Contract

                                                   Exhibit 99-B.8.44

                                           NINTH AMENDMENT
                                                             TO
                              FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

                                                   WITNESSETH

       WHEREAS, ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company (“ILIAC”) f/k/a Aetna Life
Insurance and Annuity Company (“ALIAC”), Fidelity Distributors Corporation (“the
Underwriter”) and Variable Insurance Products Fund II (the “Fund”) have entered into a
Participation Agreement, dated February 1, 1994, and as amended on December 15, 1994,
February 1, 1995, May 1, 1995, January 1, 1996, March 1, 1996, May 1, 1997, January 20, 1998
and May 1, 1998 (the “Original Agreement”); and 

       WHEREAS, ILIAC, the Underwriter and the Fund desire to include ILIAC’s Variable
Annuity Accounts and Variable Life Accounts.

       WHEREAS, ILIAC, the Underwriter and the Fund desire to include ING USA ANNUITY
AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (“ING USA”) and its Separate Accounts as a party to the
agreement.

       WHEREAS, ILIAC, the Underwriter and the Fund desire to include RELIASTAR LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY (“RLIC”) and its Separate Accounts as a party to the agreement.

       WHEREAS, ILIAC, the Underwriter and the Fund desire to include RELIASTAR LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK (“RLIC of NY”) and its Separate Accounts as a
party to the agreement.

       NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and
promises expressed herein, the parties agree as follows:

1.	Schedule A of the Original Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with Schedule A effective as of August 15, 2007;
2.	The Original Agreement, as supplemented by this Ninth Amendment, is ratified and confirmed; and
3.	This Ninth Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be an original and all of which, taken together, will be deemed one and the same document.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Ninth Amendment as of the
date first above written.

ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company						Variable Insurance Products Fund
By:		/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx				By:		/s/ Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Name:		Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx				Name:		Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title:		Vice President				Title:		Treasurer, SVP
Fidelity Distributors Corporation						ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
By:		/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx				By:		/s/ Xxxxxxx X. X. Xxx
Name:		Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx				Name:		Xxxxxxx X. X. Xxx
Title:		EVP, Institutional				Title:		Vice President
ReliaStar Life Insurance Company
By:		/s/ Xxxxxxx X. X. Xxx
Name:		Xxxxxxx X. X. Xxx
Title:		Vice President
ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York
By:		/s/ Xxxxxxx X. X. Xxx
Name:		Xxxxxxx X. X. Xxx
Title:		Vice President

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                                                                   SCHEDULE A
                                                   (Effective as of August 15, 2007)


ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company and all of its Variable Annuity and Variable Life Accounts


ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company and all of its Separate Accounts


ReliaStar Life Insurance Company and all of its Separate Accounts


ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York and all its Separate Accounts

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