ms. witter, you are recognized. >> thank you for the opportunity to testify before do this morning abouthow we can better serve america's veterans and their families. i am of leslie witter director of political affairs for the national funeral directors association. i am testifying today on behalf of over 19,000 funeral directors and funeral service personnel who are members of nfda. we help make sure each veteran has the care and dignity different because their sacrifice in the defense of the freedoms we enjoy today. while the responsibility of providing appropriate funeral and burial benefits and proper military honors falls on the va and the dod is funeral directors who help the family organized a personalized funeral and burial that celebrates the life of their loved one and honors the service to the country. funeral directors contact the va to schedule funeral and burial times come help family filed benefit claims come ensure each veteran receives appropriate grave markers and works with the dod and the veterans service organizations to provide appropriate military honors. in prepar

ms. witter, you are recognized. >> thank you for the opportunity to testify before do this morning aboutow we can better serve america's veterans and their families. i am of leslie witter director of political affairs for the national funeral directors association. i am testifying today on behalf of over 19,000 funeral directors and funeral service personnel who are members of nfda. we help make sure each veteran has the care and dignity different because their sacrifice in the defense of the freedoms we enjoy today. while the responsibility of providing appropriate funeral and burial benefits and proper military honors falls on the va and the dod is funeral directors who help the family organized a personalized funeral and burial that celebrates the life of their loved one and honors the service to the country. funeral directors contact the va to schedule funeral and burial times come help family filed benefit claims come ensure each veteran receives appropriate grave markers and works with the dod and the veterans service organizations to provide appropriate military honors. in prepara