Advocacy is a vital mission of the National Funeral Directors Association.
Few professions touch on so many levels of government involvement- from the FTC Funeral Rule and labor regulations, OSHA and environmental regulations, funeral service is affected by federal policy makers in multiple ways.
It is imperative that NFDA be the effective, unified voice to these policy makers. I believe NFDA’s Advocacy mission extends beyond the halls of government. It also means shaping the public’s view of funeral service through interaction with both traditional media and social media.
NFDA is the vehicle through which funeral service can tell its story. We are the only funeral service organization with a presence in Washington D.C. which allows us to establish and maintain relationships with policy makers. NFDA is able to keep a pulse on any activities that might affect funeral service and the profession.
I have been an active participant in many NFDA Advocacy Summits and I’ve also had the opportunity to serve as a member of the NFDA Advocacy Committee for the last five years. In this committee, I have helped shape legislative initiatives that positively affect our profession including the recently passed BRAVE ACT and the "Body Broker Bill."
I have had the honor to represent my colleagues in funeral service by participating in many NFDA Advocacy Summits over the years and I will continue this in my role as your President-Elect.
Few professions touch on so many levels of government involvement- from the FTC Funeral Rule and labor regulations, OSHA and environmental regulations, funeral service is affected by federal policy makers in multiple ways.
It is imperative that NFDA be the effective, unified voice to these policy makers. I believe NFDA’s Advocacy mission extends beyond the halls of government. It also means shaping the public’s view of funeral service through interaction with both traditional media and social media.
NFDA is the vehicle through which funeral service can tell its story. We are the only funeral service organization with a presence in Washington D.C. which allows us to establish and maintain relationships with policy makers. NFDA is able to keep a pulse on any activities that might affect funeral service and the profession.
I have been an active participant in many NFDA Advocacy Summits and I’ve also had the opportunity to serve as a member of the NFDA Advocacy Committee for the last five years. In this committee, I have helped shape legislative initiatives that positively affect our profession including the recently passed BRAVE ACT and the "Body Broker Bill."
I have had the honor to represent my colleagues in funeral service by participating in many NFDA Advocacy Summits over the years and I will continue this in my role as your President-Elect.
"Dutch brought an energy to his leadership of MFDA that was impressive....I have worked with many State associations and have rarely come a cross some one who took the leadership role as seriously as Dutch.....His vision and energy makes him well suited for the National Board"
Thomas J Hoisington
Former President
Public Affairs Associates
"He also lead the association to successfully advocate for important legislative reforms to prevent pre-need fraud, provide state-sponsored workers compensation coverage for mass fatality responders, and provide for a respectful disposition of unclaimed cremated remains."
Philip K Douma
Executive Director, Michigan Funeral Directors Association
Thomas J Hoisington
Former President
Public Affairs Associates
"He also lead the association to successfully advocate for important legislative reforms to prevent pre-need fraud, provide state-sponsored workers compensation coverage for mass fatality responders, and provide for a respectful disposition of unclaimed cremated remains."
Philip K Douma
Executive Director, Michigan Funeral Directors Association
Bills I have been involved with:
HR 4062, CDRI Act of 2021 or Body Broker Bill
When a family chooses to donate a loved one’s body for education or research, they do so with the hope that they will help others. Regrettably, some families unknowingly choose body brokers that are only concerned with profit and treat decedents like a commodity. A lack of government regulation can sometimes mean that a family’s gift is not used as intended – mistreated, misplaced and handled without dignity. Body brokers are not covered under the same strict laws that cover organ and tissue transplantation.
This is why NFDA is urging Congress to support the Consensual Donation and Research Integrity (CDRI) Act of 2021, which will protect the dignity of donors and give families peace of mind by creating standards for registration, inspection, chain of custody, labeling and packaging, and proper disposition. The CDRI Act will provide long-overdue accountability and transparency to the whole-body donation process and ensure donors’ bodies are treated with dignity and respect at all times. It will give donor families peace of mind, knowing their loved one’s body will be used as it was intended.
This bill has been introduced in the House and we’re hoping the Senate will follow suit soon
HR 7015, BRAVE Act
The Burial Rights for America’s Veterans’ Efforts (BRAVE) Act updates the current burial benefit to treat all non-service-connected deaths equally, regardless of where the veteran passes away. Under the old policy, survivors of certain veterans who die in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility are provided greater funds to cover the cost of a funeral than veterans who die in their home or another medical facility.
Public Act 77, 78, & 79, 2013 Courtesy License
After discussions with other state associations including Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, the Michigan Funeral Directors Association successfully advocated for a limited-reciprocal licensing law with neighboring states-known as a “courtesy license”. This legislation relieves both funeral directors and families of the burden of having funeral homes from two states involved in some cross-border cases.
Public Act 149 of 2009, Unclaimed Cremated Remains
Together with a consortium of veterans organizations, the Michigan Funeral Directors Association addressed the concern of unclaimed cremated remains. The legislation provided a means of ensuring a decent and respectful final disposition of unclaimed cremated remains with special consideration for veterans.
