Cardiss Hortense Collins (néeRobertson; September 24, 1931 – February 3, 2013) was an American politician from Illinois who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1997. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the fourth African-American woman in Congress and the first to represent the Midwest.[1] 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 a month after being elected to a second term.[2] The seat had been renumbered and combined from the 6th district to the 7th, and had been redrawn to include the Loop. She had previously worked as an accountant in various state government positions.[2]
Throughout her political career, she was a champion for women's health and welfare issues. In 1975, she was instrumental in prompting the Social Security Administration to revise Medicare regulations to cover the cost of post-mastectomy breast prosthesis, which before then had been considered cosmetic.[3] In 1979, she was elected as chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, a position she used to become an occasional critic of President Jimmy Carter.[4] She later became the caucus vice chairman. In the 1980s, Collins warded off two primary challenges from Alderman Danny K. Davis,[5] who would finally be elected to replace her after she chose not to seek reelection in 1996.[6] In 1990, Collins, along with 15 other African-American women and men, formed the African-American Women for Reproductive Freedom.[7]
In 1991, Collins was named chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Competitiveness. Her legislative interests were focused on establishing universal health insurance, providing for gender equity in college sports, and reforming federal child care facilities.[8] 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.[9] She also engaged in an intense debate with Rep. Henry Hyde over Medicaid funding of abortion that year.[10]
Collins did not seek re-election in 1996, citing her age. At the time of her retirement, she was the longest-serving Black female member of Congress.[11] In 2004, she was selected by Nielsen Media Research to head a task force examining the representation of African Americans in TV rating samples. Collins lived in Alexandria, Virginia at the time of her death on February 3, 2013, at the age of 81.[12][13] The United States Postal Service's Cardiss Collins Processing and Distribution Center, located at 433 W. Harrison St. in Chicago, Illinois, is named in her honor and was completed in 1996 to replace the old Main Post Office across the street on Van Buren Street.[14]
^Svitek, Patrick (February 6, 2013). "Cardiss Collins, 1931-2013". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
^ ab"Collins, Cardiss". United States House of Representatives.
^"Women in Government: A Slim Past, But a Strong Future". Ebony: 89–92, 96–98. August 1977.
^Trescott, Jacqueline (September 21, 1979). "The Coming Out Of Cardiss Collins". The Washington Post. p. C1. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
^Arndt, Michael (March 17, 1986). "Washington letting ally Davis go it alone in race with Collins". Chicago Tribune. Section 2, p. 3. Retrieved February 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Langer, Emily (February 6, 2013). "Cardiss Collins, lawmaker who championed women and minorities, dies at 81". Washington Post.
^Kathryn Cullen-DuPont (August 1, 2000). Encyclopedia of women's history in America. Infobase Publishing. p. 6. ISBN978-0-8160-4100-8. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
^Purl, Rachael; Materre, Micah (February 5, 2013). "First African American woman to represent IL in Congress dies". WGN9. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
^Sherman, Ed (January 15, 1993). "Collins grabs baton as Congress' NCAA nemesis". Chicago Tribune. Section 4, p. 2. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
^Merida, Kevin (July 1, 1993). "Hyde Abortion Curb Survives Bitter Debate". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
^ ab"12-TERM ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT, COLLINS, TO RETIRE FROM HOUSE". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
^Cahn, Emily (February 5, 2013). "Cardiss Collins, First African-American Woman to Represent Illinois, Dies at 81". Roll Call. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
^Yardley, William (February 7, 2013). "Cardiss Collins, Fighter in Congress for Equality and the Poor, Dies at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
^Cardiss Collins Processing and Distribution Center July 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
Congressional Biography
"Nielsen Appoints Prominent Community and Industry Leaders to Independent Task Force on TV Measurement." Nielsen Media Research. 06/08/04.
