Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) today announced the lineup of Republican staff directors for five of the panel’s six subcommittees.
“I am excited to announce that Committee Republicans will be able to rely on an extremely knowledgeable group of policy experts for our subcommittees’ work. Our Nation’s infrastructure cuts across many modes of transportation and a wide variety of programs, and this is an excellent group of professionals who can help make our committee successful in our efforts to improve that infrastructure for all of America,” said Ranking Member Graves.
Subcommittee on Aviation
Holly Woodruff Lyons will serve as the Subcommittee on Aviation Republican Staff Director and Senior Counsel. Holly first joined the Aviation Subcommittee staff in 2002, and became its staff director in 2007. She also served as the full committee’s Deputy General Counsel from 2014 to 2018. She has worked on multiple Federal Aviation Administration reauthorizations, and most recently was the lead House negotiator on the Aviation Division of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. Prior to coming to Capitol Hill, Holly was an attorney at the Federal Aviation Administration and worked in private legal practice and higher education administration.
Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
John Rayfield will to serve as the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Republican Staff Director. Rayfield has served on Capitol Hill staffs for 38 years, including the previous 15 as the Subcommittee’s Republican Staff Director. He was the staff lead on the recently enacted Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 and the Save Our Seas Act of 2018, which included the Maritime Safety Act of 2018, in addition to other previous Coast Guard authorizations. Before joining the Committee staff, Rayfield worked for the Resources Committee and the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, and worked in the offices of two Members of Congress from Virginia.
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
Johanna Hardy will serve as the Republican Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. Johanna has served in that same position since September 2017, and previously as Counsel for the Subcommittee since 2008. She has worked on a range of issues and legislation, including the recently enacted Disaster Recovery Reform Act, the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016, and the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013. Johanna also previously served as Senior Counsel for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and worked on various issues and pieces of legislation such as the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Johanna holds a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
Murphie Barrett will continue to serve as Republican Staff Director of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, a position she has served in since November 2013. As the Staff Director, she was the lead House staffer during the development and passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) of 2015. Murphie first joined the Subcommittee as a professional staff member in 2013. Prior to joining the Subcommittee, she served on the staff of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, where she advised the Committee’s Ranking Member on surface transportation and water resources policy. Before working on Capitol Hill, she was a Senior Manager in the Congressional & Public Affairs Division of the U.S Chamber of Commerce and served as a policy expert on transportation issues.
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
Ian Bennitt will serve as Republican Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. Ian has served in that position since September of 2017 and was the lead House staff member during negotiation of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act – which featured the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018. Before joining the Subcommittee staff, Ian was Legislative Director for U.S. Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana. Prior to his service with Rep. Graves, Ian held various positions handling water and environmental issues for the U.S. maritime industry.
A new Republican staff director for the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials will be announced at a later date.
