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By CJP | January 6, 2009
 Is it just us, or does today feel a little historic? Just as there are more women than ever in the Senate, today also marks a historic high for the number of women serving in the House of Representatives. According to the Congressional Research Service, 78 women now serve in the House, including the lady of the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi. A bi-partisan group of 10 new female members joined the House today, including:
- Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), a state rep;
- Betsy Markey (D-CO), a businesswoman;
- Susanne Kosmas (D-FL), a former Florida state legislator;
- Debbie Halvorson (D-IL), Illinois’ past state Senate Majority Leader;
- Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Kansas’ former state Treasurer;
- Chellie Pingree (D-ME) the former Maine Senate Majority Leader and the president of Common Cause;
- Dina Titus (D-NV), a professor and Nevada’s former state Senate Minority Leader;
- Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH), an Ohio county commissioner;
- Kathy Dahlkemper, (D-PA), a former dietitian; and
- Cynthia Lummis, (R-WY), Wyoming’s former state Treasurer.
Altogether, 95 women now serve in the U.S. Congress, where one of the first items likely to be on the docket is the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a bill its supporters say will ensure women get equal pay for equal work.
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