Rick Lazio was born in West Islip, New York on March 13, 1958 the son
of two World War II veterans, Olive and the late Anthony Lazio.
After graduation from West Islip High School, Rick earned a degree in
political science from Vassar College and a law degree from the
American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.
During law school, Rick met his wife, the former Patricia Moriarty, who
was working at the George Washington University Hospital while pursuing
her degrees in nursing.
Returning home after law school, Rick entered public service as a
prosecutor in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office. Working in
the District Court Bureau, Special Investigations and Forfeiture Unit,
and Rackets Bureau, he prosecuted the full range of criminal cases
including accused rapists, organized crime, and corruption.
In 1989 Rick was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature. Despite
heavy pressure to support a proposed tax increase early in his tenure,
Rick voted against the bill. Rick has consistently opposed tax
increases at every level of government that he has served throughout
his legislative career.
In 1992 Rick upset an 18-year incumbent to win election to the United
States House of Representatives. He represented New York’s Second
Congressional district for four terms in Congress, winning re-election
by the largest margins in the history of the district.
Rick earned assignment to both the House Committee on the Budget, and
the Banking and Financial Services Committee. From his seat on the
Budget Committee, Rick helped create and pass the first balanced budget
in a generation. In 1995, Rick was tapped as Chairman of the
Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. Serving as Chairman
for six years, Rick secured the most extensive overhaul of public
housing laws since the Great Depression. His landmark legislation
modernized public housing and expanded housing opportunities for
seniors and the disabled. Rick also fought for housing programs that
serve the most vulnerable members of our communities, such as
increasing the number of Section 8 vouchers and increasing Low Income
Housing Tax Credits.
Rick also served concurrently on the powerful Energy and Commerce
Committee so that New York’s unique interests had a strong voice on
issues relating to energy, healthcare, telecommunications, the
environment, financial services, and insurance.
One of Rick’s biggest victories was the enactment of the Work
Incentives Improvement Act, which enables Americans with disabilities
to enter into the workforce without losing healthcare and disability
benefits. With bi-partisan support, Rick ensured that this critical
legislation passed the House and was signed into law by President
Clinton.
Rick also was a champion in the fight against cancer, creating the
bipartisan House Cancer Awareness Working Group, enacting The Breast
and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act, which provides treatment to
low-income women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, and fighting
to ensure that cancer centers across America are funded and reimbursed
adequately.
Rick proved to be a good steward of our natural resources, and as a
result he was routinely endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters
and by the Sierra Club. He was the original sponsor of the first bill
in Congress to provide credit under a cap and trade program for early
and voluntary action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Since leaving Congress, Rick has continued his advocacy for economic
opportunity in the global economy. He served as President and CEO of
The Financial Services Forum and as a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan
Chase in New York City.
Rick lives in New York City and Long Island with his wife Patricia, and their daughters Molly and Kelsey.