Entries by Katie Brown

The Child Labor Coalition expresses alarm over the results of DOL’s investigation into child labor at meatpacking plants in the U.S. and calls for current protections to be enhanced, not weakened

February 21, 2023 in , , , , , , , /by

The Child Labor Coalition, consisting of 39 organizational members who work to end exploitative child labor domestically and internationally, calls attention to today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that its just-completed investigation found 102 children working in cleaning crews in 13 meatpacking plants in eight states. DOL levied a fine of $1.5 million in civil money penalties against Packer Sanitation Services, Inc. (PSSI).

The National Consumers League sent a letter urging Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to ensure that consumers get a fair deal at the pharmacy

February 21, 2023 in , , , , , , , , , , /by

The National Consumers League (NCL) sent a letter urging Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to ensure that consumers get a fair deal at the pharmacy. When it comes to the high out-of-pocket costs consumers face at the pharmacy counter — often for lifesaving medications — consumers today have an unfair disadvantage.

NCL’s Greenberg joins panel to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the generic and biosimilar industries

February 15, 2023 in , , , , , , , , , , /by

NCL’s Executive Director Sally Greenberg spoke at the Association of Accessible Medicines and International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Greenberg joined the panel “The Generic and Biosimilar Industries Global Reputation” moderated by former NY Times journalist Gardiner Harris.

NCL urges Senate committee to hold airlines accountable for operational meltdowns

February 9, 2023 in , , , , , /by

Today, the Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing focused on Southwest Airlines’ operational meltdown in December 2022. The committee should use this opportunity to not only hold Southwest accountable but to also address the underlying causes of and remedies for chronic cancellations and delays that affect millions of passengers annually. 

The National Consumers League supports the bipartisan S 4918 (117th Congress) “Increasing Prescription Drug Competition Act”

February 7, 2023 in , , , , , , , , , , , /by

NCL has long supported robust competition and affordable, accessible drugs for patients and consumers. We therefore appreciate the opportunity to provide our support for the bill introduced in the 117th Congress entitled “Increasing Prescription Drug Competition Act”, co-sponsored by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN).

NCL urges House Transportation Committee to demand answers from FAA on aviation safety

February 7, 2023 in , , , , , /by

Today, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will hold a hearing focused on the need to enhance America’s aviation safety system. The committee calls the U.S. system a “gold standard” for the world. Unfortunately, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) previously sterling record in this area has been badly tarnished by the Boeing 737 Max scandal, operational meltdowns, and scary near-misses. 

Top Ten Scams Report: Consumers reported massive uptick in crypto-linked fraud losses in 2022

February 6, 2023 in , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

Reports of scams tied to cryptocurrencies drove a significant increase in median losses in 2022, according to the National Consumers League’s annual Top Ten Scams report. The report, published annually, analyzed more than 3,500 consumer fraud complaints filed with NCL’s Fraud.org campaign last year. 

White House Competition Council announcement is a big deal

February 6, 2023 in , , , , , , /by

February 6, 2023: Ask almost any consumer and they will tell you that junk fees are one of the banes of their existence. Not only do these fees add often unexpected costs to the price of goods and services, but they also inhibit competition; contributing to higher prices, worse service, and poorer product quality.

Do children in America ever work in deplorable, dangerous, Dickensian conditions? The short answer is “yes.”

February 2, 2023 in , , , , /by

February 2, 2023: Most Americans are unaware that the U.S. still has child labor, but 2022 made it abundantly clear that we do, and stories in the news made it clear that conditions can be downright shocking. Here are 10 child labor stories or developments that indicate child labor in the U.S. is not something in the past.