U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) will address Big “I” members during the annual Legislative Conference Breakfast on Thursday, April 19, 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, the U.S. House of Representatives and their staff on issues that directly impact independent insurance agents, brokers and the consumers they serve. Thursday’s event will also feature a Democratic speaker, to be announced.

“The Big ‘I’ is honored to have 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.”

Elected to Senate Majority Leader unanimously by his Republican colleagues first in 2014 and again in 2016, Sen. McConnell is only the second Kentuckian to ever serve as Majority Leader in the Senate. Sen. McConnell previously served, again by the unanimous vote of his colleagues, as the Republican Leader from the 110^th through the 113^th Congresses and as the Majority Whip in the 108^th and 109^th Congresses.

Sen. 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, Sen. 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. “Sen. 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.”

As the insurance industry’s best-attended, most effective legislative meeting, the Big “I” Legislative Conference is an opportunity for Big “I” members to discuss important issues with their congressional representatives. Top issues this year include the NFIP, Federal Crop Insurance Program, health care, insurance regulatory reform, implementation of tax reform and cybersecurity.

This year’s event will take place April 18-20 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C. Register online by Friday, March 30.

Katie Butler is IA editor in chief.