The New Administration’s Priorities

Friday, March 5, 2-3 p.m. ET

As President Joe Biden begins his term, this session will connect legislative leaders with the White House Intergovernmental Affairs team to learn more about the new Administration’s priorities and what they may mean for states. The roundtable discussion will focus on how the Administration plans to work with and partner with states and provides an opportunity to ask questions as legislative leader’s advance their priorities in their respective capitols and at the federal level.

Speakers

Resources

Speakers

Julie Rodriguez, Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

Julie Chavez Rodriguez served as a Deputy Campaign Manager on the Biden-Harris Campaign. Before that, she was National Political Director and traveling Chief of Staff for then-Senator Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Prior to launching Senator Harris’ campaign, she served as California State Director in her senate office. During the Obama-Biden administration, Chavez Rodriguez served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Deputy Director of Public Engagement in the Office of Public Engagement. Before joining the White House, Chavez Rodriguez served as the Director of Youth Employment at the Department of the Interior and as Deputy Press Secretary to former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. Earlier in her career, she served as the Director of Programs at the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation. A native of California, she is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

Mr. Eduardo Cisneros, Intergovernmental Affairs Director for COVID-19 Response Team

Eduardo Cisneros currently serves as Intergovernmental Affairs Director for COVID-19 Response Team at the White House. Prior to joining the White House, Cisneros worked at AltaMed Health Services, one of the nation’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) on the frontline responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, he worked at SEIU Healthcare in Washington, DC. Cisneros also served in the Obama-Biden administration as a Special Assistant to the Secretary and Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor. Previously, Cisneros worked at the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest school district. Born in Los Angeles, Cisneros is a graduate of California State University-Long Beach as well as the University of Chicago. He is relocating to Washington, DC with his wife and son.

Mr. Sarah Montell, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at FEMA

Sarah Montell was appointed in January 2021 as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. From October 2019 to November 2020, she served on the Biden for President campaign, most recently as Deputy Coalitions Director. Sarah also served as the Political Director for the Ohio Environmental Council and Deputy Political Director for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s reelection campaign. Sarah served in the final years of the Obama Administration at the White House, first as an intern in the Office of the First Lady and then as Associate Director for Presidential Personnel and Special Assistant to the Director in the Office of Presidential Personnel. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs from The Ohio State University and is an Ohio native.