Entries by Lisa McDonald

NCL expresses concern over the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services

February 13, 2025 in , , , /by

February 13, 2025: Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL), a long-time advocate for consumer health and safety, is disappointed with the Senate’s confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NCL has consistently supported science, evidence-based medicine, and public health and believes this appointment poses a significant risk to Americans’ health and well-being. Kennedy, who holds a law degree and has no medical training, is uniquely unqualified for this role.  

House budget resolution bad for consumers and America

February 12, 2025 in , /by

February 12, 2025: Washington, DC – Today, House Republicans released a budget resolution, which guides federal spending and revenue policies and initiates the reconciliation process.  The resolution calls for at least $1.5 trillion in spending reductions and $4.5 trillion in tax cuts.  The accompanying “budget blueprint” lays out a series of proposals that would eliminate core manufacturing and clean energy policies established in the Inflation Reduction Act and severely weakens Medicaid, which provides health insurance for nearly 72 million Americans. 

NCL strongly supports the FTC noncompete rule 

February 12, 2025 in , , , /by

February 12, 2025: Washington, DC – The National Consumer League (NCL) reiterates its strong support for the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) noncompete rule. This week, the AHA and Federation of American Hospitals filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit urging the court to vacate the Federal Trade Commission’s noncompete rule nationwide. NCL disagrees with this effort to do away with this crucial regulation, ensuring that workers, regardless of industry, are free to pursue better opportunities without being held back by restrictive clauses that unfairly limit their mobility. 

NCL raises alarm over meat industry push to dismantle protections amid worker and environmental concerns 

February 12, 2025 in , , , , , , , , /by

February 12, 2025: Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is raising serious concerns over recent lobbying efforts by the Meat Institute, which is urging the Trump administration to roll back essential regulations designed to protect workers, the environment, and consumers in the meatpacking and factory farm industries. NCL’s concerns are heightened by disturbing reports of widespread hazardous child labor in the industry, including children working night shifts to clean factories with caustic chemicals. 

Consumer groups file comments supporting DOT delay compensation rules 

February 11, 2025 in , , , /by

February 11, 2025: Washington, DC – Yesterday, the National Consumers League (NCL) and four other public interest organizations filed comments with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) urging the Department to implement passenger protections in the event of significant flight delays and cancellations. Under federal law enacted last year, DOT must act on the issue by May 16.

Trump import tariffs harm small businesses and consumers: increased costs and delays ahead

February 7, 2025 in , , /by

February 7, 2025: Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is deeply concerned about the Trump administration’s recent announcement of new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. NCL is fearful that this decision could significantly impact American consumers, affecting a wide range of goods that are integral to daily life.

NCL joins 25+ advocacy organizations in opposing expansion of 340B drug pricing program in New York 

February 5, 2025 in , , /by

February 5, 2025: Washington, DC – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL) joined over 25 patient and provider advocacy organizations in voicing strong opposition to the proposed expansion of the 340B Drug Pricing Program under NY Senate Bill 1913.

NCL urges the public to heed warnings about unregulated versions of GLP-1 weight loss drugs

February 4, 2025 in , , , /by

February 4, 2025: Washington, DC –  As an organization with a long history of helping the public avoid fakes and unregulated products, the National Consumers League is urging consumers and health professionals to heed the warning from the Food and Drug Administration that compounded versions of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists) drugs now widely promoted on television and online are not FDA approved and may cause serious health problems.