For the first time, women will hold these four key congressional jobs

In the discussions over the incoming leadership changes in Congress, one first has been overlooked: The chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will all be women. As Republicans take over the House, Reps. Kay Granger (R-Texas) and Rosa L. DeLauro (D-Conn.) will swap roles as chair and ranking member. In the Democratic-controlled Senate, committee chair Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and ranking member Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) are both retiring, to be replaced by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).