Former U.S. Rep. Pat Schroeder, a pioneer in women’s and family rights in Congress, died Monday night. She was 82.
Schroder’s former spokeswoman, Andrea Camp, said Schroder recently suffered a stroke and died at a hospital in Florida, the state where she lived.
Schroeder, the first woman elected to Congress from Colorado, served 12 terms. She became one of the most influential Democrats for two decades, but never chaired a major committee.
Schroeder was best known for passing the Family Leave bill, providing job protection for caring for a newborn, sick child or parent.
In 1987, she tried her hand at running for president, launching a fundraiser after her fellow Coloradoan, Gary Hart, dropped out of the race. She gave it up because her heart wasn’t in it and she hated fundraising.
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