While it may sound intimidating to meet with a national leader, we’re confident you’ll find the experience to be much more relaxed than you expect. When congressional leaders are elected, they make a commitment to learn from their constituents. Meeting with members of the public plays an important role in helping them determine which legislation to support.

You’ll meet with either the member of Congress directly or a member of their staff. During your meeting you’ll present the talking points we’ve provided, tell them why the legislation is important to you and your firm, and answer any questions they may have. You can expect your meeting to last anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes.

There will likely also be an opportunity for a photo – perfect for sharing on social media!

The Hill visits are the best, meeting with our members of Congress/staff rocks. This is democracy at its very core. It is an honor and a privilege to be part of “Advocacy in Action.”
Peter Morin | Smith Funeral Home

I was very impressed by everything!
Benjamin Eldridge | Eldridge Family Funeral Home

The annual NFDA Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., is your chance to literally have a seat at the table, sitting across from your elected representatives and engaging them in a discussion about how their decisions have a direct impact on your ability to serve families and be successful. It’s your powerful, real-world examples that make your elected officials understand the true impact of the decisions they make.

Yes, NFDA is the only funeral service association that has a full-time lobbyist advocating on behalf of the profession in D.C. However, we need the collective voice of the profession to ensure our success. It is imperative that we reinforce the critical role funeral service plays in our society and that the sustainability of our profession relies on legislation that supports our businesses and the families we serve. When you participate in the 2025 NFDA Advocacy Summit, and tell your story, you’ll be doing exactly that.

The success of the NFDA Advocacy Summit relies on everyone’s voice being heard. We not only want, but need, funeral professionals from all walks of life to participate. Whether you’re from a large firm in a big city or are a third-generation funeral director from a small, family-owned firm, it is critical that your voice is heard.

NFDA provides everything you need to feel confident and educated while meeting with your member of Congress. We’ll provide training about what to expect, talking points and a leave-behind folder about the legislation we are advocating for and the role of funeral service in their states or district.

The state representative coordinates attendees from your state by:

Receive a list of state attendees and connect via email so everyone knows who is attending.
Arrange a meeting spot before Hill visits to foster collaboration.
Serve as a resource for new attendees with questions.
Ensure the group visits the Hill together and sends one, unified thank-you letter.
This role helps your state’s attendees stay organized and make a stronger impact.

While it may sound intimidating to meet with a national leader, we’re confident you’ll find the experience to be much more relaxed than you expect. When congressional leaders are elected, they make a commitment to learn from their constituents. Meeting with members of the public plays an important role in helping them determine which legislation to support.

You’ll meet with either the member of Congress directly or a member of their staff. During your meeting you’ll present the talking points we’ve provided, tell them why the legislation is important to you and your firm, and answer any questions they may have. Your meeting will last approximately 10 minutes.

There will likely also be an opportunity for a photo – perfect for sharing on social media!

As we prepare to reintroduce legislation in the new Congress, our focus remains on key priorities that impact funeral service and the families we serve. This includes legislation, regulations (such as the formaldehyde review), and partnerships addressing veterans’ benefits, small business concerns, and other challenges facing funeral directors and grieving families. We will provide details on the specific issues we’ll advocate for shortly before the Summit.

Current Issues
Veterans Funeral and Burial Benefits
Small Business Issues
Taxes
Workforce Issues
Workplace Health and Safety
Environmental Issues
Mass-fatality and Disaster Planning and Management
Transportation and Shipping
The Funeral Rule