12] Congressional Quarterly wrote in its annual guide, 2006 Politics in America: "In the 108th Congress, Maloney reached out beyond her usual roles as a liberal gadfly and persistent Bush administration critic, helping win enactment of a sweeping bill to reorganize U.S. intelligence operations."[13] Following the Dubai Ports World controversy, Maloney helped secured the enactment into law of her bill to reform the system for vetting foreign investments in the United States.[14][15] Maloney has supported Scientology's "New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project".[16]

In 2004, Maloney faced a potential Democratic primary challenge from Bob Jereski. Jereski opposed the Iraq War while Maloney had initially voted for the resolution to authorize force; she later forcefully renounced the war, including most memorably at a town hall meeting in her district [17] with antiwar Congressman John Murtha. However, Jereski didn't qualify because his petition was found to have invalid signatures, leaving him 4 short of the 1250 required. After reports of corruption among military contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, Maloney later secured passage through the House of her bill to create a database to better monitor all federal contracts.[18][19]

Politically, Maloney is ranked in the National Journal's annual ranking as the 114th most liberal (or 314th most conservative) member of Congress, with more liberal scores on foreign policy than on economic and social policy. Her score of 75.5 ranks her as modestly more liberal than the New York Congressional delegation as a whole.[20]

Maloney has taken several actions on health care issues. Her measure to provide Medicare coverage for annual mammograms was included in the Fiscal Year 1998 federal budget.[21] Maloney also advocated for the cause of providing federal support for medical monitoring and health care for rescue and recovery workers who were at the Ground Zero site after the 9/11 attacks, many of whom later developed serious respiratory and other ailments.[22] In the 111th Congress, Maloney introduced "The Breastfeeding Promotion Act" to protect breastfeeding in the workplace under civil rights law and make it illegal for women to lose their jobs or otherwise be discriminated against for expressing milk during lunchtime or on breaks.[23] Maloney has advocated for international women's health and family planning programs supported by the United Nations Population Fund.[24]

A co-founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Working Group on Parkinson's Disease,[25] she serves on the boards of the Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation[26] and the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation,[27] both in New York City. Maloney introduced the “Comprehensive Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Populations Act of 2007” (H.R. 2832), legislation that would require the National Institute of Health (NIH) to conduct a comprehensive comparative study of vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, which may resolve the heated controversy over the possible link between autism and vaccine components, including thimerosal and aluminum.[28] The original bill did not pass, but Maloney re-introduced the legislation in 2008.

In Congress, Maloney serves on the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Joint Economic Committee, and was previously the Chair of the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security. On January 21, 2009, Maloney was named Chair of the Joint Economic Committee for the 111th Congress. Previously, while serving as Chair of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, Maloney first introduced the "Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights" in the 110th Congress, a measure that drew praise from some editorial boards and consumer advocates.[29][30] It was passed as the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act by both houses of the 111th Congress, prompting Money magazine to dub Maloney the "best friend a credit card user ever had".[31] President Barack Obama signed the Credit Card Bill of Rights into law in a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House attended by Maloney on May 22, 2009.[32]

Days after voting against cancellation of a $1 billion, 10-year subsidy plan for U.S. sugar farmers within the 2007 U.S. Farm Bill, Maloney hosted a fundraising event that netted $9,500 in contributions from sugar growers and refiners, according to Federal Election Commission records. Maloney's election attorney, Andrew Tulloch, called the timing of the 31 July fundraiser a "pure coincidence". The bill passed the House by a 282-144 vote.[33] The Sunlight Foundation pointed out that among the 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Maloney has the ninth-highest amount of investment in oil stocks.[34]

