California Rep. Lois Capps Announces Retirement

Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), a former nurse, announced Wednesday that she will not seek re-election. Capps spent much of her time in office advocating for health care, including authoring a 2002 law providing financial aid for nursing school and a measure in 2000 providing grants for children's dental care. In a statement, President Obama said Capps "has led efforts to increase access to health care, improve mental health services, detect and prevent domestic violence, protect our environment and improve education -- all while consistently being voted the 'nicest member of Congress.'"

• "Democratic Rep. Capps of Calif. Announces Plans to Retire" (AP/New York Times, 4/8).
• "Rep. Lois Capps of Santa Barbara Announces She Will Retire in 2016" (Bierman, "Politics Now," Los Angeles Times, 4/8).