Amazon and other retailers launch program allowing SNAP beneficiaries to order food online

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Shaunice Wall is NCL’s Linda Golodner Food Safety and Nutrition Fellow

On April 18, 2018, Amazon and other retailers launched a two-year test (pilot) program to boost food access to some of New York’s 2.7 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. Beneficiaries will be able to use their SNAP benefits to order groceries online and have them delivered directly to their door.

photo of supermarket produce“SNAP is one of the most efficient and important public benefit programs,” said Shaunice Wall, NCL’s Linda Golodner Food Safety and Nutrition Fellow. “SNAP helps reduce food insecurity and improves the nutrition of millions, especially among the most vulnerable Americans. For many Americans living in food deserts, online food retailers are sometimes the only way to stock refrigerators,” NCL supports this collaboration between USDA and Amazon.

“People who receive SNAP benefits should have the opportunity to shop for food the same way more and more Americans shop for food–by ordering and paying for groceries online,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “As technology advances, it is important for SNAP to advance too, so we can ensure the same shopping options are available for both non-SNAP and SNAP recipients.”

Stats on the rise of e-commerce sales in America in 2017

The pilot will test both online ordering and payment. It will also work to ensure that orders are processed safely and securely, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). SNAP participants will be able to use their benefits to purchase eligible food items, but not pay for service or delivery charges. 

The program will also add a new SNAP redemption option, with broad selection, low prices, and the convenience of home delivery without requiring a membership fee. As Amazon expands participating areas throughout the life of the pilot, they believe the program will dramatically increase access to food for customers living in rural and remote locations.

The USDA defines food deserts as communities where one-third of the population lives at least one mile away from a supermarket in an urban area and 10 miles away in a rural area. For SNAP beneficiaries, it is often the simplest – or sometimes the only – option to use their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card at convenience stores or gas stations, which often have only a sparse supply of produce and fresh protein.

The pilot will start with SNAP households with EBT cards issued by New York. Online retailers will only be able to deliver in New York. The plan is for the pilot to eventually expand to other areas of New York as well as Alabama, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington. Lessons learned will then allow expansion of online purchasing in SNAP.

“The ultimate goal of this pilot is to pave the way for a national rollout once the USDA identifies the best path to large-scale implementation,” says Amazon. NCL recognizes that the advancement of SNAP takes on a larger significance because of the argument by conservatives that the program “costs too much, has grown too quickly, encourages government dependency and discourages work.” NCL supports SNAP and this exciting online system, if it works, well, will address the dearth of healthy food options for millions of Americans in food desserts or who cannot, for lack of transportation, health or disability reasons, get to a supermarket and choose from healthier options.

For more information, please visit the SNAP Online Purchasing pilot webpage.

NCL statement on Oregon drug importation legislation

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April 26, 2019

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org, (412) 945-3242 or Taun Sterling, tauns@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC—As the nation’s pioneer consumer organization, the National Consumers League (NCL) strongly supports consumer access to safe, effective, and affordable prescription drugs. However, NCL is concerned that three pending bills in Oregon (Senate Bill 409, House Bill 2680, and House Bill 2689), which would allow for the importation of prescription drugs from Canada, would make the public vulnerable to counterfeit and/or substandard drugs, thus putting patient health and safety at risk.  

Counterfeit medications made with deadly ingredients have been found in more than 40 states across America, posing a significant public health threat. There is no way to ensure that drugs purporting to come from Canada actually come from Canada. An FDA evaluation of non-FDA-approved imported drugs revealed that “while nearly half of imported drugs claimed to be Canadian or from Canadian pharmacies, 85 percent of such drugs were actually from different countries.” Allowing importation will only serve to exacerbate the challenge of preventing counterfeit drugs from reaching American patients. 

Every head of Health and Human Services and the FDA for the last 18 years has refused to certify the safety of drug importation. Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb explained that online pharmacies advertising the sale of Canadian-approved medicine most likely source medication from other countries, which may be “expired, mislabeled, subject to recalls, or potentially counterfeit.” NCL fears that authorizing importation would expose consumers to unknown risks and undermine the security of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain. 