Maloney has been active on issues involving women, children and families since the beginning of her career.[3] A former Co-Chair of the House Caucus on Women's Issues, she authored and helped secure the enactment into law of a measure to provide federal funding to clear the backlog of rape kits for which evidence had been collected, but never entered into law enforcement DNA databases. It was called "the most important anti-rape legislation ever considered by Congress" by the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network.[35] Maloney's bill, included in the "Justice for All Act of 2005", was named in honor of Debbie Smith, a rape survivor; the effort to enact it was later the subject of a Lifetime Television movie, A Life Interrupted: The Debbie Smith Story.[36] Maloney was played by Lynne Adams. Maloney also co-authored and helped secure passage of bipartisan legislation to curb the demand for sex trafficking.[37] She introduced the Child Care Affordability Act of 2007 to increase access to child care by providing tax credits [38] Maloney's amendment to a foreign aid bill succeeded in securing $60 million in funding for programs for Afghani women and girls and to help establish an Afghan commission on human rights.[39] She is the chief House sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment.[40] In 2008 and again in 2009, Maloney authored, and secured House passage of, a bill to provide four weeks of paid parental leave to federal employees.[41][42] She has also authored and introduced the Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act that would expand the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act to include couples in domestic partnerships, civil unions, and same-sex marriages.[43] Legislation to create a National Women's History Museum that was jointly introduced by Maloney and her colleague Eleanor Holmes Norton was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in October, 2009.[44]

In 2008, Rodale Press published Maloney's book on women's issues, Rumors of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated: Why Women's Lives Aren't Getting Any Easier—and How We Can Make Real Progress for Ourselves and Our Daughters [45]. In the book, Maloney argues that progress for women has stalled and offers recommendations for resuming their advance toward full equality.[46]

Maloney appeared on The Colbert Report in the Better Know a District segment on July 29, 2008, speaking about women's issues.

In Congress, Maloney has helped secure funding for major mass transit projects, resulting in the commitment of billions of federal dollars for New York State.[47] Early in her tenure, she joined with colleagues to secure $306.1 million in federal funds for the 63rd Street Connector, a $645 million project that significantly expanded transit capacity between Queens and Manhattan [48] Maloney has been hailed as a champion of the Second Avenue Subway,[49] a project first conceived in the 1920s. In November 2007, the federal government signed a full funding grant agreement with New York State committing to providing $1.3 billion in federal funds for the subway's first phase on Manhattan's Upper East Side.[50] Maloney has also advocated for the East Side Access project, which will bring Long Island Railroad (LIRR) trains directly to Grand Central Terminal and create a new LIRR stop in Sunnyside, Queens. In December 2006, the federal government signed a full funding grant agreement promising $2.63 billion to New York to complete East Side Access.[51]

In December 2008, Maloney hired a public relations firm to help bolster her efforts to be named by Governor David Paterson as Hillary Clinton's successor as a New York Senator. Maloney toured parts of the state, but was overshadowed by Caroline Kennedy's promotional tour for the same seat. Maloney interviewed with the governor for 55 minutes. Public opinion polls placed Maloney's support for the Senate seat in the single digits, trailing the front-runner, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, although her bid was endorsed by the National Organization for Women Political Action, the Feminist Majority Political Action Committee,[52] New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof,[53] and other columnists [54] and editorial boards.[55]

On January 23, 2009, Paterson named Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to the post.[56] Many urged Maloney to run against Gillibrand in 2010.[57][58]

On July 20, 2009, Maloney apologized after using the word "nigger" in repeating a comment made by a third party about Gillibrand.[59]

I got a call from someone from Puerto Rico, [who] said Gillibrand went to Puerto Rico and came out for English-only (education). And he said, 'it was like saying nigger to a Puerto Rican'.

Maloney was quoted by the City Hall News.[60] Although she had been leading Gillibrand in both the Rasmussen[61] and the Quinnipiac polls,[62] Maloney ruled out a run for the U.S. Senate and instead retained her congressional seat.[63]

She is currently being challenged, in the Democratic primary, by Reshma Saujani, a 34-year-old Indian-American hedge fund lawyer.[64]

In 2010, Project On Government Oversight, a government watchdog group, presented Maloney with its Good Government Award for her contributions to government transparency and oversight, including her investigations into corruption and mismanagement in the Mineral Management Service and her support of a Federal Contractor Misconduct Database similar to POGO's.[65]

[edit] Committee assignments

[edit] Family and personal life

She married Clifton Maloney, an investment banker, in 1976. The couple had two daughters, Christina and Virginia. Her husband died on September 25, 2009 while on a climbing expedition in Tibet.[66][67]

