James Twaddell

Jim Twaddell is a government relations director. He has a broad range of government relations and lobbying experience, and particular knowledge of legislative issues related to health care policy, federal appropriations funding, grassroots initiatives and advocacy training. As a government relations director, Jim manages a broad range of clients including hospitals and health systems, non-profit voluntary health organizations and medical device companies. He provides these organizations with strategic counsel on a variety of policy and advocacy issues including the following: advancing authorization legislation, securing federal appropriations support for Congressional directed projects or programmatic funding increases, working with federal agencies on the implementation of legislation or proposed rules, conducting Capitol Hill advocacy and training events and implementing grassroots campaigns. Jim represents clients before Members of Congress as well as all of the Congressional Committees with jurisdiction over healthcare legislation and funding. Jim has experience working with federal agencies such as the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the National Institutes of Health, the Veterans Health Administration and the Health Affairs office at the Department of Defense. Before joining Drinker Biddle & Reath, Jim worked for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). During his tenure at AACN, Jim provided policy analysis and legislative strategy on several key issues. These issues included the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and the passage of the Nurse Reinvestment Act. Prior to joining AACN, Jim served as deputy director of communications for the office of U.S. Senator Arlen Specter. In this capacity Jim was involved in the day-to-day management of the senator’s media and political strategy. Additionally, he served as a legislative aide overseeing education, energy, housing and environmental policy issues, as well as appropriations funding for each of these areas. Jim earned his master's degree in government from the Johns Hopkins University, and received his bachelor's degree in public administration from George Mason University.