Joe Crowley
Joseph Crowley (born March 16, 1962) is a former American politician and consultant who served as U.S. Representative from New York's 14th congressional district from 1999 to 2019. He was defeated by Democratic primary challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in what was viewed as one of the biggest upsets of the 2018 midterm elections.[1]
This article is about the U.S. Representative from New York. For the British television presenter, see Joe Crowley (presenter). For other people, see Joseph Crowley (disambiguation).
Joe Crowley
Nancy Pelosi
Xavier Becerra
7th district (1999–2013)
14th district (2013–2019)
Ralph Goldstein
March 16, 1962
New York City, New York, U.S.
3
Elizabeth Crowley (cousin)
During his tenure, Crowley served as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus from 2017 to 2019, as well as the local chairman of the Queens County Democratic Party from 2006 to 2019. He previously served in the New York State Assembly from 1987 to 1998.[2][3] After leaving Congress, he joined the Washington, D.C. lobbying and law firm Squire Patton Boggs.[4] He left that firm in 2022 and joined the rival law firm Dentons.
Early life and education[edit]
Crowley was born in Woodside, Queens, New York City, to Joseph F. Crowley Sr., an Irish American, and Eileen Crowley, who emigrated from County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Crowley Sr. served in the United States Army during the Korean War, later becoming a lawyer and a New York City Police Department detective.[5][6][7] Crowley Jr. is the second of four siblings.[5][6] Crowley Jr.'s paternal uncle Walter H. Crowley was a New York City councilman,[5][6][8][9] and is the namesake of Crowley Playground in Elmhurst, Queens.[10]
Crowley attended private Roman Catholic schools in the city, graduating from Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan in 1981. He graduated from Queens College in 1985 with a degree in political science and communications.[5][8][7][11] Crowley was inducted into the Power Memorial Academy Hall of Fame in 2011. [12]
Career[edit]
New York Assembly[edit]
He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1987 to 1998, sitting in the 187th, 188th, 189th, 190th, 191st and 192nd New York State Legislatures. Because of his Irish roots, he quickly became involved in Irish-American politics throughout New York.[13][14]
Political positions[edit]
Abortion[edit]
Since 2005, Crowley consistently received ratings of 0% from the National Right to Life Committee[37] and 100% from the NARAL.[38] In 2011, he opposed a bill that would have banned taxpayer funding for abortions, and in the 2010 election, he was endorsed by Planned Parenthood. In 2018, Crowley received a voting record of 100% from Planned Parenthood.[39]
Health care[edit]
Since 2007, he received a rating of 100% from the American Public Health Association, the American Nurses Association, and the National Breast Cancer Coalition.[40]
Crowley fought against the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), both abroad and in the United States. In 2010, he introduced the Girls Protection Act of 2010, which would criminalize the transport of a girl under the age of 18 years old to undergo FGM.[41]
In 2015, he proposed a bill with Representative Sheila Jackson Lee encouraging the collection of data on the prevalence of FGM, and to create a plan to better prevent the practice, which is illegal in the United States.[42]
Crowley was a consistent supporter of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (known as "Obamacare", or "ACA"). On March 22, 2010, he said: "I... support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a historic measure that will put families first when it comes to accessing health care coverage."[43] He opposed repealing the act, and voted against a repeal on January 19, 2011.[44] Also in 2011, he held an event to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the bill's passage.[45]
In 2017, Crowley signed on to H.R. 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act. This bill was introduced by former Michigan Congressman John Conyers in January 2017.[46]
Immigration[edit]
Crowley has been a heavy critic of President Trump's plan to build a wall on the U.S.–Mexico border and his decision to end DACA and Temporary Protected Status protection for qualifying immigrants in 2017. In 2017, Crowley introduced a bill that would grant green cards to undocumented workers who helped to recover and clean up New York City after the terrorist attacks on September 11.[47]
Personal life[edit]
Crowley is married to Kasey Crowley, a registered nurse.[66] They have three children: Cullen, Kenzie, and Liam.[67] He is the cousin of former New York City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley.[68]