Maloney is a member of The Junior League of the City of New York.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Janofsky, Michael, "For Maloney, A New Arena But the Same Style," New York Times, December 26, 1992 [1]
  2. ^ Our Campaigns website as viewed on 9/29/2009
  3. ^ a b Janofsky, op. cit
  4. ^ Lyall, Sarah, "Two Run on Record in Silk Stocking District", New York Times, October 25, 1992 [2]
  5. ^ Lee, Felicia R., "Bill Would Give Unwed Couples Equal Benefits", New York Times, November 21, 1990 [3]
  6. ^ National Women's Political Caucus
  7. ^ "The 1994 Election: New York State; New York Congressional Results", New York Times, November 9, 1994 [4]
  8. ^ [5] Sargent, Greg and Benson, Josh, "Here's One Place GOP Curled Up: Our Fair Island," New York Observer, November 17, 2002
  9. ^ Barrett, Wayne, "The Ten Ways that Bush Screwed New York," Village Voice, October 18, 2005 [6]
  10. ^ "Action Alert", Families of September 11th website as seen on 9/21/09
  11. ^ "Relatives of 9/11 Victims Disband", Associated Press, January 11, 2005 [7]
  12. ^ "H.R. 1 Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, Govtrack.us [8]
  13. ^ Nutting, B. (ed.), CQ's Politics in America 2006, Washington: Congressional Quarterly Publications, 2006.
  14. ^ [9] "Treasury Gets New CFIUS Authority," Washington Times, January 24, 2008
  15. ^ "Dodd, Christopher Dodd Frank, Barney Frank Bachus, Spencer Bachus, and Maloney Laud Passage of CFIUS Reform Legislation", press release issued by U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd, July 11, 2007
  16. ^ Schindler, Paul (August 5, 2005). "Margarita Lopez stays mum through Scientology flap". Downtown Express 18 (11). http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_117/margaritalopezstays.html. Retrieved 2009-01-29. 
  17. ^ Smith, Chad, "After Supporting War, Maloney Calls for Pullout", The Villager, April 12–18, 2006 [10]
  18. ^ "Tracking the Spoils of the Private Sector", New York Times editorial, April 27, 2008 [11]
  19. ^ Newell, Elizabeth, "House Passes Three Contracting Bills", Governmentexecutive.com, April 23, 2008 [12]
  20. ^ "National Journal Online - Vote Ratings". Nationaljournal.com. 2009-02-27. http://www.nationaljournal.com/2009voteratings?person=M000087. Retrieved 2010-07-12. 
  21. ^ "Profile: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Playground website of the Child-Friendly Initiative, [13]
  22. ^ DePalma, Anthony, "Representatives Join Forces to Push New 9/11 Medical Bill", New York Times, September 8, 2007 [14]
  23. ^ "Mom: Breast-Feeding Cost Me My Job", Cable News Network, September 17, 2009
  24. ^ "Americans for the UNFPA"
  25. ^ "Bicameral Caucus on Parkinson's Disease", Parkinson's Action Network
  26. ^ "Board of Trustees", The Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation
  27. ^ "Board of Trustees", Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation
  28. ^ "Legislation Aims to Resolve Thimerosal Controversy, Maloney Introduces Bill to Require Comprehensive Study to Resolve the Question of a Possible Link between Mercury and Autism"
  29. ^ "Plastic Card Tricks", New York Times editorial, March 29, 2008
  30. ^ "The Fed Aims at Credit Cards", New York Times editorial, May 3, 2008
  31. ^ Rosato, Donna, "Best Friend A Credit Card User Ever Had", Money magazine, May 2009 [15]
  32. ^ White House website
  33. ^ Morgan, Dan, "Sugar Industry Expands Influence", Washington Post, November 2, 2007 [16]
  34. ^ "The Sunlight Foundation Blog - Oil Industry Influence: Personal Finances'". Sunlight Foundation. August 8, 2008. http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2008/08/08/oil-industry-influence-personal-finances/.  Retrieved on Aug. 8, 2008
  35. ^ "Fighting Sexual Violence with DNA", Rape Abuse and Incest National Network [17]
  36. ^ "A Life Interrupted", Lifetime Television
  37. ^ Blumenfeld, Laura, "In A Shift, Anti-Prostitution Efforts Target Pimps and Johns". The Washington Post, December 15, 2005 [18]
