ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 14, 2011 — The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) recognized Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) as the Gerald Solomon-IIABA Legislator of the Year for 2010. The award was presented during the annual Leadership Luncheon, just prior to the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention, and Rep. Neugebauer presented the keynote address.
Rep. Neugebauer serves on the House Committees on Agriculture, Financial Services, and Science and Technology. On the House Committee on Financial Services, he serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Additionally, Rep. Neugebauer serves as chairman of the financial services working group of the Republican Study Committee.
“I’m just an old business guy from Lubbock, Texas,” said Rep. Neugebauer in accepting the award. He also told the independent agents in the room who travel on their own dime for the Big “I” annual pilgrimage to Capitol Hill, “I am humbled that you would give me this award. It’s not cheap to come out here, but it’s important to come out here.”
Rep. Neugebauer explained why he sponsored and is advocating for the passage of NARAB II noting that it does not cost taxpayers and won’t be a burden on the states. He said the legislation simply improves the licensing process for many small businesses and called it a “no lose situation.”
“I call this a jobs bill,” said Rep. Neugebauer regarding NARAB II. He also said this might be the year that both the House and Senate pass the legislation.
The Texas Republican’s address also included discussion of several issues surrounding the passage and implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank) such as systemic risk, the new Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) and the Federal Insurance Office (FIO), health insurance reform and the political atmosphere on Capitol Hill and in Washington, D.C.
“Randy is one of us; he’s a former small businessperson who has met a payroll,” said Robert A. Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO in presenting the award. Rusbuldt praised Rep. Neugebauer’s commitment to protecting small business rights in the health care reform debate and for sponsoring the “National Association of Registered Agents & Brokers Reform Act” (NARAB II).
Rep. Neugebauer represents the 19th District of Texas, which spans 27 counties and includes the cities of Abilene, Big Spring and Lubbock. He took office in June 2003 and is currently serving his fourth full term. Prior to running for Congress, he was a small businessperson and owner of a
The Legislator of the Year Award is bestowed annually by the Big “I” upon a member of Congress who has provided outstanding leadership on insurance issues. It is named as a tribute to the late Congressman Gerald Solomon (R-N.Y.), the former House Rules Committee chairman and Big “I” member who championed independent agent and broker legislative concerns during his 20 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“The Big ‘I’ and many others in the small business community look to Rep. Neugebauer’s expertise and leadership on Capitol Hill,” says Charles Symington, Big “I” senior vice president of government affairs. “As chairman of the O&I Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee he will play a critical role as the Dodd-Frank bill and other important pieces of financial services legislation are implemented.”
The event took place at the Capitol Hill Club and attendees included Big “I” executive and government affairs committee members, agents and brokers from Rep. Neugebauer’s home state of Texas and other industry leaders.
The Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention 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.
Other highlights of the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention 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 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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