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First Jewish Woman Named WH Legislative Affairs Director

President Barack Obama on Friday tapped Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi’s long-time policy director, Amy Rosenbaum, as the White House’s new Director of Legislative Affairs.

Rosenbaum will replace Katie Beirne Fallon, who is leaving the job after working on a bipartisan budget agreement and protecting votes for the Iran nuclear deal. Fallon was at one time a senior aide to Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and is the wife of Brian Fallon, another former aide to Schumer, who now serves as press secretary for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

Rosenbaum first joined the White House’s legislative affairs as a deputy to Fallon in January of 2014.

“It’s never easy to lose a close advisor, and it’s even harder when they’ve become a good friend,” President Obama said in a statement on Friday. “That said, there’s nobody better prepared to step into this role than Amy Rosenbaum, and I’m very pleased she’s agreed to serve as my next head of legislative affairs.”

The Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) welcomed the appointment, noting that Rosenbaum is the first Jewish woman to assume such a role.

“As a presidential adviser and vital bridge connecting the White House and Capitol Hill, the role of the White House Legislative Affairs Director must be able to forge strong working relationships with those on both sides of the aisle and be a forceful advocate for the president’s agenda. President Obama could not have made a better choice for this key role than Amy Rosenbaum,” said Barbara Goldberg Goldman, co-founder of WLN. “Amy already has played an essential role in promoting President Obama’s successful legislative agenda that includes preventing a nuclear-armed Iran. Her critical role in advocating for the nuclear agreement negotiated between the P5+1 nations and Iran proved essential.”

“As the first Jewish woman to hold this position, we could not be more proud of Amy, and have no doubt that Amy will garner great success in achieving betterment for all Americans,” she added.

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