NEW YORK, Jan. 31 -- Color of Change issued the following statement by Executive Director Rashad Robinson following President Trump's announcement of Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill Justice Antonin Scalia's seat on the U.S. Supreme Court:

"Our country needs to put a hiring freeze on Donald Trump's nominations of dangerous people to powerful places. In just twelve days, this illegitimate president and the cabal of corrupt billionaires and white nationalists in his White House and cabinet have launched un-American efforts to ban Muslims, destroy our healthcare system, and chip away at reproductive rights.

"This is just the beginning of a scheme against America to line Trump's pockets and control every part of our lives. It's time to the pull the emergency brake now before Trump totals our democracy.

"Now, with his nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, Trump is taking his plot to the nation's highest court and trying to install a yes-man who will uphold his un-American agenda and block any legal challenges to his radical administration.

"Senate Democrats must heed Senator Jeff Merkley's call to filibuster this nomination and block the appointment of a Supreme Court justice who will undoubtedly enable Trump's plot against America and sell out the American people. We won't forget anyone who greenlights Trump's harmful appointments and policies, ignoring the hundreds of thousands of ordinary Americans who have taken to the streets to fight the most corrupt administration in history."

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WINDSOR, Conn.— The Life Insurers Council announced that Dierdre Woodruff, senior vice president of Puritan Life Insurance Company, will serve as chair of the LIC Advisory Board for 2026.

“Dierdre is taking the chair at a significant time as we look towards new ways to grow membership and anticipating member needs in a rapidly changing marketplace,” said Dean Lambert, LIC executive director. “Her experience as a forward-thinking, transformational leader will help advance the LIC’s mission to help small-to-midsize insurance and financial services companies improve performance through shared excellence.”

Woodruff succeeds Joan Cleveland, president and chief executive officer of SWBC Life, who will continue on the LIC Board as immediate past chair.

Brad Phillips, chief executive officer and chairman of Liberty Bankers Insurance Group, is this year’s LIC vice chair and Rear Adm. Brian E. Luther, USN (Ret.), president and CEO of Navy Mutual Aid Association, is LIC secretary.

New appointments to serve a three-year term on the LIC Board are Christopher Belz, president and CEO of Catholic Life Insurance, and Silvio Rodia, executive vice president and chief risk officer of ELCO Mutual Life and Annuity.

Continuing LIC Board members are:

• Byron Allen, president and CEO, American Savings Life Insurance Company
• Chris Campbell, CEO and chairman of the board, BetterLife
• Joseph Evanish, national president and CEO, Slovene National Benefit Society
• Kayte Fredrickson, president and CEO, Teachers Life
• Fernand LeBlanc, president, preplanning solutions, TruStage
• Moshe Lichtenstein, chief investment officer, Converge US
• Tony Mravle, president and CEO, KSKJ Life
• Steve Shaffer, board chair, president and CEO, Homesteaders Life
• Greg Temple, president and CEO, Catholic Order of Foresters

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About the Life Insurers Council
The Life Insurers Council is a council of LIMRA and LOMA that provides small-to-midsize life insurance company senior management with a personal network of peers sharing practical business solutions for the challenges companies with limited resources face. To learn more, visit www.loma.org/lic.

About LIMRA
Serving the industry since 1916, LIMRA offers industry knowledge, insights, connections, and solutions to help more than 700 member organizations navigate change with confidence. Visit LIMRA at www.limra.com.

About LOMA
Established in 1924, LOMA helps to advance the financial services industry by empowering more than 700 financial services companies to navigate change with confidence. Visit LOMA at www.loma.org.