Industry News

WASHINGTON — The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) has awarded U.S. Representative Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI) the 2024 PIA Legislator of the Year Award. The Congressman accepted the award during PIA’s Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Fitzgerald was chosen to receive the award due to his steadfast leadership in defending the state insurance regulatory system and limiting the power of the Federal Insurance Office (FIO). As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, he plays a key role in shaping policies that affect independent insurance agents.

“Rep. Fitzgerald has been a relentless advocate in curbing the power of the Federal Insurance Office,” said Jon Gentile, PIA’s chief advocacy officer. “He introduced the Insurance Data Protection Act, a measure PIA strongly supports, which would repeal the office’s subpoena authority.”

PIA supports the state-based insurance regulatory system and opposes federal overreach that threatens it. The association views the duties of the FIO as an unnecessary challenge to state regulation of the insurance industry, which has been successfully regulated at the state-level for over a century. The state regulation of insurance has worked well for insurance regulators, consumers, and members of the industry because state insurance regulators have greater familiarity with and flexibility to address their residents’ specific insurance needs in the context of their local geographies and economies.

“Rep. Fitzgerald’s leadership on reforming the Federal Insurance Office, as well as many other issues of importance to PIA is appreciated by independent insurance agents,” said PIA President Rich Savino.

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’s web address is www.pianational.org.