Advocacy in action blog

NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE, has sent a letter to three members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), thanking them for introducing the Improving Access to Retirement Savings Act of 2021, which contains some provisions found in a bill that has passed the House and is commonly known as the SECURE Act 2.0.

NAIFA's Virtual Congressional Conference, May 25-26, is a great opportunity for NAIFA members to tell their Senators how being reclassified as "employees" rather than "independent contractors" by the PRO Act would hurt their businesses and ability to serve the best interests of their clients. NAIFA President Elect Lawrence Holzberg gives his take on why it's important to attend.

NAIFA’s Oregon chapter has not missed a beat when it comes to fulfilling its political advocacy mission. NAIFA-OR’s most recent legislative update was a 100% virtual event attended by approximately 20% of NAIFA members in the state. It also attracted the attention of policymakers. State Rep. Christine Drazan (R-Canby) was among those who participated in the event.

Policy experts from industry associations, including NAIFA Assistant Vice President for Government Relations Judi Carsrud, provided congressional staff with a briefing on the defined contribution retirement system and how Congress can improve it. They explained some common challenges faced by employers providing plans and employees anxious about covering present-day expenses while saving for retirement.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) have introduced the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2021, also known as the SECURE Act 2.0, and Neal has scheduled a markup session in the committee for Wednesday.

The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, has ruled that state Insurance Regulation 187, “Suitability and Best Interests in Life Insurance and Annuity Transactions,” is unconstitutional. A 2018 amendment to Regulation 187 imposed a complicated new standard of care on annuity recommendations and broadened the scope of the regulation to include life insurance as well as annuity products.

NAIFA’s North Carolina chapter (NAIFA-NC) held a virtual Advocacy Day, Monday, April 26. Insurance and financial professionals who attended benefited from an update on state legislative and regulatory activity by NAIFA-NC lobbyists Michelle Frazier and David Ferrell.

NAIFA’s advocacy educates and informs policymakers so they understand the important work insurance and financial professionals do to help American families and businesses achieve their financial goals and attain financial security. Well-informed officials make better decisions to serve NAIFA members and their clients as well as all Americans who seek financially secure futures.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has signed legislation that revises state non-discrimination laws to allow insurers to consider insured individuals’ gender and marital status when setting rates for insurance premiums. NAIFA’s Montana chapter worked with state Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Troy Downing to craft and promote the legislation. NAIFA-MT members testified on its behalf at hearings in the state. The commissioner cited research by NAIFA-MT in his press release on the legislation.

NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux issued the following statement following a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on paid family medical leave: