REP. JINDAL SPEAKS TO YOUNG AGENTS
Congressman discusses natural disasters, insurance issues
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 26, 2006—Congressman Bobby Jindal (R-La.) spoke to young independent agents and brokers from nearly all 50 states, along with the state and national InsurPac leaders, at the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America’s (the Big “I”) National Legislative Conference today. Jindal addressed the Young Agent-InsurPac Luncheon.
Congressman Jindal is the House freshman class president. His appointments to the House Committee on Homeland Security, the House Committee on Resources, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce make him an influential young Congressman.
Before his election in 2004, Jindal was appointed Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by President George W. Bush. Prior to that, Jindal was president of the University of Louisiana System and executive director of the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare.
Jindal spoke to the Young Agents about the importance of creating natural disaster legislation and supporting TRIA—emphasized in the aftermath of last year’s hurricane season.
“We have to do a better job of getting prepared for the next hurricane season—or the next 9/11,” said Jindal. “It’s not clear to me that we have learned those lessons. We have to be prepared.
“We need a reinsurance system that is affordable. Fifty percent of Americans live in coastal counties. No reinsurance would be a disaster for our country. If we don’t do something now, there will be uninsured families and businesses that won’t be able to expand or rebuild. We’ve seen what happens without reinsurance.”
Congressman Jindal thanked all the agents for their dedication to the Gulf Coast community. “Thanks for your generosity to the Gulf Coast. Thanks to the thousands of agents across Louisiana and the country who put others in front of themselves.”
“Congressman Jindal emphasized the importance of dedicated involvement in the political process,” says Charles E. Symington Jr., Big “I” senior vice president of government affairs and federal relations. “The lessons he shared and his experiences as a young leader in the Gulf Coast post-Katrina are invaluable to our membership.”
During the luncheon, several agent leaders received awards for 2005. Alan Webb and Adrienne Powell of Georgia shared the award for InsurPac Young Agent of the Year. Both Arkansas and South Carolina received the InsurPac Eagle Award. Tom Helbach of Wisconsin won the Barney Burns Award.
Congressman Jindal is one of several prominent political leaders speaking to agents and brokers at the Big “I” event. Thursday morning, House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) will address the group. David I. Maurstad, insurance administrator and mitigation director of the Federal Emergency Management, will speak about the National Flood Insurance Program on Friday. Additionally, House Financial Services Chairman Mike Oxley (R-Ohio), the leading Congressional voice on insurance issues for the past five years, spoke to national leaders of the Big “I” on April 24.
Highlights of the Big “I” National Legislative Conference include an in-depth issues briefing session; the annual Big “I” congressional reception on Capitol Hill; appearances by numerous high-profile speakers; and hundreds of meetings on Capitol Hill between Big “I” agents and brokers and their elected representatives in the Congress. For more information about young agents, please contact Katie Cosgrove at 800-221-7917; katie.cosgove@iiaba.net.
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, and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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