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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman-Elect of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, announced the Committee’s Senior Staff members for the 119^th Congress:

Joel Miller - Chief Counsel

Joel Miller will serve as the Chief Counsel of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, managing the policy and legislative strategy of the Committee and overseeing the subcommittees. As Chief Counsel, Joel will coordinate the Committee’s policy and legislative work with Members, leadership, and the broader Republican Conference to advance the House Republican legislative agenda. A former FCC Senior Legal Advisor and Chief of Staff, Joel also served previously as Chairman Guthrie’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director and has spent the last four years in the private sector. 

Jessica Donlon - General Counsel

Jessica Donlon will serve as the General Counsel for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce where she will advise on strategic and legal issues, lead the Committee’s oversight and investigative priorities, manage the Committee’s parliamentary procedures and compulsory process, and help develop committee best practices. Jessica has extensive experience working for a variety of committees, most recently as Deputy Staff Director of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. During her Capitol Hill tenure, Jessica has conducted congressional investigations, led oversight efforts, and helped run hundreds of congressional hearings. In addition to her Hill experience, Jessica previously served as Deputy General Counsel for Oversight for the Office of Management and Budget within the Executive Office of the President.

Chris Sarley - Senior Advisor and Director of Member Services and Stakeholder Engagement

Chris Sarley will serve as Senior Advisor and Director of Member Services and Stakeholder Engagement for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. In this role, Chris will enhance communication and foster collaboration among Committee Members, the broader Republican Conference, and external stakeholders. Chris is a Capitol Hill veteran, having spent nearly 15 years in the House of Representatives working for the Energy and Commerce Committee and for senior members of the Committee. He returns to the Committee after joining Cornerstone Government Affairs in 2017.

Matt VanHyfte - Director of Communications

Matt VanHyfte will serve as Director of Communications for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he will develop and execute strategic messaging campaigns to advance the Committee’s policy initiatives. Working closely with House Leadership, the House Republican Conference, and Committee Members, he will lead efforts to communicate and amplify the legislative agenda. Prior to this role, VanHyfte served as Director of Communications for the House Committee on Small Business. His experience includes positions with President Donald J. Trump’s 2020 Re-Election Campaign, the Republican Governors Association, and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce senior staff will work under the direction of Staff Director Megan Jackson and Deputy Staff Director Sophie Khanahmadi.

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