This week, the Big “I" announced that Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) and Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota) will address attendees at the 2024 Big “I" Legislative Conference, which will take place April 10-12 in Washington, D.C.

The 2024 Big “I" Legislative Conference gives Big “I" members an opportunity to discuss important issues in front of their legislators, as well as network with others in the industry. Check out the latest schedule and register before March 22 to secure your spot at this year's event.

Sen. Rounds, a former Big "I" member, will address attendees at the Legislative Breakfast on Thursday, April 11. He has served in the U.S. Senate since 2014 after previously serving as the governor of South Dakota. Sen. Rounds is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, which has primary jurisdiction over insurance issues in the Senate. He is also the ranking member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment.

He also serves on the Senate Committee on Armed Services, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Before his political career, Rounds ran one of the largest independent insurance agencies in South Dakota and understands the valuable role that agents play across all lines of insurance. His remarks are sure to be a highlight of this year's Legislative Conference.

On Wednesday, April 10, Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota) will speak at a smaller event for large agents, brokers and carrier CEOs. Sen. Thune has served in the Senate since 2005 and currently serves as Republican Whip, the number two position in Senate Republican leadership. He serves on the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

In 2020, Sen. Thune received the Gerald Solomon Big “I" Legislator of the Year Award for his leadership in getting the pass-through component included in the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. The deduction, which benefits tens of thousands of Big “I" members and is scheduled to expire at the end of 2025, is among the top issues for Big “I" members at this year's event.

As previously announced, this year's conference will also feature a conversation between House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-North Carolina) and Big “I" President & CEO Charles Symington on Friday, April 12.

As the event approaches, look out for more speaker announcements.

Teddie Norton Reilly is Big “I" chief of staff.