Rather than considering misguided importation proposals, NCL encourages the Oregon legislature to pursue other strategies to ensure the affordability and accessibility of safe and effective prescription drugs.   

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL statement on drug importation legislation

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April 22, 2019

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org, (412) 945-3242 or Taun Sterling, tauns@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC—As the nation’s pioneer consumer organization, the National Consumers League (NCL) strongly supports consumer access to safe, effective, and affordable prescription drugs. However, NCL is concerned that the new Florida legislation currently being contemplated, House Bill 19, which would allow for imported prescription drugs from Canada to be sold in Florida, would make the public vulnerable to counterfeit and/or substandard drugs, putting patient health and safety at risk.

Counterfeit medications made with deadly ingredients have been found in more than 40 states across America, posing a significant public health threat. There is no way to ensure that drugs purporting to come from Canada actually come from Canada. An FDA evaluation of non-FDA-approved imported drugs revealed that “while nearly half of imported drugs claimed to be Canadian or from Canadian pharmacies, 85% of such drugs were actually from different countries.” Allowing importation will only serve to exacerbate the challenge of preventing counterfeit drugs from reaching American patients.

Every head of Health and Human Services and the FDA for the last 18 years has refused to certify the safety of drug importation. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb recently expressed his concerns regarding the bill, warning that just because an importer claims “a drug is from a physical Canadian pharmacy, too often that’s false advertising.” NCL fears that authorizing importation would expose consumers to unknown risks and undermine the security of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain.

Rather than considering misguided importation proposals, NCL encourages the Florida legislature to pursue other strategies to ensure the affordability and accessibility of safe and effective prescription drugs.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Multi-agency initiative invites public and private partners to collaborate on strategy to reduce food waste

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Shaunice Wall is NCL’s Linda Golodner Food Safety and Nutrition Fellow

An estimated 40 percent of food goes uneaten in the United States. Between 2007 and 2014, American consumers wasted nearly 150,000 tons of food per day. Yet, 40 million Americans struggle with hunger, including 12 million children.

The massive amount of food waste has far-reaching consequences on food security, the economy, and our environment. On April 9, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted an event NCL attended for its Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative, a multi-agency effort created to tackle the burgeoning problem of food loss and waste through combined and agency-specific action.

Led by the EPA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the purpose of the initiative is to work with communities, organizations, and businesses along with state, tribal, and local governments to reduce food loss and waste by 50 percent over the next 15 years.

In attendance were state, local, and community leaders and other stakeholders to discuss how all levels of government can work together to reduce food waste. A strategy that includes six key action areas–such as improving consumer education and food labeling–was introduced.

“We need to feed our hungry world, and by reducing food waste, we can more wisely use the resources we have,” said Secretary Sonny Perdue of the USDA.

A panel titled “Lessons Learned from States, Cities and Organizations in Reducing Food Waste” discussed various efforts to combat food waste. One effort mentioned was a recycling assistance program in Massachusetts called RecyclingWorks. The program was designed to help businesses and institutions maximize recycling, reuse, and composting opportunities. Another successful program that was discussed was the Save the Food Campaign, a program developed by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Ad Council to encourage Americans to make simple lifestyle changes like creating shopping lists, freezing food, and using leftovers to reduce waste in their own homes.

Mr. Trump recently designated the month of April as Winning on Reducing Food Waste Month and is encouraging participation from all sectors.

The actions of the USDA, EPA, and FDA will include research, community investments, education and outreach, voluntary programs, public-private partnerships, tool development, technical assistance, event participation, and policy discussion. These three agencies invite public and private partners to participate in Winning on Reducing Food Waste Month through the following:

  • Join the conversation: Share your efforts with the #NoWastedFood hashtag in your social media posts throughout the month.
  • Educate your community: Learn about USDA, EPA, and FDA programs and resources to reduce food loss and waste.
  • Be a U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champion: Join other corporate and business leaders who have made a public commitment to reducing food loss and waste in their U.S. operations by 50 percent by the year 2030.