cardiss, collins, cardiss, hortense, collins, née, robertson, september, 1931, february, 2013, american, politician, from, illinois, served, united, states, house, representatives, from, 1973, 1997, member, democratic, party, fourth, african, american, woman, . Cardiss Hortense Collins nee Robertson September 24 1931 February 3 2013 was an American politician from Illinois who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1997 A member of the Democratic Party she was the fourth African American woman in Congress and the first to represent the Midwest 1 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 a month after being elected to a second term 2 The seat had been renumbered and combined from the 6th district to the 7th and had been redrawn to include the Loop She had previously worked as an accountant in various state government positions 2 Cardiss CollinsMember of the U S House of Representatives from Illinois s 7th districtIn office June 5 1973 January 3 1997Preceded byFrank AnnunzioSucceeded byDanny DavisPersonal detailsBornCardiss Hortense Robertson 1931 09 24 September 24 1931St Louis Missouri U S DiedFebruary 3 2013 2013 02 03 aged 81 Alexandria Virginia U S Resting placeArlington National CemeteryPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseGeorge Collins m 1958 died 1972 wbr EducationNorthwestern University Contents 1 Congressional career 2 Retirement death and honors 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksCongressional career EditThroughout her political career she was a champion for women s health and welfare issues In 1975 she was instrumental in prompting the Social Security Administration to revise Medicare regulations to cover the cost of post mastectomy breast prosthesis which before then had been considered cosmetic 3 In 1979 she was elected as chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus a position she used to become an occasional critic of President Jimmy Carter 4 She later became the caucus vice chairman In the 1980s Collins warded off two primary challenges from Alderman Danny K Davis 5 who would finally be elected to replace her after she chose not to seek reelection in 1996 6 In 1990 Collins along with 15 other African American women and men formed the African American Women for Reproductive Freedom 7 In 1991 Collins was named chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce Consumer Protection and Competitiveness Her legislative interests were focused on establishing universal health insurance providing for gender equity in college sports and reforming federal child care facilities 8 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 9 She also engaged in an intense debate with Rep Henry Hyde over Medicaid funding of abortion that year 10 During her last term 1995 1997 she served as ranking member of the Government Reform and Oversight Committee 11 Retirement death and honors EditCollins did not seek re election in 1996 citing her age At the time of her retirement she was the longest serving Black female member of Congress 11 In 2004 she was selected by Nielsen Media Research to head a task force examining the representation of African Americans in TV rating samples Collins lived in Alexandria Virginia at the time of her death on February 3 2013 at the age of 81 12 13 The United States Postal Service s Cardiss Collins Processing and Distribution Center located at 433 W Harrison St in Chicago Illinois is named in her honor and was completed in 1996 to replace the old Main Post Office across the street on Van Buren Street 14 See also EditList of African American United States representatives Women in the United States House of RepresentativesReferences Edit Svitek Patrick February 6 2013 Cardiss Collins 1931 2013 Chicago Tribune Retrieved February 14 2019 a b Collins Cardiss United States House of Representatives Women in Government A Slim Past But a Strong Future Ebony 89 92 96 98 August 1977 Trescott Jacqueline September 21 1979 The Coming Out Of Cardiss Collins The Washington Post p C1 Retrieved February 23 2019 Arndt Michael March 17 1986 Washington letting ally Davis go it alone in race with Collins Chicago Tribune Section 2 p 3 Retrieved February 23 2019 via Newspapers com Langer Emily February 6 2013 Cardiss Collins lawmaker who championed women and minorities dies at 81 Washington Post Kathryn Cullen DuPont August 1 2000 Encyclopedia of women s history in America Infobase Publishing p 6 ISBN 978 0 8160 4100 8 Retrieved February 4 2012 Purl Rachael Materre Micah February 5 2013 First African American woman to represent IL in Congress dies WGN9 Retrieved December 12 2019 Sherman Ed January 15 1993 Collins grabs baton as Congress NCAA nemesis Chicago Tribune Section 4 p 2 Retrieved February 23 2019 Merida Kevin July 1 1993 Hyde Abortion Curb Survives Bitter Debate The Washington Post Retrieved December 12 2019 a b 12 TERM ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT COLLINS TO RETIRE FROM HOUSE Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved August 3 2023 Cahn Emily February 5 2013 Cardiss Collins First African American Woman to Represent Illinois Dies at 81 Roll Call Retrieved February 23 2019 Yardley William February 7 2013 Cardiss Collins Fighter in Congress for Equality and the Poor Dies at 81 The New York Times Retrieved February 9 2013 Cardiss Collins Processing and Distribution Center Archived July 27 2011 at the Wayback Machine 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 External links EditBiography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Financial information federal office at the Federal Election Commission Appearances on C SPAN Cardiss Collins oral history video excerpts at The National Visionary Leadership Project FBI file on Cardiss Collins at the Internet ArchiveU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byGeorge Collins Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom Illinois s 7th congressional district1973 1997 Succeeded byDanny DavisPreceded byParren Mitchell Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus1979 1981 Succeeded byWalter FauntroyPreceded byWilliam Clinger Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee1995 1997 Succeeded byHenry Waxman Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cardiss Collins amp oldid 1168560112, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
