Congresswoman Deborah Pryce first came to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1993 after serving as a Franklin County Municipal Court Judge and prosecutor. Over her fifteen years in Congress, Pryce has left an indelible impact on our nation’s economy and central Ohio infrastructure, has been viewed throughout her tenure as a consensus-builder and common-sense legislator, and has made history in her rise through the ranks of leadership in the House.

In August, Pryce announced she will not seek reelection to Congress in 2008 to be closer to her family. Until then, Pryce’s experience in Washington, effectiveness as a lawmaker, key position on the House Financial Services Committee, and commitment to constituent services will continue to benefit residents of her 15th Congressional District.

Upon her arrival in Washington, Pryce quickly became a leader among her colleagues, culminating with her 2002 election as House Republican Conference Chairman, where she was tasked with articulating the party’s message and helping to craft the Republican agenda. In this capacity, Pryce became the fourth highest-ranking Member of Congress, and the highest ranking Republican woman in history. During her tenure in Congress, Pryce was also elected Freshman Class President (1993), House Republican Conference Secretary (1996 and 1998) and Conference Vice-Chair (2000). She was selected by the House Speaker to serve on the critically important House Rules Committee (1994 - 2004) and has served as a Deputy Whip since 1996.

Currently, Pryce serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises of the Financial Services Committee.  As the highest-ranking Republican member on the Subcommittee, Pryce is poised to shape legislation impacting America’s insurance industries and securities firms. Her Financial Services seat will prove equally invaluable as Congress considers issues critical to our nation’s economic future, including the mortgage crisis and credit crunch, both of which are impacting families, governments and businesses across the country. Pryce has been at the forefront of efforts to protect consumers from data theft, standardize privacy requirements under Graham Leach Bliley, reauthorize Terrorism Risk Insurance, and reform the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS).

But Pryce’s service in the House will be equally remembered for her pragmatic, common-sense approach to governing, and her behind-the-scenes work to achieve legislative results through bipartisanship and cooperation. Her background as a prosecutor and judge made her uniquely adept at building consensus and coalitions, leading Business Week Magazine to dub her with the title of “The Peacemaker,” and The Columbus Dispatch to depict her as “Discreetly Influential” for her “reputation as a quiet leader.” During a period marked by increasing rancor and partisanship on Capitol Hill, Pryce was viewed by her colleagues as an honest broker who placed good government above all other considerations.

Throughout her 15 years in office, Congresswoman Pryce has consistently fought for families, and for measures to expand our economy and create high-paying jobs.  She has strongly supported tax cuts to allow working families to keep more of their hard-earned money; secured federal resources for important central Ohio institutions of research, innovation and technology; and played an instrumental role in securing federal support for the Rickenbacker Intermodal facility and Heartland Corridor projects, which are expected to create more than 20,000 jobs and infuse $15 billion to our state and local economies over the next 20 years. Pryce worked to secure funding for the construction of the West Columbus Floodwall and the new VA outpatient clinic in Columbus, and worked with the central Ohio Congressional delegation to preserve the Defense Supply Center Columbus from the base closing commission. Pryce’s influence in Washington has had additional tangible benefits in central Ohio; she was instrumental in directing federal funds to Columbus for the construction of the Port Columbus Air Traffic Control Tower and OSU’s biomedical research facility.

But Congresswoman Pryce’s service in Congress is equally defined by her tireless advocacy on health issues and for the protection of women and children. For the last decade and a half, Pryce has worked to make the process of adoption more affordable for families. She was a leader in the effort to reform welfare to end the cycle of dependency and help countless families enter the workforce. She has been at the forefront of yearly efforts to secure funds for physician training at children’s hospitals -- including Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus -- to ensure their fair treatment under Medicare law. Pryce has also received acclaim for authoring a law to require drug companies to test drugs to determine their effectiveness in children, and a measure to improve palliative care for children with terminal diseases. In 2006, Pryce succeeded in her efforts to crack down on those who traffic humans as part of the illicit sex trade --providing hope for the tens of thousands of women and children in the US who are coerced into this underworld of violence and degradation.

As co-chair of the House Cancer Caucus, Congresswoman Pryce has been a key leader in the fight against this dreaded disease, and in 2006 was the recipient of the American Cancer Society’s highest honor, the Distinguished Advocacy Award. She coauthored a law to help cancer patients in underserved areas work their way through our complicated health care system through the use of “patient navigators.” She has fought for additional federal support for pediatric cancer research dollars and successfully secured access for seniors to life-saving oral cancer drugs in the 2005 Medicare law.  After losing her daughter Caroline to pediatric cancer in 1999, Pryce co-founded Hope Street Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing funding and awareness of pediatric cancer. In recognition of Pryce’s tireless advocacy in the fight against cancer, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital honored Pryce with membership into The James Leadership Society, the highest recognition bestowed on supporters of the hospital.

Congresswoman Pryce is a graduate of Ohio State University and Capital University Law School. She is a Board member for both the U.S. Botanic Garden and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and has been inducted into both the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame and the YWCA Women of Achievement for her outstanding achievements in public and community service. She lives in Upper Arlington, Ohio, with her daughter Mia.