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, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, 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 Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, 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