(WASHINGTON – Feb. 9, 2009)—The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big "I") announced that Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) will address the Annual Leadership Luncheon, just prior to the Big “I” National Legislative Conference & Convention.
The event will be held at the Capitol Hill Club on Tuesday, April 28. Attendees will include Big “I” Executive and Government Affairs Committee members, agents and brokers from the Congressman’s home state of Texas, and other industry leaders.
“Rep. Sessions is a true champion for small businesses and independent agents,” says Robert A. Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO. “We are honored that he will be meeting with the Big “I” leadership team.”
Rep. Sessions (R-Texas) is Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and serves on the powerful House Rules Committee. Viewed as a rising star, his leadership skills have been hailed in Washington and by his party since he was first elected to Congress in 1996. Sessions is in his seventh term and represents the Dallas area.
“The Big ‘I’ leaders are politically active and engaged on issues that matter to their businesses,” says Charles E. Symington, Jr., Big “I” senior vice president for government affairs. “We know that they will appreciate Congressman Sessions’ perspective on issues before Congress that affect thousands of independent insurance agents and brokers across the country.”
The Big “I” National Legislative Conference is the insurance industry’s best-attended, most effective legislative meeting. This year’s event will take place April 29 through May 1 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Highlights of the Big “I” National Legislative Conference will include in-depth issues briefing sessions, a panel discussion with top insurance carrier CEOs, a state of the association address by Big “I” chairman Brett Nilsson, a speech by “Freakonomics” author Stephen Dubner, appearances by numerous high-profile industry speakers, and hundreds of meetings on Capitol Hill between Big “I” agents and brokers and their elected representatives in the Congress.
The legislative conference is an opportunity for agents and brokers to discuss important issues with their congressional representatives. Top issues this year include: the state of our national economy, the economic challenges facing insurance carriers and the industry, the property-casualty insurance cycle, the TARP program, insurance regulatory reform, health insurance, and other challenges and opportunities facing the independent agency system.
For registration and hotel information, go to www.independentagent.com and select the “Events and Conferences” link. Journalists interested in attending, please contact Margarita Tapia, director of public affairs, at (800) 221-7917 or margarita.tapia@iiaba.net for media registration.
Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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