LegiStorm

Clint Woods, a former conservative activist, has left his post on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee's Environment Subcommittee in favor of a position at the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies.

Woods, a Republican professional staff member on House Science since 2011, joins AAPCA as executive director. He served as a professional staff member under the Environment Subcommittee's chairman, Chris Stewart (R-Utah).

From June 2010 to June 2011, Woods served as director of the energy, environment and agriculture task force at American Legislative Exchange Council, a group that has attracted attention for its funding from the conservative billionaire Koch brothers.

Founded in early 2013 with 17 member states, AAPCA was launched as an alternative organization to the National Association of Clean Air Agencies due to NACAA's friendly stance toward the EPA and its regulations. The Association's stated goal is to implement polices which put its member states in compliance with the Clean Air Act.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney won 11 of the 17 member states in the 2012 election and the membership also includes swing states Florida, Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Woods holds a bachelor's in history from Mary Washington College and earned a master's in international commerce and policy from George Mason University.

A journalist-turned-Hill communications staffer has left the Hill for a job at communications and lobbying firm Glover Park Group.

Sarah Elkins has left her position as Democratic communications director for the Joint Economic Committee. Her first job in Congress came in 2008 when she worked as a speechwriter for Rep. Nydia Velazquez, (D-N.Y.) then chair of the House Small Business Committee. Elkins joined Sen. Amy Klobuchar's (D-Minn.) staff as senior adviser for communications in 2010 and then moved over to Klobuchar's staff on the committee last year.

Founded by former Democratic campaigners and strategists, Glover Park Group boasts a variety of communication and lobbying services.

Before working for Congress, Elkins worked for a variety of news outlets, including USA Today, the Fox News Channel and Newsweek. She holds a bachelor's in English from the College of William and Mary.

Robert Wehagen began his political career as a page 14 years ago and ended it this month as a senior legislative assistant, only leaving the Hill to attend college.

Wehagen has left his post as senior legislative assistant in Rep. Tom Rice's (R-S.C.) office to join the American Traffic Safety Services Association as associate director of government relations.

The ATSSA is a trade organization that represents companies in the road safety industry. Its stated purpose is "To Advance Roadway Safety."

Wehagen started his congressional career as page and then intern for the House Clerk of the House. His first staff job came on the House Administration Committee, from which he left as in 2009 as a professional staff member. 

Wehagen subsequently worked on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Rep. Lou Barletta's (R-Pa.) staff before joining Rice's office in 2013.

A labor expert with experience in both Congress and the federal government has joined the government affairs division at Caterpillar.

Kai Hirabayashi left his job as labor counsel for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee this month. His new title at Caterpillar is senior government affairs representative.

Widely known for its yellow construction equipment, Caterpillar bills itself as the world's largest construction and mining equipment manufacturer. Caterpillar also boasts an in-house financial services wing which reported $2.78 billion in revenue last year.

Hirabayashi has lobbied before, on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where he worked as senior manager of labor law policy from 2008 to 2010.

Hirabayashi wraps up his second stint working for Congress, having left his position on the House Education and Labor Committee in 2007 for a job with the U.S. Department of Labor.

A graduate of the University of Washington, Hirabayashi holds a JD from Gonzaga and an LLM from American University.

A former Latino rights attorney and lobbyist has joined Sen. Michael Bennet's (D-Colo.) staff as legislative assistant.

Lorena Marez, most recently a legislative lawyer with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, or MALDEF, will handle immigration issues for the senator.

Founded in 1968, MALDEF engages in litigation, lobbying and communications in order to protect and encourage Latino civil rights. MALDEF considers comprehensive immigration reform a top priority and recently filed a complaint in court against a Houston suburb which has banned the housing of refugees likely directed at the influx of young Central American immigrants crossing into the United States.

The Colorado senator has been heavily involved in immigration reform, cosponsoring the DREAM Act and joining seven of his Senate colleagues in the creation of a framework for comprehensive immigration reform.

Marez holds a BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a law degree from Northeastern.