SE Kentucky News

U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers has appointed Karen Kelly as his Chief of Staff in Washington, with Kelly expressing her enthusiasm to serve her home district once again. Rogers praised Kelly, stating, “It is incredibly valuable to have a Kentuckian leading my legislative operations in Washington, and no one is better suited to help navigate the current political climate on Capitol Hill, than Karen Kelly.” Kelly, a native of Pike County, has a long history of working with Rogers, having served as his District Director in Kentucky for nine years.

In a statement, Kelly expressed her admiration for Congressman Rogers, saying, “There’s no greater champion for Southern and Eastern Kentucky than Congressman Hal Rogers, and I count it my greatest honor to serve the Dean of the House on Capitol Hill.” She highlighted Rogers’ success in securing federal funding for vital projects in Kentucky's Appalachian region and expressed her eagerness to join his legislative efforts.

Kelly played a significant role in establishing key programs dedicated to Southern and Eastern Kentucky, including SOAR, Operation UNITE, and Eastern Kentucky PRIDE. Her work with these programs has earned her respect and recognition in the region. Kelly's experience and expertise will now be put to use in Washington, where she will lead Congressman Rogers' legislative agenda and work towards improving policies that benefit the people of Kentucky’s Appalachian region.

Among her notable achievements, Kelly helped establish SOAR, a non-profit organization focused on revitalizing the economy in Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District, as well as leading the Eastern Kentucky PRIDE program, which focuses on environmental clean-up and education. She was also the founding President/CEO of Operation UNITE, an organization dedicated to combating the opioid epidemic in the region.

Karen Kelly's appointment as Chief of Staff marks a new chapter in her longstanding partnership with Congressman Rogers, as they continue their dedicated efforts to serve the people of Kentucky. For more information about Congressman Rogers’ work, visit halrogers.house.gov and follow him on social media.