WASHINGTON, December 6, 2023 – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) today announced that its President and CEO James Gelfand has been named one of The Hill’s Top Lobbyists, in the association category, by The Hill, a daily online and published source of national political news and information.
According to The Hill, “the federal lobbying bench is deep, with more than 12,500 actively lobbying so far in 2023. These impactful advocates stand out for the results they’ve delivered for their clients, companies, trade associations and advocacy groups in the nation’s capital.”
Gelfand is a well-respected health care and benefits lobbyist and policy advocate in Washington. He leads a team of federal and state lobbyists working on behalf of ERIC member companies, composed of the largest employers in the U.S., advocating for their interests as sponsors of employee health care and retirement benefit plans for tens of millions of employees, families, and retirees. Gelfand became ERIC’s president and CEO in April 2023, having previously served as its senior and then executive vice president for eight years, and serving as president since 2022.
“It’s a privilege to be recognized among my peers by The Hill, and to be an advocate for our nation’s largest employers, supporting their work to drive value in the benefits they provide for their workers and families. I’m honored to be in such august company, and the recognition is a testament to the professionalism and effectiveness of the ERIC staff,” Gelfand said.
This year Gelfand’s accomplishments included working on a range of critical health benefits issues including legislative and regulatory modifications to laws such as the Affordable Care Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
Gelfand has also focused on key retirement benefits issues this year — including the SECURE 2.0 Act — and has successfully supported legislation in several states on issues as wide-ranging as retirement programs, state regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, and mandates related to paid leave.