City Room™ - News In Brief - Rush to Introduce Law in Response to Burr Oak Cemetery

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Rush to Introduce Law in Response to Burr Oak Cemetery
Produced by Tony Arnold on Monday, September 21, 2009

Congressman Bobby Rush (AP/File)

U.S. Congressman Bobby Rush today intends to weigh in on the Burr Oak Cemetery scandal.

Rush is expected to announce new legislation he's calling the "Bereaved Consumers Protection Act." It's in direct response to the events that unfolded earlier this summer, when law enforcement officials charged four Burr Oak employees for moving buried bodies in order to re-sell the burial plots.

Congressman Rush, whose district includes Burr Oak Cemetery in south suburban Alsip, chairs the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection. In a written statement, Rush says his act would bring more regulations to the cemetery industry across the country. He says it would help prevent another Burr Oak from occurring.

Last week, state panel investigating the matter also called on more government oversight of the cemetery industry. The four Burr Oak employees have pleaded not guilty.

R.Brian Burkhardtt, Chicago western Superbs // Monday, September 21, 2009 @ 11:55 AM

This legislation will do a good job protecting cemetery consumers and provide more safeguards for the Funeral consumer.