WASHINGTON — Fred Holender of Amherst joined with hundreds of his fellow agents from across the country as part of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents’ 2018 Federal Legislative Summit. Holender also serves as President of the Professional Insurance Agents of New York.

Participants spent two days, April 24 – 25, visiting with their U.S. Representatives and Senators on Capitol Hill, personally advocating on behalf of Professional Insurance Agents, their clients and the American free enterprise system.

“Legislative victories on our issues are made possible by the continued commitment and involvement by PIA members. It’s part of our year-round coordinated program of grassroots advocacy,” said Fred Holender of Lawley.

PIA members advocated for members of Congress and their staffs to defend state regulation of insurance, abolish, or scale back, the Federal Insurance Office (FIO), provide a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, protect a strong and stable crop insurance program as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, and reinstate fair and just compensation in healthcare. The FLS was capped off with a Congressional reception on Capitol Hill with several U.S. Representatives in attendance.

“Many of the issues of critical importance to local insurance agents and their customers are in play in Congress this year. That’s why it is so important they we connect with our elected representatives on Capitol Hill, up close and personal,” Fred Holender said.

During the FLS, PIA’s executive committee, led by PIA National President Tim Russell (CT) presented its Legislator of the Year Award to Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), in recognition of his leadership on PIA’s legislative priorities, including supporting the Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act (H.R. 4575), the Middle-Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act (H.R. 173), and the federal crop insurance program.

ABOUT PIA
Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses. PIA members are Local Agents Serving Main Street America SM. PIA’s web address is www.pia.org

ABOUT LAWLEY
Lawley is a privately-owned, independent regional insurance firm specializing in property, casualty and personal insurance, employee benefits, and risk management consulting. Lawley is ranked among the 100 Largest Insurance Brokers in the U.S., according to Business Insurance magazine. For over 60 years, Lawley’s team of more than 400 associates have developed customized property, casualty, surety and benefits insurance programs for businesses and municipalities of all sizes along with personalized protection for individuals and their families.

Headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Lawley has branch offices across New York in Amherst, Batavia, Dunkirk, Mahopac, Plainview, Purchase and Rochester along with Darien, Connecticut and Florham Park, New Jersey. To find out more, visit lawleyinsurance.com.

ABOUT FRED HOLENDER
Read Fred’s bio by clicking here.