View source for Louise Slaughter

{{Short description|American politician (1929–2018)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Louise Slaughter
| image = Louise Slaughter official photo.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2016
| office = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Rules|House Rules Committee]]
| term_start = January 3, 2007
| term_end = January 3, 2011
| predecessor = [[David Dreier]]
| successor = David Dreier
| state1 = [[New York (state)|New York]]
| term_start1 = January 3, 1987
| term_end1 = March 16, 2018
| predecessor1 = [[Fred J. Eckert]]
| successor1 = [[Joseph Morelle]]
| constituency1 = {{ushr|NY|30|C}} (1987–1993)<br>{{ushr|NY|28|C}} (1993–2013)<br>{{ushr|NY|25|C}} (2013–2018)
| state_assembly2 = New York
| district2 = 130th
| term_start2 = January 1, 1983
| term_end2 = December 31, 1986
| predecessor2 = Thomas A. Hanna
| successor2 = [[Robert L. King]]
| birth_name = Dorothy Louise McIntosh
| birth_date = {{birth date|1929|8|14}}
| birth_place = [[Lynch, Kentucky]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|3|16|1929|8|14}}
| death_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Robert Slaughter|1957|May 2014|end=died}}
| children = 3
| education = [[University of Kentucky]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]], [[Master of Public Health|MS]])
| module = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Rep. Louise Slaughter on Detainee Photos as Exemptions to the FOIA.ogg |title=Slaughter's voice |type=speech |description=Slaughter opposing exempting detainee abuse photographs from the [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]].<br>Recorded October 15, 2009}}
}}
'''Dorothy Louise Slaughter''' (née '''McIntosh''', August 14, 1929 – March 16, 2018) was an American politician elected to 16 terms as a [[United States House of Representatives|United States representative]] from [[New York (state)|New York]], serving from 1987 until her death in 2018.

Slaughter was born in [[Lynch, Kentucky]]. She studied microbiology and public health at the [[University of Kentucky]], earning both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree. After moving to New York and becoming involved in politics as a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], she was elected to a seat in the [[New York State Assembly]] in 1982 and to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986. Slaughter represented [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]] and most of surrounding [[Monroe County, New York|Monroe County]]; she represented the 30th district from 1987 to 1993, the 28th district from 1993 to 2013, and the [[New York's 25th congressional district|25th district]] from 2013 until her death.

Slaughter served as chair of the [[House Rules Committee]] from 2007 until 2011; she was also the ranking minority member of the Committee from 2005 to 2007, and from 2011 until her death.<ref name="house.gov">{{cite web|url=https://louise.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses|title=Committees and Caucuses|date=December 13, 2012|access-date=January 8, 2018|archive-date=January 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108174807/https://louise.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses|url-status=dead}}</ref> Slaughter was the lead House sponsor of the [[Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act]], which became law in 2008. Along with Senator [[Joe Biden]] she co-sponsored the [[Violence Against Women Act]]. At the time of her death, Slaughter was the oldest sitting member of Congress and the last sitting member born in the 1920s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/03/16/louise-slaughter-dies-congresswoman-house-representatives/431485002/|title=Congresswoman Louise Slaughter dies at 88|access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

==Early life, education, and early career==
Slaughter was born Dorothy Louise McIntosh on August 14, 1929, in [[Lynch, Kentucky]], a [[coal mining]] town built by a subsidiary of [[U.S. Steel]]. She was the daughter of Daisy Grace (née Byers; 1903–1987)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geni.com/people/Daisy-McIntosh/6000000042490765308|title=Daisy Grace McIntosh|date=March 31, 1903 |publisher=Geni.com}}</ref> and Oscar Lewis McIntosh (1901–1987),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geni.com/people/Oscar-McIntosh/6000000042490844141|title=Oscar Lewis McIntosh|date=June 12, 1901 |publisher=Geni.com}}</ref> a [[blacksmith]] for a coal mine.<ref name=jpfried>{{cite web|author=Joseph P. Fried |date=March 16, 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/obituaries/louise-slaughter-dies.html |title=Louise Slaughter, 88, 16-Term Liberal Congresswoman, Is Dead |work=  The New York Times |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref> She had two brothers, Philip and David, as well as two sisters, Marjorie and Virginia. Her sister Virginia died of [[pneumonia]] while she was a child; Slaughter later cited this as her reason for earning degrees in [[microbiology]] and [[public health]].<ref name="WaPoObit">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/rep-louise-slaughter-liberal-democrat-who-championed-womens-rights-dies-at-88/2018/03/16/7b7f7c3e-2865-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html|title=Rep. Louise Slaughter, N.Y. Democrat who championed women's rights, dies at 88|first=Harrison|last=Smith|date=March 16, 2018|access-date=March 16, 2018|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> Slaughter graduated from Somerset High School in Somerset, Kentucky.<ref name=jpfried />

