Shuster shuffles House transit committee staff

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) is shuffling the staff of the panel’s Highways and Transit subcommittee.

Shuster announced Tuesday that he was naming Murphie Barrett staff director of the Highways and Transit subcommittee.

Barrett will replace Jim Tymon, who is leaving Capitol Hill to work for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Shuster said Barrrett would bring a wealth of expertise to the highway and transit panel.

{mosads}“Murphie is an expert on a number of transportation policy issues, including the Federal-aid Highway Program,” he said. “She was a key Senate negotiator during the MAP-21 process last Congress, and her expertise and leadership will be critical as the Committee develops the next major surface transportation reauthorization.”  

He added that Tymon would be missed by lawmakers on the House Transportation Committee.

“Jim Tymon has been an invaluable member of the Committee staff, and we wish him the very best in his new position,” Shuster said. “Our loss is most certainly AASHTO’s gain, but we are fortunate to have someone of Murphie’s caliber to ably head the subcommittee staff and help to successfully navigate the complex surface transportation reauthorization process.”

Barrett had been working as a professional staffer with the Highway and Transit committee since January. Prior to coming to work for the House Transportation Committee, she worked for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Barrett also previously worked at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, working in the association’s Congressional & Public Affairs Division.