WASHINGTON, D.C., April 15, 2015—The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) today announced that U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota) will address the association’s membership on Thursday, April 23, 2015.

 

Sen. Heitkamp 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, agents and brokers visit Capitol Hill offices to educate members of the Senate, House and their staff on issues that directly impact independent insurance agents, brokers and the consumers they serve.

 

“The Big ‘I’ is thrilled to announce that Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota) will be addressing our members the morning of our annual voyage to Capitol Hill,” says Robert A. Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO. Sen. Heitkamp has a strong bipartisan track record and has reached across the aisle on a number of significant issues that impact independent insurance agents. We look forward to hearing her perspective on important small business, agriculture and economic issues as our agents prepare to meet with their elected representatives.”

 

Sen. Heitkamp was elected to the United States Senate in 2012 and serves on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs. She also serves on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry; Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship; Committee on Indian Affairs; and Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs. She previously served as North Dakota’s Attorney General, and as the state’s tax commissioner. She earned a bachelor of arts from the University of North Dakota and a law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School.

 

“As a member of both the Senate Banking and Agriculture Committees, Senator Heitkamp has a thorough understanding of the issues that are important to our membership,” says Charles E. Symington Jr., Big “I” senior vice president for external and government affairs. “The Senator played an integral role in both the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill as well as the terrorism insurance extension which included NARAB II and we greatly appreciate her support.”

 

The Big “I” Legislative Conference is the insurance industry’s best-attended, most effective legislative meeting. This year’s event will take place April 22-24 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.

 

The legislative conference is an opportunity for Big “I” members to discuss important issues with their congressional representatives. Top issues this year include insurance regulatory reform, flood insurance and natural disasters, health insurance reform, the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP), tax reform, agent commissions 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 Congress.

 

Journalists interested in attending, please send an email to margarita.tapia@iiaba.net or call (703) 706-5473 for media registration.

 

 

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