Speakers include Rep. Jim Himes, SEC Chair Elisse Walter and Political Observer James Thurber

WASHINGTON (April 3, 2013) – State and Canadian securities regulators will convene in Washington, D.C. later this month when the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) hosts its annual Public Policy Conference on April 16 at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.

NASAA President and Arkansas Securities Commissioner Heath Abshure announced that NASAA is honored to have Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) deliver the keynote luncheon address at this year’s conference. Rep. Himes is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and its Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises. Currently serving his third term in Congress, Rep. Himes is Vice Chair of the moderate, pro-growth New Democrat Coalition, and Vice Chair of the coalition’s Financial Services Task Force.

Other featured speakers include SEC Chair Elisse Walter and American University Professor James Thurber, an expert on campaigns and elections, presidential-congressional relations, and author of Obama in Office.

Chaired by Washington Securities Director William Beatty, this year’s conference also features two panel discussions: “Retail Investors and the Markets: Is the Deck Stacked?” and “Cost-Benefit Analysis: Sifting Through Fact and Fiction.”

The first panel brings together policymakers, state and Canadian securities regulators, industry professionals and market experts to examine whether small retail investors can still rely on the securities markets given the growth in high-frequency trading, complex financial products and intricate trading strategies.

Moderated by North Carolina Deputy Securities Administrator David Massey, the panel includes:

• Louise Bennetts, Associate Director of Financial Regulation Studies, CATO Institute;
• John Cronin, Vermont Securities Director;
• Tyler Gellasch, Counsel, Office of Senator Carl Levin;
• Jesse Hill, Director of Regulatory Relations, Edward Jones; and
• Maureen Jensen, Executive Director & Chief Administrative Officer, Ontario Securities Commission.

During the second discussion, a panel of regulatory and industry experts will engage in a balanced examination of the advantages and disadvantages of requiring independent federal agencies to calculate and compare the benefits and costs of regulation.

Moderated by Ohio Securities Commissioner Andrea Seidt, the panel features:

• Mercer Bullard, Associate Professor of Law, University of Mississippi School of Law;
• Vanessa Countryman, Deputy Chief Counsel, Division of Risk, Strategy and Financial Innovation, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and
• Eugene Scalia, Partner, Gibson Dunn.

Registration information is available on the NASAA website here.  On-site registration begins at 11 a.m. and the keynote luncheon follows at 11:30 a.m. The general session begins at 1:30 p.m. and is scheduled to conclude at 5:15 p.m.

For More Information:

Bob Webster | Director of Communications
202-737-0900