The National Consumers League (NCL) has been a longstanding advocate for reducing food waste. Most notably, NCL has produced a and collaborated with like-minded organizations to conduct research on household food waste.

NCL believes that the strategies undertaken by the three agencies will be a critical measure to combatting food waste and we look forward to continuing our work to achieve the goal of reducing food waste by 50 percent by 2030.

For more information on the Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative, visit the following webpages:
epa.gov/reducefoodwaste
usda.gov/foodlossandwaste
fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm628706

The troubling rise of maternal deaths in America

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Nissa Shaffi

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 700 women die annually from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 45 percent of maternal deaths occur approximately six weeks postpartum, and nearly 60 percent of all maternal deaths are preventable. These deaths have doubled in the past 20 years, which prompted the passage of the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act (H.R. 1318) in December 2018.

Prior to the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, we lacked data necessary to help providers mitigate the risk of maternal deaths. This critical law aims to increase transparency regarding maternal death rates in states and will provide federal grants to investigate the deaths of women who died within a year of being pregnant.  

Medically unnecessary C-sections

One of the factors responsible for the rising rate of maternal deaths is complications resulting from unnecessary cesarean sections (C-sections). Since the 1970s, there has been a 500 percent increase in the utilization of C-sections, making it the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the U.S.

C-sections are an important and effective life-saving measure for mothers and infants, but only when there is an explicit medical need. When performed without established need, they can increase patients’ risk for life-threatening adverse events. Dr. Neel Shah, Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, states that unnecessary C-sections may be responsible for up to 20,000 major surgical complications a year, some of which include:

  • increased risk of infections;
  • increased risk of sepsis resulting from infections;
  • excessive postpartum bleeding;
  • blood clots;
  • complications with future births;
  • and maternal death.

A 2017 Consumer Reports investigation discovered that C-section rates for low-risk deliveries vary dramatically from hospital to hospital, ranging from 7 percent to 70 percent across America. Factors from hospital location, convenience, or reimbursement rates are all responsible for the rise in medically unnecessary C-sections. Dr. Shah believes these factors have created a culture that places less value on maternal and child health, and instead prioritizes the hospital and providers where the delivery occurs.

Medically unnecessary C-sections have become a matter of contention among health professionals across the country, as well as a critical blind spot for patients. While patients can take measures to avoid unnecessary C-sections, many simply do not have the option to make changes in their birth plan.

Black maternal death is more than just a statistic

The most sobering reality of the maternal death crisis is that black women are 243 percent more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes than women from any other racial or socioeconomic category.

In California, black women undergo C-sections at five percentage points higher than any other racial or ethnic group. In addition to higher C-section rates, black women often fall victim to bias when receiving medical care, where their symptoms are often treated less seriously and with less urgency.

In the case of Kira Johnson, racial bias and negligent postpartum care are believed to have played a critical role in her tragic death. After a routine C-section at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Johnson experienced severe internal bleeding for over 10 hours before receiving medical attention. Since Johnson’s passing, her husband Charles has advocated on Capitol Hill urging Congress to address the maternal healthcare crisis.

From 2014 to 2016, the District of Columbia had the highest maternal mortality rate in the country–and 75 percent were black women. These staggering figures prompted healthcare providers in the city to create the Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC). Before the MMRC, there was no data available explaining how these women died or the symptoms they presented that could have alerted physicians to their compromised state. The MMRC will work with multiple stakeholders in the city to establish transparency for maternal mortality trends and create interdisciplinary solutions to foster change and accountability.

The call for increased data collection and dissemination

In the United States, maternal death statistics are currently collected by states independently, but in most countries, the federal government assumes that role. The Preventing Maternal Deaths Act will provide the U.S. with data on practices that contribute to maternal deaths throughout the country.

