James Reid Joins Capitol Hill Policy Group
Former Senate Commerce Committee Deputy Staff Director and Chief of Staff to Senator Jay Rockefeller to focus on transportation and telecommunications advocacy
Washington, D.C., July 17, 2018—the Capitol Hill Policy Group LLC, a bipartisan federal government relations firm, announced today that it has hired James Reid as a Principal.
James Reid brings more than 20 years of political, policy, and communications experience to Capitol Hill Policy Group. He has advised Senators, Members of Congress, and CEOs and has been at the intersection of key policy debates on Capitol Hill and in the private sector.
James served as Chief of Staff to former U.S. Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), where he oversaw every facet of the legislative, communications, political, and administrative operations in the Senator’s office. He also counseled Senator Rockefeller on all matters related to his Chairmanship of the Senate Commerce Committee and active memberships on the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Veterans Affairs Committees.
As Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Commerce Committee, James oversaw the Senate’s work on cybersecurity, transportation, telecommunications, consumer protection, aviation, maritime, and science. He led successful efforts on the first long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration in seven years, the creation of the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a national public safety communications network in FirstNet, and doubled funding for the Federal Communications Commission’s E-Rate program to provide affordable communications services at rural and low-income schools and libraries.
James previously served as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the Telecommunications Industry Association. On behalf of a broad cross section of the global information and communications technology industry, he worked closely with key Members of Congress and the Executive Branch to achieve the industry’s strategic, legislative, and regulatory priorities.
James earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver. James resides in Washington, DC with his family.
Regarding his appointment, James said: “I’m known and worked with the leadership of the Capitol Hill Policy Group for many years and appreciate what thoughtful, dedicated, and talented people and advocates they are. I am deeply honored and excited about joining the team and working with them as they advance their clients’ policy goals and expand the practice into new areas.”
Todd Bertoson, a Managing Principal of the Firm, stated: “With James on our team, we plan to move forward with expanding our existing practice with and increased focus on transportation, telecommunications and tecnology, while continuing to provide premium service to our existing clients.”
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About the Capitol Hill Policy Group
The Capitol Hill Policy Group is a bipartisan federal government relations firm that provides advice and advocacy on a wide range of issues before Congress, the White House and Executive branch agencies. Our principals and advisors have broad public affairs expertise with emphasis on Commerce and Economic Development, Indian Gaming, Natural Resources, Tax Policy, Telecommunications, Transportation and Infrastructure, and American Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. We work collaboratively with our clients to develop winning strategies and aggressively engage with federal officials to pursue desired outcomes.
Todd Bertoson, Managing Principal, is a former staff director of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation senior staff member for former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska. A native of Seattle, Bertoson earned his bachelors and law degrees from the University of Washington and worked for nearly 10 years in Congress on issues under the broad authority of the Senate Commerce Committee. Since 2012, he was affiliated with Dentons US LLP in Washington, D.C. where he developed a government relations practice focused on natural resource development, as well as all telecommunications and all modes of transportation, including emerging technologies such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Robert Odawi Porter, Managing Principal, is a former president of the Seneca Nation of Indians in Western New York. He has devoted his 25-year professional career to advancing the rights of sovereign American Indian nations and tribes in the United States. A citizen of the Seneca Nation, Porter was raised in the Nation’s Allegany Territory and earned his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He served two terms as Seneca chief legal counsel, as founding chairman of Seneca Holdings LLC, before being elected in 2010 as the Seneca Nation’s 67th President. He has also served as a tenured law professor at the University of Kansas, University of Iowa, and Syracuse University. Since 2013, he was affiliated with Dentons US LLP in Washington, D.C. where he developed a government relations practice representing American Indian tribal governments and Alaska Native corporations.
For more information:
Capitol Hill Policy Group LLC www.capitolhillpolicygroup.com
Robert Odawi Porter rob@capitolhillpolicygroup.com
(202) 308-3522
Todd Bertoson todd@capitolhillpolicygroup.com
(202) 262-9076