Deborah D. Pryce / US House of Representatives

First elected to the House of Representatives in 1992, Deborah Pryce rose through the ranks of leadership to become Republican Conference Chair a decade later, making her the highest–ranking Republican woman in House history. As a member of the Financial Services Committee and as a Deputy Whip, Congresswoman Pryce drew on her background as a former judge and prosecutor to act as a consensus builder in the House. Her legislative interests ranged from consumer financial protection to pediatric cancer and adoption practices. Congresswoman Pryce represented the state of Ohio.