WASHINGTON, D.C., April 10, 2014 —Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) on Wednesday addressed the Annual Young Agents & InsurPac State Chairpersons Legislative Luncheon at the annual Big “I” Legislative Conference.

 

The event also featured the presentation of the annual InsurPac National Championship awards, Young Agent of the Year and Eagle awards. 

 

Rep. Stivers encouraged agents to get involved in politics and discussed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA), the “National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act of 2013” (NARAB II), tax reform and small business issues.

 

“The government’s getting very involved in your business,” cautioned Rep. Stivers. “That’s why you need to get involved in politics.”

 

Rep. Stivers noted that tax reform and economic growth are top of mind for small business people. “You need to be involved in government because government is affecting you every day,” he said. “You need to fight for what you think is right. I think there’s a lot of big things we need to focus on here in Washington, but the biggest is our economy and small business and creating a model where small businesses can grow in this country.”

 

In highlighting the importance of the NARAB II legislation, Rep. Stivers said, “Who wants to fill out 50 state registration forms when your customers move and sometimes have to leave your customers because you can’t afford to fill out all the paperwork?”

 

He also discussed efforts on Capitol Hill regarding TRIA and predicted that it is “going to get reauthorized” this Congress. He supports the Big “I” position to attach NARAB II to TRIA reauthorization legislation.

 

The Ohio Republican also had a message for the young agent leaders. “I would ask the young agents here to get involved and use that political power to make sure your industry continues to thrive and our country makes the right policy decisions moving forward. Regardless of your political stripes, just get engaged and involved, because it makes a difference.”

 

In his closing remarks, Rep. Stivers praised the industry and said agents “have been creating good local jobs in every town in America for the last 200 years. It’s a real testament to your industry that you’ve got insurance agents on every corner in every small town, and that’s why you have so much political power.”

 

Rep. Stivers was elected to the House in 2010 and represents Ohio’s 15th Congressional District which includes 12 counties in the state’s south central region. In addition to serving as a member of Congress, Rep. Stivers serves a colonel in the Ohio Army National Guard. Prior to being elected to the House, Rep. Stivers was a member of the Ohio State Senate. Stivers earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from The Ohio State University.

 

 

###