While we are in the thick of April activity and gearing up for our 40th annual conference (registration and lodging to open soon, and you shall be notified!), I wanted to give some closing thoughts on the important federal advocacy mission we achieved in Washington D.C. last month.
But first, a note on VCIA member value.
Everything we've done and are currently doing in our strategic plan is aimed at enhancing member value, so that organizations feel the quality heft of what we provide and, whether it's exclusive receptions or programming, you feel a material benefit for your captive and business operations.
For those that are currently non VCIA members, we would love you on our team, and I want to point out member-exclusive assets you can enjoy. Whether it's detailed legislative day reports, peer-to-peer think tanks, or the complete library of VCIA content that only members are privy to, VCIA is consistently and creatively working to support your business and bottom line. So, as we near conference registration, contact Director of Membership Angie Armour to talk about what a membership would mean for your organization. You can also check out our member benefits flyer here, our quarterly executive summary here, and if you're ready to jump in, you can submit your membership application here.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.
For the first time since the pandemic, we at the VCIA conducted a successful Capitol Hill visit, professionally guided by Jeff Klein of McIntyre + Lemon. Our delegation of VCIA leaders made a significant impact during meetings with congressional representatives and committee staff. Based on this success and the value it provides to our members, we will establish Hill Day as an annual event and seize the mantle of captive advocacy leadership on behalf of the industry.
Bipartisan Support from Vermont Representatives
We met with Senator Peter Welch, who brings unique perspective as someone previously involved in Vermont's captive industry. Senator Welch actually appears in the historic photograph of Vermont's first captive legislation signing over 40 years ago. His continued interest in our industry and its economic contribution to Vermont remains strong. We're pleased to announce Senator Welch has accepted our invitation to speak at our 40th Annual Conference this August.
Our delegation also briefed Representative Becca Balint, who has consistently demonstrated support for the captive insurance sector. While Senator Bernie Sanders' staff had their first day off since January, we've rescheduled for a virtual meeting next month. In Vermont, support for captive insurance crosses political lines, providing a foundation for productive dialogue.
Expanding Industry Awareness Beyond Vermont
We held productive meetings with staff from Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), Chair of the Senate Banking Committee, and Representative Mike Flood (R-NE), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Insurance. Both offices engaged thoughtfully with our presentations. Senator Scott's staff demonstrated particularly strong knowledge of captives, given South Carolina's established captive domicile.
Building on Our Success
Participants in VCIA's 2025 Hill Day unanimously agreed this should become a sustained initiative, with potential for expansion in coming years. Despite the current polarized political climate, providing commercial enterprises, government entities, and nonprofits with captive insurance options appears to enjoy broad support across the political spectrum.
The VCIA will continue to communicate with members as we advance your legislative priorities in Congress, ensuring the captive insurance industry's voice is clearly heard by policymakers.