The National Consumers League applauds Congress’ continued efforts to help mitigate the troubling increase in maternal mortality across the country.

NCL statement on Del Monte – National Consumers League

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April 17, 2019

Contact: Carol McKay, National Consumers League, carolm@nclnet.org, (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC–The National Consumers League (“NCL”) and Del Monte Foods Inc. (“Del Monte”) look forward to working together to further the important goals of supporting consumers, addressing hunger and food insecurity, and maximizing nutrition awareness.  Both NCL and Del Monte value giving back to their communities.  As NCL and Del Monte forge a consumer-focused alliance for the future, Del Monte has agreed to continue its commitment to consumers and nutrition awareness by providing an in-kind donation to certain local food banks and other organizations as a supplement to its regular donations.  These organizations provide crucial assistance to residents of the D.C. metropolitan area especially in times of need.  NCL thanks Del Monte for working with our organization and its support of NCL’s mission.

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About the National Consumers League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Rhode Island takes 2019 National LifeSmarts Championship at 25th anniversary event in Orlando

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April 16, 2019

Contact: National Consumers League, Carol McKay, (724) 799-5392, carolm@nclnet.org

Orlando, FL—The student team from Barrington, RI, coached by Sam Schachter, unseated the returning champs from Dallas, PA, to be crowned the 2019 national champions in Orlando at the 25th annual National LifeSmarts Championship. In an exciting match against the three-time champion team from Dallas High School, the teens from Barrington High School outplayed their opponents in an exciting end to the four-day competition.

Barrington High School’s team roster includes Captain Daniel Sheinberg and his teammates Jonathan Zhang, Annika Kelly, CJ Hilty, and Willis Bilderback. Dallas High School students won the national title in 2016, 2017, and 2018 National Championships. 

Teams from Illinois and Wyoming placed third.

“We are so proud of these students from Rhode Island, who represented their state program with class and pride to take the championship,” said LifeSmarts Program Director Lisa Hertzberg. “They played hard and demonstrated their consumer smarts throughout the four-day event. They are true LifeSmarts champions.”

LifeSmarts is an education and scholarship program run by the Washington, DC-based National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization. It competitively tests high school students’ knowledge of consumer awareness, with subjects including personal finance, health and safety, consumer rights and responsibility, technology, and the environment. LifeSmarts is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in partnership programs with student leadership programs FBLA, 4H, and FCCLA.

Teens from each of the 39 champion teams represented at nationals competed as individuals, and the top five scorers received scholarships from NCL. This year’s winners were:

  • Environment: Jayson Guo, Hawaii
  • Personal Finance: Daniel Sheinberg, Rhode Island
  • Health and Safety: Annika Kelly, Rhode Island
  • Consumer Rights and Responsibilities: Willis Bilderback, Rhode Island
  • Technology: Clement Hilty, Rhode Island

James Alwin from Oconto High School in Wisconsin and Annette Peterson from Blair Oaks High School in Missouri were named the 2019 Students of the Year. Roslyn Evans (Alabama) and Shawn Joyce (NH) were named LifeSmarts Coaches of the Year. Long-time State Coordinator Will Rance, from Washington, earned the Coordinator of the Year honor.

“NCL’s LifeSmarts program is allowing us to rear a generation of consumer-savvy teenagers who often outsmart their parents on issues related to avoiding fraud, credit and debt, and complicated healthcare decisions,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. In the 25 years that LifeSmarts has been educating high school and middle school teens on consumer issues, it has grown dramatically, with more than 3 million consumer questions answered at LifeSmarts.org in the online competition during the 2018-2019 program year.

At the event in Orlando, NCL also announced winners of several other scholarships and contests. Annika Kelly won first place in a privacy-related essay contest sponsored by LifeSmarts and the Identity Theft Resource Center. Runners-up included: Clement Hilty (RI), Matthew Loynes (NC), Austin Dial (TX), Brady Tappel (MO), and Alex Hey (IL).