Slaughter graduated from high school and enrolled at the [[University of Kentucky]] in [[Lexington, Kentucky]], where she studied [[microbiology]]. Inspired by the loss of her sister to [[pneumonia]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aaas.org/can-congress-now-take-antibiotic-resistance|title=Can Congress now take on antibiotic resistance?|website=American Association for the Advancement of Science|date=May 4, 2015 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref> she earned a [[bachelor's degree]] in bacteriology. She went on to earn a [[master's degree]] in [[public health]], also from the University of Kentucky.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Rep-Louise-Slaughter-New-York-congresswoman-born-in-Kentucky-dies-at-88-477095493.html?ref=493 |title=Rep. Louise Slaughter, New York congresswoman born in Kentucky, dies at 88 |date=March 16, 2018 |publisher=Wkyt.com |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref> Completed in 1954, her master's thesis focused on the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. After [[graduate school]], Slaughter went to work for [[Procter & Gamble]] in New York doing [[market research]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://massivesci.com/articles/louise-slaughter-science-heroes/|website=massivesci.com|access-date=2020-03-07|title=Three times Louise Slaughter used her microbiology training in Congress|date=April 12, 2018 }}</ref>

==Early political career==
Slaughter was first elected to the Monroe County Legislature in 1975. Upon taking office, she was one of only two female members of the county legislature.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/12/30/louise-slaughter-223421/ |title=Louise Slaughter: The Congresswoman Who Continued the Legacy of Seneca Falls |website=politico.com |last=Dittmar |first=Kelly |date=December 30, 2018}}</ref> In 1975, while serving in the county legislature, she accepted an offer from then-[[New York Secretary of State]] [[Mario Cuomo]] to serve as his regional coordinator in the Rochester area. When Cuomo was elected [[lieutenant governor]] in 1979, Slaughter stayed on as his Rochester regional coordinator.<ref name="WHEC_Obit">{{cite web|url=http://www.whec.com/news/congresswoman-louise-slaughter-dies/4828500/ |title=Congresswoman Louise Slaughter dies |publisher=WHEC.com |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

In 1982, local Democratic supporters approached Slaughter with a desire to see her run to represent the 130th District in the [[New York State Assembly]] against the Republican incumbent, Thomas A. Hanna. Slaughter challenged Hanna, and she won with 52 percent of the vote.<ref>"Vote Totals for Races in the New York State Assembly". ''The New York Times''. November 4, 1982. p. B10.</ref> In 1984, she ran for reelection against the [[New York Republican Party|Republican]] and [[New York Conservative Party|Conservative]] parties' candidate Donald S. Milton.<ref name= 1984g>"The Returns Across New York in Campaigns for Seats in State Legislature". ''The New York Times''. November 8, 1984. p. A1.</ref> She was re-elected with 55 percent of the vote.<ref name= 1984g/> Slaughter sat in the [[185th New York State Legislature|185th]] and [[186th New York State Legislature]]s.<ref name="WHEC_Obit" />

==U.S. House of Representatives==

===Elections===
[[File:Louise Slaughter, James Reilly, Richard Rose at Image Permanence Institute, RIT NandE Vol19Num10 1988 Jan21 Complete.jpg|thumb|right|Slaughter visiting a lab at the [[Rochester Institute of Technology]] in&nbsp;1988]]
After four years in the Assembly, Slaughter decided to run for the Democratic nomination in [[New York's 30th congressional district]]. At the time, the district included downtown and eastern Rochester, most of eastern Monroe County, all of [[Genesee County, New York|Genesee County]] and northern [[Livingston County, New York|Livingston]] and [[Ontario County, New York|Ontario]] counties. Moderate Republican [[Barber Conable]] had represented the district for 20 years before giving way in 1985 to a considerably more conservative Republican, [[Fred J. Eckert]]. Slaughter defeated Eckert by one point in the 1986 midterm election.<ref name="WaPoObit" />

After becoming the first Democrat to represent the district since 1963, Slaughter ran against a young member of the Monroe Country Legislature, 33-year old John D. Bouchard. As her district continued its transition from a Republican stronghold, her supporters came out in droves in the 1988 Congressional Election, with her gaining nearly 40,000 more votes than she did in 1986, winning with 56.9% of the vote. Her opponent John D. Bouchard, received one of the highest vote totals tallied against Slaughter for the duration of her time in Washington.

