There are many bills in Congress that impact funeral directors, small businesses and grieving families. The National Funeral Directors Association supports passage of the following bills currently being considered by the House and Senate.
Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025 (S.587/ H.R.1301)
The Death Tax Repeal Act would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes. This legislation – which enjoys support from more than 230 organizations including the National Funeral Directors Association – would permanently repeal the death tax, which imposes an unfair and costly tax on the transfer of property, land and other assets from a deceased family member to heirs of family farms and small businesses, such as funeral homes.
• Senate Sponsor: Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
• Senate Co-sponsors: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), Sen. Cindy HydeSmith (R-MS), Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Sen. Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Sen. James C. Justice (R-WV), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Sen. Thomas Tillis (R-NC), Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Sen. James Risch (R-ID), Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Sen. Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Sen. David McCormick (R-PA), Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN), Sen. John Curtis (R-UT), Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH)
• House Sponsor: Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA-4)
• House Co-sponsors: Rep. Sanford D. Bishop (D-GA-2), Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO-8), Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN-6), Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16), Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC-7), Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN-1), Rep. Charles J. “Chuck” Fleischmann (R-TN-3), Rep. Mark E. Amodei (R-NV-2),Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA-10), Rep. Daniel Meuser (R-PA-9), Rep. Dale W. Strong (R-AL-5), Rep. Ryan K. Zinke (R-MT-1), Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-5), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), Rep. John R. Moolenaar (R-MI-2), Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX-6), Rep. John Joyce (R-PA-13), Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Rep. Andrew S. Clyde (R-GA-9), Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA-10), Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-1), Rep. Randy K. Weber Sr. (R-TX-14), Rep. Robert E. Latta (R-OH-5), Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15), Rep. Blake D. Moore (R-UT-1), Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-2), Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN-8), Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-6), Rep. Elijah Crane (R-AZ-2), Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO-7), Rep. Carol D. Miller (R-WV-1), Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY-17), Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24), Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13), Rep. Brian Babin (RTX-36), Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO-2), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC-1), Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV-2), Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL-3), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO-4), Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC-7), Rep. Michael Cloud (RTX-27), Rep. Richard McCormick (R-GA-7), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-2), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA- 48), Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX-11), Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX-21), Rep. Max L. Miller (R-OH-7), Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA-1), Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE-3), Rep. Derek Schmidt (R-KS-2), Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX-25), Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA-6), Rep. Nicholas A. Langworthy (R-NY-23), Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11), Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS-4), Rep. Mike D. Rogers (R-AL-3), Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT-2),Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL-18), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-5), Rep. John H. Rutherford (R-FL5), Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN-2), Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11), Rep. Addison McDowell (R-NC-6), Rep. Stephanie I. Bice (R-OK-5), Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI-7), Rep. Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-2), Rep. James R. Baird (R-IN-4), Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-3), Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN-8), Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15), Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4), Rep. Keith Self (R-TX-3), Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO-6), Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX-26), Rep. Zachary Nunn (R-IA-3), Rep. David G. Valadao (R-CA-22), Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA-5), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA-41, Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK-1), Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX-4), Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID-1), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC-5), Rep. Gary J. Palmer (R-AL-6), Rep. Mark E. Green (R-TN-7), Rep. Thomas P. Tiffany (R-WI-7), Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-TN-5), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-1), Rep. Michael T. McCaul (R-TX-10), Rep. Mark Alford, (R-MO-4), Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY-2), Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS-3), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA-3), Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO-8), Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-1), Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA-2), Rep. H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA-9), Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR-3), Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS-1), Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC-14), Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA-5), Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC-8), Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH12), Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN-9), Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS-1), Rep. Michael A. Rulli (R-OH-6), Rep. Tony Wied (R-WI-8), Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA-20), Rep. Michael K. Simpson (R-ID-2),Rep. Gregory W. Steube (R-FL-17), Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX-17), Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL-4), Rep. Gregory F. Murphy (R-NC-3), Rep. David Taylor (R-OH-2), Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO-5), Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-SC-3), Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-2), Rep. Robert Bresnahan (R-PA-8), Rep. James Comer (R-KY-1), Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-7), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH-8), Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ-2), Rep. Michael R. Turner (R-OH-10), Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH-15), Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO-3), Rep. Cory Mills (RFL-7), Rep. John W. Rose (R-TN-6), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC-2), Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC-5), Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4), Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX-5), Rep. Marlin A. Stutzman (R-IN-3), Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA-8), Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA-3), Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL-8), Rep. Donald G. Davis (D-NC-1), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14), Rep. Mary E. Miller (R-IL-15), Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL-1), Rep. Rick W. Allen (R-GA-12), Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI-1), Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-4), Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE-1), Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD-1), Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-6), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH-4), Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN-8), Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-26), Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ-9), Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI-5), Rep. J. French Hill (R-AR-2), Rep. John McGuire (R-VA-5), Rep. Jodey C. Arrington (R-TX-19), Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23), Rep. Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL-4), Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22), Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-ND-At Large), Rep. Nicholas Begich (R-AK-At Large), Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-2), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL-19), Rep. Michael Baumgartner (RWA-5), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11], Rep. Eric A. “Rick” Crawford (R-AR-1), Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX-8), Rep. Neal P. Dunn(R-FL-2), Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY-4), Rep. Brian J. Mast (R-FL-21), Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY-5), Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX-31), Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC-9), Rep. David P. Joyce (R-OH-14)
Committees: Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee.
