Speaker Paul D. Ryan has spent nearly 20 years in Congress, having been sworn in just shy of his 29th birthday in January 1999. As he mentioned in his retirement announcement Wednesday, his time in D.C. has seen the birth of his three kids, his ascension to chairman of two powerful committees, 2012 Republican vice presidential candidate and of course, speaker.
After he made it public this week that he would not seek re-election for an 11th term, Roll Call went into its archives to dig up photos from the year he’s spent on the Hill.
Here’s his congressional life in photos:
Not even a year into his time in Washington, Ryan was already championing reforms for social security and other entitlements. He’s pictured here in July 1999. (CQ Roll Call archive photo)
Ryan is photographed in October 2000. (CQ Roll Call archive photo)
Ryan speaks at the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (CQ Roll Call archive photo)
Ryan, his wife Janna, and daughter Elizabeth, 2, make their way to a train at Union Station, that will take them to the Republican Bicameral retreat in Philadelphia. (CQ Roll Call archive photo)
Chairman Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., and ranking member Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., during the House Budget hearing with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke on the state of the U.S. economy. (Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Ryan practices in October 2009 for the charity football game — Members vs. Capitol Police — on the National Mall. (CQ Roll Call archive photo)
Ryan looks over papers as he waits for other House Republicans to arrive for a news conference in the Capitol Visitors Center in January 2010. (CQ Roll Call archive photo)
GOP vice presidential candidate Ryan, and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney after Romney’s speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Ryan appears on stage with his wife Janna, mother Betty, and kids, Sam, Charlie, and Liza, after the congressman addressed the Republican National Convention in the Tampa Bay Times Forum. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Incoming Speaker Ryan waves to members of Congress alongside outgoing Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, in the House chambers of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on October 29, 2015. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Ryan walks with his children, from left, Sam, Charlie, and Liza, after being sworn in on the House floor as the 54th Speaker of the House. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Ryan speaks during his press conference to announce his retirement on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
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