Rosa Luisa DeLauro[1][2] (/dɪˈlɔːroʊ/ dih-LOR-oh; born March 2, 1943) is an American politician who is in her 18th term as the U.S. representative for Connecticut's 3rd congressional district, having served since 1991.

[3] In 2020, DeLauro was selected as chair of the House Appropriations Committee for the 117th Congress, succeeding Nita Lowey[4] and becoming the second woman to hold the position.

DeLauro sought the open seat and quickly consolidated Democratic support behind her, earning Morrison's endorsement and prompting State Representative Mike Lawlor's withdrawal from the campaign.

The campaign was equally combative over policy matters, with both candidates' microphones cut off during a radio debate after repeated attacks over abortion and capital punishment.

[18] DeLauro was reelected to an 11th term with 65% of the vote against Connecticut Republican Party treasurer Jerry Labriola Jr.[19][20][unreliable source?]

DeLauro was reelected to a 13th term with 67.1%[22] of the vote against Republican nominee James Brown, a high school math teacher.

DeLauro was reelected to a 14th term with 69%[23] of the vote against Republican nominee Angel Cadena, a former candidate for Connecticut State Comptroller.

[citation needed] On December 17, 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported that DeLauro was "a top contender" for Labor Secretary in the Obama administration.

[32] DeLauro was critical of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which places limits on taxpayer-funded abortions in the context of the November 2009 Affordable Health Care for America Act.

[33] DeLauro was a supporter of David Bonior in his race against Steny Hoyer for House Majority Whip in 1991, seconding his nomination at a meeting of the Democratic caucus.

[34] DeLauro cited their work together during the Iran-Contra scandal, and said that Bonior's "position as whip will not impact the momentum the choice issue has in Congress right now.

[51] As chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, she has opposed the Hyde Amendment based on evidence of its discriminatory impact.

This bill allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a birth defects prevention, risk reduction, and awareness program.

The introduction of this bill represents a potential conflict of interest because of her husband Stanley Greenberg's connection to agricultural biotechnology corporation Monsanto.

[69] When Irene hit the state and during the immediate aftermath, DeLauro was vacationing along Italy's Amalfi Coast and was not anticipated to return until five days after the storm had passed.

[citation needed] "This act is intended to discourage excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages by increasing the price of these products", according to the text of the legislation.

[74] It was opposed by the American Beverage Association and the National Automatic Merchandising Association[75] (NAMA), which said, "People don't support taxes and bans on common grocery items, like soft drinks" and that sweetened beverages "are not the main source of added sugars for children and teens and that a tax on sugary drinks unfairly singles out the industry.

"[73] After Nita Lowey announced her retirement, DeLauro, Marcy Kaptur and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz were candidates for chair of the Appropriations Committee.

She continues to support biomedical research, including efforts to develop a reliable screening test for ovarian cancer.