There are currently 78 sitting women in the House of Representatives and 18 in the Senate. Of the 96, some are moms, as is the highest-ranking woman in Congress, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. She has five grown children (and eight grandchildren) but never had little ones while in Congress. "When my children were small, I barely had time to wash my face," Pelosi once told USA Today newspaper. She did not run for office until her youngest was in 12th grade. But alongside Pelosi now are working moms with school age and younger children waging battles and pushing legislation. They even  dress the part, wash their faces and put on makeup!

Between campaigning, serving 24/7 on Capitol Hill, and traveling to be with constituents, the job of a Congresswoman or Senator is not an easy one – especially if the elected official must move a young family to DC with her or have them remain back at home–in whatever state that is.

So in keeping with our salute to America’s Most Powerful Moms, workingmother.com picked the women elected to Congress who still have young families, meaning at least one child at home is still younger than 18.

Meet Most Powerful Moms in pictures

A couple of our Most Powerful Moms focus on health care issues that have affected them directly. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) is the mother of three children and a breast cancer survivor; and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) is the mother of a 3-year-old son with Down Syndrome. Two other moms have pairs of twins and there are a couple of new mothers. Some share with us what gives her the strength and the interest to pursue life in the halls of power.

Mom of one 18 month old, Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, sums it up: "While the long hours and the travel back and forth from DC to South Dakota is tough, I know I am working so he has a better future."