WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 26, 2011 —The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) today announced that Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), Speaker of the House of Representatives, will address the association’s membership on Thursday, April 14.
Speaker Boehner will be a key note speaker at the legislative conference breakfast which occurs just prior to the association’s annual Big “I” Day on Capitol Hill. Every year more than a thousand agents and brokers visit Capitol Hill offices to lobby members of the House, Senate and their staffs on issues that directly impact independent agents and consumers.
“The Big ‘I’ is honored that during such a pivotal year, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) will be kicking off our annual agent pilgrimage to Capitol Hill,” says Robert A. Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO. “We’re looking forward to hearing his insights on the implementation of the new health care law, tax and spending issues, financial services regulation and other important topics facing our members, their businesses and the American economy.”
In November 2010, Boehner was elected to represent the eighth congressional district of Ohio for an 11th term. After more than two decades on Capitol Hill, he was formally elected as the 53rd Speaker of the House on Jan. 5, 2011. In his congressional career, Speaker Boehner has served in many prestigious posts including House Republican Conference Chairman, Chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee and House Republican Leader. In the last Congress, as the Minority Leader, he was a leading opponent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Although the bill was ultimately signed into law, had it not been for his efforts the final language would have been even more destructive to small business. Prior to serving in public office, Speaker Boehner ran a small business in the plastics and packaging industry. Speaker Boehner also received the Big I’s Legislator of the Year Award in 1998.
“Speaker Boehner has been a longtime friend of our small business owners in his home state of Ohio and, as a former small business person himself, can provide an important perspective our members will appreciate,” says Charles E. Symington, Jr., Big “I” senior vice president for government affairs. The Speaker’s focused commitment to removing government barriers in order to create more jobs and economic growth go hand-in-hand with many of the Big ‘I’s’ goals.”
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 13-15 at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The legislative conference is an opportunity for Big “I” agents and brokers to discuss important issues with their congressional representatives. Top issues this year include: health care reform, extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), insurance regulatory reform, agent licensing reform, the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP), and other challenges and opportunities facing the independent agency system.
Other highlights of the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention will include in-depth issues briefing sessions; appearances by numerous high-profile speakers discussing important insurance and national issues confronting lawmakers as well as agents and brokers; a CEO panel comprised of top carrier presidents & CEOs and hundreds of meetings on Capitol Hill between Big “I” agents and brokers and their elected representatives in the Congress.
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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