Ann Marie Buerkle

After decades of work in the pro-life movement as a local volunteer and advocate, Ann Marie stepped up to challenge pro-abortion incumbent Representative Dan Maffai.  She is the first woman elected to Congress from New York’s 25th Congressional District.

Ann Marie graduated from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse in 1972 and went to work in New York City’s Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.  In 1977, she graduated from Le Moyne College with a Bachelor of Science Degree.

In 1991, Ann Marie returned to college, this time to earn her law degree. She graduated from Syracuse University College of Law in 1994 with a Juris Doctorate degree.

She worked in a private law firm, and in 1997 was appointed, by then Attorney General Dennis Vacco, as an Assistant New York State Attorney General representing the State of New York on behalf of Upstate Medical University.  For 13 years she served in this capacity, and in 2010 she took a leave of absence in order to pursue a seat in congress.

Ann Marie Buerkle is a recognized volunteer and spokeswoman for her local Right to Life chapter and campaigned heavily on a pro-life platform, and a commitment to rescinding taxpayer funding of abortion in health care reform.

Congresswoman Buerkle voted to defund Planned Parenthood of the 300 million in taxpayer dollars it receives each year and has since become a prime target for Planned Parenthood and the pro-abortion lobby. In March 2011, the Susan B. Anthony List and Live Action’s Lila Rose stopped in Syracuse, NY to thank Rep. Buerkle for her courageous stand as part of its Women Speak Out: Expose Planned Parenthood Bus Tour:

Congresswoman Buerkle speaking out on the House floor in favor of H.R. 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which she co-sponsored: