WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 11, 2013 — The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) today announced that Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, will address the association’s membership on Thursday, April 18, 2013.
Rep. Hensarling will be a keynote speaker at the legislative conference breakfast which occurs just prior to the association’s annual Big “I” Day on Capitol Hill. Every year, agents and brokers visit Capitol Hill offices to educate members of the House, Senate and their staffs on issues that directly impact independent insurance agents, brokers and consumers.
“The Big ‘I’ is honored that Rep. Hensarling will address our members the morning of our annual pilgrimage to Capitol Hill,” says Robert A. Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO. “As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Hensarling is on the frontline of many issues that directly impact the insurance markets. We are looking forward to his perspective as our agents prepare to meet with their elected representatives.”
Rep. Hensarling was first elected to the House in 2002 and represents the Lone Star State’s 5th Congressional District. Before wielding the gavel of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, Chairman Hensarling served in a number of leadership positions in the House, including as chairman of the House Republican Conference, as well as chairman of the Republican Study Committee. Prior to holding public office, he worked in the private sector, serving as an officer for an investment firm, a data management company and an electric retail company. Rep. Hensarling earned his undergraduate degree in economics at Texas A&M University and a law degree from the University of Texas.
“Chairman Hensarling’s leadership is pivotal to small businesses and consumers across the country,” says Charles E. Symington, Jr., Big “I” senior vice president for government affairs. “We look forward to continuing to work with him on many issues that directly impact the quarter of a million professionals we represent and insurance consumers including agent licensing reform, terrorism insurance and flood insurance.”
The Big “I” Legislative Conference is the insurance industry’s best-attended, most effective legislative meeting. This year’s event will take place April 17-19 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: tax reform, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), insurance regulatory reform, agent licensing reform, health insurance, the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP), terrorism risk insurance, and other economic challenges facing independent insurance agents and the industry.
Other highlights of the Big “I” Legislative Conference 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 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 approximately a quarter of a million 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.
###