Nydia Velázquez

Nydia Velázquez
Official portrait, 2018
Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byBlaine Luetkemeyer
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019
Preceded bySam Graves
Succeeded bySteve Chabot
In office
February 28, 1998 – January 3, 2007
Preceded byJohn LaFalce
Succeeded bySteve Chabot
Chair of the House Small Business Committee
In office
January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded bySteve Chabot
Succeeded byRoger Williams
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byDon Manzullo
Succeeded bySam Graves
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
Assumed office
January 3, 1993
Preceded byStephen Solarz (redistricted)
Constituency12th district (1993–2013)
7th district (2013–present)
Member of the New York City Council
from the 27th district
In office
1984–1985
Preceded byLuis Olmedo
Succeeded byVictor L. Robles
Personal details
BornNydia Margarita Velázquez
(1953-03-28) March 28, 1953
PartyDemocratic
Spouse
Paul Bader
(m. 2000)
EducationUniversity of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras (BA)
New York University (MA)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website
Campaign website

Nydia Margarita Velázquez Serrano (/ˈnɪdiə/ NID-ee-ə, Spanish: [ˈniðja βeˈlaskes]; born March 28, 1953) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 7th congressional district since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented New York's 12th congressional district from 1993 to 2013, prior to redistricting. She chaired the Congressional Hispanic Caucus from 2009 to 2011. Velázquez is the first Puerto Rican woman to serve in Congress.

On November 20, 2025, Velázquez announced she would not run for re-election in 2026.