The Malvern, Pa.-based Insurance Research Council announcedtoday that Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI)has joined nine other insurance organizations as IRC's newestmember.

IRC is a nonprofit public policy research organization. Thegroup said it provides “objective analysis on a broad range ofissues of vital interest to insurers, consumers and publicpolicymakers.”

Des Plaines, Ill.-based PCI represents more than 1,000property-casualty insurance companies.

PCI President and CEO David A. Sampson said IRC “has a proventrack record in bringing factual information to public policydebates on a wide variety of insurance issues, such as naturalcatastrophes, auto injury compensation and highway safety. We lookforward to collaborating with the other members of the IRC on theseand other future issues.”

Elizabeth Sprinkel, IRC senior vice president, said theorganization is “thrilled that PCI is bringing its knowledge andexpertise in public policy and legislative and regulatory mattersto the IRC. PCI's participation will help ensure that IRC'sresearch agenda remains relevant and timely.”

The Insurance Research Council, founded in 1977, is anindependent, research organization supported by property-casualtyinsurance organizations. IRC is devoted solely to research and thecommunication of its research findings. In addition to PCI, currentmembers of the IRC include:

o Allstate Insurance Company

o American Family Insurance

o Farmers Insurance Group

o The Hartford Financial Services Group

o Liberty Mutual Group

o National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies

o Safeco Insurance Services

o State Farm Insurance Companies

o United Services Automobile Association