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Congresswoman Louise Slaughter

Representing the 25th District of New York

Committees and Caucuses

Rules Committee
Ranking Member

In 2007, Louise became the first woman to serve as Chair of the House Committee on Rules- one of the most powerful committees in Congress.  She served as Chairwoman from 2007-2011, and remains the Ranking Members on the committee.

Frequently called the "Speaker's Committee," the Rules Committee is an arm of the House Leadership. As such, Members are appointed by the Speaker and the Minority Leader.

The Rules Committee is known as the traffic cop of the House of Representatives because virtually every major piece of legislation must come to the Committee before it is considered on the House Floor.

The Rules Committee has the power to decide if, when, and how a bill will be debated and amended on the House Floor. It has authority to grant waivers to legislation and amendments that otherwise might not be allowed to come to the Floor for consideration by the full House.

To learn more about the Rules Committee, including up-to-the minute information on bills before the committee, click here.

Caucus Memberships

Congressional Arts Caucus
Co-chair

The Congressional Arts Caucus is a bipartisan organization for Members of Congress who support the arts through federal initiatives. Members participate in press conferences in support of the arts, testify before key committees in support of these cultural agencies, speak on the House floor about the positive educational and economic impact of the arts, and participate in the events of Arts Advocacy Day, an annual March event. Most important, the Arts Caucus also wages an annual fight to preserve funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Congressional Bicameral High-Speed and Intercity Rail Caucus 
Co-Chair and Founding Member

The Congressional Bicameral High-Speed and Intercity Rail Caucus works to increase passenger rail funding, and expand high-speed and intercity passenger rail across the United States.

Congressional Bipartisan Upstate New York Caucus
Chair

The Congressional Bipartisan Upstate New York Caucus was created by Louise in January 2009 and has been joined by all Members representing Upstate New York districts in the House of Representatives. The purpose of the Caucus is to collectively address the unique issues facing Upstate New York, namely economic issues.

Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus
Co-chair and Founding Member

The Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus works to promote reproductive health and protect a woman's right to choose. The Caucus arranges briefings, supports and coordinates events, educates Members of Congress about reproductive health rights, and advocates for legislative initiatives that support a women's right to choose.

Great Lakes Task Force 
Co-Chair

The Great Lakes Task Force seeks to enhance the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes. The Task Force works to advocate for policies and programs that would enhance the Great Lakes and the surrounding regions.

 

Additional Caucus Memberships

Air Force Caucus
This caucus sponsors briefings, base visits, and meetings with the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and other personnel throughout the year.  This organization not only educates the Members about the importance of Air Force and general military issues, but also focuses its energies and educational tools on the Members' staff through briefings and on-site Air Force base visits.

At-Large Whip
The At-Large Whip is responsible for serving as a liaison between rank-and-file Members and senior leadership, for counting votes on selected issues, and for helping to impress on colleagues in the House the merits of Democratic legislation.

Bicameral Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease
The Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease was created to increase awareness on Capitol Hill about Parkinson’s disease issues and to keep Members of Congress and their staff informed of the latest developments in Parkinson’s-related legislation and research.

Coalition for Autism Research and Education (CARE)
The Coalition for Autism Research and Education (CARE) was formed to increase general awareness of autism and autism spectrum disorders among Members of Congress and policy analysts in federal government. In addition, CARE works to bring together public, private, and government entities to pursue legislative initiatives that will help facilitate advanced treatments—and ultimately a cure—for autism spectrum disorders.

Congressional Advisory Committee on Lyme Disease
The Committee educates both Members of Congress and the public about Lyme disease.  It seeks to provide information about how the disease is contracted and what medical options are available to treat it.   

Congressional Automotive Caucus
The Congressional Automotive Caucus works to promote the American Automobile industry and American Auto workers.  Most notably, the CAC has worked to ensure that foreign manufacturers must comply with the same regulations that American manufacturers adhere to. 

Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus
The Biomedical Research Caucus invites biomedical professionals to the Hill in an effort to be educate Members of Congress about the future and possibilities of biomedicines. 

Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force serves as a source of information for Congress and the public on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The Task Force works on promoting full funding for the TBI Act and brain injury research, as well as providing guidance to federal agencies on policies and proposed rulemakings.

Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues
Also known as the Women's Caucus, this bipartisan Congressional Member Organization promotes and raises awareness of legislation and public policy issues of particular concern to women.

Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues
The purpose of this Caucus is to encourage and improve the United States’ relationship with Greece. Members of the Caucus provide information to those interested about Hellenic issues, as well as promote legislation regarding these issues.

Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Issues
This Caucus focuses on American-Indian relations and how to better foster relations between our two nations.  It also works to help Indian Americans and educate Members of Congress about issues important to the Indian American community.

Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse
The Caucus aims to raise awareness of prescription drug abuse, while working to develop innovative and effective policy solutions incorporating treatment, prevention, law enforcement, and research.

Congressional Coalition on Adoption
The Coalition on Adoption brings together Members of Congress who support adoption. The Coalition works to remove barriers to adoption and to support the adoption by loving families of children who are awaiting adoption in foster care. 

Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus
The Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus serves to provide information on pediatric cancer and discussion to aid Members of Congress in working together to address pediatric cancer. The Caucus strives to raise awareness about pediatric cancer; advocates in support for measures prevent pain and long-term effects of childhood cancers; and works toward the goal of eliminating cancer as a threat to all children.

Congressional Diabetes Caucus
The Congressional Diabetes Caucus strives to educate members of Congress and their staff about diabetes. The Caucus works to support legislative activities that would improve diabetes education, research, and treatment.

Congressional Entertainment Industries Caucus
The Entertainment Industries Caucus works to inform Members of Congress about challenges the entertainment industry faces today, such as copyright protection and the development of new digital mediums. This Caucus serves as a forum for Members to discuss and develop innovative approaches to these challenges facing the entertainment industry. 

Congressional Fire Services Caucus
The Fire Services Caucus work for the Fire Services and other first responders.  The Caucus seeks to educate Members of Congress about what first responders need in order to successfully do their jobs. 

Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition
The Coalition, which is made up of more than 200 members of Congress, works to raise awareness of the seriousness of cardiovascular diseases and acts as a resource center on heart and stroke issues, including biomedical research, quality and availability of care and health promotion/disease prevention. The Coalition also works to advance public policy aimed at fighting cardiovascular diseases.

Congressional Human Rights Caucus
The Human Rights Caucus focuses on publicizing human rights abuses in the world today.  It holds briefings to educate Members about current human rights concerns.  The Human Rights Caucus also organizes events to commemorate those who have fought for human rights in the past.

Congressional Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus
This Caucus helps to educate Members of Congress and the public on sustainable energy solution. This bipartisan collection of lawmakers sponsor legislation, host educational briefings, and share information on ways these technologies can improve US energy outlook.

Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus
The purpose of the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus is to protect workers rights and American families by developing and implementing a pro-labor agenda in the United States Congress. The Caucus will also provide information and educate Members of Congress on issues that impact labor and working families.

Congressional Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Equality Caucus
The LGBT Equality Caucus was created to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. The Caucus works toward removing discriminatory laws, eliminating hate crimes, and improving the health and wellbeing for all persons regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

Congressional Lupus Caucus
The Congressional Lupus Caucus was established to raise awareness of the disease. In addition, the Caucus works to support the advancement of lupus research to improve the quality of life for people with lupus and their families.

Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus
This bipartisan coalition is made up of over 100 members of Congress devoted to helping find missing children and raising public awareness about child abduction.  The Caucus has also played a major role in helping protect children from sexual predators on the Internet. 

Congressional Native American Caucus
This Caucus seeks to improve nation-to-nation relationships between the federal government and sovereign tribal nations. The Caucus strives to protect tribal sovereignty, meet federal trust obligations, and improve the lives of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.

Congressional Organic Caucus
The Congressional Organic Caucus supports organic farmers, ranchers, and consumers by informing Members of Congress about organic agriculture policy and ways to advance the organic sector. The Caucus provides pertinent information on major issues facing the organic industry to aid Members in developing ways to advance organic agriculture in their districts and across the country.

Congressional Pre-K Caucus
This caucus provides a forum to develop bipartisan policy recommendations to improve and expand early education efforts. Studies show that children who attend high-quality prekindergarten programs receive immediate and long-lasting benefits, which is why it’s so important that the U.S. take steps to expand access to these programs for children across the country. 

Congressional Prevention Coalition
The Congressional Prevention Coalition is working to make disease prevention a priority in health care policy.  It focuses on pre-screening and immunization in an effort to stop a disease before it develops.

Congressional Task Force on International HIV/AIDS
The Congressional Task Force on International HIV/AIDS is committed to helping alleviate the suffering of millions who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.  The task force is working to ensure that medicines are provided to those who have contracted the disease and programs are enacted to better educated people about the how the disease spreads and its risks. 

Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus
The CTTC works to educate Members of Congress about the important role the tourism industry plays in the American economy.  It is a bi-partisan group that has a footprint in all 435 House of Representatives' offices.

Congressional TRIO Caucus
This Caucus advocates for the Federal TRIO Programs and higher education access for low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities. The goal of the Caucus is to generate support for TRIO programs from Congress, the US Department of Education, and other entities.

Congressional Ukrainian Caucus
The Congressional Ukrainian Caucus was created to foster and build relations between the United States and Ukraine.  The Caucus has been active in promoting the non-violent transition in Ukraine from Communism to Democracy and a market economy.   

Congressional Voting Rights Caucus
The Congressional Voting Rights Caucus is committed to educating members of public on the various voter suppression tactics enacted by states since the Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act in its 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision. There is overwhelming evidence that these laws disproportionately affect low-income populations and communities of color and the need to protect traditionally disenfranchised voters is overdue.The Caucus will work to help educate the public about their rights as voters, advance legislation that blocks current and future suppression tactics, and brainstorm creative ways to bring our election process into the 21st Century.

Congressional Zoo and Aquarium Caucus
The Caucus was formed to support the interest of the nation’s accredited zoos and aquariums. In addition, the Caucus works to promote awareness and appreciation of the work and impact that these zoos have on education and conservation.

E-Tech
The caucus, which was launched in 2011, works to educate policymakers and the public about the economic, educational, and social benefits of the booming entertainment software industry. The Rochester area is home to several colleges and universities with very well established programs and courses related to video game design and software.

House Cancer Awareness Working Group
The House Cancer Awareness Working Group was created to educate Congress and the public about the dangers of cancer.  It has been working to get funding to help find a cure for the disease, while at the same time promoting early detection methods to improve the rate of survival of cancer patients.

House Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus
This Caucus is dedicated to maintaining and strengthening the nation’s reputation as having the world’s most advanced medical care. The Caucus strives to educate their colleagues on health care, research and training missions of teaching hospitals and medical schools.

House Mentoring Caucus
This bipartisan caucus works to educate members of Congress about the positive impacts that high-quality mentoring can have on the lives of young people. The caucus also works to promote policies and legislation that will enable mentoring programs to grow and more effectively serve young people.

Law Enforcement Caucus
The Law Enforcement Caucus is a bi-partisan working group of Members of Congress who seek an open forum to address issues affecting the law enforcement community. The 74-member organization was created in 1994 to serve as a clearinghouse for information and grants and a sounding board for ideas brought forth by the law enforcement community.

Medical Technology Caucus
The House Medical Technology Caucus was formed to increase awareness among members and staff of the issues facing the medical technology sector. The Caucus is informal and typically does not endorse legislation or take positions on policy matters. Rather, the organization exists to provide a forum for the discussion of critical issues facing medical technology.

Neuroscience Caucus
The neuroscience caucus works to advocate for policies and legislation to further brain and neural medical research. By involving patients, physicians and research institutions, the caucus strives to build awareness and coordinate cooperation between all invested stakeholders.

Northeast Agricultural Caucus
The Northeast Agricultural Caucus workers to help farmers and food growers in the Northeast. 

Northern Border Caucus
The Northern Border Caucus works to promote the interests of states along the Canadian border. The bipartisan group serves as a voice for constituents who reside near the northern US border to Canada.

The Pulic Works and Infrastructure Caucus
Thebipartisan congressional Public Works and Infrastructure Caucus will serve as a forum to discuss the importance of public works in providing our nation’s communities with the essential services necessary for supporting a high quality of life. The caucus will bring attention to the need for greater investment in our nation’s critical infrastructure that is so vital to our economic prosperity. 

Research and Development Caucus
The Research & Development Caucus was established to highlight the national importance of research and the interdependency of research efforts across disciplines and to increase the awareness of Members of Congress and their staff on issues related to research.

Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition
The Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition advocates for policies aimed at preventing the continuation of global warming and protecting the environment from pollution. To achieve these goals they promote policies that encourage the development of renewable and clean energy innovation along with creating American green-collar jobs. 

USO Congressional Caucus
The USO Congressional Caucus was formed to enhance the outreach efforts of the American people to US troops and their families by providing a link between service men and women and their representatives. The Caucus works to support and improve the quality of life for US troops and their families around the world.