Speaker Paul Ryan was elected to Congress in 1998. Ryan is the 54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and was previously the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and chairman of the House Budget Committee. In 2012, Ryan was selected to serve as Governor Mitt Romney’s Vice Presiden-tial nominee. Before serving in Congress, Ryan worked at Ryan Inc. Central, a construction firm founded by his great-grandfather in 1884. Ryan also served as an aide, economic advisor, and speechwriter for various public officials in Washington, D.C. He holds a degree in economics and political science from Miami University in Ohio.