Big “I" Chairman John Costello was in Washington, D.C. this week to meet with members of Congress and set the groundwork for the 2023 Big “I" Legislative Conference, to take place April 26-28 in Washington, D.C.

Costello, partner of USI Insurance Services in Rochester, New York, proudly represented the association's quarter of a million TrustedChoice® independent insurance agents on Capitol Hill. He met with members of the New York delegation, including U.S. House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-New York) and Reps. Joe Morelle (D-New York), Claudia Tenney (R-New York), Andrew Garbarino (R-New York), Mike Lawler (R-New York) and Nick Langworthy (R-New York).

Costello also met with National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-North Carolina) and participated in an InsurPac-hosted dinner for Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Missouri), who is a leader on the House Committee on Financial Services and recipient of the 2022 Big “I" Legislator of the Year award.

During the meetings, Costello reminded members of Congress—and their staff—of the critical role the independent insurance agency system plays in protecting America's families and businesses. He also discussed important issues such as tax reform, flood insurance, data privacy and crop insurance, among others.

The quality of congressional meetings did not go unnoticed. Costello remarked that “as we had our productive meetings on Capitol Hill, it was obvious that the Big 'I' is held in extremely high regard with members of Congress and their staff. We should be very proud of the way the government affairs team represents agents and brokers in front of our nation's leaders."

While the Big “I" chairman's annual visit is important—and the Big “I" government affairs team works the halls of Congress every day—it is also imperative that a strong contingent of Big “I" members come to Washington, D.C. in April for the 2023 Big “I" Legislative Conference.

Nathan Riedel is Big “I" vice president of political affairs.