From 1962 until 1976 , Weiss was a member of the New York City Council . He was a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention . Weiss was elected to Congress in 1976 , representing most of Manhattan 's West Side , and served from January 3 , 1977 , until his death . Weiss was known for his avid support of liberal causes , including civil rights , open government , and the arts . He served on the House Committee on Banking , Finance , and Urban Affairs , the House Committee on Government Operations , and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs . In 1985 Weiss headed a committee that found 90 percent of the twenty to thirty thousand new drugs used on farm animals had not been approved by the FDA in violation of the Federal Food , Drug , and Cosmetic Act . They also found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) failed to remove several drugs already known to be carcinogens
1972 Democratic National Convention
1972 Democratic National Convention
Theodore S. Weiss