James Gelfand

Senior Manager of Health Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

A nationally recognized government relations consultant and business, legal, benefits and healthcare expert. He currently serves as Senior Manager of Health Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation, representing more than 3 million businesses of every size, sector, and region. He formerly served as Manager of Health Policy at The ERISA Industry Committee, a Washington, DC-based trade association that represents big business before Congress and the Administration. His work includes Congressional testimony and correspondence, regulatory commentary, legislative drafting and advising, and issue advocacy.

James is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he graduated with distinction in Political Science and Legal Studies, and his thesis focused on gun control policy. He has previously worked at the National Center for Public Policy Research, where he co-authored the 2007 edition of Shattered Dreams: One Hundred Stories of Government Abuse. James also worked in litigation support at international law firm Sidley, Austin, Brown and Wood. He has a background in investigative reporting, and formerly served on the editorial board of the Northwestern Chronicle.

James regularly meets with Senators, Congressmen and their staffs, as well as White House and Administration leaders, to advise and educate on legislative and regulatory policy. He has worked on Senate campaigns in Illinois, Maryland, and Virginia with an emphasis on get-out-the-vote efforts, as well as running a war room in the 2004 Presidential election in Michigan. In addition to executives, James also consults for members of Congress on ghostwriting, speechwriting, political strategy and presentation planning.

James is a native of the Washington, DC metro-area and currently resides in Arlington, VA. He is continuing his legal education at the George Washington University Law School, with an emphasis on health and tax law.