WASHINGTON–The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers ofAmerica presented several awards for legislative accomplishmentsyesterday to a group of agent members for their leadership ingovernment affairs and to a congressman.

The awards were given during the Alexandria, Va.-basedassociation's National Legislative Conference and Convention herein Washington, D.C., this week.

Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga. received the Gerald Solomon-Legislatorof the Year Award for his activity in Congress on a number ofinsurance issues.

He received the award for sponsoring a successful amendment thateliminated funding for the Premium Reduction Plan crop insuranceprogram for one year.

IIABA said he has been involved in many important issues foragents, including class action reform, terrorism risk insurance andthe proposed elimination of the estate tax.

The Solomon Award is named in honor of the late CongressmanGerald Solomon, R-N.Y., a former House Rules Committee chairman andIIABA member who championed independent agent and brokerlegislative concerns.

The association also presented William Hofmann, an independentagent in Belmont, Mass., with the Sidney O. Smith Award for his“tireless work in promoting the legislative goals of theassociation and its political arm, InsurPac.”

The Professional Independent Insurance Agents of West Virginiareceived the Maurice Herndon Award for its legislativeaccomplishments in 2005.