  38. ^ "H.R. 4164 Child Care Affordability Act of 2007", Open Congress.org, www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h4164/show]
  39. ^ Maloney's Letter to the Editor, New York Times, November 9, 2003
  40. ^ Bergland, Jim, "Uphill Fight Forecast for Equal Rights Amendment," Associated Press, April 4, 2007 [19]
  41. ^ Baribeau, Simone, "Paid Parental Leave Passes House, But Faces Veto Threat", The Washington Post, June 20, 2008 [20]
  42. ^ Miller, Jason, "House Passes Paid Parental Leave Bill," Federal News Radio, June 5, 2009 [21]
  43. ^ Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act, H.R. 2792, 110th Congress
  44. ^ "House Passes Bill to Create Women's Museum," WJLA-TV website, October 14, 2009 [22]
  45. ^ Maloney, Carolyn B., Rumors of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated: Why Women's Lives Aren't Getting Any Easier -- And How We Can Make Real Progress for Ourselves and Our Daughters (New York: Rodale, 2008)[23]
  46. ^ Rodrigues, Vivianne, "U.S. Women Far From Equality, Lawmaker's Book Says", Reuters, June 25, 2008
  47. ^ "Maloney, Gillibrand Applauded for Records", Queens Gazette editorial, August 19, 2009 [24]
  48. ^ "New York City Transit 63rd Street-Queens Boulevard Connection - New York City", U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration [25]
  49. ^ Newman, Philip, "MTA's East Side Tunnels Will Creat Jobs: Maloney", Astoria Times (NYC), February 4, 2009 [26]
  50. ^ "Second Avenue Subway Gets Guaranteed Federal Funding", Transit Blogger, November 20, 2007 [27]
  51. ^ "East Side Access Full Funding Grant Agreement, December 18, 2006", U.S. Department of Transportation [28]
  52. ^ "Women's Groups Endorse Carolyn Maloney for Clinton's Senate Seat," National Organization for Women [29]
  53. ^ Kristof, Nicholas, "For Senate, Caroline or Carolyn?", New York Times, December 17, 2008 [30]
  54. ^ Baldwin, Alec, "Paterson Must Appoint A Woman", Huffington Post, December 11, 2008 [31]
  55. ^ "Maloney Is Best Choice for U.S. Senate", Queens Gazette editorial, December 3, 2008 [32]
  56. ^ "Sources: Gillibrand to get Clinton's Senate seat", MSNBC.com, January 23, 2008 [33]
  57. ^ "It's Called Democracy: Democrats Should Welcome All Comers Intro Primary for U.S. Senate," New York Daily News editorial, June 17, 2008 [34]
  58. ^ "Run, Carolyn, Run", New York Post editorial, July 3, 2009
  59. ^ Maloney apologizes for use of word "nigger"
  60. ^ Dovere, Edward-Isaac, "Oncoming Traffic: Carolyn Maloney Swerves into the Senate Race", City Hall News (NYC), July 17, 2009 [35]
  61. ^ "Election 2010: New York Democratic Senate Primary," Rasmussen Reports
  62. ^ Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
  63. ^ Hernandez, Raymond, "Recognizing Long Odds, Maloney Drops Her Senate Bid", New York Times, August 7, 2009 "Maloney Drops Out"
  64. ^ Halbfinger, David M. "Pro-Wall Street Democrat Takes On a House Veteran". New York Times. January 26, 2010.
  65. ^ Good Government Award Home Page. Project On Government Oversight website. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  66. ^ Thrush, Glenn. "Rep. Maloney's husband dies in Tibet", Politico, September 2009 [36]
  67. ^ Caruso, David (September 27, 2009). "NY congresswoman's husband dies on mountain climb". Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hgcrTtFdnLiZfDpVhJOya2rzqR_gD9AV99D00. Retrieved 2009-09-28. 

[edit] External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Political offices
Preceded by
Robert Rodriguez		 New York City Council, 8th District
1982–1991		 Succeeded by
Adam Clayton Powell IV
Preceded by
Ronnie Eldridge		 New York City Council, 4th District
1992		 Succeeded by
Andrew Eristoff
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
S. William Green		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
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