Former Rep. Marge Roukema dies at 85
NOVEMBER 12, 2014, 11:26 AM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014, 11:48 AM
BY HERB JACKSON AND JAY LEVIN
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD
Former Rep. Marge Roukema, who was the longest-serving woman in Congress when she announced her retirement in 2002 after 11 terms, died at Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff. She was 85.
The cause of death was not immediately available, but Roukema had Alzheimer’s disease.
A moderate Republican whose independent streak occasionally riled the more conservative members of her party, Roukema was the sponsor and leading advocate in the House for requiring employers to provide 12 weeks of unpaid family leave for employees. The bill was vetoed twice by President George H.W. Bush before it was signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
She also sponsored a law making it a federal crime to not pay child support, and was a leading advocate for Bush’s elementary and secondary school reform, though she was instrumental in deleting provisions for vouchers to private and parochial schools.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/former-rep-marge-roukema-dies-at-85-1.1131845
I remember “Marge” in the early days. She attended those Ridgewood HS first “boys” gymnastics competitions in the early days and supported the team ——— we will her. RIP
Sad. Everyone loved Marge.