Professional Insurance Agents to Hold 2019 Federal Legislative Summit from April 2-3
Mar 11, 2019, 15:50 ET
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) will bring their concerns directly to Congress when they converge on Washington, D.C. from April 2-3 for the 2019 PIA Federal Legislative Summit (FLS).
The annual legislative summit is a gathering of PIA members from around the country who come together to meet with their members of Congress and advocate for their positions on issues of importance to Professional Insurance Agents.
"PIA's advocacy is responsible for a series of significant legislative victories for professional independent insurance agents in recent years," said PIA National President Keith A. Savino. "These successes have included a major win for small-business insurance agencies and brokerages, who are now able to take full advantage of a pass-through tax deduction that was approved as part of the tax reform legislation signed into law in late 2017."
PIA's advocacy also protected crop insurance as part of the Farm Bill, safeguarded agent compensation in sales of flood insurance policies and delayed until 2022 the imposition of the so-called "Cadillac" excise tax on employer-provided health insurance.
A top issue of concern for PIA in 2019 is securing a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that also promotes the growth of the private flood insurance market. The NFIP has been operating on a series of short-term extensions granted by Congress ever since it's last long-term authorization expired on September 30, 2017. PIA National is the only association to outright oppose reauthorization attempts that would have cut the Write-Your-Own reimbursement rate, which would have had a direct and negative impact on agent compensation and thus on consumers.
"Our annual legislative summit is a key opportunity for PIA members to solidify their relationships with members of Congress, to continue to advance our issues," said PIA National Vice President of Government Relations Jon Gentile.
"PIA will continue to advocate for policies that help independent insurance agents protect consumers: a strong National Flood Insurance Program and crop insurance program; the strengthening of employer-sponsored healthcare; and opposition to proposals that chip away at the successful state insurance regulatory system," Gentile said.
The 2019 PIA Federal Legislative Summit begins on the evening of April 2 at the Hilton Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia, PIA National's headquarters hotel, with an in-depth issues briefing session and Q&A to prepare attendees for their congressional visits. The day ends with a reception for FLS attendees. On April 3, PIA members will gather for a kickoff breakfast before making their way to Capitol Hill for a day of advocacy visits with their members of Congress. The day ends with a reception on Capitol Hill.
"PIA's advocacy is based on doing the hard work that produces real results," said PIA National Executive Vice President & CEO Mike Becker. "Members of Congress who may not be familiar with our issues turn to their independent agent constituents for the expertise they need to craft good legislation and avoid bad proposals. PIA has a proud history of always taking the strongest position to back independent agents, even if that means going at it alone. That kind of advocacy by PIA members and our government relations staff produces positive results for PIA members and for independent agents generally."
For more information about participating in the 2019 PIA Federal Legislative Summit (FLS), visit the FLS webpage at www.piafls.com.
PIA thanks our FLS Platinum sponsors The PIA Partnership and Progressive Insurance; Gold sponsor Crop Risk Services; Silver sponsors NAU Country Insurance Company and Liberty Mutual Insurance; and Bronze sponsors National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) and Motorists Insurance Group.
Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes, and businesses. PIA members are Local Agents Serving Main Street America SM. PIA's web address is www.pianet.com.
This press release is online at:
https://pianet.com/news/press-releases/2019/professional-insurance-agents-to-hold-2019-federal-legislative-summit-from-april-2-3
SOURCE National Association of Professional Insurance Agents