NCL also announced the winners of the Safety Smart Ambassador scholarships, given to students who participated in the health and safety-related youth mentoring program sponsored by LifeSmarts and UL. Winners included: Luke Maycumber (AZ), Austin Dial (TX), Alexis McBride (FL), Emmy Dehner (IN), and Hannah Wolfe (PA).

The Sarah Weinberg Memorial Scholarship, given to students who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to community service, was awarded this year to Everett Charles from Kentucky.

For team photos, event schedules, grid standings, and more, log on to www.facebook.com/LifeSmarts

All winners at the national LifeSmarts Competition received valuable prizes donated by sponsors to the National Consumers League, including scholarships, savings bonds, gift cards, and more. To learn more about the program, contact NCL’s Lisa Hertzberg at (202) 835-3323.

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About LifeSmarts and the National Consumers League

LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. State coordinators run the programs on a volunteer basis. For more information, visit: www.lifesmarts.org, email lifesmarts@nclnet.org or call the National Consumers League’s communications department at (202) 835-3323.

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

 

 

Final Four determined at annual national consumer literacy championship in Orlando

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April 15, 2019

Dallas, PA, West Chicago, IL, Barrington, RI, Buffalo, WY, represented at final LifeSmarts event

Contact: National Consumers League’s Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org, (724) 799-5392
For immediate release: Monday, April 15, 2019

Orlando, FL–Tomorrow in Orlando, the 2019 National LifeSmarts Championship will come to an end with four state champion teams heading to the final matches to vie for the national title. LifeSmarts (LifeSmarts.org) is a national consumer literacy educational program and competitive scholarship opportunity, run by the National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s oldest consumer watchdog organization. LifeSmarts is celebrating its 25th anniversary season this year, and the 2019 National LifeSmarts Champions will be determined by noon tomorrow and crowned at an awards ceremony following the final match.

The four semi-finalists are:

Pennsylvania: Dallas High School, Coach Kevin West (returning 2018 national champions)
Illinois: West Chicago High School, Coach Don Zabelin
Rhode Island: Barrington High School, Coach Sam Schachter
Wyoming: Buffalo High School, Coach Kami Kennedy 

NCL hosts the National Championship each April during Financial Literacy Month. This year, NCL brought the LifeSmarts National Championship to Orlando, where 39 champion teams from as far away as Honolulu and as nearby as Jacksonville traveled to compete in a variety of competitions focused on consumer literacy.

The event will come to an end tomorrow with NCL crowning the 2019 national champion team at 12 noon EDT. Starting at 9 am EDT, the returning champs from Pennsylvania will face off against Illinois in the first match of the morning. Rhode Island and Wyoming will compete in the second semi-final. 

LifeSmarts is a free program in which teams of students begin competition online. Top-scorers progress to their state competitions, and state champion teams convene each April to compete in the National LifeSmarts Championship. For a complete list of state champions, visit LifeSmarts.org.

The 2019 National LifeSmarts Champion and other winning teams will walk away with prizes and scholarships. In addition to placing as a team, individual students have the opportunity to compete for scholarships for demonstrating knowledge in specific program topic areas. The top eight placing teams and top five individuals are recognized.

NCL thanks the sponsors who make the program possible, including Comcast NBCUniversal, UL, Western Union, and Intuit.

Throughout the 2018-2019 program year, more than 100,000 teens competed online for a chance to represent their states at the 2019 National LifeSmarts Championship. Players answered more than 3 million consumer questions in the online competition.

Streaming live online from Orlando tomorrow, Tuesday, April 16.

Watch this year’s final and semi-final matches live at LifeSmarts.org!

9 am EDT – Pennsylvania vs. Illinois
9:45 am EDT – Rhode Island vs. Wyoming

The final match will begin immediately following the second semi-final match.

Follow the conversation on Instagram and Twitter at #LifeSmarts or Facebook.com/LifeSmarts

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About the National Consumers League and LifeSmarts

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. State coordinators run the programs on a volunteer basis. For more information, visit: LifeSmarts.org, email lifesmarts@nclnet.org, or call the National Consumers League’s communications department at 202-835-3323.

