United We Stand: NFDA Members Come Together for 2014 Advocacy Summit

Members of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) will make their way to the nation’s capital for the association’s 2014 Advocacy Summit. The event, taking place March 4-6 at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., will give NFDA members an opportunity to meet face-to-face with their Congressional representatives and discuss issues of critical importance to funeral service. By participating in this event, members will take a proactive approach to advancing legislation that protects funeral consumers and benefits the profession and small businesses.

While the heart of the NFDA Advocacy Summit has always been the meetings that funeral directors attend with their elected representatives, attendees will also have an opportunity to hear from expert speakers on a wide range of issues that impact funeral service. Invited speakers include:

·         Krista Drobac, a healthcare policy advisor, will present “Roadmap for the Affordable Care Act for 2014.” Drobac has extensive experience in health policy at all levels of government; she provides strategic advice on state and federal legislative and regulatory issues around Medicaid, Medicare, delivery system reform, the Affordable Care Act, public health and more.

·         Political commentator David Wasserman will present “Elections 2014 … What to Expect and Why.” Wasserman is the House editor for the Cook Political Report. He has lent his expertise to NBC, ABC, C-SPAN, CNN and NPR; his commentary has been cited in print publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and more.

·         Margaret Ramsey, a citizens services specialist with the State Department, will present “Repatriating Remains of U.S. Citizens Who Die Abroad: Policies and Process.” Ramsey helps provide consular assistance and protection to citizens traveling and residing abroad, which includes aiding families of individuals who have died outside of the United States.

·         Rep. Steve Southerland (R-FL) is a funeral director and NFDA member who has served in Congress since January 2011. Southerland will discuss congressional issues that are impacting funeral service and small businesses. Southerland currently serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, both of which work toward protecting jobs, promoting economic development and preserving treasured resources.

The issues that funeral directors will discuss with their members of Congress are under development. Information about these issues will be posted on the NFDA website, www.nfda.org/advocacysummit, as soon as it is available.

The registration fee for the 2014 Advocacy Summit is $95 for members of NFDA, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR), KAVOD – Independent Jewish Funeral Chapels, National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association (NFD&MA) and Selected Independent Funeral Homes (SIFH). The registration fee for nonmembers is $160. Spouses/guests may register for $45. Funeral professionals should visit www.nfda.org/advocacysummit or call 800-228-6332 for more event information about the Advocacy Summit and to register.

Attendees who plan to stay at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel must make their reservations by February 7 to lock in the special Advocacy Summit rate of $259 per night, plus tax. Hotel reservations can be made by visiting www.nfda.org/advocacysummit and clicking on the “Hotel/Travel” link or by calling the Renaissance Hotels at 800-228-7697 and mentioning the “NFDA Advocacy Summit.”

NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving 19,700 individual members who represent more than 10,000 funeral homes in the United States and 39 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.nfda.org.