Argentum CEO James Balda Makes The Hill’s 2022 List of ‘Top Lobbyists’ in Advocating for Senior Living Priorities
The Hill named Argentum President and Chief Executive Officer James Balda a top lobbyist for 2022, recognizing the organization’s work to bring the message of senior living communities to policymakers, notably in the areas of workforce development, COVID relief, and giving more seniors access to senior living.
The publication said its “list honors the corporate lobbyists, hired guns, association leaders and grassroots activists who leveraged their expertise and connections to make a difference in the nation’s capital this year…Not all of those on this list are registered lobbyists. But they all demonstrated a track record of success in the halls of Congress and the administration during a critical year for policy.”
Balda said he was honored for the recognition, pointing to the association’s Public Affairs team and members for urging lawmakers and those in the Administration to consider a range of priorities for senior living communities still impacted from the deep financial strains brought on by the pandemic.
“Our team at Argentum and our members have really upped our game these past few years, bringing a consistent message about what senior living is, and how our incredible members and their staffs offer high-quality and consistent care for seniors looking to make their home in assisted living, memory care, independent living, and other senior living settings,” he said.
Highlights of this work over the past year includes:
- Advancing legislation directly impacting the senior living industry, such as the SENIOR Act, the largest investment in assisted living in history;
- Securing federal and state COVID relief and assistance;
- Advancing appropriations changes that will, for the first time, direct federal workforce development programs to train the workforce needed for our communities; and,
- Successfully educating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that senior living communities must have their own unique guidelines recognizing these communities are home to 2 million seniors.
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