Richard Tarplin

Richard Tarplin is the founder of Tarplin Strategies in Washington, DC, where he provides strategic advice and lobbying services to clients in the financial services and health care sectors. He served for almost 20 years in the US House of Representatives and US Senate and as a senior Presidential Executive Branch appointee. Previously, Mr. Tarplin was Chairman of the Board and Managing Director at Timmons and Co. Between 1996-2001, he served in the Senate-confirmed position of Assistant Secretary for Legislation at the Department of Health and Human Services. In this position, Mr. Tarplin served as the chief liaison between the Secretary, senior White House and OMB staff, and the Congress on HHS issues. He directed legislative strategy affecting Medicare prescription drug coverage, the FDA regulatory process, and biomedical research issues. Mr. Tarplin served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislation between 1993-1996. Before that, he was the Staff Director of a Senate subcommittee, serving Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) on health care, pharmaceutical, and labor policy issues. In this position, Mr. Tarplin coordinated the successful effort to enact the Family and Medical Leave Act and several other legislative initiatives. Between 1982-1985, Mr. Tarplin was a Legislative Assistant to Rep. Leon Panetta (D-CA), and had responsibility for energy, environmental and defense issues.