Paul Ryan nabs Buck for communications team

A former aide to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is departing a position with the health insurance lobby to run communications for incoming House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

Brendan Buck, a communicator well-known on Capitol Hill and K Street, has worked with virtually every top House Republican figure.

{mosads}He previously served as press secretary to Ryan during his 2012 vice presidential bid, and also for now-Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), incoming Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.), the Republican Study Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Buck confirmed his move on Twitter Monday, telling followers to “buckle up” ahead of his return to the House in January.

“I’m incredibly excited to be coming back to the Hill, especially for such a great member and with such a strong team,” Buck tweeted. “I’m leaving behind some amazing colleagues, but it was an opportunity too good to let pass.”

The Georgia native was hired by America’s Health Insurance Plans in May, and for the past six months has led the group’s offensive against the pharmaceutical lobby on high drug prices.