Late last month, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.) named Andrew Snowdon as the committee’s new oversight and investigations counsel.

Snowdon joins the committee after serving as an associate director for the National Association of Securities Dealers’ market regulation department, where he conducted fraud investigations involving registered brokers and brokerage firms. He has also worked for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a senior counsel in the Division of Enforcement.

“As our O and I subcommittee continues its active involvement with complex and high-profile investigations, Andrew’s experience will be a welcome addition to our investigative team,” Tauzin said in a statement. “He is a top-notch investigator.”

Snowdon did his undergraduate work at Duke University and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. [IMGCAP(1)]

Administrative Decisions. House Administration ranking member John Larson (D-Conn.) recently announced three new additions in the minority office. The three new staffers are Communications Director Beth Bellizzi, professional staff member Thomas Hicks and Staff Assistant Erin Mariko Watari.

Bellizzi’s appointment marks the third time she has worked for Larson. She first worked for the Congressman when he was the state Senate President Pro Tem in 1993. She then served as his press secretary when he was elected to

Congress in 1999. Bellizzi now returns to Larson’s staff after handling public relations for the American Red Cross in Leavenworth, Kan., and the Cape Fear Valley Health System in Fayetteville, N.C. She has also worked for Sen. Joe Lieberman’s (D-Conn.) district staff.

Bellizzi, a native of Farmington, Conn., holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of New Rochelle and a master’s degree in communications from the University of Hartford.

Hicks comes to the committee from his job as a senior lobbyist and policy analyst with the government watchdog group Common Cause. He will now be responsible for issues relating to campaign finance, election reform, contested elections and Federal Election Committee oversight. Prior to his work at Common Cause he worked for eight years in the Clinton administration as a special assistant and legislative assistant in the Office of Personnel Management’s Office of Congressional Relations.

The Boston native earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Clark University and his law degree from Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.

Coming all the way from the West Coast to round out the staff is Watari. The Portland, Ore., native served as the special projects coordinator for Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) before joining the staff. She also has two years of public administration experience as a former member of the board of directors for the Oregon University System/State Board of Higher Education.

Watari attended Southern Oregon University, where she earned a degree in political science, and is currently working on a master’s degree in public administration from Portland State University.