Meet the 2015 Energy and Commerce Staff

Published: August 19, 2015

National Journal Presentation Credits

Producer: Alexander PerryDirector: Afzal Bari

Adapted from: National Journal’s Meet the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Majority and Minority Staff by Fawn Johnson

Sources: National Journal Research; Fawn Johnson, “Meet the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Majority Staff,” Fawn Johnson, July 22, 2015.

Meet the Energy and Commerce Staff

Name Committee Position

Gary Andres Majority Staff Director

Mike Bloomquist

Majority Deputy Staff Director

Karen Christian

Majority General Counsel

Sean Bonyun Majority Communications Director

Jeff Carroll Minority Staff Director

Tiffany Guarascio

Minority Deputy Staff Director and Chief Health Adviser

Tim Robinson Minority Chief Counsel

Ashley JonesMinority Director of Communications, Outreach, and Member Services

Table of Energy and Commerce Committee Staffers

Sources: National Journal Research; Fawn Johnson, “Meet the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Majority Staff,” Fawn Johnson, July 22, 2015; OpenSecrets.com, “Andres, Gary”

Energy and Commerce Majority Staff

Gary Andres, Majority Staff Director

Biography

Education: Wheaton College, B.A. 1977; University of Illinois, Ph.D, public policy, 1983

Career: Public Policy Professional, Lobbyist

Previous Experience

• 1993-2010: Dutko Worldwide, Vice Chairman of Public Policy and Research

• 2001-2004: Andres-McKenna Research Group, Senior Managing Partner for

• 2000: George W. Bush’s transition team

• 1989-93: Deputy Assistant to President George H.W. Bush

• 1982-83: Legislative aide for Rep. Tom Corcoran (R-IL) and Rep. Carlos Moorhead (R-CA)

Comments on E&C Committee

• Focused on helping the committee get through as much legislation in 2016 before the presidential cycle interferes

• Andres says, “I spend a lot of time thinking about what I can do from my perch to unjam as much of the inevitable logjam as possible."

• So far in 2016, he and his team helped push a long-sought resolution to the "doc-fix" Medicare payment system and a House-passed 21st Century Cures legislation to speed up medical research

• His biggest fear is that hard-fought bills like 21st Century Cures won't make it through the Senate, which he acknowledges operates within a completely different culture than the House.

Personal Information

• Andres has five kids, four of whom have either interned or worked on Capitol Hill

• Andres is also the owner of two English Bulldogs

Sources: National Journal Research; Fawn Johnson, “Meet the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Majority Staff,” Fawn Johnson, July 22, 2015; OpenSecrets.com, “Bloomquist, Michael D”

Energy and Commerce Majority Staff

Mike Bloomquist, Majority Deputy Staff Director

Biography

Education: Hamilton College, B.A.; Washington University in St. Louis, J.D.; Georgetown University, Masters of Law

Career: Legislative Consulting, Congressional Aide, Attorney, Lobbyist

Previous Experience

• 2014: Kountoupes Denham, Principal

• 2008-2011: Wiley Rein LLP, Partner, Counsel

• 2005-2007, 2011-2014: House Energy & Commerce Committee, General Counsel

• Also worked at lobbying firm Patton Boggs, on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and in the Interior Department

Comments on E&C Committee

• Bloomquist recently replaced Alexa Marrero, the committee’s former Majority Deputy Staff Director

• On replacing Marrero, Bloomquist said, “While a superstar like Alexa Marrero is irreplaceable, I’m going to take a ‘Moneyball’ approach and team with other skilled E&C staffers to ensure we cover the sweeping portfolio of responsibilities Alexa performed. Dials to 11!”Personal Information

• In his spare time, Bloomquist coaches lacrosse and has had each of his three daughters on his team

Sources: National Journal Research; Fawn Johnson, “Meet the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Majority Staff,” Fawn Johnson, July 22, 2015; National Journal, “Karen Christian, Majority Chief Counsel, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee,” Amy Harder, April 17, 2013; Sunlight Foundation “House Staff Directory: Karen E Christian.”

Energy and Commerce Majority Staff

Karen Christian, Majority General Counsel

Biography

Education: Ohio University, B.A.; Ohio State University College of Law, J.D.

Career: Attorney, Legal Advisor

Previous Experience

• Former aide to Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH)

• Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, Chief Counsel

• Notable investigations include Solyndra, probes into HealthCare.gov, General Motors recalls, and fungal meningitis from contaminated medicine

Comments on E&C Committee

• Joined E&C in 2006, although originally did not anticipate working on the Energy and Commerce Committee for almost a decade

• As general counsel, she is the lead advisor in developing the committee’s legislative and oversight agenda

• On the foundation Rep. Upton has built for the past four years on energy and medical innovation Christian has said, “I want to do all I can to see the policy initiatives this committee has developed get across the finish line, most importantly Chairman Upton’s 21st Century Cures Act and energy package”

Personal Information

• In her free time, Christian likes to play tennis

• Christian has three children, each 10 or younger

Sources: National Journal Research; Fawn Johnson, “Meet the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Majority Staff,” Fawn Johnson, July 22, 2015; The Almanac of the Unelected 2013: Staff of the US Congress, “House Energy and Commerce, Sean Bonyun”

Energy and Commerce Majority Staff

Sean Bonyun, Majority Communications Director

Biography

Education: Bucknell University, B.A.

