Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck welcomes Jonathan Towers to its Government Relations team as a policy director. Based in the firm’s D.C. office, Towers will focus on veterans affairs policy issues on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies.
“Jon’s experience with the VA, the second-largest government department in Washington, and the Veterans’ Affairs committees is a huge add to our team that helps position our clients to work with this important department,” said Will Moschella, Brownstein’s Government Relations co-chair.
Towers spent more than two decades on the frontlines of congressional Veterans’ Affairs committees. He served as staff director on both the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees, leading efforts that resulted in the passage of scores of veterans’ benefits bills. During his time on the Hill, he was instrumental in leading the congressional oversight of the department and setting the committees’ policy agendas, giving him a deep knowledge of the unique workings of the VA. Towers has extensive experience with the VA formulary and is well-equipped to assist clients in navigating an often-complex VA contracting system.
Towers was the lead negotiator for Senate Republicans on the historic PACT Act, which was signed into law last year. The PACT Act is among the largest expansions benefits in our nation’s history, giving hundreds of thousands of veterans exposed to toxic substances, such as chemicals in burn pits, access to VA health care and simplified decisions on their VA disability claims.
“Jon has a great reputation in the VA community and is well-respected for his work on pensions, insurance and the G.I. Bill. I look forward to working with him as we assist clients with navigating issues impacting veterans,” said former Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Brownstein Senior Counsel Jim Nicholson.
“After a rewarding tenure on Capitol Hill serving our nation’s veterans, I am eager to join the esteemed team at Brownstein, and especially the opportunity to work under Secretary Nicholson’s leadership, someone I’ve looked up to for a long time,” added Towers.
Towers served at all levels of the VA congressional committees, starting as a legislative correspondent and leaving the legislative branch as a staff director. He has developed strong relationships with conservative lawmakers while working under Sens. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Richard Burr (R-NC) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) as well as Reps. Jeff Miller (R-FL) and Phil Roe (R-TN).
Towers received his bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary.