Hart, Melissa, 1962-

Melissa Anne Hart (born April 4, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician. She was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007, representing western Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. She was the first Republican woman to represent Pennsylvania at the federal level.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she graduated from North Allegheny High School in Wexford, Pennsylvania before earning a degree in business and German from Washington and Jefferson College. Hart then attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. After graduating from law school and being admitted to the bar, Hart joined a major Pittsburgh law firm, where she specialized in real estate law. After Pittsburgh officials raised property taxes, Hart decided to run for public office. In 1990, at age 28, Hart became the youngest woman and the first Republican woman elected to the Pennsylvania state senate. Despite hailing from an overwhelmingly Democratic district, she was re-elected twice. During her tenure in the state legislature, she chaired the finance committee and focused on tax reform.

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