Staff Director for Senate HELP Committee Joins Buchanan Federal Government Relations Team
WASHINGTON (April 2025)—Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney expands its federal government relations practice with the strategic addition of Amanda Lincoln, who will join the Washington, D.C. office as a Principal on May 27. Lincoln most recently served as Majority Staff Director to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). In this role, she led the HELP committee in overseeing federal laws and programs related to those key areas, including public health, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), commercial health insurance, labor standards, higher education, biomedical research and development, private pension plans, and more. The committee oversees the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Labor, as well as the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
Amanda brings her powerhouse experience in congressional and regulatory relations, positioning her as a driving force in the field. She was the lead policy advisor to Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and the majority party members, helping them pass bipartisan legislation. Additionally, she played a key role in the nomination and confirmation process of several cabinet secretaries and federal agency administrators over the years, most recently including Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, FDA Commissioner, Dr. Martin Makary, and NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya.
“I have witnessed Amanda’s work ethic and policy acumen on the Hill for over 12 years, said Michael Strazzella, co-head of the Washington, D.C. office and government relations section co-leader. “Her policy and legislative knowledge have earned her the respect of elected members of Congress, congressional staff, executive branch leaders, and industry representatives around the country. I am thrilled to work side by side with her on behalf of Buchanan clients.”
Strazzella added: “Amanda’s policy and legislative depth on issues affecting the healthcare, life sciences and higher education sectors will also enhance the value of our already robust legal practices in those areas.”
“I am excited to embark on this new chapter of my career with Buchanan, where I will leverage my extensive congressional experience to empower clients in navigating complex challenges and advancing their initiatives. By drawing on my deep understanding of the legislative process and my established relationships within government, I aim to effectively drive policy outcomes that align with our clients’ goals,” said Lincoln.
“Amanda is a tremendous talent that I had the pleasure to hire twice—first in my personal office, where I tapped her to lead my negotiations for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and then again to build my team on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee,” said Senator Cassidy. “In any situation, she brings a vision for success and the strategic mind to accomplish it. She is an invaluable advisor, a great leader and I’m proud to see her take the next successful step in her professional journey.”
Prior to her role as Staff Director on the HELP Committee, Lincoln had a long career history in the Senate. She was formerly the top health care policy advisor to Sens. Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mike Enzi (R-WY), whom she also served as Legislative Director. She has also served as policy staff for the Special Committee on Aging and was the Staff Director for the HELP Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security. In addition, she served as a health policy advisor to the House Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus in Congress, and began her Hill experience working on health policy for members of the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees.
Lincoln holds a master’s degree from The Johns Hopkins University.