In addition to our meetings on the Hill , Brock Elliott – who is Chair of the Big “ I ” Young Agents committee – led a successful Young Agents Welcome Reception and Emerging Leaders luncheon that included an interview with Rep . Ashley Hinson ( R-IA ), whose husband is a Big “ I ” Member . Other featured speakers at the conference included Jon Tester ( D-Montana ) and Rep . Cathy McMorris- Rodgers ( R-WA ). This conference was also unique because after 37 years of serving independent agents , CEO Bob Rusbuldt is retiring . He received the Jeff Yates Lifetime Achievement Award and a retirement celebration dinner was held in his honor . Executive Vice President Charles Symington has been named as his replacement . •
data privacy standards for agents , insurers , and other financial institutions required the disclosure of information sharing policies . GLBA empowered state insurance commissioners to enforce these privacy protections for the insurance marketplace . It is critical that any new federal privacy standards be handled at the state level and not ceded to the authority of federal regulators . Any mandates must be clear , reasonable and workable , recognizing the differing capabilities of small and large businesses .
Extend & Reform the National Flood Insurance Program ( NFIP ): No legislative visit is complete without the ask of a long-term extension of the NFIP , which is set to expire on September 30 , 2023 . We support both the Write-Your-Own ( WYO ) Program and private flood program being distributed through independent agents . Consumers moving to the private marketplace from WYO should satisfy continuous coverage requirements and there should be no penalty if they return to the NFIP .
Health Insurance : Robert Richey led the discussion on the expansion of HSA eligibility , supporting the Telehealth Expansion Act , along with easing the employer reporting requirements in the Commonsense Reporting Act .
In addition to our meetings on the Hill , Brock Elliott – who is Chair of the Big “ I ” Young Agents committee – led a successful Young Agents Welcome Reception and Emerging Leaders luncheon that included an interview with Rep . Ashley Hinson ( R-IA ), whose husband is a Big “ I ” Member . Other featured speakers at the conference included Jon Tester ( D-Montana ) and Rep . Cathy McMorris- Rodgers ( R-WA ). This conference was also unique because after 37 years of serving independent agents , CEO Bob Rusbuldt is retiring . He received the Jeff Yates Lifetime Achievement Award and a retirement celebration dinner was held in his honor . Executive Vice President Charles Symington has been named as his replacement . •
MAY / JUNE 2023
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