Career: Congressional Aide, Campaign Support

Previous Experience

• 2003-2010: Communications Director, Rep. Fred Upton(R-MI)

• 2002: Press Secretary, Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT)

• 1999-2001: Communications Associate, Rep. Steven Kuykendall (R-CA)

Comments on E&C Committee

• As a longtime staffer of Rep. Upton’s, Bonyun was an essential element in the committee’s messaging about the effort to spur drug approvals and medical research

• Bonyun had a hand in turning complex issues such as Keystone, Solyndra, and 21st Century Cures ‘into household names,’ with his affinity for translating complicated ideas into ‘tweetable’ terms

• Bonyun says he will focus on “providing polished and compelling narratives” about the committees legislation to get it through the Senate and signed into law

Personal Information

• Bonyun and his wife Meredith had their first child, Prescott Jackson a week before the E&C committee marked up the 21st Century Cures bill, the committee’s biggest piece of legislation

Sources: National Journal Research; Fawn Johnson, “Meet the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Minority Staff,” Fawn Johnson, July 22, 2015.

Energy and Commerce Minority Staff

Jeff Carroll, Minority Staff Director

Biography

Education: George Washington University, B.A.

Career: Campaign Support Congressional Aide, Chief of Staff

Previous Experience

• Began political career as a Capitol HIll intern at age 19

• Former staffer for Rep. Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)

• Chief of Staff for Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), who is now the ranking member on the Energy and Commerce Committee

Comments on E&C Committee

• Responsible for coordinating the committee agenda on the Democratic side

• On the topic of the working relationship between Democrats and Republicans, Carroll believes that “Majority and minority staff can disagree without being disagreeable.”

• Carroll abides by Rep. Pallone’s rule that controversial items from either end of the political spectrum should not dominate the conversation

• Carroll is particularly proud of the bipartisan work already accomplished on the committee on medical innovation, chemical safety, and Internet domain names and hopes to add an energy bill to this list of accomplishments.

Personal Information

• Carroll is a passionate GW alum and has held season tickets to GW basketball games for almost 20 years

Sources: National Journal Research; Fawn Johnson, “Meet the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Minority Staff,” Fawn Johnson, July 22, 2015.

Energy and Commerce Minority StaffTiffany Guarascio, Minority Deputy Staff Director and Chief Health

Adviser

Biography

Education: George Washington University, B.A.

Career: Congressional Aide

Previous Experience

• Worked briefly for former New York representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Anthony Weiner (D-NY)

• For 11 years, Guarascio has been on the staff of Rep. Pallone (D-NJ)

• Led the health subcommittee and was a major player in the Affordable Care Act

Comments on E&C Committee

• Like Rep. Pallone, Guarascio’s policy focus lies in health care

• Guarascio is a staunch defender of the Children’s Health Insurance Program and believes that it should be included in a fast-moving bill to repeal outdated Medicare reimbursement rates

Personal Information

• During a Congressional Picnic on the White House lawn, Guarascio showed off her skills by hula hooping for five minutes straight

Sources: National Journal Research; Fawn Johnson, “Meet the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Minority Staff,” Fawn Johnson, July 22, 2015; Sunlight Foundation, “House Staff Directory, Timothy R Robinson”

Energy and Commerce Minority Staff

Tim Robinson, Minority Chief Counsel

Biography

Education: Brown University, B.A.; University of Virginia School of Law, J.D.

Career: Attorney, Lobbyist, Federal and Local Government Experience

Previous Experience

• 2009-2015: Sr. Policy Counsel and Legal Director, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL)

• Former general counsel for the D.C. Public Service Commission

• Also served in the Commerce Department

Comments on E&C Committee

• Robinson oversees the committee’s legal matters and ensures that procedures are conducted correctly

• Robinson hopes the congenial negotiations that have been the committee’s practice this year will continue until its work becomes law

Personal Information

• Robinson is a big sports fan and he both practices martial arts and regularly attend professional, as well as collegiate, athletic events

Sources: National Journal Research; Fawn Johnson, “Meet the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Minority Staff,” Fawn Johnson, July 22, 2015.

Energy and Commerce Minority StaffAshley Jones, Minority Director of Communications, Outreach, and

Member Services

Biography

Education: University of Georgia, B.A.

Career: Congressional Aide, Chief of Staff

Previous Experience

• Served as congressional aide and chief of staff to former Rep. John Barrow (D-GA)

Comments on E&C Committee

• Brought on to the Energy and Commerce Committee to help develop the Democrats’ message and manage the broad range of constituency groups that are impacted by its work

• On her role in the committee, Jones has said, “I feel like I am the advocate-in-chief. Mr. Pallone feels strongly about making sure all the members of our caucus have their voices heard”

Personal Information

• Jones is an avid traveler and is well on her way to visiting all seven continents. Australia is on her upcoming itinerary and then she plans on going to Antarctica.