Entries by Lisa McDonald

ICYMI: Senator Markey and NCL Calls for a Restoration of Fuel Economy Standards That Save Americans Money at the Pump

May 14, 2026 in /by

May 14, 2026: Washington, DC – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today hosted a press conference calling on the Trump administration to end its proposed rule to roll back Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which save money for drivers and reduce oil consumption. Senator Markey was joined by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), the National Consumers League, Moms Clean Air Force, and a local business owner feeling the pain of high gas prices caused by Trump’s expensive, dangerous, and unnecessary war with Iran.

Consumer Groups Urge FTC to Regulate Food Delivery Fees, Call for More Action to Fight Unlawful Pricing  

May 14, 2026 in /by

May 14, 2026: Washington, DC – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL), the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), and five other public interest organizations filed a joint comment supporting Federal Trade Commission (FTC) action to prohibit hidden fees in food delivery services. The FTC’s pro-consumer effort would bring relief and clarity to shoppers who use food and grocery delivery apps, who (or many of whom) are often individuals with limited mobility or disabilities.   

Rising Grocery Prices Continue to Hammer American Families Says National Consumers League

May 12, 2026 in , , /by

May 12, 2026: Washington, DC – New federal food price forecasts paint a troubling picture for American consumers: grocery prices are expected to keep rising in 2026, further straining household budgets nationwide. According to the 2026 Consumer Price Index Summary, prices increased 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis in a single month, pushing annual inflation to 3.8% — the highest level recorded since May 2023. 

Chocolate Scorecard 2026 Reveals Most Companies Still Failing Children and Cocoa Farmers —but Making Progress on Transparency

May 6, 2026 in , , /by

May 6, 2026: Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) and its organization, the Child Labor Coalition (CLC), are proud to participate in the Annual Chocolate Scorecard, an initiative coordinated by Be Slavery Free, an Australian coalition campaigning against modern slavery. This campaign aims to raise awareness about child labor in chocolate production, promote ethical sourcing, and empower consumers to choose chocolate that aligns with their values.   

Consumer Groups Lead Coalition Urging Congress to Reject Heavier Trucks

April 28, 2026 in /by

April 28, 2026: Washington, DC – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) and the National Consumers League (NCL), joined by 25 organizations, sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to reject any proposal to increase the federal truck size and weight limit to permit vehicles above 80,000 pounds on American roadways. The coalition emphasized that maintaining the current cap is essential to protecting taxpayers, motorists, and the long-term integrity of the nation’s infrastructure.

NCL Urges Conditions on Any Spirit Bailout

April 24, 2026 in /by

April 24, 2026: Washington, DC – NCL, the Consumer Federation of America, and the Revolving Door Project are urging the Trump Administration to ensure any potential bailout of Spirit Airlines includes consumer and worker protections as well as prohibitions on stock buybacks and excessive executive compensation. The groups also advocated against industry lobbying to waive certain taxes that fund critical American air traffic infrastructure. 

NCL Urges DOT Investigate Airline Pricing 

April 24, 2026 in /by

April 24, 2026: Washington, DC – In the wake of JetBlue Airways’ apparent admission of surveillance pricing to determine airfares, NCL and six other public interest organizations are urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate the industry’s pricing practices. Airlines have long used confusing pricing algorithms that make the ticket-buying experience frustrating for travelers. Every major airline has made news in the past two years for their dynamic pricing practices, including rollouts of AI-set prices in 2025 and allegations of price gouging targeting travelers escaping Hurricane Milton in 2024.  

Strengthening the Consumer Voice Across the Atlantic

April 22, 2026 in /by

April 22, 2026: This week, I had the pleasure of attending the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) meeting in Brussels. TACD provides a formal mechanism for U.S. and EU consumer representatives to contribute to transatlantic policy discussions, negotiations, and agreements, while also advancing the consumer perspective in international forums. The organization plays a critical role in ensuring that policy dialogue between the United States and Europe promotes consumer welfare and reflects the real-world impact of decisions on people’s daily lives.
The meeting offered a unique opportunity to spend time with consumer advocates from both Europe and the United States—comparing notes on shared challenges and learning from one another’s experiences. We also met with European officials to discuss their priorities for the coming year. Notably, the Trump Administration declined to send representatives, marking a departure from past administrations that have participated in these important conversations.

Georgia Floyd County 4-H Team Wins the 2026 Varsity LifeSmarts National Championship

April 21, 2026 in , , , /by

April 18, 2026: Orlando, FL – The Floyd County 4-H Team was crowned the 2026 Varsity LifeSmarts National Champions in Orlando, Florida. Coached by Phyllis Allee and Abbie Salmon, the winning team consisted of Joe Rutledge (12th grade), Abigail Moon (12th grade), Tabitha Smith (11th grade), Finley Smith (9th grade).