Entries by Lisa McDonald

More than 100 organizations urge full restoration of USDOL/ILAB programming and staffing to fight against child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking

April 23, 2025: Washington, DC — In a bold show of unity, more than 100 organizations have issued a new statement urging Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and the U.S. Congress to restore essential programs and staffing levels of the International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB), a frontline force in the global fight against child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. ILAB also plays an important role in expanding global labor protections, with the aim of ensuring a level-playing field for American businesses at risk from overseas manufacturing that relies on exploited labor.

LifeSmarts National Championship Coming to Chicago April 24 through 27

April 23, 2025: Chicago, IL – The 2025 LifeSmarts National Championship will be held in Chicago from April 24-27. Located at the Chicago Marriott Downtown, Magnificent Mile, the competition will feature 46 state teams vying for the national title. LifeSmarts, a program of the National Consumers League, continues to provide students with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate today’s complex, global marketplace.  

Trump budget proposal would dismantle core health programs          

April 22, 2025: Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is raising serious concerns about the Trump administration’s proposal to cut the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget by more than 30%. This drastic move would gut essential public health protections, weaken food safety, and threaten scientific progress.

NCL urges ACIP to expand RSV vaccine recommendations at April 2025 meeting

April 18, 2025: This week, the National Consumers League this week strongly recommended expanding respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for high-risk adults 50-59 years old to protect against a condition that can become severe for infants and older adults. NCL was selected to make remarks before the critically important Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ( ACIP)  Additionally, NCL encouraged the Committee to continue its work in support of increasing vaccine confidence and transparency for the public.  On April 11, 2025, the National Consumers League submitted comments in response to a request for comments at the April 15 and 16 in Atlanta, Georgia.

CFPB layoffs significantly raise consumers’ risk of fraud 

April 17, 2025: Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is calling on the Trump Administration to immediately stop the sweeping layoffs announced at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Reports that the Administration plans to lay off 1,500 positions across the CFPB’s enforcement and supervision divisions will drastically reduce the agency’s ability to fulfill its core mission of protecting consumers.    

Guest Blog: Sweet Treats, Bitter Reality: The Human Cost of Cocoa

April 16, 2025: For many, April brings the joy of Easter with children awakening to an Easter Basket filled with treats or searching in the grass for eggs and chocolate. But while children here delight in eating a chocolate bunny, 1.56 million children are working in West African cocoa fields, harvesting the very cocoa that makes our Easter candy possible. [^1]  How does a consumer know if the chocolate they are eating involves child labor?