Public Act 57 of 2016, Preneed License/Establishment License Tie In
After the black eye funeral service received in the wake of a series of well-publicized cases of pre-need fraud or embezzlement, MFDA took the initiative by promoting legislation to better ensure that pre-need consumers are protected in the future. After examining each case of fraud or embezzlement, MFDA realized that nearly every perpetrator wasn’t registered to sell pre-need in the first place. Together with legislative leaders, MFDA drafted a proposal to bring these bad actors out of the shadows and into the regulatory daylight—before it becomes a problem. In this way MFDA addressed the problem without engaging in a knee-jerk reaction that could have penalized law abiding funeral homes.
Right of Disposition
Just this year, the Michigan Funeral Directors Association worked with legislative leaders, probate attorneys, judges, and others to update and revise Michigan’s antiquated right-of-disposition law. The principle feature of this measure was the creation of a Funeral Representative to make funeral arrangement and final disposition decisions after the designator’s death. This will result in greater clarity and less burden for both funeral directors and grieving families and will go into effect this summer.
MI-MORT Workers Compensation
After identifying the need for Workers Compensation Coverage for the many professional volunteer members of the new State Mass Fatality Team (MI-MORT). MI-MORT Command Staff and MFDA worked with legislative leaders and department heads to provide a system to not only register and conduct background checks for all volunteers, but also to provide them State Workers Compensation Coverage in cases of injury, while deployed or in training. This legislation not only provided peace of mind for the members of the team, but also resulted in an increase in membership of the team.
HR 4062, CDRI Act of 2021 or Body Broker Bill
When a family chooses to donate a loved one’s body for education or research, they do so with the hope that they will help others. Regrettably, some families unknowingly choose body brokers that are only concerned with profit and treat decedents like a commodity. A lack of government regulation can sometimes mean that a family’s gift is not used as intended – mistreated, misplaced and handled without dignity. Body brokers are not covered under the same strict laws that cover organ and tissue transplantation.
This is why NFDA is urging Congress to support the Consensual Donation and Research Integrity (CDRI) Act of 2021, which will protect the dignity of donors and give families peace of mind by creating standards for registration, inspection, chain of custody, labeling and packaging, and proper disposition. The CDRI Act will provide long-overdue accountability and transparency to the whole-body donation process and ensure donors’ bodies are treated with dignity and respect at all times. It will give donor families peace of mind, knowing their loved one’s body will be used as it was intended.
This bill has been introduced in the House and we’re hoping the Senate will follow suit soon
HR 7015, BRAVE Act
The Burial Rights for America’s Veterans’ Efforts (BRAVE) Act updates the current burial benefit to treat all non-service-connected deaths equally, regardless of where the veteran passes away. Under the old policy, survivors of certain veterans who die in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility are provided greater funds to cover the cost of a funeral than veterans who die in their home or another medical facility.
Public Act 77, 78, & 79, 2013 Courtesy License
After discussions with other state associations including Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, the Michigan Funeral Directors Association successfully advocated for a limited-reciprocal licensing law with neighboring states-known as a “courtesy license”. This legislation relieves both funeral directors and families of the burden of having funeral homes from two states involved in some cross-border cases.
Public Act 149 of 2009, Unclaimed Cremated Remains
Together with a consortium of veterans organizations, the Michigan Funeral Directors Association addressed the concern of unclaimed cremated remains. The legislation provided a means of ensuring a decent and respectful final disposition of unclaimed cremated remains with special consideration for veterans.
Public Act 57 of 2016, Preneed License/Establishment License Tie In
After the black eye funeral service received in the wake of a series of well-publicized cases of pre-need fraud or embezzlement, MFDA took the initiative by promoting legislation to better ensure that pre-need consumers are protected in the future. After examining each case of fraud or embezzlement, MFDA realized that nearly every perpetrator wasn’t registered to sell pre-need in the first place. Together with legislative leaders, MFDA drafted a proposal to bring these bad actors out of the shadows and into the regulatory daylight—before it becomes a problem. In this way MFDA addressed the problem without engaging in a knee-jerk reaction that could have penalized law abiding funeral homes.
Right of Disposition
Just this year, the Michigan Funeral Directors Association worked with legislative leaders, probate attorneys, judges, and others to update and revise Michigan’s antiquated right-of-disposition law. The principle feature of this measure was the creation of a Funeral Representative to make funeral arrangement and final disposition decisions after the designator’s death. This will result in greater clarity and less burden for both funeral directors and grieving families and will go into effect this summer.
MI-MORT Workers Compensation
After identifying the need for Workers Compensation Coverage for the many professional volunteer members of the new State Mass Fatality Team (MI-MORT). MI-MORT Command Staff and MFDA worked with legislative leaders and department heads to provide a system to not only register and conduct background checks for all volunteers, but also to provide them State Workers Compensation Coverage in cases of injury, while deployed or in training. This legislation not only provided peace of mind for the members of the team, but also resulted in an increase in membership of the team.