Maria Ghazal is Director, Public Policy and Counsel for Business Roundtable. In this role, she oversees efforts of the Consumer Health & Retirement Initiative to improve the quality and efficiency of our nation's health care system and to enhance the future viability of the retirement income system. Recently cited as "the most influential chief executive lobbying group in the U.S." by the Financial Times, Business Roundtable members are at the forefront of public policy, advocating for a vigorous, dynamic global economy. Previously, Maria Ghazal was Director of Health Policy at the American Benefits Council, representing the Council's interests on health policy before Congress and the Administration. From 1993 until joining the Council in 1997, Ms. Ghazal served as Director of Government Relations at Verizon, where she represented the corporation's interests on employee benefits, tax and labor issues. From 1990-1993, she served as a Legislative Assistant at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. She began her career as an aide to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) (1986 - 1990). Ms. Ghazal received her law degree from American University, a master's degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor's degree from Bates College. She is a member of the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations and the Tax Coalition.