National Mar 27, 2017

PIA to lobby Congress, April 5-6

Hundreds of PIA members from around the nation will participate in the 2017 PIA National Federal Legislative Summit April 5-6, 2017, in Washington, D.C. PIA members will be visiting the offices of their members of Congress to let them know firsthand what effects proposed legislation will have on their businesses.

This year, PIA will be focused on the issues of flood insurance, health-care reform, state regulation of insurance, small business and tax reforms and cybersecurity.

Flood insurance

PIA supports the long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, which is set to expire in September 2017. PIA supports legislation that would encourage the growth of the private flood market and supports other sensible options for growing the private flood market, but opposes outright, immediate privatization of the NFIP while there is no sustainable private-market solution.

Health care

PIA believes producers play a vital role in ensuring health-insurance purchasers find appropriate coverage. To protect this vital role in the health of patients, PIA supports legislation that would exclude producer compensation from any calculations of medical-loss ratios. PIA also supports legislation that would repeal the "Cadillac Tax," a 40 percent excise tax on "overly generous" employer-health plans.

State regulation of insurance

PIA opposes pre-emption by a federal insurance regulator or federal pre-emption of state insurance oversight, whether optional or mandatory and opposes any expansion of the Federal Insurance Office’s responsibilities or authority. In fact, PIA is advocating for the dissolution of the FIO.

Small business and tax reform

PIA supports the lowering of the corporate tax rate for small businesses so that insurance agency owners can better invest in growing their agencies. PIA supports a simpler tax structure to create a system that is clear, competitive and does not conflict with insurance regulatory obligations. PIA supports the permanent elimination of the capital gains tax for small-business owners in any tax reform package.

Cybersecurity

PIA supports protection of sensitive consumer data using a harm trigger and other methods that are flexible, risk-based and practical for small businesses.