On March 15, 2025, former Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY-17th) passed away. She was a senior member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and became the first woman to serve as Chair of the committee in 2018. During her time on the Appropriations Committee, she was a staunch advocate for substance use prevention programs, such as the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) program and the State Department’s International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INL) Demand Reduction program. Her support helped to ensure that these programs were funded at the highest possible levels each fiscal year.

In 2020, CADCA presented Congresswoman Lowey with its highest honor – a Lifetime Achievement Award. Ellen Morehouse, a longtime CADCA member and constituent of Congresswoman Lowey said, “For her entire career in public service, Congresswoman Lowey was a champion for preventing youth substance use. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, she did everything possible to support local, state, federal, and international prevention programs and policies.” Ellen added, “Rep. Lowey always wanted to be updated on trends, challenges, and effective prevention strategies and always made time to meet with CADCA members on Hill Day. She often attended local coalition events in her district when she was home.”

CADCA will forever be grateful for Congresswoman Lowey’s steadfast commitment to substance use prevention.