Advocacy in action blog

American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) President and CEO Susan Neely and NAIFA-Oklahoma President Whitney Jessee issued the following joint statement on the best interest annuity rule adopted recently by the Oklahoma Insurance Department:

When we think of the In-District Meetings NAIFA promotes each August, we usually think of get-togethers at district offices with federal lawmakers or their staff. But really, they can take all shapes and forms.

NAIFA's Nebraska chapter has been a strong advocate for the life insurance industry, working with state officials to proclaim September Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM) in the state. Their efforts were successful and several members of the association were on hand at the ceremony when Governor Jim Pillen issued the proclamation.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” 
- Mother Teresa. 

On August 3rd, NAIFA-Utah held its annual Legislative Engagement Day in Salt Lake. The fact that we were able to count on all four of our U.S. Congressional representatives to participate made for a successful and informative meeting. Dori Phillips, our NAIFA-Utah VP of Advocacy and our Grassroots Chair representative, did a superb job of coordinating schedules so that each could address us. While their broad message focused on the state of the nation, each had a unique approach and shared stories of their own path and experience in working with financial professionals.

Congress has begun its August recess, and members of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) are capitalizing on lawmakers’ annual working session in their home districts by meeting with their Representatives and Senators to strengthen grassroots relationships and discuss issues important to financial professionals and their clients.

This afternoon, the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) adopted a NAIFA-backed resolution that opposes potential fiduciary rulemaking by the Department of Labor (DOL). 

NAIFA recently signed onto a letter supporting Congressman Lloyd Smucker's (R-PA, 11th District) newly introduced bill that would make the Section 199A deduction permanent. The bill had over 80 co-sponsors from both aisles and received unanimous support from the 25 Republicans on the Ways & Means Committee. The bill is similar to S.1706 introduced by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) making the support for minimizing tax hikes bipartisan and bicameral. 

On July 7, the Biden Administration published a proposed rule to roll back President Trump’s expansion of short-term health insurance plans. The Office of Management & Budget previously announced its approval of the proposed rule on “short‐​term limited duration insurance” health plans (STLDI).

The Fourth of July, naturally, celebrates our nation’s independence declared in 1776, won through the struggle and sacrifice of the American Revolution, and maintained by generations of Americans throughout the history of the United States. NAIFA joins in this celebration of our country and the freedoms we all enjoy.

NAIFA is the only association for insurance and financial professionals with a strong political advocacy presence in Washington, D.C., and every state capital.

Last month, NAIFA members in Connecticut amplified NAIFA's advocacy message in Hartford. NAIFA-Connecticut's Legislative Day created great momentum heading into the Congressional Conference, May 22-23, in Washington, D.C.