Smartly Preparing for & Activating Around Congressional Testimony

STATE OF PLAY

The insurance industry, specifically disaster insurance, has become increasingly unpredictable. As natural disasters occur more frequently, insurance companies have been forced to amend prices or leave high-risk areas altogether. Additionally, news coverage on claims handling – and a fundamental lack of education around how the insurance industry operates – has prompted questions and attacks from both sides of the political aisle.

Consequently, the Homeland Security & Government Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Management invited our client to testify at a hearing examining the insurance industry. Led by Subcommittee Chair Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ranking Member Andy Kim, whose home state had recently been impacted by wildfires and flooding, the hearing threatened to prompt bipartisan scrutiny of our client.

ACTION

Hearing Preparation & Execution. Narrative led the hearing prep process, developing the strategy for testimony and questioning, sharing critical analysis, and ensuring that the client understood the political dynamics and motivations of lawmakers and could tailor answers accordingly. This prep included organizing mock hearings and drafting and editing tactful hearing statements. Narrative also supported the client with media and stakeholder scenario planning before the hearing, delivering plans to ensure the client's claims processing story was told if the hearing went badly. Given that the hearing was split across two panels, one featuring consumer advocates and the second featuring industry, Narrative's war room helped lead real-time testimony and messaging changes in reaction to the first panel's discussion.

Communications Playbook. Narrative immediately activated to identify vulnerabilities and provide the client with a strategic crisis communications playbook covering topics specific to the hearing and political issues that could be raised, including DEI, tariffs, and executive compensation.

Media Monitoring. Narrative produced daily media reports outlining coverage of the client and the broader, state and national, conversation about disaster insurance.

IMPACT

Narrative's real-time testimony diffused potential attacks by Sen. Hawley and other members. Sen. Hawley even thanked our client during the hearing for the commitments made in his testimony. News coverage of the hearing primarily focused on the other industry representatives testifying, with our client's participation receiving minimal commentary.