Cliff Rothenstein has more than 30 years of congressional and federal executive experience. Prior to joining K&L Gates, he served as Director of Legislative Affairs for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In this capacity, Mr. Rothenstein worked on a daily basis with the FHWA Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). During Mr. Rothenstein's tenure at FHWA, he led the development and advocacy efforts on legislation to reauthorize the nation's surface transportation law where he played a significant role in developing and recommending to the FHWA Administrator and to other DOT executives proposed changes to the law to streamline project delivery and expand investments in highways, bridges, and multimodal transportation projects. Mr. Rothenstein also coordinated FHWA's discretionary grant programs that fund highway and bridge improvement projects and managed FHWA's relationships with Congress on highway-specific projects and issues. In addition to his tenure at FHWA, Mr. Rothenstein served as a senior advisor on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee which has jurisdiction over environment and surface transportation issues. He led the Committees efforts on the reauthorization of Superfund, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. Mr. Rothenstein also served for 20 years at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including as the Deputy Assistant Administrator and Director of the Office of Underground Storage Tanks. He has represented clients at the intersection of environmental, energy, transportation, and infrastructure policy and regulation, including advising clients on Superfund, the Clean and Safe Drinking Water Acts, the Water Resources Development Act, and the Clean Air and Resource Conservation and Recovery Acts; National Environmental Policy Act strategies for major transportation and energy infrastructure projects; funding opportunities including TIGER grant funding; and issues related to tolling of interstates.

26 years representing the state of Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives. Mr. Gordon served as Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology from 2007 to 2010. Mr. Gordon was also a senior member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and served on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Rules, Transatlantic Parliamentary Dialogue, and NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

During his distinguished congressional career, Mr. Gordon developed a reputation as the undisputed bipartisan leader in innovation policy in the U.S. Congress. During his chairmanship the committee passed 151 bills and resolutions and all were bipartisan. In 2007, he championed the America COMPETES Act, signed into law by President Bush, which promotes federal investments in innovation in order to make the US more competitive. In 2010, as Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, he engineered the passage of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act. Signed by President Obama, the act renewed the federal commitment to R&D and education, adding new provisions such as support for prize competitions.

Mr. Gordon played a key role in developing and passing the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, which encouraged the federal government to promote the transfer of nanotechnology breakthroughs from laboratories to commercial products. He also promoted legislation that would implement a research program focusing on the environmental, health, and safety aspects of nanotechnology.

Throughout his political career, Mr. Gordon led the debate on a wide range of technology issues and formulated legislative initiatives on a number of other subjects, including health information technology, nuclear power, rare earth minerals, and synthetic biotechnology. Additionally, he led the effort to enact the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which increased mileage standards, improved vehicle technology, promoted alternative energy research, and improved energy efficiency in a variety of ways. Gordon was also a leading proponent of America's space program, and of improving the nation's performance in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. He is also a "Distinguished Fellow" on the Council on Competitiveness and appointed by President Obama to the Blue Ribbon Panel of the Antarctica and Southern Oceans. He is a member of the Brookings Leadership Advisory Board and is a project member for the American Academy of art and Science's New Models for U.S. Science and Technology Policy.

He is a Board Member of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress and the Middle Tennessee State University Foundation, and he is on the Board of Counselors for the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.

In 2012, Gordon received the Insignia of Officier de la Légion d'Honneur, the highest decoration that the Republic of France can confer on an individual. In 2012 Gordon also received an honorary Ph.D. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and in May of 2013 he received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater Middle Tennessee State University.

Active in Democratic politics early on, Gordon served as executive director of the Tennessee Democratic Party in 1979 and state party chairman from 1981 to 1983.

Prior to his public service, Mr. Gordon was a lawyer in private practice. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1971 to 1972.

20+ years

Previously, McGarah served as the Committee Director of the powerful Senate Natural Resources Committee. During her 10 years with this committee she established solid relationships with key members of the legislature and various environmental agencies, and developed a thorough knowledge of Texas' air, water, and waste issues.

McGarah dedicated countless hours to the preparation and passage of groundbreaking pieces of legislation, including Senate Bill 1 in 1997 and Senate Bill 2 in 2001. Both of these bills dealt with state water management measures and greatly impacted the state.

McGarah was also instrumental in the development and passage of SB 5 in the 75th Legislature, which created the Texas Emissions Reduction Program. This program has served as a model for numerous other states across the country, and has been a vital component in assisting Texas meet the Federal Air Quality Standards.

Ms. Garvie was honored by the D.C. Women's Bar Association as a "Star of the Bar" for her professional achievement and service to the Washington community.

Before joining the firm, she was chief counsel to the Subcommittees on Aviation; Surface Transportation; and Business, Trade, and Tourism of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the U.S. Senate, as well as counsel to the full committee. During her tenure with the committee from 1981 to 1987, she advised the senators on virtually all legislation affecting the regulation of the railroad, airline and trucking industries, as well as legislation providing for the sale of Conrail and the Alaska Railroad, and the transfer of Dulles and National Airports in Washington, D.C.

From 1978 to 1980 Ms. Garvie worked as an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the Interstate Commerce Commission. In 1980, she was detailed from the commission to the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Transportation Committee to help develop and draft the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 and other transportation legislation. She also served as counsel to former U.S. Congressman Robert B. Duncan of Oregon from 1976 to 1978.