Theodore S. Weiss
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Theodore S. (Ted) Weiss (September 17, 1927 - September 14, 1992) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.
Weiss was born in Gava, Hungary and emigrated to the United States in 1938 as his family fled the Nazi invasion of Hungary. He grew up in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Weiss served in the United States Army from 1946 until 1947. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1951, earning a law degree in 1952. In 1953, Weiss became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Between 1955 and 1959, he served as assistant New York County, New York district attorney, before leaving the position to return to private practice.
From 1962 until 1977, Weiss was a member of the New York City Council. He was a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention. Weiss was elected to Congress in 1976 and served from January 3, 1977, until his death. Weiss was known for his avid support of civil rights. He served on the House Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. In 1985 Weiss headed a committee that found 90 percent of the twenty to thirty thousand new drugs used on farm animals had not been approved by the FDA in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. They also found that the FDA failed to remove several drugs already known to be carcinogens.
Weiss died one day before the state's Democratic primary election. Due to the Congressman's ailing health, five Democrats appeared on the ballot to challenge him. Nonetheless, Weiss posthumously won the primary and the election by a huge margin.
A federal office building located at 290 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, adjacent to the African Burial Ground National Monument, has been named in Weiss' honor.
| Preceded by Louis Okin |
New York City Council, 25th District 1962–1965 |
Succeeded by Julius Moskowitz |
| Preceded by NEW DISTRICT |
New York City Council, 3rd District 1966–1973 |
Succeeded by Miriam Friedlander |
| Preceded by Carter Burden |
New York City Council, 4th District 1974–1977 |
Succeeded by Ruth Messinger |
| Preceded by Bella Abzug |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 20th congressional district 1977–1983 |
Succeeded by Richard Ottinger |
| Preceded by Guy V. Molinari |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th congressional district 1983–1992 |
Succeeded by Jerrold Nadler |
