Former United States Representative Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat who chaired the House Foreign Affairs Committee and played a central role in major international issues, has died at 79 due to complications of Parkinson’s disease. Over more than four decades in public service, Engel built a reputation as a committed advocate for his constituents and for global peace and security.

First elected to Congress in 1988 after defeating a long-serving incumbent, Engel rose to lead his party on foreign policy. He was an early supporter of military intervention in Kosovo during the 1990s conflict and a strong backer of Israel. He also helped negotiate the Harkin-Engel Protocol, an international agreement aimed at eliminating the worst forms of child labor on cocoa farms in West Africa.

Engel chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee during the first impeachment of President Donald Trump, overseeing proceedings tied to Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. His long tenure ended in 2020 after a primary defeat amid shifting political dynamics within his party. Colleagues remembered him for his dedication to public service and his steady focus on both local and international issues.