The oldest sitting member of Congress, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) has died at the age of 88 after complications from a fall her office confirmed in a statement Friday morning.
The congresswoman fell last week at her Washington, DC home and was taken to George Washington University Hospital where doctors diagnosed her with a concussion. They kept the congresswoman at the hospital to receive treatment and monitoring.
Slaughter was the first woman to chair the powerful House Rules Committee from 2007 to 2009 which determines how bills reach the floor for a vote. She remained the committee's ranking member until her death.
The congresswoman was first elected in 1987 and represented the area of Rochester, New York for 16 terms in Congress. Only nine other current House members have served longer than Slaughter in the House of Representatives.
Details on funeral arrangements will be provided when they become available.