Senators Nelson, Chambliss Introduce Resolution Supporting Life Insurance Awareness Month
April 28, 2006 –With nearly 70 million Americans lacking the life insurance coverage they need to help ensure the financial security of their loved ones, U.S. Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and introduced Senate Resolution 448 to designate September 2006 as Life Insurance Awareness Month. The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) are major sponsors of this annual, industry-wide initiative to help raise public awareness about the importance of life insurance and to encourage consumers to evaluate their life insurance needs.
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As part of the Life Insurance Awareness Month resolution, the senators
called attention to the need for more Americans to secure the financial
future for their families.
"Life insurance is one of the foundations of financial security. Without it, families' dreams for the future can be lost with the untimely death of a loved one. I fear too many Georgians and too many Americans lack adequate life insurance coverage. I hope the adoption of this resolution will help indeed raise awareness and encourage more families to take the necessary steps toward their family's financial security," said Senator Saxby Chambliss.
"Life insurance provides peace of mind. Everyone is worried about their family's finances and life insurance is a vital component of securing a family's financial future," said David F. Woods, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, the chief executive officer of NAIFA and president of LIFE. "We appreciate the Senators' dedication and bipartisan efforts championing Life Insurance Awareness Month in the Senate. We hope the House of Representatives and the White House will follow the Senators’ lead by considering resolutions and proclamations of their own."
This September will mark the third anniversary of the Life Insurance Awareness Month and its support by many of the nation’s leading political figures. In addition to receiving formal recognition in Congressional resolutions every year, more than half of the nation's governors have officially supported Life Insurance Awareness Month in signed proclamations. President Bush has issued letters of support in which he has recognized the important role the industry plays in providing valuable services that help workers and their families meet their financial needs. NAIFA hopes this year that President Bush will issue a proclamation calling on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, and the people of the United States to observe Life Insurance Awareness Month with appropriate programs and activities.
LIFE, a non-profit organization that serves as the educational arm of the life insurance industry, coordinates the awareness campaign with more than 90 of the nation’s leading life insurance companies and trade associations. LIFE's September plans include a $2.3 million print, TV and radio advertising campaign, with placements in Newsweek and Time magazines, sponsorship of ESPN Radio’s September baseball pennant chase coverage, and TV commercials on the Newborn Baby Channel and Discovery Health Network. Additionally, LIFE will once again contract with a celebrity spokesperson to spearhead consumer media outreach. Last year, actress and author Marilu Henner conducted 30 media interviews that were aired on 344 TV stations and 1,069 radio stations, reaching an estimated audience of 25,000,000.
About LIFE: The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) was founded in 1994 in response to the public's growing need for information and education on life, health, disability and long-term care insurance. LIFE also seeks to remind people of the important role insurance agents and other financial advisors perform in helping families, businesses and individuals find the insurance products that best fit their needs. To learn more about these topics, please visit www.life-line.org.
About NAIFA: Founded in 1890 as the National Association of Life Underwriters, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors comprises 800 state and local associations representing the business interests of 225,000 members and their employees nationwide. Members focus their practices on one or more of the following: life insurance and annuities, health insurance and employee benefits, multiline, and financial advising and investments. NAIFA's mission is to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of its members. NAIFA's website can be accessed at www.naifa.org.