The Bereaved consumers Bill Of Rights Act is coming up for a vote in a Congressional Committee on Wed 7.21.10. This is an Important Congressional Vote for historic cemetery and death care reform.
The Bereaved Consumers Protection Act is in the the legislative process in the US Congress.
Recent Cemetery Scandals could have been prevented if this bill had been in effect. Those are the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal, The Eden Memorial Park Scandal and the recent Scandal at Arlington National Cemetery.
World's Largest Funeral Corporation has had a cemetery Scandal, like Bur Oak
Cemeteries often have little regulation and get away with price gouging. Recently I helped a Friend with a a grave site purchase and because there was no Law I could do nothing about the $4700.00 Price Gouging. This was a corporate ,NYE:SCI, Service Corporation International cemetery, price gouging.
I have issued a Call to Action on the Wed, 7.21.10. possible committee vote.
.
Snppet From YourFuneralGuy.wordpress.com:
Your Funeral Guy asks you to IMMEDIATELY do three things:1.) Phone the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee at 202-225-2927 and 202-225-3641—you need to call BOTH numbers—to express emphatic support of H.R. 3655.
2.) Phone friends and relatives and ask them to IMMEDIATELY call the two phone numbers listed above to express their emphatic SUPPORT to H.R. 3655.
3.) Phone your Congressman and tell him/her to contact the Energy & Commerce Committee to express SUPPORT for H.R. 3655. (Contact info for your Congressman is easily found at www.house.gov at upper left hand corner at “Enter Your Zip Code.”
The National Funeral Directors Association Has done the same Thing in Their Facebook Notes
Snippet From NFDA Facebook Page:
The NFDA HAS CALLED FOLKS TO ACTION ON THEIR FACE BOOK PAGE
The bill was pulled from committee consideration in early May at the request of its primary sponsor, Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., because of his opposition to a proposed amendment that would exempt non-profit religious cemeteries from the bill. Rush was concerned that for-profit cemetery operators could use the exemption to escape the requirements of the rule. While there was bipartisan support for the bill, and it most likely would have passed had the amendment not been introduced, it was pulled so committee staff could draft language that would address concerns about non-profit and religious cemeteries.
Because the Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to discuss this bill very soon, it is vital that you contact your representatives to demonstrate your support for this important legislation.
What is H.R. 3655?
H.R. 3655 would require the FTC to initiate a separate rule covering all sellers of funeral or burial goods or services, including cemeteries, crematories and third-party sellers of funeral or burial goods or services.
Why support H.R. 3655?
Through the Funeral Rule, the federal government regulates a portion, but not all segments, of funeral service. Consequently, consumers are only protected when they deal with funeral homes. H.R. 3655 would set a minimum national standard with which all sellers of funeral or burial goods or services – including non-profit and religious organizations – not covered by the Funeral Rule must comply. It would only apply to those who sell funeral or burial goods or services to the public, not to other businesses.
A lack of minimum national standards and inadequate state regulation has resulted in numerous serious scandals involving cemeteries and crematories. These scandals have caused untold emotional and financial stress and strain for consumers. These scandals have also damaged the reputation of the funeral service profession. A uniform federal rule is the only solution.
If passed, this bill would protect families by requiring cemeteries, crematories and third-party providers to provide minimum disclosures and establish practice requirements and prohibitions comparable to those that funeral homes must comply with under the Funeral Rule.
H.R. 3655 would not impose new fines or penalties. The fines and penalties that would apply to cemeteries, crematories and other third-party sellers under H.R. 3655 are the same ones that apply to funeral homes”
via www.facebook.com
Funeral Industry, Funeral News, Funeral Blog By Your Funeral Guy
The Bereaved Consumers Bill Of Rights Act is Moving Through Congress
One would hope that congressman Joe Barton would keep his Mouth shut at this next hearing as he has seemed to put his foot in his mouth last time the committee met on this, and when he spoke out on the BP Oil spill!
THE ICCFA is against this legislation, the Funeral Consumers Alliance is for it, along with the NFDA.
cycledlife on 
yourfuneralguy on 
on 
on