Reilly Moves From House Staff To IABA

Reilly Moves From House Staff To IABA

By Matt Brady

NU Online News Service, Dec. 20, 4:11 p.m. EST?House Financial Services Committee staffer Brendan T. Reilly, who helped write insurance laws, will now lobby for the insurance industry.[@@]

Mr. Reilly today was named director of federal government affairs for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, effective Jan. 1, 2005.

Mr. Reilly had served as the liaison to Chairman Mike Oxley, R-Ohio, and Vice Chair Sue Kelly, R-N.Y., since 2003, with responsibility for developing and promoting the vice chair's legislative agenda. He was involved with a number of major insurance initiatives the IIABA noted, including work on the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act and insurance regulatory reform.

"We are thrilled to have Brendan on board at the Big ?I'," said Charles E. Symington Jr., senior vice president of federal government affairs for the IIABA. "Brendan is intimately familiar with many important issues that are crucial to independent insurance agents and brokers across America.

"When topics such as insurance regulatory reform, TRIA, legal reform and health care reform come up for discussion, we will benefit greatly from his knowledge and expertise," Mr. Symington said.

Mr. Reilly served as senior legislative assistant to Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-N.J., from 2001 to 2002, and as an aide to Rep. Bob Riley, R-Ala., in 2000. During the past election season, he was a volunteer for the successful Senate campaign of Richard Burr, R-N.C., and previously served as an advisor on the House campaigns of Ferguson in 2002 and Dick Zimmer, R-N.J., in 2000.

"Brendan brings a wealth of experience and skills to the table, and he knows Capitol Hill inside and out," said Robert A. Rusbuldt, IIABA chief executive officer. "He brings an added dimension to our federal government affairs operations and can only help enhance our presence in the halls of Congress."

Reilly will succeed Justin Roth, who is leaving the IIABA for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies' government affairs office.