The No IRIS Act, which has the full support of the National Funeral Directors Association, would reduce undue red tape imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). The EPA relies on IRIS assessments when it engages in reviews of chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
The No IRIS Act would protect worker safety, jobs and economic competitiveness by ensuring chemical risk assessments conducted by EPA are driven by the best available science, rather than by political and ideological agendas.
The Problem
• The EPA uses IRIS assessments to identify chemicals that may cause harm to human health or the environment; however, the assessments are plagued with scientific uncertainty, lack of transparency and accountability.
• IRIS assessments have significant regulatory implications and are a threat to American workers and economic competitiveness. They can:
• Lead to unwarranted TSCA risk determinations • Result in new restrictions – or effective bans – of critical chemicals that are vital to American innovation and manufacturing.
• IRIS is not authorized by Congress, can be biased and fails to correct inaccurate assessments.
• During the ongoing TSCA evaluation of formaldehyde, the funeral service profession spoke out about the flawed IRIS assessment based on outdated science. Fortunately, the use of formaldehyde by embalmers in the funeral service profession was excluded from regulations under TSCA. The EPA determined formaldehyde used for preservation of the human body was subject to regulation under a different statute, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
• Funeral service is not out of the woods. Excluding the use of formaldehyde for the purpose of embalming does not provide any protection to manufacturers or shippers of embalming fluid, which may be subject to bans or unachievable standards based on the flawed IRIS assessment. This could lead to a negative impact on cost or availability of formaldehyde-based embalming products (including imports).
• Other bodies, including other parts of EPA or OSHA or state agencies, may use the EPA determinations, which are based on the flawed IRIS assessment, as the basis for regulatory or enforcement actions in funeral service.
• Formaldehyde is vital to the funeral service profession and can impact veterans awaiting burial at Arlington National Cemetery and families who want to view their loved ones before burial.
The Solution
Pass the No IRIS Act, which would prevent the EPA from using IRIS to:
• Develop, finalize or issue a rule or regulation
• Carry out any regulatory, enforcement or permitting action
• Inform air toxics assessment or other mapping or screening tools.
Sponsors: Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI)
Co-Sponsors: Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS), Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA), Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR)
Committee: House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Veteran Funeral and Burial Legislation Supported by the National Funeral Directors Association
The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) has built a strong legacy of advocating as the voice of funeral service and veterans on Capitol Hill through its continuous advocacy and expert guidance. NFDA closely collaborates with key Congressional committees, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and veterans service organizations to ensure that the perspectives of funeral directors – who are dedicated to ensuring every veteran receives a respectful and dignified final tribute – are effectively communicated and represented.
NFDA and its members strongly support the following legislation:
H.R. 1344 - Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy Act
A bipartisan bill to permanently expand VA burial benefits. This legislation will allow the VA to provide memorial headstones or markers for veterans, their spouses and dependent children, regardless of when they passed away, ensuring that military families are properly honored together. By fixing this injustice, we’re ensuring that families can be laid to rest together and memorialized with dignity.
Sponsor: Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)
Co-sponsors: Rep. Daniel Meuser (R-PA), Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Rep. Christopher Deluzio (D-PA), Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA)
S.1116/ H.R.647 - Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025
This pro-veteran legislation will ensure that the families of deceased veterans are not constrained when deciding the manner in which their loved one is laid to rest. Specifically, this legislation allows a veteran’s survivor who initially chose to receive an urn or plaque from the VA to also have their loved one interred at a VA national cemetery at a later date.
Sponsor: Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN), Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN)
Co-sponsor: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-SC)
H.R.1228 - Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act
In 2021, the VA moved the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) from under the Office of the VA Secretary to the Veterans Benefits Administration. The move has prevented the OSA from having direct access to the Secretary to fix policy and program-wide problems. H.R. 1228 would move the OSA back within the Office of the VA Secretary.
Sponsor: Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ)
Co-sponsor: Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) Committee: All of these bills fall under the jurisdiction of the House Veterans Affairs
Committee. S.1116 falls under the jurisdiction of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
For More Information: Lesley Witter, NFDA Senior Vice President, Advocacy, 202-236-4926, lwitter@nfda.org