WASHINGTON, DC – With Congress focused on ways to jumpstart the American economy and reduce the cost of living for the American people, The Ripon Society hosted a discussion Thursday night with senior staff members from a committee that is at the forefront of the effort to achieve these goals – the Energy & Commerce Committee.

“The Committee on Energy & Commerce is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives,” stated Ripon Society President and CEO Jim Conzelman in remarks to open the discussion.  “One could also make the argument that it is also one of the – if not the most – important Committees on Capitol Hill.  From reducing the cost of health care in America to increasing the amount of energy produced by the United States, the Energy & Commerce Committee stands at the forefront of the effort to make sure our economy remains the strongest in the world.

“We were honored to be joined last week by 12 top staff members from the Committee who are helping to lead that effort.  They are among the best and brightest on Capitol Hill, and we appreciate them taking time out of their busy schedules to share their thoughts on the agenda of the Energy & Commerce Committee and some of the priorities they plan to address in the coming year.”

“From reducing the cost of health care in America to increasing the amount of energy produced by the United States, the Energy & Commerce Committee stands at the forefront of the effort to make sure our economy remains the strongest in the world.”

According to Conzelman, those participating in last week’s discussion included: Megan Jackson, who serves as the Committee’s Staff Director; Ansley Boylan, Director of Operations – Full Committee; Jessica Donlon, General Counsel – Full Committee; Jay Gulshen, Chief Counsel – Subcommittee on Health; Brittany Havens, Chief Counsel – Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations; Sophie Khanahmadi, Deputy Staff Director – Full Committee; Giulia Leganski, Chief Counsel – Subcommittee of Commerce, Manufacturing, & Trade; Mary Martin, Chief Counsel – Subcommittee on Energy; Joel Miller, Chief Counsel of the Full Committee; Chris Sarley, Senior Advisor and Director – Member and Stakeholder Engagement of the Full Committee; Jake Tyner, Chief Counsel – Subcommittee on Environment; and, Matt VanHyfte, Director of Communications of the Full Committee.

Conzelman noted that Thursday’s reception was attended by a crowd of over 100 people and was the ninth event The Ripon Society has held so far in 2025. He added that The Ripon Society will hold its next discussion on March 27 with U.S. Reps. Frank Lucas (OK-03) and August Pfluger (TX-11), who are scheduled to discuss some of the changes underway in Washington and the effort being led by the GOP to change the way business is done in our nation’s capital. The following week, The Ripon Society will host a discussion with U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) focusing on the agenda of the Senate moving forward this year.

The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 – Ripon, Wisconsin. One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success. These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.