Dan Keniry, a lobbyist and former legislative aide, has been named the new staff director of the House Budget Committee and will start Feb. 20.

Keniry was deputy assistant for legislative affairs to President George W. Bush, where he was principal liaison to the House. Keniry earlier worked as staff director of the House Rules Committee and a senior floor assistant to then-Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.

He later worked as a lobbyist for Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association and most recently United Health Group.

In a statement, House Budget Chairman Steve Womack said Keniry’s “capable leadership and management vision will be vital to the Committee, and I look forward to working together closely in the days ahead to advance important policies and reforms.”

Womack, R-Ark., has said he plans to write a fiscal 2019 budget resolution and would like to use reconciliation to cut mandatory spending programs, though there is much skepticism that the House and Senate will be able to agree to a budget resolution this year.

Keniry will replace Rick May, the staff director who was dismissed by Womack Jan. 30.