During Friday's Breakfast session at the 2025 Big “I" Legislative Conference, Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan) sat down with Nathan Riedel, Big “I" senior vice president of federal government affairs, for a fireside chat.

Rep. Huizenga represents Michigan's 4th Congressional District and will serve as the vice chair of the House Financial Services Committee during the 119th Congress. In this position, he is focused on reducing the country's debt and ensuring that many of the provisions contained within the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are renewed before they sunset at the end of the year.

This week, independent insurance agents that attended the 2025 Big “I" Legislative Conference visited over 400 congressional offices, advocating for their businesses, communities and the health of the insurance market and overall economy.

One of the biggest issues on independent agents' agenda is the need to make permanent the 20% small business deduction, also known as section 199A, which is a part of the TCJA scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. The deduction is heavily relied upon by the majority of Big “I" members.

“The consequences of not having that income treated differently will mean devastating effects," Rep. Huizenga said. “It is about making sure that we've got a vibrant, small business-oriented economy."

Rep. Huizenga reserved special praise for the Big “I" government affairs team but noted that there is no better advocate for independent agents than independent agents.

“You've got a great lobbying team … but you all here at the tables also need to be great and effective lobbyists, too" he said, adding that advocating for issues that impact small businesses is not just an annual event but can be done year-round. He encouraged agents to reach out to their elected officials to advocate for their businesses and industry.

“You have a secret weapon: your relationships back home," Rep. Huizenga said. “Ask them to come in for a cup of coffee, show them your offices, show them your employees—by the way, they are also called voters—and let them know what you are about and the impact that you have."

Will Jones is IA editor-in-chief.