Maria Martirosyan Issakhanian

Maria Martirosyan Issakhanian has nearly a decade of experience on Capitol Hill, having worked in both the U.S. Senate and the 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 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the COVID-19 relief packages and annual appropriations bills. Her contributions included drafting legislation and amendments, preparing Members for committee markups and floor activity and engaging in strategic negotiations that helped shape and advance key legislation.

Prior to joining Nossaman, Maria successfully helped enact three bills into law, including the MEALS Act, signed by President Trump as part of the CARES Act, which expanded access to free school meals for millions of students nationwide. She introduced and advanced multiple bills through committee markups, including the bipartisan Investing in Community Resilience Act in the Senate, which secured 74 endorsements and passed out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee with near-unanimous support (14-1). Maria also helped introduce more than 25 widely supported and high-profile bicameral bills, including the ZERO WASTE Act, End Polluter Welfare 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.

In addition, she authored more than 35 amendments for committee markups, floor consideration and debates on authorizing appropriations bills, including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Water Resource Development Act (WRDA), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Climate Action Now Act, among others, many of which were successfully adopted. She also drafted over two dozen widely supported letters to federal agencies, Congressional leadership and committee chairs and ranking members advocating for policy changes and regulatory actions.

Maria is skilled in conducting legislative research, policy development, coalition-building and tracking legislation. She develops and implements comprehensive legislative strategies and regularly engages with congressional leadership and committees to move critical priorities forward.

Experience

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) – Government Relations.  Member of team representing LACMTA before the U.S. Congress, the White House and Executive Branch agencies on federal funding, financing and policy issues relating to project development, infrastructure, transportation, workforce, equity and technology.  Maria has assisted in efforts to advance LACMTA’s capital program delivery, including advising on LACMTA’s funding under the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants Program.  Maria’s services also include research and analysis on federal funding and financing mechanisms to support project goals, assisting with creating comprehensive legislative and policy strategies, coordinating complex advocacy campaigns, drafting legislative language and advocacy materials, developing coalitions and engagement efforts with policymakers.

Harbor Department of the City of Los Angeles (Port of Los Angeles) – Government Relations.  Member of team representing the Port of Los Angeles before the U.S. Congress, the White House, federal Executive Branch agencies, the California State Legislature and the California Governor’s Office on funding, financing and policy issues relating to infrastructure, transportation, technology, workforce, cybersecurity and commerce.  Our services include advising on federal and state funding, creating comprehensive legislative and policy strategies, coordinating complex advocacy campaigns, drafting federal and state legislative language and advocacy materials, developing coalitions and leading engagement efforts with policymakers.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York (MTA) – Government Relations and Project Support.  Member of team representing MTA before the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch agencies on federal funding, financing and policy issues related to project development.  Provides support in advising MTA on its capital program, including the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Project, the Penn Station Reconstruction Project, the Penn Station Expansion Project, the Penn Station Access Project and the Interborough Express Project.

City of Buenaventura (City of Ventura) – Government Relations.  Member of team representing the City of Ventura before U.S. Congress, the White House, federal executive Branch agencies, and California State Legislature on federal funding, financing, and policy issues related to infrastructure, transportation, technology, economic vitality and development, and public safety and emergency preparedness.  Our services include strategic planning and consulting on federal and state funding, creating legislative and policy strategies, providing analysis and drafting of federal legislative language and advocacy materials, coordinating advocacy campaigns, developing relationships and leading engagement efforts with policymakers.

Publications

News

Community & Professional

Coalition for America's Gateways and Trade Corridors, Government Affairs Committee Member

Congressional Armenian Staff Association (CASA), Former President