WASHINGTON, DC - Incoming Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Paul Ryan (R-WI) today named three veteran aides to senior positions at the Committee. Joyce Meyer will serve as the Committee's staff director; Austin Smythe will be the policy director; and Brendan Buck will serve as communications director. Upon the appointments, Chairman-elect Ryan released the following statement:

"This group brings the talent and experience needed to help the members of this committee get our economy back on track. And they have my trust. We have a lot of work to do on behalf of the American people, and I'm eager to get started with such a great team."

Joyce Meyer will be staff director, overseeing all functions of the committee. Meyer brings 21 years of experience on Capitol Hill.  She has been a senior aide to Congressman Ryan since he was first elected to the House, having served as his chief of staff in his Washington, DC office. She grew up in Wisconsin and has been a primary advisor on tax policy and other legislative issues for Ryan.  She  was also a member of Chairman Ryan's traveling staff during the Romney-Ryan presidential campaign. Before working under the congressman, she worked with Ryan for former Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), as well as former Congressman Scott Klug (R-WI).

Austin Smythe, new policy director, currently serves as the staff director of the House Budget Committee, a position he's held since 2007. There, Smythe worked under Chairman Ryan to develop and pass pro-growth, balanced budgets. Prior to joining the House Budget Committee staff, Smythe spent six years at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the White House, serving as the Executive Associate Director and, in the summer of 2003, acting Director of OMB.  He also served for many years at the Senate Budget Committee.

Brendan Buck is a former press secretary for House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and served as press secretary to Chairman Ryan on the Romney-Ryan presidential campaign. He has also been a spokesman for now-Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), incoming Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA), the Republican Study Committee, and the National Republican Congressional Committee. He is currently Vice President of Communications at America's Health Insurance Plans.

Meyer's and Buck's appointments will be effective at the start of the 114th Congress, while Smythe will join the Ways and Means staff after assisting in the transition at the House Budget Committee. Additional staff announcements will follow. 

Contact: Kevin Seifert, Kevin.Seifert@mail.house.gov, 202-225-3031