People's Memorial advocates for consumer protection and choice for funeral and related end of life issues. Founded in Washington, our reach has been national.
Learn more about our current advocacy priorities here.
Advocacy Wins
- PMA Communications Manager Beverly Tryk spoke at an FTC panel about modernizing the 1984 Funeral Rule. We are still awaiting announcement of changes from the FTC (2023).
- PMA and a team of death care providers worked together to pass SB 5001 Concerning Human Remains. This bill legalizes two additional disposition options, alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction (2019).
- PMA worked side-by-side with the funeral industry to bring about passage of RCW 68.50.160, Designated Agent legislation, which helps consumers control who makes decisions about their care (2011).
- Won the right for Washington's religious and cultural minorities to have up to 24 hours to perform religious or cultural rituals with an unembalmed, unrefrigerated body (2007).
- Protected the rights of Washington families to care for their own dead (2005).
- PMA played a key role in changing Washington law to place the funeral industry under the state’s Consumer Protection Act (2002) and helped pass another law legalizing the scattering of ashes of the deceased by their loved ones.
- The FCA and PMA were instrumental in getting the Federal Trade Commission to adopt a set of standards for transparency in funeral home pricing called the Funeral Rule (1984). The Funeral Rule standards were revolutionary in codifying the rights of consumers and empowering them to get the deathcare that meets the unique needs of their family.
PMA is supported by Members
Over 80% of our nonprofit's revenue comes from individual donors and people signing up for PMA Membership, meaning we are not beholden to funeral industry interests. We represent the voices of the over 220,000 Washingtonians who have trusted PMA since 1939.
You can help our mission to keep end-of-life services accessible and affordable by donating today or signing up as a PMA Member to kickstart your end-of-life planning and unlock our negotiated 15% discount at partner funeral service providers.
