WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 15, 2008—Financial Services Committee Subcommittee Chairman Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.) will speak to national leaders of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) on April 1, just prior to the group’s Legislative Conference & Convention.
Attendees at the leadership gathering will include Big “I” Executive Committee and Government Affairs Committee members as well as agents and brokers from Kanjorski’s home state of Pennsylvania, along with other agent and broker leaders.
More than 1,200 independent agents and brokers from across the country are expected to participate in the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention, the insurance industry’s premier legislative meeting. This year’s event will take place April 2 through 4 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
“We’re pleased to have Chairman Kanjorski address our association’s leaders,” says Big “I” President & CEO Robert A. Rusbuldt. “As chairman of the Capital Markets Subcommittee, he will set the agenda for the insurance issues that Congress considers this year.”
Kanjorski serves as chairman of the Capital Markets Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over most insurance matters, securities and exchanges. As the second most senior Democratic member of the Financial Services Committee, Kanjorski has been a leader on economic development issues, including improving the ability of small businesses and start-up technology companies to gain access to capital. He was elected to Congress in 1984, and prior to that, was a successful trial attorney in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
“Our association’s leaders are politically active and engaged on the issues that matter to their business,” says Charles E. Symington, Jr., Big “I” senior vice president for government affairs. “We know that they will appreciate Chairman Kanjorski’s perspective on agent licensing and other insurance regulatory reforms.”
Each year during the legislative conference, Big “I” agents and brokers hold hundreds of meetings with their elected officials on Capitol Hill to share their perspective on how legislation affects their business. Top issues this year include agent licensing reform, insurance regulatory reform, flood insurance and natural disasters.
Highlights of the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention include an in-depth issues briefing session, appearances by numerous high-profile speakers and the industry’s largest and best-attended trade show. This year’s event will also include an election year debate moderated by Big “I” President & CEO Bob Rusbuldt featuring Democratic strategist Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson of MSNBC’s Tucker.
To register online and make hotel reservations go to www.independentagent.com and select the “Events and Conferences” link.
Founded in 1896, IIABA (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.