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Alexander Names New Legislative Assistant

When Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) hired Jessica Holliday, of Winter Haven, Fla., he brought aboard a staffer boasting eight years of experience as Republican counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Those eight years made her an obvious choice to become Alexander’s new legislative assistant for energy and environment issues.

In addition to her experience on the Energy and Commerce panel, Holliday has also put together an impressive record in the private sector. Before arriving on Capitol Hill, she served as director of the Partnership for Climate Action, vice president and counsel for Air Products and Chemicals Inc., and vice president of government relations for Peabody Holding Company Inc.

Holliday graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maine in 1976, earning a bachelor of arts in international relations. In 1979, she received her J.D. from the Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary.

She replaces Sharon Segner, who interrupted her career in the private sector to join Alexander’s office in 2003 and has served there since. Formerly the director of PG&E National Energy Group, Segner intends to return to the private sector.

As she departs from the Hill, Segner’s expertise and dedication will be missed. “Sharon’s service has been incredibly valuable,” Alexander said in a statement. “She has done tremendous work on two issues that are very important to me: clean air and clean energy.” But Alexander believes his new legislative assistant is more than capable of performing admirably in her new post. “Jessica’s varied background and years of experience in both the public and private sectors are valuable assets to our team. We are pleased to have her on board.”

As Alexander prepares for this staff change, the looming negotiations over the energy bill figure prominently on his priority list. To help shepherd the energy bill through the Senate, Segner will remain on the job, working jointly with Holliday and advising her and the Senator as the Senate hammers out an agreement.

Segner, said Alexander, “worked especially hard on the natural gas bill that I along with Senator Tim Johnson introduced several months ago. Many of that bill’s provisions will be front and center of this year’s energy debate on the Senate floor. We will value her continued counsel as the bill moves forward.”

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