NAIFA joined with industry partners in a letter to express strong support for National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amendment #445 offered by Representative Dean (D-PA), with the support of Representatives Armstrong (R-ND), Turner (R-OH), Perlmutter (D-CO), and Reschenthaler (R-PA).

NAIFA is pleased to welcome Kim Durcho as a Grassroots Director. Durcho joins NAIFA’s Government Relations team and reports to Senior Vice President for Government Relations Diane Boyle.

As Grassroots Director, Durcho will develop and execute a comprehensive advocacy program to foster member participation in grassroots efforts at the national and state level.

In advance of the Ways and Means Committee mark-up, NAIFA signed a letter with more than 100 other organizations representing Main Street employers asking Congress to reject proposed tax increases that would harm these businesses and the consumers they serve.

NAIFA has signed on as an official partner for Employee Voter Registration Week, which will take place from September 27 to October 1. During this week, NAIFA along with other companies and trade associations will be active on social media encouraging stakeholders and employees across the country to get registered to vote in the upcoming elections.

NAIFA’s Dallas chapter recently held its annual legislative luncheon. During the event, NAIFA members met with federal and state legislators and their staff and shared key NAIFA advocacy messages. NAIFA-TX lobbyist Elizabeth Hadley and NAIFA’s national Government Relations Director Mike Hedge joined the event and gave a legislative update via Zoom.

Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that registration and training for Plan Year 2022 is now available for returning agents/brokers who completed training and registration for Plan Year 2021. Registration and full training for new agents and brokers will be made available later this year.

NAIFA members are our association's advocacy strength. We are influential with lawmakers at state and federal levels because we have members from every congressional district in the United States who serve Main Street Americans. Policymakers want to hear NAIFA members' stories and respect our expertise because we represent the communities, families, and small businesses important to elected officials.

Politically active members of NAIFA's Wisconsin chapter have maintained NAIFA's grassroots advocacy push throughout June, July, and August. According to NAIFA Senior Vice President for Government Relations Diane Boyle, NAIFA-WI leads all NAIFA's state chapters in in-district meetings with lawmakers and their staff this summer.

Connecticut has become the 16th state to adopt consumer-protection regulations or legislation based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC’s) Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model. The NAIC model requires financial professionals to work in the best interests of their clients during annuities transactions and aligns with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation Best Interest. It also preserves the ability of consumers to work with agents and advisors offering a variety of successful business models and avoids restrictions that would likely make it impossible for financial professionals to work with Main Street investors and retirement savers.

Congress is out of session for its annual August recess, which means that NAIFA members across the country are taking advantage of the opportunity to meet hold in-district meetings with lawmakers and their staff. NAIFA is the leading grassroots organization for insurance and financial professionals with members in every congressional district. Every year, NAIFA encourages members to meet with their Representatives and Senators during the August recess to reinforce the advocacy message shared at NAIFA’s May Congressional Conference.