Nita M. Lowey, a veteran legislator from New York who served 16 terms until her retirement after the 116th Congress, died on Saturday.

Former U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, a long serving New York Democrat who was the first woman to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee, has died. She was 87.

"With great sadness, we announce that former Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey died peacefully on March 15 at the age of 87, surrounded by her loving husband, children, and grandchildre