Redistricting after the 1990 census renumbered Slaughter's district as the 28th District and turned it into a much more compact district comprising a narrow ribbon in Monroe County. In the process, she picked up the remainder of Rochester. At the same time, the neighboring 29th District of 30-year incumbent Republican [[Frank Horton (New York politician)|Frank Horton]], a close friend of Slaughter's, was dismantled, and his home was drawn into the new 28th.  The district had already been moving away from its moderate Republican roots, but the new territory made the district solidly Democratic.  Horton opted to retire rather than run against Slaughter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams |first=Thomas |url=https://rbj.net/2004/08/31/congressman-frank-horton-dies-at-home-in-virginia/ |title=Congressman Frank Horton dies at home in Virginia &#124; Rochester Business Journal |publisher=Rbj.net |date=August 31, 2004 |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

After the 2000 census, much of her district was merged with the 29th District of fellow Democratic Representative [[John LaFalce]], which included [[Niagara Falls, New York|Niagara Falls]] and the northern third of [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]]. Original plans called for LaFalce's district to be merged with that of Republican [[Jack Quinn (politician)|Jack Quinn]], who represented the other side of Buffalo. The new district retained Slaughter's district number, but was geographically more LaFalce's district. Only a thin [[tendril]] in [[Orleans County, New York|Orleans County]] connected Rochester to Buffalo. However, LaFalce did not seek a 15th term, effectively handing the seat to Slaughter.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/27/nyregion/metro-briefing-new-york-congressman-lafalce-to-retire.html |title=Metro Briefing &#124; New York: Congressman Lafalce To Retire |work= The New York Times |date=June 27, 2002 |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Louise Slaughter official portrait, 109th congress.jpg|thumb|Slaughter during the [[109th United States Congress|109th Congress]]]]
Following the 2010 census, Slaughter's district was renumbered as the [[New York's 25th congressional district|25th District]]. It was significantly more compact than its predecessor, as it took in most of Monroe County and lost its territory near Buffalo. However, it was also slightly less Democratic than her former territory. While President [[Barack Obama]] carried the old 28th with 69 percent of the vote, he only received 59 percent of the vote in the new 25th.<ref>{{cite web|last=Nir |first=David |url=https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2012/1/13/1054554/-2008-presidential-results-by-congressional-district-for-both-old-and-new-district-lines |title=2008 presidential results by congressional district, for both old and new district lines |publisher=Dailykos.com |date=January 13, 2012 |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref> She faced a vigorous challenge from Republican Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, but Slaughter won a 14th term with 57.4% of the vote, on November 6, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2012/results/states/new-york.html |title=New York – Election 2012 |work = The New York Times |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

In the 2014 election, Slaughter narrowly defeated her Republican opponent, [[Gates, New York|Gates]] town supervisor Mark Assini, by 869 votes. After an extended period of vote counting, Assini conceded defeat on November 12, 2014, more than a week after the election was held.<ref>Abby Livingston, [http://atr.rollcall.com/election-results-2014-louise-slaughter-mark-assini/?dcz= "Republican Concedes Tight New York House Race"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506072511/http://atr.rollcall.com/election-results-2014-louise-slaughter-mark-assini/?dcz= |date=May 6, 2015 }}, ''Roll Call'', November 12, 2014.</ref><ref>Paige Lavender, [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/13/mark-assini-midterm-election-results_n_5973590.html "Mark Assini Concedes To Incumbent Louise Slaughter In New York Congressional Race"], ''The Huffington Post'', November 13, 2014.</ref>  It was the first close race that Slaughter had faced since her initial bid for the seat. In a 2016 rematch against Assini, Slaughter prevailed by a 55.7%-44.3% margin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allwnynews.com/2016/11/higgins-cruises-to-victory-over-schratz.html|title= Higgins cruises to victory over Schratz; Slaughter beats Assini|last= Leffler|first= Scott|date= November 9, 2016|website=www.allwnynews.com|access-date= December 6, 2017}}</ref>

