Late last week, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) announced that he had promoted Lindsey Henjum, a former legislative correspondent dealing with education and public health concerns, to legislative assistant for health care policy.

Henjum, 24, will work with the Senator to draft health care legislation and will focus on protecting the viability of rural hospitals and overseeing the implementation of the new Medicare reform bill. The Minot, N.D., native has worked for the Senator since graduating from Marquette University, where she earned a bachelor’s in political science.

“Lindsey is truly a talented young woman,” Conrad said. “She knows the important issues involved in health care policy and will make contributions as she continues to serve the people of North Dakota.” [IMGCAP(1)]

Judicious Changes. The House Judiciary Committee recently welcomed four new hires, including one new subcommittee staff assistant and three new counsels.

Tapped to take on the staff assistant position for the subcommittee on immigration, border security and claims is Leilani Pallares. A former staff assistant for Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-Texas), Pallares will serve as clerk for subcommittee hearings and assist counsels with research and projects. Pallares, 24, is a native of San Antonio and graduated in 2001 from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a bachelor’s in political science.

Joe Keeley, 35, will work with the subcommittee on courts, the Internet and intellectual property as counsel and will deal with copyright issues. Keeley comes to the committee from his job as public policy manager at the Business Software Alliance. He also worked from 1992 to 1999 as a staffer for then-Sen.

Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska). Keeley, who hails from Tampa, Fla., holds a law degree from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Taking on counsel duties for the subcommittee on the Constitution are Stewart Jeffries, 29, and Hilary Funk, 27.

Before coming to Capitol Hill, Jeffries worked as an associate practicing antitrust law in the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. The Baton Rouge, La., native holds both a law degree and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.

Funk is a former staff attorney for the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation who also worked for a year as counsel on the House Government Reform Committee. She earned her law degree from Regent University and hails from Elkville, Ill.