Congresswoman Matsui Announces New Staff Addition, Promotions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 15, 2011

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Congresswoman Matsui Announces New Staff Addition, Promotions
Legislative Director, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Senior Legislative Assistant Will Help Advance Matsui's Goals for 112th Congress

Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-CA) announced the promotion of Kyle Victor as Legislative Director, Mara Lee as Deputy Chief of Staff, and the hiring of Joel Bailey as Senior Legislative Assistant. All three will play important roles in helping to implement the Congresswoman's legislative priorities in the 112th Congress.

As a Member of the prestigious Energy and Commerce Committee, the Congresswoman is active on issues relating to economic growth and job creation, clean energy and the environment, health care, and telecommunications and technology. Congresswoman Matsui serves on the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, and as a Co-Chair of the Congressional High-Tech Caucus, the Seniors Task Force, and the National Service Caucus. She is also a member of the Manufacturing Working Group.

Kyle Victor and Mara Lee have both proved to be invaluable resources to my staff in the 111th Congress, and I look forward to them taking on more leadership responsibilities in the 112th, said Congresswoman Matsui. I am particularly excited to welcome Joel Bailey to our team. His expertise in health care and experience on the Energy and Commerce Committee will be critical to our work over the next two years, and to facilitating the continued success of the high-quality health care that Sacramento is known for.

Kyle Victor has been promoted to Legislative Director after three years in the Congresswoman's office. As Senior Legislative Assistant, he has handled a diverse set of issues, focusing on clean energy, technology and telecommunications, finance, economic recovery and small business, trade, labor issues and taxes. He will continue to handle those issues for the Congresswoman, in addition to handling flood protection, appropriations, and managing the legislative staff.

Victor started his political career in the office of Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), where he worked from 2002 to 2007, covering small business issues as a Legislative Aide. Victor graduated from Whittier College in California in 2002 with a B.A. in Business Administration and Finance.

Mara Lee was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff after serving as the Communications Director and Legislative Assistant for Congresswoman Matsui for the past two years. She will continue to handle the Congresswoman's communications portfolio and press inquiries, service and women's issues, in addition to taking on new responsibilities.

Lee had previously worked on several political campaigns, including as the New Hampshire Deputy Coordinated Campaign Director in 2008, and as the Nevada Caucus Director and New Mexico State Director on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Lee's campaign experience also includes the 2006 Maryland Democratic Coordinated Campaign, John Corzine for Governor (D-NJ), David Englin for Delegate (D-VA), and John Kerry for President. She has also worked at the Law Media Group and the American Cancer Society. A native of Auburn, CA, Lee was a double major in American Politics and U.S. History at the University of California, San Diego. She earned her Master's degree in Political Science from the University of London's School of Advanced Study, graduating with honors.

Joel Bailey joined Congresswoman Matsui's office earlier this month as a Senior Legislative Assistant, where he will be the lead staffer on environment, health care, transportation, defense, foreign affairs, and seniors issues. He will be responsible for the Environment and the Economy Subcommittee portfolio, as well as advancing the goals of the Seniors Task Force. Bailey offers relevant expertise on these issues following his work as a Senior Legislative Assistant for former Representative Baron Hill (D-IN) from 2007-2010, whom also served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Bailey started his Capitol Hill career as a legislative intern in the office of Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV). In addition to Bailey's legislative experience, he has also served as a Group Assistant at the Glover Park Group, a leading public affairs firm in Washington, D.C., where he focused primarily on corporate communications. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from The College of Charleston in South Carolina.

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