===Tenure===
In January 1987, Slaughter entered Congress. During her entire tenure, she was a "fierce advocate" for medical research, women's health, neurology and genetic rights.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dorsey|first1=E. Ray|last2=Shoulson|first2=Ira|date=2018-07-03|title=Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (1929–2018)|journal=Neurology|language=en|volume=91|issue=1|pages=19–20|doi=10.1212/WNL.0000000000005723|s2cid=81552278|issn=0028-3878}}</ref> In 1993, as a member of the [[United States House Committee on the Budget]] Slaughter secured the first $500 million [[Earmark (politics)|earmarked]] by Congress for [[breast cancer]] [[cancer research|research]] at the [[National Institutes of Health]]. Slaughter was also a co-sponsor of the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993, and fought to ensure the legislation included language guaranteeing that women and minorities were included in all federal health [[clinical trials]] from that point forward.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d103:H.R.4:@@@P |title=Bill Summary and Status |publisher=United States Library of Congress |access-date=September 24, 2013 |archive-date=May 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511112514/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d103:H.R.4:@@@P |url-status=dead }}</ref> Previously, all NIH-funded research was done on white males, even in trials related to predominantly female diseases such as breast cancer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/02/nyregion/q-a-dr-carolyn-m-mazure-women-s-health-women-s-differences.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|title=Q&A/Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure; Women's Health, Women's Differences|work=The New York Times|date=May 2, 1999|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> Slaughter fought to include language establishing an Office of Research on Women's Health at NIH in the legislation. Ten years after the creation of ORWH, the National Institutes of Health awarded Slaughter its "Visionary for Women's Health Research" award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genengnews.com/keywordsandtools/print/3/31216|title=GEN Congressional Hall of Fame|date=February 6, 2013|access-date=September 24, 2013|publisher=Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News}}</ref>

In 1994, along with [[U.S. Senator|Senator]] [[Joe Biden]], Slaughter co-authored the [[Violence Against Women Act]] which is designed to reduce incidences of domestic violence in the United States and provide resources to victims.<ref name="WaPoObit" />

[[File:2012 03 01 Representative Louise Slaughter letter to John Boehner signed by 78 members of Congress.pdf|thumb|left|Congressional letter on [[Sandra Fluke]] by Louise Slaughter]]
Along with Senator [[Christopher Dodd]] (D-CT), she introduced the Women's Progress Commemoration Act which established the [[Women's Progress Commemorative Commission]] in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/wori/planyourvisit/upload/women%27s%20progress%20commission%20report.pdf |title=Women's Progress Report 7/01 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |date=July 2001 |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221015513/https://www.nps.gov/wori/planyourvisit/upload/women%27s%20progress%20commission%20report.pdf |archive-date=February 21, 2017 }}</ref>

After the 2006 mid-term takeover of the House by the Democratic Party, Slaughter was chosen to serve as Chairwoman of the [[United States House Committee on Rules]] at the start of the 110th Congress. She was the first woman in history to chair the Rules Committee, and she served in that capacity until 2011.<ref name="house.gov"/>

In 2007, Slaughter introduced the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA), which would limit the [[Antibiotic use in livestock|use of antibiotics in livestock feed]], to counter the threat of antibiotic resistant bacteria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.louise.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1106&Itemid=1 |title=March 17, 2009 – Slaughter Introduces Bill to Curb Excessive Use of Antibiotics in Food Supply – Congresswoman Louise Slaughter |publisher=Louise.house.gov |date=March 17, 2009 |access-date=August 23, 2010}}</ref> She has reintroduced her legislation in every subsequent session of Congress. The legislation would phase out the use of eight major classes of antibiotics in healthy food-producing animals, while allowing their use for treatment of sick animals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:H.R.1150:@@@D&amp;summ2=m&amp; |title=Bill Summary and Status- H.R. 1150 |publisher=United States Library of Congress |access-date=September 24, 2013 |archive-date=July 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704115840/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:H.R.1150:@@@D&summ2=m& |url-status=dead }}</ref> She cited her scientific training as the impetus for her dedicated interest on the topic, stating in an interview, "It wasn't that I was far-seeing then that they were going to use antibiotics in agriculture. But I have worked on preserving antibiotics for decades."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2015/2/28/8122143/louise-slaughter-antibiotic-resistance|title=Congress could help solve antibiotic resistance. This Congresswoman explains why it won't.|last=Belluz|first=Julia|date=2015-02-28|website=Vox|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref>

Slaughter strongly supported the [[Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act]] of 2008.  She introduced the bill repeatedly over a period of 14 years before it was signed into law on May 21, 2008. The [[Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act]] is designed to prohibit discrimination by employers or health insurers based upon an individual's genetic information.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theamericannurse.org/2014/01/02/getting-the-word-out-on-gina/ |title=Getting the word out on GINA &#124; The American Nurse |publisher=Theamericannurse.org |date=January 2, 2014 |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

