I just thought it was unconscionable for the Congress to insert itself into this debate. We are particularly unqualified to make that decision and to intrude ourselves into the lives of this family.

Committee assignments
Committee on Financial Services
Subcommittee on Capital Markets Insurance and Government-Sponsored Enterprises
Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit

Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia (Ranking Member)


Caucus memberships
Congressional Arts Caucus
Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans


Personal life
Ackerman who sports a white carnation boutonnière each day lives on a houseboat named the Unsinkable II while in Washington D. Ackerman voted in favor of the Troubled Asset Relief Program. In addition the Congressman lobbied federal security officials — with the September 11 2001 attacks in mind — to use retired law enforcement officers as screeners at New York airports and he pressed President Bush to make good on his promise to provide New York with US$20 billion in additional 9/11 disaster aid.

On March 15 2012 Ackerman announced that he would retire at the end of the 112th Congress on January 3 2013 after fifteen terms and would not seek re-election in November 2012. Gary Leonard Ackerman (born November 19 1942) was a U. Representative from New York serving from 1983 to 2013.