Mr. Howard joined Wexler & Walker in 2003, having just completed his latest White House tour as Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs. Charged with advancing President George W. Bush’s policy agenda, Mr. Howard coordinated the efforts of senior White House officials, the Cabinet Departments and agencies to secure congressional passage of the President’s legislative priorities. He also served in the White House under President George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1992, in the Legislative Affairs office. With 25 years of experience at the highest levels of government, Mr. Howard is the only person in Washington to have served as a senior strategic advisor to two Speakers of the US House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the US Senate, and as a key member of the White House staff to both President Bushes. He continues to play a behind-the-scenes role as informal advisor to White House officials and House and Senate Republican Leaders. Mr. Howard previously served as senior counsel and advisor to Republican leaders of the House and Senate, including Speakers Dennis Hastert and Newt Gingrich and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. In those roles he was instrumental in passage of landmark legislation such as welfare reform, the Balanced Budget Act, securities litigation reform, the Telecommunications Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley banking deregulation bill, tax cut and IRS reform efforts and the Africa Free Trade bill.