The Women’s Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI) mourns the loss of Ambassador and former Congresswoman Margaret Heckler (R-MA), who passed away on Monday, August 6.
The first woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts, Ambassador Heckler represented suburban Boston in Congress from 1967-1982. She was a co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. During her congressional service, Ambassador Heckler sponsored the 1974 Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and championed the Equal Rights Amendment and Title IX.
After leaving Congress, she served as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services under President Ronald Reagan from 1983-1985, and later served as Ambassador to Ireland from 1985-1989.
