Image courtesy of the Member

VELÁZQUEZ, Nydia M., a Representative from New York; born in Yabucoa, P.R., March 28, 1953; B.A., University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, 1974; M.A., New York University, New York, N.Y., 1976; faculty, University of Puerto Rico, Humacao, P.R., 1976-1981; adjunct professor, Hunter College, City University of New York, N.Y., 1981-1983; staff, United States Representative Edolphus Towns of New York, 1983; member, New York, N.Y., city council, 1984; national director, Migration Division Office, Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources, 1986-1989; director, Department of Puerto Rican Community Affairs in the United States for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 1989-1992; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Third and to the ten succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1993-present); chair, Committee on Small Business (One Hundred Tenth and One Hundred Eleventh Congresses).