James “J.P.” Paluskiewicz

James ‘J.P.’ Paluskiewicz serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Honorable Michael C. Burgess M.D. (R-TX-26), Chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing & Trade Subcommittee of the Energy & Commerce Committee. J.P, oversees the Congressman’s legislative agenda and acts as his chief advisor in all public policy. J.P. focuses his efforts on domestic social, budgetary, and entitlement issues, particularly those surrounding health care. He also manages the Congressman’s position on the Subcommittees on Health as well as Oversight & Investigations. J.P. has served as a staff negotiator on numerous bills that have been enacted into law, including the Food & Drug Safety & Innovation Act of 2012 and The Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act which permanently repealed Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate formula.

J.P. previously served as an advisor for the American Dental Association focusing on issues before the House Energy & Commerce and Senate Finance Committees, specializing in access to care initiatives. Formerly, J.P. served as Acting Deputy Chief of Staff for the Honorable Charlie Norwood, D.D.S. (R-GA-10). J.P. served Congressman Norwood for almost five years in a variety of positions, initially as a Legislative Aide and later as Legislative Director & Health Policy Advisor. J.P. has been recognized by health care groups for his work on Capitol Hill, including the Special Recognition Award from the American Psychiatric Society, the Gift of Life Legislator of the Year Award from the American Society of Transplantation, the Congressional Staff Leadership Award from America’s Essential Hospitals, and the Congressional Staffer of the Year Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In each case it was the first award ever granted to a Congressional staffer. In addition, J.P. has received the Outstanding Congressional Staff Award from the American Diabetes Association and The Charles G. Norwood Memorial Advocacy Award from the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and has been identified by Politico as an “Emerging Healthcare Leader.”

J.P. attended American University on a Leadership Scholarship, graduating with majors in Political Science and Law & Society in 2001. In 2005, he earned his Masters in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University with a focus in health policy and constitutional theory. J.P. guest lectures at Washington’s top universities on health policy and health advocacy.