In 2009, Slaughter wrote to the [[United States Department of Defense]] requesting an investigation into faulty body armor after reading an article in ''[[The New York Times]]'', entitled, [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/07/politics/07armor.html?_r=1& "Pentagon Study Links Fatalities to Body Armor."] The article authored by Michael Moss reported that up to 80 percent of Marines who were killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived if they had extra body armor. Slaughter's request resulted in the Department of Defense launching an investigation, recalling 16,000 pieces of body armor and replacing them with safer armor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dodig.mil/pubs/documents/DODIG-2013-079.pdf |title=Department of Defense Inspector General- Advanced Combat Helmet Technical Assessment |publisher=United States Department of Defense |date=May 29, 2013 |access-date=September 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928034527/http://www.dodig.mil/pubs/documents/DODIG-2013-079.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Slaughter was chairwoman of the [[United States House Committee on Rules]] during the writing of the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] and managed the rule for the legislation on the House Floor. In March 2010, Slaughter proposed that a House rule be passed to expedite the passage of health care reform legislation. The rule allows the House to deem the Senate version of the health care reform bill "already passed" by the House without the House holding a recorded vote on the bill. Critics, who called the strategy the "Slaughter Solution", charged this proposed strategy was an affront to democratic principles and challenged its constitutionality.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703909804575123512773070080 |title=Slaughter House Rules |work = Wall Street Journal|date=March 16, 2010 |access-date=August 23, 2010}}</ref> Ultimately this legislative strategy was never used to pass the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] through the House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-dems-abandon-slaughter-solution-for-health-bill/ |title=House Dems Abandon 'Slaughter Solution' for Health Bill |publisher=CBS News |date=March 20, 2010 |access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> Supporters observed that the courts had affirmed the rule's constitutionality, and that Republicans had used the rule repeatedly to pass major legislation such as the Patriot Act and the Tax Relief Reconciliation Act.<ref>{{cite web|last=Roper |first=Eric |url=http://www.startribune.com/blogs/88652547.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBcy7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU |title=Fact check: Bachmann gets it wrong on the "Slaughter Solution" |publisher=StarTribune.com |date=March 19, 2010 |access-date=August 23, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Montopoli |first=Brian |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republicans-have-used-slaughter-solution-many-times/ |title=Republicans Have Used "Slaughter Solution" Many Times – Political Hotsheet |publisher=CBS News |date=March 17, 2010 |access-date=August 23, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ornstein |first=Norman J. |url=http://blog.american.com/?p=11467 |title=Hypocrisy: A Parliamentary Procedure " The Enterprise Blog |publisher=Blog.american.com |date=March 16, 2010 |access-date=August 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20100414153358/http://blog.american.com/?p=11467 |archive-date=April 14, 2010 }}</ref>

[[File:RIT building - Slaughter Building.jpg|thumb|The Louise M. Slaughter Building on the RIT campus]]

In 2011, Slaughter secured $62.5 million in federal funding for the [[Laboratory for Laser Energetics]] at [[University of Rochester]]. Slaughter's efforts to secure funds for her district was recognized by the [[Rochester Institute of Technology]] when it named its Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies facilities in her honor. During the same year, with the potential of a [[government shutdown]] looming, Slaughter referenced H.R. 358, introduced by Rep. Joseph Pitts during the 112th Congress,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.112hr358|publisher=United States Library of Congress|title=Bill Summary- H.R. 358|access-date=November 5, 2014}}</ref> when she said at a pro-choice rally, "This is probably one of the worst times that we've seen because the numbers of people who are elected to Congress. I went through this as co-chair of the Arts Caucus. In '94, people were elected simply to come here to kill the National Endowment for the Arts. Now they're here to kill women".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/special-report/transcript/congresswomans-strong-choice-words|work=Fox News|title=Congresswoman's Strong Choice of Words – Political Grapevine|date=April 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/bill-kellys-truth-squad/2011/apr/10/obama-reid-top-5-biggest-trolls-almost-government- Profile], washingtontimes.com; accessed November 6, 2014.</ref><ref>[http://centralny.ynn.com/content/politics/539401/republicans-react-to-slaughter-s-controversial-comments Republicans react to Slaughter's controversial comments] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719062614/http://centralny.ynn.com/content/politics/539401/republicans-react-to-slaughter-s-controversial-comments/ |date=July 19, 2011 }}, centralny.ynn.com; accessed November 6, 2014.</ref>

After [[2011 Tucson shooting|the shooting]] of [[Gabby Giffords]], Slaughter suggested the [[Federal Communications Commission]] was "not working anymore" and called for better policing of incendiary language.<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/house/79249-lawmakers-consider-new-curbs-on-incendiary-speech/ Stunned lawmakers struggle for answers after Giffords' shooting], thehill.com; accessed November 6, 2014.</ref>

During the [[112th Congress]], the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, or [[STOCK Act]], which Slaughter first authored and introduced into Congress in 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=http://insidertrading.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004520|title=What is the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act?|publisher=ProCon.org|date=April 4, 2012|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> – was passed into law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/stock-act-becomes-law|title=STOCK Act Becomes Law|publisher=Marketplace.org|date=April 4, 2012|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> The law prohibits the use of non-public information for private profit, including insider trading by members of Congress and other government employees, and requires many financial transactions by members of Congress to be reported within 45 days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/04/fact-sheet-stock-act-bans-members-congress-insider-trading |title=FACT SHEET: The STOCK Act: Bans Members of Congress from Insider Trading &#124; whitehouse.gov |publisher=Obamawhitehouse.archives.gov |date=April 4, 2012 |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

