SEIA scores Capitol Hill Veteran for team
Capitol Hill veteran Christopher Mansour, who has nearly three decades of experience in the legislative and executive branches of government, has joined the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) as vice president of federal affairs.
Mansour comes to SEIA after four years as director of congressional and legislative affairs for the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI). Prior to that, he served for 24 years in the office of Congressman Dale E. Kildee of Michigan, including 17 years as chief of staff.
"Christopher is one of the brightest and most respected leaders on Capitol Hill," said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA, in making the announcement. "He has a wealth of experience in legislative and government affairs, and has been extremely successful in securing passage of a wide range of important bills. With his background and knowledge, Christopher will help us to better educate lawmakers, regulators and administration officials about the importance of solar as a clean, safe, affordable and inexhaustible supply of energy for our nation."
At the Interior Department, Mansour managed a staff of 16 lawyers, political-appointed officials and support staff. He provided the Interior Secretary with strategic advice on crafting, approving and advancing the department's legislative agenda through Congress
As head of legislative and congressional affairs, Mansour also played a key role in shepherding several major pieces of legislation to enactment, including the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, which TIME magazine listed among the top 10 environmental laws in recent U.S. history.
Additionally, Mansour was tasked with the responsibility of confirming 17 Interior Department presidential nominees, requiring him to negotiate with various Senators and their offices to address specific concerns and to convince them to lift their holds.
Among his many other responsibilities, Mansour also directed and coordinated the activities of the department's legislative counsel and five other attorneys to draft all testimony for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary and to supervise the choice of DOI witnesses and drafting of testimony for all Congressional hearings on DOI subjects.
Prior to joining the Interior Department, Mansour served as chief of staff for longtime Congressman Dale E. Kildee of Michigan. In that capacity, he directed and coordinated the activities of a staff of 17 people, handling all personnel, payroll and administrative and decisions.
During his time in that position, Mansour was responsible for an aggressive legislative agenda that included improving education, strengthening the U.S. automobile industry and protecting America's vast natural resources. His many achievements included passage of a new national childcare initiative, the Act for Better Childcare, and important improvements to the Head Start Program.
A native of Michigan, Mansour received a B.A. in international relations from Michigan State University and later received a master's degree from Georgetown University.
