(Alexandria, Va.) – The Hill newspaper named Argentum President and Chief Executive Officer James Balda as one of Washington DC’s top lobbyists of 2021, marking national recognition for the advocacy work of the senior living association as it fights for targeted federal pandemic relief for its assisted living caregivers.

The Hill said 2021 witnessed a dramatic rise in the volume and depth of lobbying in the nation’s capital given the trillions of dollars at stake in not only COVID relief, but also in the still-pending Build Back Better package of President Biden and his allies in Congress.

“In one of the busiest years on record for the DC influence world, these are the people who wielded their connections and knowledge most effectively for their clients. The list highlights the broad range of talents needed to achieve success in the industry,” The Hill said.

“Not all of those honored on this list are registered lobbyists. But they are all key players who the nation’s biggest companies, advocacy groups, labor unions and trade associations turn to when they want their voices heard in the nation’s capital.”

For his part, Balda pointed to the honor of making the list as the result of Argentum member grassroots outreach to Congress and the White House, which effectively helped save the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) intended to aid healthcare providers suffering COVID-related losses.

“Argentum members and all stakeholders in the assisted living profession marked 2021 as a crucial pivot point for our work given the financial and workforce crises our caregivers face,” he said. “Making The Hill’s top lobbyist list is a reflection of the hard work Argentum staff and our member providers put in and continue to put in as this pandemic is not over, nor is our fight for adequate financial relief and support.”

Argentum is in the midst of a multi-faceted “Don’t Leave Us Behind…Again” campaign urging the Biden Administration and Congress to target PRF funds to senior living caregivers. To learn more on the campaign, visit StandingWithSeniors.com.

“Our fight continues for additional relief, and we are relentless in our advocacy efforts until our members receive the relief that they critically need and deserve,” Balda said.

Read the The Hill’s top lobbyist article at tinyurl.com/5cahee9y.