The Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey (WPCNJ) wishes to express its deepest condolences to the family of former Congresswoman Marge Roukema. Roukema was a trailblazer as New Jersey's longest-serving woman in the House of Representatives and the dean of the New Jersey congressional delegation.  When Roukema retired in 2003, she was the last woman to represent New Jersey in the congressional delegation until Congresswoman elect Bonnie Watson Coleman's historic win last week.

Roukema started her career in public service on the Ridgewood board of education in 1970.  Roukema was the first Republican woman elected president of the Ridgewood Republican Club in 1977. The first time Roukema ran for Congress was in 1978 and lost. Roukema ran again in 1980 and won. Roukema then went on to be re-elected 10 more times in until her retirement in 2003.

As a member of Congress, Roukema was a moderate Republican who worked with Democrats on social issues, like abortion rights, 1994 ban on assault weapons and term limits.  

Roukema's most notable legislation was the passage of the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act.  Roukema worked with a bipartisan group of lawmakers for many years. The bill was vetoed twice before it was signed into law. This critical law represented a major step forward for working families by ensuring that employees would be entitled to up to 12 weeks of protected leave to recover from a serious illness or care for a new child or seriously ill family member. Roukema was a mom who had tended to her 17-year-old dying son who later succumbed to Leukemia. Roukema became the voice for the working moms who worked for companies that did not have paid leave.  WPCNJ honored Roukema's work in 1996 by awarding her the Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award.

WPCNJ President Michel Bitritto said, "New Jersey mourns the passing of former Congresswoman Roukema, a true leader. She dedicated her career to advocating for those without a voice, passing historic family and medical leave legislation important to women, children and families and consistently defending a woman's right to choose. Our thoughts are with Congresswoman Roukema's family."

*Photo - Marge Roukema (right), Republican congressional candidate, meets with Rep. Millicent Fenwick in Washington to discuss health care needs for senior citizens on Sept. 14, 1978. (Photo credit NorthJersey.com)