U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart is now serving her third term representing the 4th District of Pennsylvania. The district includes Southwestern Pennsylvania communities in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Westmoreland and Mercer Counties. Hart is the first female Republican to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Over the course of her career in the U.S. House,  Hart has had many legislative successes. Congress passed and President Bush signed into law Hart's bill, the Unborn Victims of Violence, also known as Laci and Conner's Law, which stipulates that if a federal crime of violence is committed against a pregnant woman and her unborn child is harmed, the perpetrator may be charged with two crimes against two victims. Congresswoman Hart has been a strong advocate for victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and child abuse.  Thanks to her efforts to increase funding under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), victims who would otherwise be turned away from shelters, will receive the services they need to escape violence and rebuild their lives.

Congresswoman Hart was also successful in protecting children from unwanted emails as she sponsored an amendment providing that an alert must be sent in unsolicited emails containing sexually explicit material.  It was included in the Anti-Spam Bill signed into law in 2004.

Among Hart's other legislative accomplishments are her plan to provide funds to programs that create "safe havens" for abandoned newborns. The President also signed legislation that Hart authored improving medical benefits for tens of thousands of former miners who suffer from Black Lung disease.

Congresswoman Hart's "Consumer Product Protection Act," which penalizes individuals who insert illicit and pornographic materials into packaged food goods, was signed into law. Hart has focused her congressional work on restoring opportunity to the district -- a region that had missed much of the economic prosperity of the late 1990s.

The Congresswoman's efforts are guided by the principle of making government more responsive to citizens. She continues to build on her record of success in delivering common-sense reforms that make a tangible difference in people's lives. Specifically, Hart has been active in targeting and obtaining funds for local brownfields sites that can be developed into new businesses and economic projects. She continues to work directly with local and county officials to help navigate federal agencies to help access financing for local projects, especially water and sewage infrastructure. Hart introduced an economic development plan specifically tailored to bring new growth and spur investments in western Pennsylvania's workers and businesses.

In January of 2005, Hart won a highly coveted seat on the House Ways and Means Committee, one of the U.S. House’s most powerful committees.   The Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and over the authority of the Federal Government to borrow money.

• utilizing her position on the House Jobs Action Team to strengthen efforts to grow the local economy
  
• working aggressively to help local communities utilize federal grants and other programs to expand economic development
  
• protecting Social Security for current and future retirees
  
• protecting children from Internet pornography and strengthening child abduction laws
  
• reducing the tax burdens on individuals and businesses that provide jobs for the district
  
• providing access to quality health care by supporting a prescription drug benefit in Medicare and medical malpractice reform
  
• promoting economic development through rebuilding local infrastructure, such as re-designating Route 60 as a federal highway.

Prior to first taking office in Congress in 2001, Hart served in the Pennsylvania Senate for 10 years. She chaired the powerful Finance Committee and helped deliver over four billion dollars in tax cuts and other savings to Pennsylvania taxpayers and small businesses. A native of Allegheny County, the congresswoman graduated from North Allegheny High School, and earned her bachelor's degree from Washington & Jefferson College. She went on to earn a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Community Service The Congresswoman serves on the boards of several important community organizations: Washington and Jefferson College Board of Trustees, Board of Trustees, University of Pittsburgh, Community College of Allegheny County, Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program, Pittsburgh Film Office, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

Awards The Congresswoman is the recipient of many awards, recognizing her for leadership and service: Americans for Tax Reform, Hero of Taxpayers Award; American Legislative Exchange Council, Legislator of the Year Award; Associated Builders and Contractors, Eagle Award; Chatham College, President's Medal; Food Distributors International, Thomas Jefferson Award;National Epilepsy Association, Advocacy Award; National Association of Home Builders; National Federation of Independent Business, Guardian of Small Business; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Spirit of Enterprise Award;Vectors, Pittsburgh Woman of the Year; Pennsylvania Leadership Council, People Leading Change Award; Zonta International, Status of Women Award; Carlow College, Women of Spirit Award