Cardiss Collins
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Cardiss H. Collins, originally Cardiss Robertson, (b. September 24, 1931) is a Democratic politician from Illinois who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1997. She was the first African American woman to represent the Midwest in Congress.
Collins was elected to Congress in the June 5, 1973 special election to replace her husband, George, who had died in the December 8, 1972 United Airlines Flight 553 plane crash. She had previously worked as an accountant in various state government positions.
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[edit] Congressional Career
In 1979, she was elected as president of the Congressional Black Caucus, a position she used to become an occasional liberal critic of President Jimmy Carter. She later became the caucus vice chairman.
In the 1980s, Collins warded off two strong primary challenges from Alderman Danny K. Davis, who would finally be elected to replace her in 1996.
In 1991, Collins was named chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Her legislative interests were focused on establishing universal health insurance, providing for gender equity in college sports, and reforming federal childcare facilities.
Collins gained a brief national prominence in 1993 as the chairwoman of a congressional committee investigating college sports and as a critic of the NCAA. She also engaged in a memorable and intensely personal debate with Rep. Henry Hyde over Medicaid funding of abortion that year.
[edit] Retirement
Collins did not seek reelection in 1996, citing her age and the Republican majority in the House.
In 2004, Collins was selected by Nielsen Media Research to head a task force examining the representation of African Americans in TV rating samples. Collins currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
[edit] External Links
[edit] References
- Congressional Biography
- University of Maryland. Women's Studies Database. Government and Politics. Women in Congress biography.
- "Nielsen Appoints Prominent Community and Industry Leaders to Independent Task Force on TV Measurement." Nielsen Media Research. 06/08/04.
- Michael Arndt. "3 Chicago Congressmen Persevere." Chicago Tribune. 03/19/1986. p. 1.
- Ed Sherman. "Collins Grabs Baton as Congress' NCAA Nemesis." Chicago Tribune. 01/15/1993. p. 2.
- Jacqueline Trescott. "The Coming Out of Cardiss Collins." Washington Post. 09/21/1979. p. C1.
| Preceded by George W. Collins |
U.S. Representative of Illinois's 7th Congressional District 1973 - 1997 |
Succeeded by Danny K. Davis |
| Chairs of the Congressional Black Caucus |  |
|---|---|
| Diggs • Stokes • Rangel • Burke • Mitchell • Collins • Fauntroy • Dixon • Leland • Dymally • Dellums • Towns • Mfume • Payne • Waters • Clyburn • Johnson • Cummings • Watt • Kilpatrick |
