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Life Insurance Awareness Month is a federally observed event. Read about how and why it got to where it is.
In a letter dated August 18, 2005, President George W. Bush thanked the industry for its efforts to help America´s families achieve financial security: "Life insurance companies provide valuable services that help workers and their families meet their financial needs." The President´s letter followed separate resolutions that were passed by both Houses of Congress recognizing September 2005 as Life Insurance Awareness Month in the US.
In the floor debate prior to passage of House Concurrent Resolution 181, Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL), the primary sponsor of the legislation along with Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA), issued this statement: "Mr. Speaker, life insurance is too often thought of only when it is too late. Over half of adult Americans don't have a life insurance policy, and among those who do have life insurance, the amount is often too small to safeguard the financial futures of their loved ones. Life insurance can provide financial security for every American family that incurs the untimely death of a loved one." The House resolution passed on July 25, 2005 by a vote of 377 to 4.
The US Senate followed suit when it passed Senate Resolution 223 in a unanimous vote on July 28, 2005. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) introduced the resolution. "All of us care about the financial well-being of America´s families, which is why it is critically important that every household make a provision to include enough life insurance to provide for their family just in case those who do are no longer able to," said Senator Chambliss.
Added Senator Nelson, "People need to be aware of the availability of life insurance as one of the choices they make in life to protect their families. I'm very proud and pleased to sponsor legislation that recognizes Life Insurance Awareness Month to encourage people to make sure they have adequate life insurance coverage to secure their families' financial futures."
Senators George Allen (R-VA), Tim Johnson (D-SD), John Thune (R-SD), Susan Collins (R-ME), David Vitter (R-LA), and Mel Martinez (R-FL) were co-sponsors of the resolution.
"It is very gratifying to know that the President and congressional leaders share the industry´s commitment to helping America´s families achieve financial security through proper life insurance planning," said David Woods, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CEO of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and president of the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE), which is coordinating the month-long public awareness campaign. "Having our nation´s leaders speak out on this issue will make consumers more likely to address the difficult, but vitally important question of whether their families would be OK financially if they were to die tomorrow."
At the state level, the governors of 18 states, as well as the mayor of the District of Columbia, have signed proclamations recognizing September as Life Insurance Awareness Month. The states include Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. A majority of the nation´s governors are expected to sign similar proclamations before the campaign ends.
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