 

Orlando to host 2019 National LifeSmarts Championship event April 13-16

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April 12, 2019

25th annual national teen consumer literacy competition will feature 40 champion teams from across the country

For immediate release: April 12, 2019
Contact: Carol McKay, National Consumers League, carolm@nclnet.org, (724) 799-5392

Washington, DC — In celebration of Financial Literacy Month in April, the National Consumers League (NCL) has announced the 40 champion teams that have earned a spot at the 2019 National LifeSmarts Championship, which will take place starting tomorrow in Orlando, Florida. The event will kick off Saturday, April 13, at the B Resort and Spa in the Disney Springs Resort Area.

LifeSmarts (LifeSmarts.org), a national consumer literacy scholarship competition, is celebrating its 25th anniversary season this year and is hosted by NCL, the nation’s oldest consumer watchdog organization. The 2019 National LifeSmarts Champion team will be crowned on Tuesday, April 16.

Complete roster of state champions teams listed below.

LifeSmarts is a competitive educational and scholarship program, in which teams of students begin online. Top-scorers progress to their state competitions, and then state champion teams meet each April to compete in the National LifeSmarts Championship. This year’s state champion teams hail from as far away as from Honolulu, Hawaii, and from as nearby as Jacksonville.

Consumer-savvy teens representing 31 states, the District of Columbia, and eight wild card teams, will compete at this year’s national event. Throughout the 2018-2019 program year, more than 100,000 teens competed online for a chance to represent their states at the 2019 National LifeSmarts Championship. Players answered more than 3 million consumer questions in the online competition.

“We are so proud of this year’s state LifeSmarts champions, who have proven themselves to be the best and the brightest of the next generation of consumers,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL executive director. “For 25 years, LifeSmarts has been engaging and educating young consumers in a fun format and with a competitive approach. Our program goes in-depth on the issues kids—and adults—are facing now: finances, health care, the environment, and technology.”

The 2019 National LifeSmarts Champion and other winning teams will walk away with prizes and scholarships. In addition to placing as a team, individual students have the opportunity to compete for scholarships by demonstrating knowledge in specific program topic areas. The top eight placing teams and top five individuals are recognized, as well as the recipients of specialized scholarships related to community service.

NCL thanks the sponsors who make the program possible including Comcast NBCUniversal, UL, Western Union, and Intuit.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Event kickoff + competition and weekend activities
When: Saturday, April 13, 2018 at 4:45 pm through Monday, April 16
Where: The B Resort and Spa, 1905 Hotel Plaza Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Final competitions

When: Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Matches begin: 9 am Eastern 
Awards Ceremony: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Eastern
Where: The B Resort and Spa, 1905 Hotel Plaza Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Follow the competition online

Parents and teachers can follow the action at Facebook.com/LifeSmarts and via Twitter: #LifeSmarts
The semi-final and final competition matches will be streamed live at LifeSmarts.org onTuesday, April 16, 2019 starting at 9 am Eastern.

