WASHINGTON, D.C., March 23, 2011 — The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) today announced that Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), will address the association’s membership on Thursday, April 14.
Sen. Landrieu 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 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 to have Sen. Landrieu, who chairs the Senate Committee on Small Business, address the association’s membership the morning of our annual agent pilgrimage to Capitol Hill,” says Robert A. Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO. “The vast majority of our members are small businesses and Sen. Landrieu’s perspectives are critical to them and our entire industry.”
In addition to chairing the Senate Committee on Small Business, Sen. Landrieu serves on the Committees on Appropriations and Energy and Natural Resources. She was first elected to the United States Senate in 1996 and is currently serving a third term. Previously, she served in the Louisiana state legislature and as state treasurer.
“Sen. Landrieu’s leadership is pivotal to small businesses across the country,” says Charles E. Symington, Jr., Big “I” senior vice president for government affairs. “We look forward to continuing to work with her on the numerous issues that directly impact the 300,000 professionals we represent and insurance consumers.”
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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