WASHINGTON, D.C., March 5, 2018— The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I") today announced that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) will address the association's membership on Thursday, April 19, 2018.
Sen. McConnell 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. The event will also include a Democratic speaker to be announced. 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 honored to have Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speak to our members," says Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I" president & CEO. “Sen. McConnell has a clear understanding of what independent agents do for their customers and their communities. We look forward to hearing his thoughts on the current environment in Washington D.C. and the outlook for issues important to agents and brokers, such as flood insurance, crop insurance, health insurance, employee benefit issues, technical corrections to the new tax law and more."
Elected to Senate Majority Leader unanimously by his Republican colleagues first in 2014 and again in 2016, McConnell is only the second Kentuckian to ever serve as Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate. Senator McConnell previously served, again by the unanimous vote of his colleagues, as the Republican Leader from the 110th through the 113th Congresses and as the Majority Whip in the 108th and 109th Congresses. McConnell also served in leadership as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 1998 and 2000 election cycles. First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell is Kentucky's longest-serving senator.
“During his entire career, Majority Leader McConnell has served as a voice for small business, evidenced most recently by his leadership on tax reform," says Charles E. Symington, Jr., Big “I" senior vice president for external, industry and government affairs. “Senator McConnell is a friend to independent agents and has always shown an appreciation for the role agents play in representing their clients and protecting consumers. We look forward to welcoming him to the Big 'I' Legislative Conference."
The Big “I" Legislative Conference is the insurance industry's best-attended, most effective legislative meeting. This year's event will take place April 18-20 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C.
The Legislative Conference is an opportunity for Big “I" members to discuss important issues with their congressional representatives. Top issues this year include the National Flood Insurance Program, Federal Crop Insurance Program, health care, insurance regulatory reform, implementation of tax reform and cybersecurity.
Journalists interested in attending can register online, or contact Katie Butler for media registration.
Founded in 1896, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or 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.
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