Slaughter was one of the most [[Liberalism|liberal]] and [[Progressivism|progressive]] members of the [[United States congressional delegations from New York|New York congressional delegation]] from [[upstate New York]], and in the [[110th Congress]], was the most progressive member of the entire House of Representatives according to the National Journal.<ref>Thomas, G. Scott. [http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2009/02/23/daily63.html Slaughter ranked most liberal in House], buffalo.bizjournals.com; accessed February 27, 2009.</ref>

Slaughter was one of several Democratic members of Congress who posted at [[Daily Kos]], a Democratic-oriented [[blog]]. She was a member of the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Caucus Members|url=https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71&sectiontree=2,71|publisher=Congressional Progressive Caucus|access-date=January 30, 2018}}</ref>  She was the oldest member of Congress at the time of her death.<ref name="WHEC_Obit" />

===Committee assignments and caucus memberships===
*[[United States House Committee on Rules]] (Ranking Member)<ref name="house.gov"/>

;Party leadership
*At-Large Whip<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hws.edu/about/presidentsforum/slaughter.aspx |title=HWS: President's Forum - Louise Slaughter |publisher=Hws.edu |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

;Caucus memberships
*[[Congressional Arts Caucus]] Co-chair<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=March 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Congressional Bipartisan Pro-Choice Caucus-Co-chair<ref name=jpfried/>
*[[House Baltic Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://housebalticcaucus.webs.com/members|publisher=House Baltic Caucus|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> 
*[[Afterschool Caucuses]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyCongressionalCaucuses.cfm|publisher=Afterschool Alliance|access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref>
*[[Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus|publisher=Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus|access-date=8 June 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142643/http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Slaughter was a member of a variety of congressional caucuses.<ref name="house.gov"/> She was a former Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/WIC/Historical-Data/Women_Caucus/|title=Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, 1977—Present – US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives|access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
While traveling for work, she met Robert "Bob" Slaughter in [[San Antonio, Texas]], and married him in 1957. After marrying, the couple moved to [[Fairport, New York]], a suburb of Rochester, where Bob had been offered a job. The couple had three daughters. Bob Slaughter died in May 2014, aged 82.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.buffalonews.com/associated-press/ap-obituaries/louise-slaughters-husband-dies-at-82-20140521|work=Buffalo News|title=Louise Slaughter's husband dies at 82|agency=Associated Press|date=May 21, 2014|access-date=May 23, 2014|archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223915/https://buffalonews.com/associated-press/ap-obituaries/louise-slaughters-husband-dies-at-82-20140521/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/elections-2012-evaluating-slaughters-record/Content?oid=2148978|title=Evaluating Slaughter's record|last=Fien|first=Christine Carrie|publisher=[[Rochester City Newspaper]]|date=October 24, 2012}}</ref> She was an [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Episcopalians bring faith perspectives to Congress on both sides of political aisle|url=https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2017/11/09/episcopalians-bring-faith-perspectives-to-congress-on-both-sides-of-political-aisle/|publisher=Episcopal News Service|first=David|last=Paulsen|date=November 9, 2017|access-date=July 30, 2024}}</ref>
[[File:New Rochester station - October 2017.jpg|thumb|Louise M. Slaughter Rochester Station]]
To the day she died, Slaughter still spoke with a marked Kentucky accent, which took many by surprise when they learned she represented a Western New York district.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-slaughter/louise-slaughter-longtime-progressive-new-york-congresswoman-dies-at-88-idUSKCN1GS1Z3|title=Louise Slaughter, longtime progressive New York congresswoman, dies at 88|author1=Justin Mitchell|author2=Susan Cornwell|publisher=[[Reuters]]|date=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

On March 14, 2018, Slaughter was admitted to [[George Washington University Hospital]] after suffering a concussion in a fall at her home in Washington, D.C. Two days later, on March 16, Slaughter died at the age of 88.<ref>Lahman, Sean (March 16, 2018). "[https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/03/16/louise-slaughter-dies-congresswoman-house-representatives/431485002/ Congresswoman Louise Slaughter dies at 88]". ''[[Democrat and Chronicle]]'' (Rochester, New York).</ref>

Slaughter's funeral was held at the [[Eastman Theater]] in [[Downtown Rochester]]. The funeral was attended by more than 2,000 people and featured speakers such as House of Representatives Minority Leader [[Nancy Pelosi]], Congressman [[John Lewis]], former Senator and Secretary of State [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]], and members of Slaughter's family.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/03/23/louise-slaughter-funeral-family-rochester-ny-hillary-clinton-nancy-pelosi/448786002/|title=Louise Slaughter remembered as 'a woman of fire and force'|work=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle|access-date=2018-03-24|language=en}}</ref> The event was also broadcast live on local television channels [[Spectrum News Rochester|Spectrum News]], [[WHAM-TV]] and [[WHEC-TV]].

