Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) hired a trio of young staffers to aid him in his Washington, D.C., office.

Andrew Yancey, 24, joins the office as a legislative assistant. In that role, he will be responsible for dealing with issues relating to international affairs, government reform and Social Security, among others. [IMGCAP(1)]

Before moving to Capitol Hill, Yancey worked as deputy research director for Jim Pederson’s 2006 Senate campaign. In 2004, he was an intern on Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s (D-Ark.) successful re-election campaign.

A native of Little Rock, Ark., Yancey wrote in an e-mail that he was present for Bill Clinton’s presidential candidacy announcement in Little Rock in 1991. He is a 2005 honors graduate in political science from Davidson University.

Leo Schmid, 23, joins the office as a staff assistant. He previously interned for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) in 2006.

A 2006 public policy and political science graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Schmid is from Wilmington, N.C.

Finally, Kate Fox will also serve as a staff assistant in the office.

Before assuming her new post, Fox worked as a business recruitment coordinator for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce from 2005 through 2006. In early 2005, she worked as an associate at J.S. Reed and Co. [IMGCAP(2)]

From Wilmington, N.C., Fox earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and communication studies from Vanderbilt University. She currently is working on a master’s degree in

political management at The George Washington University.

Budget Additions. Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) appointed three new staffers to his committee team.

Robyn Hiestand, 29, will work as a budget analyst.

Before taking her new job, Hiestand worked as a policy analyst for the American Indian Higher Education Consortium since 2003. Prior to that, she was senior legislative assistant to then-Rep. Martin Sabo (D-Minn.) from 1998 to 2002.

A native of Duluth, Minn., Hiestand earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Augsburg College in 1998. She earned a master’s degree in public policy from the London School of Economics in 2003.

Serving as a senior budget analyst is Joan Huffer.

Before making the jump to the Budget Committee, Huffer worked as a legislative assistant in Conrad’s personal office since 2005. Prior to that, she was a legislative assistant to then-Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) from 1997 to 2004. From 1994 to 1997, she worked on the Senate Budget Committee as a senior analyst for Social Security, Medicaid and welfare. She also worked for then-Sen. Donald Riegle (D-Mich.) from 1980 to 1994.

Huffer, who said she plays the violin in a string quartet in her spare time, earned her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College in 1980 and a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University in 1989. She is from Madison, Wis.

Finally, Joel Friedman comes to the committee as a deputy staff director.

Prior to joining the team, Friedman was a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Before that, he worked for the Treasury Department as resident budget adviser to the South African ministry of finance. He also previously worked as the director of budget analysis for the House Budget Committee and as a financial economist in the Office of Management and Budget.

Friedman earned his bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

“I am very pleased that these talented individuals have agreed to join my Budget Committee staff,” Conrad said in a statement. “Their broad experience and knowledge will be invaluable as we address the difficult budget challenges confronting our nation.”

Finance Moves. Two members of the Senate Finance Committee’s Republican staff recently experienced the thrill of a promotion.

Mark Prater, 47, is moving on up to become deputy staff director. He also will retain his previous role as chief tax counsel, which he has held since 1994. Prater joined the committee staff in 1990 as tax counsel.

Prior to joining the committee, Prater worked as an associate attorney at Dunn, Carney, Allen, Higgins & Tongue in his hometown of Portland, Ore., from 1987 to 1990. From 1984 to 1986 he was a tax consultant for Touche Ross & Co.

Prater earned his bachelor’s degree with honors in business administration and accounting from Portland State University in 1981. He earned a law degree from Willamette University College of Law in 1984 and a master of laws degree from the University of Florida in 1987.

Also moving up at the committee is Claudia Bridgeford. Having served as international trade policy assistant since 2005, she will now work as international trade policy adviser.

Prior to joining the committee, Bridgeford worked as an international trade analyst at Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.