WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 27, 2013 — The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) today announced that Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) will address the association’s Large Agent/Broker and CEO dinner on April 18 during the Big “I” Legislative Conference.
“The Big ‘I’ is honored that Sen. Blunt will be addressing our annual event,” says Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Sen. Blunt understands the challenges our industry is facing and we look forward to hearing his perspective.”
The Large Agent/Broker and CEO dinner is sponsored by the Big “I” Large Agent and Broker Roundtable, a group which advises the Big “I” Board of Directors on topics important to large agents and brokers. The group has recently been working on issues such as agent licensing reform, technology and workflow efficiency, and industry workforce recruitment. Large agents and brokers from around the country, as well as regional and national carrier CEOs, will be in attendance.
“The Big ‘I’ has a long history of working closely with Sen. Blunt on key issues that impact independent insurance agents and brokers and insurance consumers,” says Charles Symington, Big “I” senior vice president of external affairs. “We are grateful to Sen. Blunt for his work as an advocate for small business and employers of all sizes.”
In addition to serving in Senate Republican leadership, Sen. Blunt is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee; the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; the Senate Armed Services Committee; and the Senate Rules Committee. He serves as the Ranking Republican on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. Sen. Blunt is also the Ranking Republican on the Commerce Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion. He was elected to the Senate in 2010 and from 1996-2008 he served in the House of Representatives. Previously, he was a history teacher, a county official and Missouri’s Secretary of State. Sen. Blunt also served as the president of his alma mater, Southwest Baptist University, in Bolivar, Mo.
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.
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