A day after Slaughter's death, Senators [[Chuck Schumer]] and [[Kirsten Gillibrand]], along with former New York Lieutenant Governor and former Rochester mayor [[Robert Duffy (politician)|Bob Duffy]], asked [[Amtrak]] to rename its Rochester station in Slaughter's honor. Slaughter had played a significant part in securing the funding for replacing Amtrak's 1970s-vintage station with a new multimodal station that opened in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://13wham.com/news/local/new-york-senators-call-on-amtrak-to-rename-rochester-train-station-after-louise-slaughter|title=New York Senators call on Amtrak to rename Rochester train station after Louise Slaughter|last=WHAM|work=WHAM|access-date=2018-03-17|language=en-US}}</ref> Four days later, Amtrak announced that it would rename the station.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Abrams|first1=Jason|title=Amtrak to Name Rochester Station in Honor of Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter|url=https://media.amtrak.com/2018/03/amtrak-name-rochester-station-honor-congresswoman-louise-m-slaughter/|website=Amtrak Media|date=March 21, 2018|access-date=November 22, 2018|archive-date=March 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322020710/https://media.amtrak.com/2018/03/amtrak-name-rochester-station-honor-congresswoman-louise-m-slaughter/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The station was renamed the [[Louise M. Slaughter Rochester Station]] on March 25, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://13wham.com/news/local/rochesters-train-station-named-in-honor-of-late-congresswoman-louise-slaughter|title=Rochester's train station named in honor of late Congresswoman Louise Slaughter|last=WHAM|date=2019-03-25|website=WHAM|access-date=2019-03-25}}</ref>

==Electoral history==

;Monroe County Legislature
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Year
!scope="col"|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Other
!scope="col"|Result
|-
!scope="row"|1971
|Louise M. Slaughter
|3,507 (43.34%)
|'''Walter G.A. Muench''' (i)
|3,998 (49.41%)
|Other
|585 (7.23%)
|-
!scope="row"|1973
|Louise M. Slaughter
|4,082 (49.31%)
|'''Walter G.A. Muench''' (i)
|4,195 (50.68%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!scope="row"|1975
|'''Louise M. Slaughter'''
|4,698 (51.45%)
|Walter G.A. Muench (i)
|4,433 (48.54%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|}
Key: (i) = Incumbent<br />
Source: Monroe County Board of Elections

;State Assembly
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Year
!scope="col"|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Other
!scope="col"|Result
|-
!scope="row"|1982
|'''Louise M. Slaughter'''
|23,236 (52.18%)
|Thomas A. Hanna (i)
|21,289 (47.81%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!scope="row"|1984
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|30,556 (54.79%)
|Donald S. Milton
|24,703 (44.29%)
|Other
|506 (.90%)
|}
Key: (i) = Incumbent<br />
Source: New York State Board of Elections

;Congressional
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Year
!scope="col"|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Other
!scope="col"|Result
|-
!scope="row"|1986
|'''Louise M. Slaughter'''
|86,777 (50.99%)
|Fred J. Eckert (i)
|83,402 (49.00%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!scope="row"|1988
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|128,364 (56.87%)
|John D. Bouchard
|89,126 (39.48%)
|Other
|8,222 (3.64%)
|-
!scope="row"|1990
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|97,280 (59.02%)
|John M. Regan Jr.
|67,534 (40.97%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!scope="row"|1992
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|140,908 (53.97%)
|William P. Polito
|112,273 (43.003%)
|Other
|7,897 (3.02%)
|-
!scope="row"|1994
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|110,987 (56.63%)
|Renee Forgensi Davison 
|78,516 (40.06%)
|Other
|6,464 (3.29%)
|-
!scope="row"|1996
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|133,084 (57.25%)
|Geoff H. Rosenberger
|99,366 (42.74%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!scope="row"|1998
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|118,856 (64.78%)
|Richard A. Kaplan
|56,443 (30.76%)
|Other
|8,159 (4.47%)
|-
!scope="row"|2000
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|151,688 (65.70%)
|Mark C. Johns
|83,445 (36.14%)
|Other
|3,820 (1.65%)
|-
!scope="row"|2002
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|99,057 (62.45%)
|Henry F. Wojtaszek
|59,547 (37.54%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!scope="row"|2004
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|159,655 (72.61%)
|Michael D. Laba
|54,543 (24.81%)
|Other
|5,678 (2.58%)
|-
!scope="row"|2006
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|111,386 (73.17%)
|John E. Donnelly
|40,844 (26.83%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!scope="row"|2008
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|172,655 (78.00%)
|David W. Crimmen
|48,690 (22.00%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!scope="row"|2010
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|102,514 (64.9%)
|Jill Rowland 
|55,392 (35.1%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!scope="row"|2012
|'''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
|179,810 (57.4%)
|Maggie Brooks 
|133,389 (42.5%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!scope="row"|2014
| '''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
| 96,803 (50.2%)
| Mark Assini
| 95,932 (49.8%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
!scope="row"|2016
| '''Louise M. Slaughter''' (i)
| 169,179 (55.7%)
| Mark Assini
| 134,285 (44.3%)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|}
Key: (i) = Incumbent<br />
Source: New York State Board of Elections

