Hoyer, Durbin Aides Named to Biden Legislative Affairs Team

WILMINGTON, Del. – President-elect Joe Biden has selected top aides to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin to serve in key roles on his White House legislative affairs team.

Shuwanza Goff, who has been serving as Majority Leader Hoyer’s floor director for the House of Representatives, has been named deputy director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.

During her tenure with Hoyer, Goff, the first Black woman ever to hold the floor director position, determined which bills came to the floor, set the legislative schedule, and helped craft the overall House Democratic agenda.

Prior to that, Goff was director of Legislative Operations for Hoyer when he was minority whip.

Goff has also served as floor aide, floor assistant, and staff assistant for Hoyer.

Originally from Virginia, Goff is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and American University.

Also named a deputy director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs was Reema Dodin.

In addition to serving as deputy chief of staff and floor director for Sen. Durbin, Dodin is a volunteer on the Biden-Harris transition team leading legislative engagement for the confirmation process.

Prior to that, Dodin served as Durbin’s floor counsel, research director and as an aide to his Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law.

Dodin has served as a volunteer voter-protection counsel on a number of campaigns, including the Obama for America campaign.

She is a Truman National Security Fellow, a New Leaders Council Fellow, an Aspen Socrates alum, a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a member of the Jenkins Hill Society — a consortium of women in politics supporting female politicians.

Dodin is the co-author of a primer on House and Senate Floor procedures through Brookings publications.

Originally from California, Dodin is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Sen. Durbin said in a tweet that he was excited Dodin would be joining Biden’s Legislative Affairs team.

“She is smart, trusted, and has the respect of members on both sides of the aisle. Reema is just what our new President needs to help him in the Senate,” Durbin said.

In announcing the women’s appointments, President-elect Biden said, “The American people are eager for our Administration to get to work, and today’s appointees will help advance our agenda and ensure every American has a fair shot.

“In a Biden administration, we will have an open door to the Hill and this team will make sure their views are always represented in the White House,” he said.

Hoyer said in choosing Goff to serve as deputy director for Legislative Affairs and liaison to the House, Biden has selected” a highly experienced and talented individual.  

“In her twelve years as a member of my staff, Shuwanza has become an expert on the legislative process and built strong relationships with Committees, Members, and staff throughout the Democratic Caucus and with Members and staff on the Republican side of the aisle,” Hoyer said. 

“As my Floor Director since 2013, Shuwanza made history as the first African-American woman in that role and has been instrumental in turning House Democrats’ campaign promises into a successful legislative agenda, with nearly all appropriation bills passed before the end of July for the past two years in a row,” he continued. “When the pandemic hit, she also worked hard to ensure this institution could continue to do its work on behalf of the American people safely and efficiently.

 “While I deeply regret losing Shuwanza from my staff, I know that the Biden-Harris Administration and the Congress will be greatly advantaged by her service,”Hoyer concluded.  “The skills and expertise that she will bring to her new role will help the Biden-Harris Administration enact our shared agenda to tackle our nation’s challenges and build back better from this pandemic.” 

Also congratulating Goff on her appointment was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said Biden had chosen “a master of the legislative process” for his staff.

“Over 12 years of working for Leader Hoyer, Shuwanza has distinguished herself as effective and experienced and has earned the bipartisan respect of members and staff across the aisle and across the Capitol,” Pelosi said. “In the White House, she will continue to be an effective force, as she coordinates and strengthens the work of the Biden-Harris administration and Congress to deliver for the people.”