DeLauro Names Chris Bigelow as House Appropriations Committee Democratic Staff Director

WASHINGTON – House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today announced that Robin Juliano will leave the Committee in early March and will be replaced as Democratic Staff Director by Chris Bigelow.

In 2022 alone, Robin Juliano led the House Appropriations Committee through more than 100 hearings in a 3-month period and helped draft and pass multiple supplemental funding bills and two omnibus appropriations bills. As Staff Director, she helped Congresswoman DeLauro bring back Community Project Funding for the first time in more than 10 years. In addition to her more than seven years of service on the House Appropriations Committee which included time as Clerk of the Labor, Health and Human Service, Education Appropriations Subcommittee, she worked on the Senate Appropriations and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees for Senators Mikulski, Kennedy, Harkin, and Inouye and on the National Economic Council under President Obama.

Robin Juliano will be succeeded by Chris Bigelow, who previously served as Deputy Staff Director of the Committee and served last Congress as Clerk of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. He has nearly 19 years of experience in the House. In the 117th Congress, Chris Bigelow was instrumental in passing four supplemental appropriations bills to support Ukraine, a supplemental bill to respond to the January 6thinsurrection, two supplemental bills to help communities recover from natural disaster supplementals, and two supplemental bills to support Afghan evacuees.

"Robin's wisdom, experience, and knowledge of both the policy and the politics were integral to our Committee's success both over the last two years and throughout her tenure on our team," DeLauro said. "She is a trusted advisor and a dear friend. I am grateful for Robin; we are all better off because of her sacrifice and tireless efforts to help communities across the country. I am happy to announce that the Committee will be in good hands as Chris takes on the role of Staff Director. Chris is a seasoned professional who is ready to guide the Committee as we move into the 118th Congress. He is a proven leader and an expert of the appropriations process. I am lucky to have him in this role and look forward to all we will accomplish together in the years to come."

Jennifer Chartrand will succeed Chris Bigelow as Minority Clerk of the Defense Subcommittee. She has served on the House Appropriations Committee since 2017 and previously worked for the Senate Appropriations Committee and the United States Department of State.