==Awards==
*Foremother Award from [[National Center for Health Research]], 2014<ref>{{Cite web |url =http://www.center4research.org/foremother-health-policy-hero-awards/#13 |date = 2016 |title =Foremother Award |access-date = February 25, 2019 |website =[[National Center for Health Research]] }}</ref>
*Induction into the [[National Women's Hall of Fame]], 2019<ref>[https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/louise-slaughter-2/ National Women's Hall of Fame, Louise Slaughter]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Self-executing rule]]
* [[List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (2000–present)#2010s]]
* [[Women in the United States House of Representatives]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal|title=Slaughter, Louise M.|journal=Current Biography|date=April 1999|volume=60|issue=4|pages=55–58}}

==External links==
* {{CongLinks | congbio=s000480 | votesmart=26991 | fec=H6NY03031 | congress=louise-slaughter/1069 }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://ballotpedia.org/Louise_Slaughter Biography] at [[Ballotpedia]]
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/400378 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/400378 Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.rollcall.com/members/366.html Congressional profile] at ''[[Roll Call]]''
* [http://www.politifact.com/personalities/louise-slaughter Fact-checking] at [[PolitiFact.com]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00001311 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [https://apps.washingtonpost.com/politics/capitol-assets/member/louise-slaughter Financial investments (personal)] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/482/Rep_Louise_McIntosh_Slaughter_NY.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/NY/Louise_Slaughter.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-no91-3888 Works by or about Louise Slaughter] in libraries ([[WorldCat]] catalog)
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/1755 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2811169 Appearances] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gIQA2WJY9O_topic.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* -->
*{{C-SPAN|1755}}
* [https://rbscp.lib.rochester.edu/finding-aids/D557 Louise McIntosh Slaughter congressional papers], Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, [[University of Rochester]]

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Fred J. Eckert]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from New York|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[New York's 30th congressional district]]|years=1987–1993}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jack Quinn (politician)|Jack Quinn]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Matthew F. McHugh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from New York|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[New York's 28th congressional district]]|years=1993–2013}}
{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Ann Marie Buerkle]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from New York|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[New York's 25th congressional district]]|years=2013–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Joseph D. Morelle|Joe Morelle]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[David Dreier]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Rules|House Rules Committee]]|years=2007–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=David Dreier}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States House Committee on Rules|House Rules Committee]]|years=2011–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim McGovern (American politician)|Jim McGovern]]}}
{{s-hon}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[John Conyers]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Oldest member of the U.S. House of Representatives|years=2017–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sam Johnson]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{National Women's Hall of Fame}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=100th–115th [[United States Congress]] |state=[[United States congressional delegations from New York|New York]]}}
{{USCongRep/NY/100}}
{{USCongRep/NY/101}}
{{USCongRep/NY/102}}
{{USCongRep/NY/103}}
{{USCongRep/NY/104}}
{{USCongRep/NY/105}}
{{USCongRep/NY/106}}
{{USCongRep/NY/107}}
{{USCongRep/NY/108}}
{{USCongRep/NY/109}}
{{USCongRep/NY/110}}
{{USCongRep/NY/111}}
{{USCongRep/NY/112}}
{{USCongRep/NY/113}}
{{USCongRep/NY/114}}
{{USCongRep/NY/115}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Slaughter, Louise}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American Episcopalians]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the New York State Legislature]]
[[Category:20th-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Activists from Kentucky]]
[[Category:American feminists]]
[[Category:American microbiologists]]
[[Category:County legislators in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Deaths from falls]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Female United States representatives]]
[[Category:People from Fairport, New York]]
[[Category:People from Lynch, Kentucky]]
[[Category:People from Wayne County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Proponents of Christian feminism]]
[[Category:University of Kentucky alumni]]
[[Category:Women in Kentucky politics]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in New York (state)]]