It’s time for NFDA members to make their way to our nation’s capital for the 2018 Advocacy Summit, which will take place April 25-27. With the ever-evolving priorities in Washington, D.C., NFDA needs your help to ensure funeral service issues stay top-of-mind with members of Congress.

Congress on a two year cycle; therefore, while we are in Washington, D.C., this year, we will be building on the tremendous progress we made during last year’s Advocacy Summit. We are in the home stretch with the Burial Rights for America's Veterans' Efforts Act of 2017 (BRAVE Act) and the Labeling and Transporting Tissues Safely Act of 2017 (LATTS Act). With your help, we can see these bills passed before we elect a new Congress during the 2018 mid-term elections!

Introduced by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) in the House and Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) in the Senate, the BRAVE Act (H.R. 1212/S. 1596) would increase funeral and burial benefits for certain veterans. There is tremendous support for this bill in the House and NFDA is diligently working to assemble co-sponsors in the Senate. Your stories of serving our nation’s heroes can help us see this bill finally get passed.

The LATTS Act (H.R. 2022) was introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and would expand and enhance critical public health safety measures with respect to the labeling and transportation of human tissue specimens in interstate commerce. With recent news reports of rogue body parts brokers, passing the LATTS Act is of critical importance.

The Advocacy Summit will begin the evening of Wednesday, April 25 with an executive overview of the Summit, helpful for first-timers and veteran attendees alike, followed by a Welcome Reception at the beautiful President Woodrow Wilson House. At the Welcome Reception, you’ll have a chance to network with fellow attendees, become inspired by this slice of true American history and prepare to make some of your own in the coming days as you meet with your members of Congress.

On Thursday, April 26, you’ll start the day with an informative keynote address, Federal Efforts & Legislation to Address the Opioid Epidemic, by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY). The funeral service profession has been rocked by America's opioid overdose crisis. Guthrie will discuss the federal government's efforts to alleviate the catastrophic effects of this widespread issue.

Following Guthrie’s talk, you and your fellow attendees will gather on the steps of the Capitol Building for a group photo. Then the real work of the Advocacy Summit begins. Delegations from states in attendance will meet with their senators and representatives. During these critical meetings, you can take a proactive approach to advancing the BRAVE Act and the LATTS Act.

While you’re busy advocating on Capitol Hill, you can visit the special NFDA Welcome Room in the Capitol Hill Club. There, you can take a break, enjoy light refreshments, and meet with NFDA staff to ask questions and share information about what has transpired during your meetings.

The evening of April 26, you are invited to attend a special fundraising event for the NFDA Political Action Committee (PAC) featuring special guest, Reince Priebus, White House Chief of Staff (2017) and Chairman of the Republican National Committee (2011-2017). Priebus will share his broad perspective of the state of affairs in Washington, D.C. and offer insight into how understanding the past can help shape the future. Tickets are required for this exclusive event.

On Friday, April 27, following a keynote address by a D.C. insider, you can choose to participate in a trip to Arlington National Cemetery. New this year, during the trip to Arlington, we will lay a wreath at the 9/11 Memorial and make a special visit to the United States Marine Corp War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial).

For the first-time ever, Advocacy Summit attendees can kick off their experience in Washington, D.C., by participating in the NFDA Arranger Training program on April 25. Lacy Robinson, CFSP, NFDA director of member development, will help you learn how to make the most of arrangement conferences through a creative, five-step process you will only discover during the NFDA Arranger Training workshop.

This high-energy, interactive program provides you with the tools you need to convey the value of the funeral to families and partner with them to design memorable life tribute events. Through a combination of small- and large-group discussions, problem-solving and creative collaboration, you’ll leave with fresh approaches and new ideas to transform your arrangement conferences. You can save $100 on your Arranger Training registration when you register for the Advocacy Summit.

Save up to $50 when you register for the Advocacy Summit on or before March 28.

The historic Mayflower Hotel will again serve as the headquarters for the 2018 NFDA Advocacy Summit. If you plan to stay at the Mayflower Hotel, you must make your reservation by March 28 to lock in the exclusive Advocacy Summit rate of $296 per night, plus tax.

Visit www.nfda.org/advocacysummit or call 800-228-6332 for the latest information about the Advocacy Summit, including details on how to register and make hotel reservations.