Maria M. Issakhanian

Maria Issakhanian has nearly a decade of experience on Capitol Hill, having worked in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. During her time in Congress, she advised Members on a wide range of policy issues and helped advance their legislative priorities during major legislative efforts – including the COVID-19 relief packages, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations bills –through committee work, makeups and strategic negotiations.

Maria is skilled in conducting legislative research, policy development, coalition-building and tracking legislation. She developed and implemented comprehensive legislative strategies and regularly engaged with congressional leadership and committees to move key priorities forward. Additionally, Maria’s experience includes drafting widely supported letters to agencies resulting in policy and regulatory actions taken and drafting letters to federal agencies in support for California grant applicants.

Experience

Passed 3 bills (2 bipartisan) into law, including the MEALS Act, signed by President Trump as part of the CARES Act, which expanded access to free school meals to millions of students nationwide.

Introduced more than 25 widely supported and high-profile bicameral bills, including the ZERO WASTE Act, End Polluter Welfare Act, Stop Trump’s Oil Payoff Act, Universal School Meals Act, Student Debt Cancellation Act, the Ensuring Access to SNAP (EATS) Act, Brittany Clardy Missing and Murdered Black Women & Girls Act and the Neighbors Not Enemies Act to repeal the Alien Enemies Act.

Introduced and advanced multiple bills through committee markups, including the bipartisan Investing in Community Resilience Act in the Senate, securing 74 endorsements and a 14-1 committee vote through strategic negotiations with committee & office staff

Community & Professional

Congressional Armenian Staff Association (CASA), Former President