2019 LifeSmarts State Champions

AL-Central High School Tuscaloosa – Coach Roslyn Evans
AZ-Flagstaff Home Educators – Coach Christina Blanchard
CA-Abraham Lincoln High School – Coach Wendy Estrada
CO-Vista Ridge High School – Coach Sahvanna Mease
CT-Crosby High School – Coach Kelly Donohue
DC-McKinley Technology High School – Coach Sarah Elwell
DE-Salesianum School – Coach Maribeth Jaeske
FL-Duval County 4-H – Coach Meri Read
GA-Bartow County 4-H – Coach Kim Payne
HI-‘Iolani School – Coach James Rubasch
IL-West Chicago High School – Coach Don Zabelin
IN-Franklin County High School – Coach Diane Slaven
KS-Haven High School – Coach Vicki Galloway
KY-Webster County 4-H – Coach Wade Raymer
LA-Acadiana High School – Coach Stephanie Bennett
ME-Waynflete School – Coach Steve Withers
MI-Fenton High School – Coach Bruce Burwitz
MN-Willow River Area High School – Coach Melissa Johnson
MO-Buffalo High School – Coach Sara Gallivan
NC-Union Academy – Coach Kim Kirk
ND-Burke Central High School – Coach Erika Landro
NH-Mascoma Valley Regional High School – Coach Shawn Joyce
OK-Pryor High School – Coach Sharon Rash
PA-Dallas High School – Coach Kevin West
RI-Barrington High School – Coach Sam Schachter
TN-Marion County 4-H – Coach Vicki Lofty
TX-Hargrave High School – Coach Graceanna Simpson
VA-Massaponax High School – Coach Ginger Walters
WA-New Market Skills Center – Coach Stephanie Tocher
WI-Oconto High School – Coach Alissa Boucher
WV-John Marshall High School – Coach Megan Pintus
WY-Buffalo High School – Coach Kami Kennedy

Qualified for the LifeSmarts National Championship through an Automatic Bid process:

4-H Wild Card-Oconee County 4-H – Coach Allison Barnes
FBLA Wild Card-West Carteret High School – Coach Mark Thompson
FCCLA Wild Card-Selah High School – Coach Michelle McCartney
Varsity Wild Card 1-Midcities Montessori – Coach Cristina VanGilder
Varsity Wild Card 2-Chattooga County 4-H – Coach Rebecca Thomas
At-large Wild Card 1-Blair Oaks High School – Coach Linda Cumpton
At-large Wild Card 2-Henrico County 4-H – Coach Jennifer Raub
At-large Wild Card 3-Ritchie County High School – Coach Sonya Haught

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About the National Consumers League and LifeSmarts

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. State coordinators run the programs on a volunteer basis. For more information, visit: www.LifeSmarts.org, email LifeSmarts@nclnet.org, or call the National Consumers League’s communications department at (202) 835-3323.

Consumer, environmental groups ask Congress to press DOJ and EPA to expedite ongoing Mercedes diesel emissions investigations

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April 3, 2019

Nearly three years have passed since investigation of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz diesel emissions systems; consumers left without recourse on their vehicles

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org, (412) 945-3242 or Taun Sterling, tauns@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC – Leading consumer and environmental groups today sent letters to U.S. House Energy & Commerce and Senate Commerce Committees’ leadership, urging them to inquire about the status of pending Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency investigations into the diesel emissions systems of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz marketed its BlueTEC diesel vehicles as “the world’s cleanest and most advanced diesel,” but has been accused of equipping them with cheat devices that result in dangerously high levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, far exceeding what is legal under U.S. federal and state regulations. The DOJ and EPA have held Volkswagen and Fiat Chrysler accountable for similar allegations, but there has been no update on their investigation into Mercedes since it reportedly began in 2016.

VW and Fiat have instituted buybacks and repairs to address the pollution, while compensating owners and lessees. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Daimler vehicles are potentially polluting the environment while their owners await the outcome of the DOJ and EPA investigation.

The letter was signed by Center for Auto Safety, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, National Consumers League, Safe Climate Campaign and Sierra Club.

“Compared to the repercussions Volkswagen faced after admitting to strikingly similar allegations, which included severe fines and mandatory buybacks or repairs to tainted diesel vehicles, nothing has been done to hold Mercedes-Benz accountable in the U.S.,” wrote the groups. “Just as Congress played an important oversight role in Volkswagen’s dieselgate, it can do the same in bringing Mercedes-Benz to justice. We urge you to aid U.S. consumers by compelling the DOJ and EPA to provide an update into their nearly three-year-old investigation and, if appropriate, take action against Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz for violating U.S. law.”

The groups also referred to a letter Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sent to the DOJ in February last year; the groups’ letter noted that no update has been provided and no action has been taken.

A full copy of the letter can be found here.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.