Megan Bel Miller’s Capitol Hill Departure and New Venture

Megan Bel Miller is leaving her role as chief of staff for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. She plans to open a Washington, D.C., firm that will advise companies seeking business in Louisiana. Scalise shared the news during a Tuesday evening speech on the House floor. He described Miller as a determined problem-solver who finds a way forward when tasks grow difficult.

Scalise also recalled June 2017, when he was shot and came close to dying. He said Miller provided important support to him, Jennifer, their family, and his team during a painful period. Miller’s ten-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter were present. Her husband, Joel Miller, also received special permission to sit behind Scalise. Joel serves as deputy chief of staff for the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Miller has led Scalise’s offices in Louisiana and Washington since January 2017. Her team assists residents, studies policy issues, and advances his legislative goals. She also serves as a senior leadership adviser in the Office of the Majority Leader. Scalise has a separate administrative staff. He ranks second in the House after Speaker Mike Johnson.

Claire Thomas will replace Miller as chief of staff. Thomas worked under Miller as Scalise’s legislative director. Miller joined Scalise’s congressional campaign in 2008. Apart from a three-year role as vice president for government and political affairs at the National Ocean Industries Association, most of her career has been tied to him. She began as his northshore field director while he was running for Congress. After winning, he chose her as his first employee and legislative director.

Miller later became his lead policy adviser for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. She worked on energy, health care, coastal restoration, and Army Corps of Engineers projects. She also served as deputy director and helped connect the office with business leaders. Later, she supported Scalise while he led the Republican Study Committee. Politics was also part of her upbringing, and Cabby’s Restaurant in Tangipahoa Parish served as a center for social and political activity.

Miller played a major role in important legislation from Scalise’s office. The RESTORE Act became law in July 2012. It sends 80 percent of fines from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon offshore explosion, roughly $5 billion, to coastal restoration, economic development, and tourism in five Gulf states. She also helped shape rules for offshore energy, hurricane protection, and coastal recovery. Scalise credited Miller with much of the language that increased federal revenue sharing from offshore oil and gas production.