The Almanac of the Unelected 2008: Staff of the U.S. Congress

792 Pages·2008·14.11 MB·English

by  Lisa Friedman

2008
The Almanac
of the
21st Edition
Unelected
Edited by
Lisa Friedman
Staff of the
U.S. Congress
Foreword by Senator
William H. Frist, M.D.
The Almanac
of the
Unelected
2008
21st Edition
Staff of the
U.S. Congress
CONTRIBUTORS
John Filar Atwood
Bernard A. Becker
Katherine Boyle
Matt Brady
Elizabeth Brotherton
Dena Bunis
Thomas Burr
Matt Canham
Joe Cantlupe
Michelle R. Davis
Josh Drobnyk
Mike Doyle
Ed Epstein
Kirsten Fedewa
Evan Lehmann
Jennifer Linn
Lauren Markoe
Christa Marshall
John McArdle
John E. Mulligan
Emily Pierce
Mary Shaffrey
Mike Soraghan
Suzanne Struglinski
Peter Urban
Jessica Wehrman
Dana Wilkie
The Almanac
of the
Unelected
2008
21st Edition
Staff of the
U.S. Congress
Edited by
Lisa Friedman
Lanham, MD
Published in the
United States of America
by Bernan Press, a wholly
owned subsidiary of
The Rowman & Littlefield
Publishing Group, Inc.
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200
Lanham, Maryland 20706
Bernan Press
800-865-3457
[email protected]
www.bernan.com
Copyright © 2008 by Bernan Press

All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be reproduced,
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without the prior permission of the
publisher.
ISBN: 978-1-59888-184-4
ISSN: 1047-0999
(cid:64) The paper used in this publication
meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standard for
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ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
Manufactured in the United States of
America.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vii
Foreword by Senator Bill First, M.D. ix
United States House of Representatives 1
Leadership 3
Committee on Agriculture 57
Committee on Appropriations 79
Committee on Armed Services 99
Committee on the Budget 117
Committee on Education and Labor 131
Committee on Energy and Commerce 151
Committee on Financial Services 169
Committee on Foreign Affairs 181
Committee on Homeland Security 201
Committee on House Administration 217
Committee on the Judiciary 225
Committee on Natural Resources 239
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 259
Committee on Rules 275
Committee on Science and Technology 289
Committee on Small Business 305
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct 317
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 325
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 351
Committee on Ways and Means 365
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 389
Energy Independence 393
United States Senate 395
Leadership 397
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry 441
Committee on Appropriations 463
The Almanac of the Unelected, 2008 v
Committee on Armed Services 491
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 505
Committee on the Budget 521
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation 541
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 565
Committee on Environment and Public Works 593
Committee on Finance 617
Committee on Foreign Relations 639
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions 649
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 667
Committee on the Judiciary 679
Committee on Rules and Administration 697
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 701
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 713
Select, Special, and Other Committees 727
Committee on Indian Affairs 727
Special Committee on Aging 733
Select Committee on Ethics 741
Select Committee on Intelligence 745
Joint Committees 751
Joint Committee on the Library 753
Joint Committee on Printing 757
Joint Committee on Taxation 761
Joint Economic Committee 767
Name Index 775
vi The Almanac of the Unelected, 2008
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In the movies, Hollywood depicts congressional aides who scheme and plot on their boss’s
behalf. Turn the pages of The Almanac of the Unelected for the real story. Inside this book,
and inside the halls of Congress, you will find the hundreds of dedicated men and women
who help craft the country’s laws, policies, and annual budget. Many have devoted their
adult lives to becoming experts in everything from tax policy to after-school programs,
and the work that they do—almost entirely away from the limelight—affects all of our
lives. Even more than the lawmakers whose faces appear regularly on the nightly news,
these aides are the ones who make Congress tick. Each year The Almanac of the Unelected
strives to give them their due, explain the work they perform, and describe the issues they
will face in the coming session. These days, House and Senate committee staff are settling
in to their new roles after the 2006 Democratic takeover. But with the presidential election
just around the corner, all are waiting to see what a new administration—be it Republican
or Democrat—will mean come 2008. A big debt of gratitude goes to the staff members who
patiently took the time to explain their roles, helping us get behind the scenes to tell the
real stories of how legislative work gets done on the Hill. Thanks to the tireless team of
Almanac writers who tracked down aides, made repeated phone calls and endured endless,
nagging e-mails from me, you are all fantastic.
Thank you.
Lisa Friedman
The Almanac of the Unelected, 2008 vii

FOREWORD
Long after most Washingtonians have retired for the evening, American flags fly high
above the House and Senate chambers. As they dance in Capitol’s lights, dozens of senior
staff members roam the Hill’s corridors, toiling late into the night to ensure elected offi-
cials are armed with the tools and information necessary to serve the American people.
But who are these talented men and women? And why do they elect to work in the
halls of Congress, where staff members often endure a grueling pace in return for wages
far below their peers in the private sector?
During my two terms in Senate and four years as majority leader, I came to deeply re-
spect and admire the professionals who act as surrogate eyes, ears, and mouths for those
serving in Congress.
Staff members, often among the most gifted minds in their respective fields, play a
critical role in carrying out the people’s business. They provide the background shaping
crucial decisions. They represent members in front of constituents, interest groups, and
the press. They work between offices and across party lines to ensure vital issues receive
proper debate on the House and Senate floors.
They do all this—and much, much more—not in search of fame and riches, but from
a sense of duty.
Congressional staff members recognize the privilege and reward of public service. They
carry out their responsibilities while making countless personal sacrifices, often forced to
trade time with family and friends for mind-boggling hours in their offices.
Yet despite seemingly endless days and scarce acknowledgement of their achievements
outside the halls of Congress, the men and women of Capitol Hill continue to serve
the American people, playing an essential role in each and every facet of the legislative
branch.
Senators and congressmen and their staffs form a team throughout the workday, col-
laborating in a professional manner to achieve goals and meet the needs of the Ameri-
can people. But they also grow to know one another in far more personal ways, sharing
incredible joys and tremendous pains that extend far beyond the workplace. They form
a family, and those relationships often provide a strength that eases the sacrifices staff
members make in the name of public service.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my Senate tenure remains enjoying the strong
bonds built within our team. I feel forever indebted to those who lent their expertise and
dedication to assist me as I served the people of Tennessee and the United States. I know
many of my colleagues share that sense of gratitude.
In truth, the brilliant, devoted men and women of congressional staffs are the unsung
heroes of Capitol Hill.
—Senator William H. Frist, M.D.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader
(2003–2007)
The Almanac of the Unelected, 2008 ix