Overview
Leslie Belcher, an Oklahoma native, draws on her more than 35 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives and the private sector. She is a recognized and trusted advisor to many members of Congress, and is highly regarded in the appropriations space. Leslie has successfully directed and executed government relations campaigns for her clients, which include corporations, trade associations and universities. She is an accomplished natural deal-maker, who has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for clients.
Listed as a “Top Lobbyist” by The Hill, she has her finger on the pulse of the House Republican Conference and has extensive knowledge of the legislative process. Understanding the subtle nuances of very complex political conditions, how these circumstances affect policy decisions, and accurately communicating the “art of the possible” in a divided government sets Leslie apart in Washington.
Leslie leverages her experience and institutional knowledge to facilitate successful deals. She advises clients on developing and implementing federal legislative strategies, focusing on appropriations, tax, trade, energy, and transportation issues.
Prior to joining Steptoe, Leslie served as the chief of staff for Reps. Tom Cole (R-OK) and Wes Watkins (R-OK), legislative director for Rep. Bill Brewster (D-OK) and appropriations associate for Rep. Wes Watkins (D-OK). Leslie was also a founding staffer of the House Blue Dogs and helped create and draft the House Democratic Budget Resolution. Her broad bipartisan experience gives Leslie a unique and valuable perspective and set of experiences from which to draw.
- Leslie Belcher is a Managing Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy and does not provide legal advice.
- B.S., Oklahoma State University, 1988, Journalism
Representative Matters
- Increased direct federal appropriations by 65% to a large public university.
- Obtained earmarks for economic development projects, research projects, homeland security and defense applications, and highway projects.
- Worked on legislation providing disaster relief assistance to Gulf Coast industries.
News & Publications
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
September 13, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
August 2, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
July 26, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
July 12, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
June 28, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
June 21, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
June 14, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
June 7, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
May 24, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
May 17, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
Events
Seminars & Events
Post-Election Recap - Policymaking Agenda for 2023
November 10, 2022
Speakers: Jason Abel, Leslie A. Belcher, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Darryl Nirenberg, Scott A. Sinder
Webinars
Post-Election Recap: Appropriations and Defense
December 2, 2020
Speakers: Leslie A. Belcher, Alan Cohn
Webinars
Post-Election Recap: The First 48 Hours
November 5, 2020
Speakers: Jason Abel, Leslie A. Belcher, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Darryl Nirenberg, Scott A. Sinder
Webinars
November 8, 2018
Speakers: Jason Abel, Leslie A. Belcher, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, John T. Collins, Micah S. Green, Kate Jensen, N. Hunter Johnston, Darryl Nirenberg, Scott A. Sinder
Webinars
The US-China Trade Relationship
August 28, 2018
Speakers: Eric C. Emerson, Gregory S. McCue, Leslie A. Belcher, Henry Cao
Webinars
August Recess Tax Policy Webinar
August 16, 2017
Speakers: Jason Abel, Leslie A. Belcher, Lisa M. Zarlenga
Webinars
Legislative Oversight of the CFTC: A Primer
May 18, 2017
Speakers: Leslie A. Belcher, Michael V. Dunn, Micah S. Green, Darryl Nirenberg
Webinars
Environmental Regulation in the New Administration
December 15, 2016
Speakers: Thomas M. Barba, Leslie A. Belcher, Micah S. Green
Webinars
November 10, 2016
Speakers: Jason Abel, Leslie A. Belcher, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, David H. Coburn, John T. Collins, Micah S. Green, N. Hunter Johnston, Darryl Nirenberg, Scott A. Sinder, Amanda Pedvin Varma
Noteworthy
- The Hill, Top Lobbyist (2023)
Previous Employment
- Chief of Staff, Congressman Tom Cole
- Chief of Staff, Congressman Wes Watkins
- Legislative Director, Congressman Bill Brewster
- Assistant Director, Federal Relations, Oklahoma State University