(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) today announced new hires in her Capitol Hill office.

Destry Henderson will start as the Congresswoman’s new press secretary on January 7th. He is a native of Colfax, Washington and a graduate of Washington State University. He spent the last five years working for broadcast news stations throughout the Pacific Northwest including KREM TV in Spokane and was most recently an Executive Producer at Northwest Cable News in Seattle. He replaces Jill Strait who left to serve as the spokeswoman for the Dino Rossi for Governor campaign.

Kristin Garesche joins the office as a Legislative Aide and will handle health care, education, labor and related issues. She will manage the Congresswoman’s legislation on health information technology, competitiveness and staff her on the Education and Labor Committee. Kristin has over five years of legislative experience on Capitol Hill where she most recently handled rural health care, community pharmacies and related issues for the late Congressman Paul Gillmor. She is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. She replaces Jaime Herrera who was recently appointed to serve Southwest Washington state in the Legislature.

Major Brian Haug is a Department of Defense fellow who will staff the Congresswoman on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and handle military and intelligence issue. He has thirteen years of professional military service as an Air Force officer. Specifically, he has significant experience in Inter-continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) and satellite operations. His most recent assignment was on Air Staff at the Pentagon dealing with current/future Global Positioning System (GPS) requirements and operational issues. He replaces Dan Beutler who is returning to Washington state.

Ben Stecker will serve as a Junior Legislative Assistant and will assist Major Haug with military and veterans issues. He will also oversee financial services, tax and regulatory issues. He is a native of Colville and most recently was a Legislative Correspondent for Senator Larry Craig.

Lena Funston will transfer from the Congresswoman’s Spokane office to the Capitol Hill office where she will serve as Senior Legislative Correspondent handling the mail system as well as covering a handful of issues for the office. Lena is a native of Spokane and a graduate of Eastern Washington University.

“This new team brings a good mix of Eastern Washington roots and legislative experience,” said McMorris Rodgers. “They will be instrumental in continuing the important work we've started for Eastern Washington including access to health care, an affordable, reliable energy supply and strengthening the role of Fairchild Air Force Base.”

In November McMorris Rodgers announced the promotion of Chrissy Poe to Legislative Director. Poe, a native of Colville, will oversee the legislative efforts of the office.

Contact:
Destry Henderson
202-225-2006
202-279-0418