Appropriations Committee Chairman Frelinghuysen Announces Staff Assignments

Feb 2, 2017
Press Release

House Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen today announced several new hires and the staff assignments for the twelve Appropriations subcommittees.

“With an enormous amount of fiscal work to be done this year, we need the best staff there is to help produce quality legislation and to make the most out of every tax dollar. These smart, talented and dedicated staff are more than up for this task,” Frelinghuysen said.

The staff assignments are as follows:

Carol Murphy has re-joined the Committee as Senior Advisor to the Chairman. Murphy has over 25 years of government experience, including as professional staff on the Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Labor and Health and Human Services, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and the District of Columbia. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland.

Shannon O’Keefe will join the Committee as Director of Member Services. O’Keefe most recently served as the Director of Federal Appropriations Government Affairs for Motorola Solutions. She has also served as Deputy Associate Director for Legislative Affairs for the Office of Management and Budget for President George W. Bush and professional Staff on the Senate Appropriations & Budget Committees.

Rachel Kahler will join the Committee as Full Committee Administrative Assistant. Kahler most recently worked for the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee, and has held various roles with Republican National Conventions, previous presidential inaugurations, and with the House of Representatives. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina.

Tom O’Brien will remain as Clerk and Staff Director of the Agriculture subcommittee.

John Martens will remain as Clerk and Staff Director of the Commerce, Justice, and Science subcommittee.

Jennifer Miller will move to the position of Clerk and Staff Director of the Defense subcommittee. Miller was most recently the Director of the Surveys and Investigations unit of the Appropriations Committee, and has previously held roles as senior Full Committee staff and on the Defense subcommittee.

Donna Shahbaz will remain as Clerk and Staff Director of the Energy and Water subcommittee.

Dena Baron will move to the position of Clerk and Staff Director of the Financial Services subcommittee. Baron most recently served as Clerk and Staff Director of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee.

Valerie Baldwin will remain as Clerk and Staff Director of the Homeland Security subcommittee.

Dave LesStrang will remain as Clerk and Staff Director of the Interior subcommittee.

Susan Ross will remain as Clerk and Staff Director of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education subcommittee.

Liz Dawson will remain as Clerk and Staff Director of the Legislative Branch subcommittee.

Maureen Holohan will remain as Clerk and Staff Director of the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs subcommittee.

Craig Higgins will move to the position of Clerk and Staff Director of the State and Foreign Operations subcommittee. Higgins previously served on the staff of this subcommittee.

Doug Disrud will move to the position of Clerk and Staff Director of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development subcommittee. Disrud previously served on the staff of this subcommittee.

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115th Congress