Contact:	Clarence Mills (202) 543-1440 c.mills@att.net
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin PR-58 August 10, 2009

ASA Leaders Discuss Key Issues
with U.S. Senate Minority Leader

McConnell Interested in Health Care Package Impact on Repair Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 10, 2009 —Leaders from the Automotive Service Association (ASA) recently met with U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to discuss insurance reform and the repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act. This meeting was part of ASA's Capitol Hill Fly-In July 28-29 for automotive collision repairers.

ASA leaders meet with U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, Senate minority leader, July 29 to discuss insurance reform and the repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act. Pictured left to right: ASA members Randy and Dianne Wiersma of Randy’s Body Shop in Paducah, Ky., and. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Currently in the U.S. House of Representatives there are two bills on these topics supported by ASA. H.R. 1583, co-sponsored by Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., would repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act. H.R. 1880, co-sponsored by Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Ill., and Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., establishes optional federal insurance regulation for insurers. This legislation - for the first time - reaches beyond life insurance lines, as offered in previous congressional proposals, to include property and casualty insurance.

McConnell also discussed current health care proposals in the U.S. Congress and how these would impact the automotive repair industry.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

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