NCL slams introduction of resolutions weakening tailpipe emission standards

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC – Congressional Republicans today introduced three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions that restricts states’ rights to establish robust tailpipe emission standards. 

Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may issue the State of California a waiver to exceed federal emission standards for motor vehicles.  Other states are permitted to adopt California’s standards.  In 2024, the EPA provided California waivers for the State’s Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II), Advanced Clean Trucks, and Omnibus NOx rules.  These standards, which have been adopted in full or in part by 17 states, have nationwide benefits: conserving energy, combating the climate crisis, improving health, and reducing pain at the pump.

“Slamming the brakes on robust emission standards will inflict pain at the pump, hamper American competitiveness, exacerbate the climate crisis, and harm public health,” said Daniel Greene, Senior Director of Consumer Protection & Product Safety Policy. “These resolutions ignore a simple truth: costs are low when clean car standards are high. The United States must create a thriving EV industrial base to preserve the nation’s automobile manufacturing capacity.  Further, strong clean car standards are vital to combatting the climate crisis and preventing harmful pollutants from entering our atmosphere, which improves public health.  Congress should stop this assault on American competitiveness, affordability, health, and the environment at its inception.”

Please see this fact sheet detailing the CRAs and their effect on American competitiveness, affordability, health, and the environment

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

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 welcomes President Trump’s Executive Order and calls for congressional action on consumer protections in live-event ticketing

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For Immediate Release: March 31, 2025

Contact: Lisa McDonald, VP of Communications 202-207-2829 or lisam@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is commending President Donald J. Trump for signing an Executive Order aimed at protecting fans from exploitative ticket scalping and implementing common sense reforms in the live entertainment ticketing industry. This decisive action underscores the urgent need for Congress to pass the bipartisan Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing (TICKET) Act (S.281/H.R. 1402).

The Executive Order directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to collaborate with the Attorney General to ensure robust enforcement of competition laws within the live event sector. It also emphasizes the need for rigorous enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, promotes price transparency throughout the ticket-purchasing process—including the secondary market—and mandates action to prevent unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in secondary ticketing. 

“For too long, consumers have faced exorbitant prices and deceptive practices when purchasing tickets for live events,” said John Breyault, NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud. “This Executive Order is a significant step toward ensuring fairness and transparency in the ticketing marketplace. It provides a clear directive to consumer champions in Congress to swiftly enact the TICKET Act.” 

The TICKET Act passed the House of Representatives last year by overwhelming bipartisan margins (388-24) last Congress and has already been approved unanimously by the Senate Commerce Committee in February. It has attracted broad support from consumer advocates, artists, venues, and ticketing platforms. The TICKET Act aims to:

  • Implement all-in pricing, ensuring consumers see the full cost of a ticket upfront, eliminating hidden fees.
  • Prohibit speculative ticket sales, preventing brokers from selling tickets they do not possess.
  • Ban deceptive resale websites that mislead consumers into believing they are purchasing from official sources.
  • Guarantee refunds for events that are canceled or postponed.
  • Strengthen enforcement against the use of bots that allow resellers to manipulate the ticket market.

“President Trump’s Executive Order highlights the critical need for legislative action to protect consumers,” added Breyault. “We urge Congress to seize this opportunity to pass the TICKET Act, ensuring that fans can access live entertainment without falling victim to unfair practices and inflated prices.” 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL) 

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 nclnet.org. 

Big banks win, consumers lose: NCL condemns effort to kill CFPB overdraft rule   

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) strongly opposes efforts to rescind the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) new overdraft fee rule through the Congressional Review Act (CRA). This rule is a critical step in closing an outdated loophole that has allowed major banks to rake in billions from excessive overdraft fees—often at the expense of hardworking families living paycheck to paycheck.

“Overdraft fees have long been a cash grab by the biggest banks, preying on those who can least afford them,” said John Breyault, NCL’s Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud. Rescinding this rule would be yet another example of financial institutions prioritizing profits over fairness, leaving consumers trapped in a cycle of unnecessary debt.”

For years, banks have leveraged deceptive practices to extract money from consumers, from surprise overdraft charges to excessive fees on low-balance accounts. The CFPB’s rule provides much-needed relief, ensuring families aren’t penalized for small financial missteps. Congress should stand with consumers, not the financial giants profiting from their hardships.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)

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.

Mass Layoffs at HHS: A Blow to Healthcare Access and Public Health

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829   

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is deeply concerned by the Trump administration’s decision to lay off an additional 10,000 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) following the already eliminated 10,000 jobs via previous rounds of cuts. In total, the restructuring and force reduction plans will result in a downsizing from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees nationwide.    

The impact of these cuts and restructuring is particularly concerning for agencies like the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These agencies are crucial to the functioning of vital public health and safety programs, including the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which allows hospitals, community health centers, and other providers to purchase prescription medications at discounted prices. This ensures that low-income and underserved communities can afford the medications they need.    

“In the wake of a nationwide measles outbreak, this is a reckless decision by the Trump administration,” said Samatha Sears, NCL Health Policy Associate. “HHS leadership should be prioritized on bolstering public health and delving into medical research for vaccines and medications, not firing thousands of staff and jeopardizing agencies like HRSA and NIOSH. Downsizing this department under our current circumstances is irresponsible and dangerous to the American people.”     

The NCL calls on the administration to reconsider these workforce reductions to ensure that essential health services are not disrupted and that vulnerable communities continue to have access to the care they need.   

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)  

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.  

Historic victory for human rights: DC mayor signs child marriage ban into law   

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829   

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) celebrates the successful passage of the Child Marriage Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024, following the 30-day congressional review period and the signing of the legislation by Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, DC. This landmark law, introduced by Councilmember Brooke Pinto, now officially prohibits marriage under the age of 18 in the District of Columbia, with no exceptions.    

“This is a historic moment for DC and beyond—Mayor Bowser and Councilmember Pinto’s unwavering leadership sends a powerful message that child marriage will not be tolerated,” said Reid Maki, Director of Child Labor Advocacy at the National Consumers League and Coordinator of the Child Labor Coalition. “This law provides much-needed protection for vulnerable youth, preventing the devastating consequences of early marriage and ensuring young people have the opportunity to grow, thrive, and make their own life decisions.”  

With this new law, Washington, DC, has joined the growing list of U.S. states and territories that have taken a strong stand against child marriage, protecting minors from the harmful and often devastating effects of early marriage. This victory represents a significant milestone in the global movement for the protection of girls’ and women’s human rights. The new law effectively ends child marriage in Washington, DC, following a troubling rise in cases in the city. This legislation represents a step in the right direction, reinforcing the importance of safeguarding children from the social, emotional, and health risks of early marriage.   

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)     

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.   

Advocacy groups urge the eighth circuit to uphold FTC’s click to cancel rule

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Five Groups led by Berkeley Law File an Amicus Brief in the Legal Challenge to the FTC’s Click to Cancel Rule. 

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC — On Friday, The National Consumers League (NCL) and four other advocacy groups joined a legal “friend of the court” brief in litigation seeking to undo the Federal Trade Commission’s popular “Click to Cancel” Rule. The brief was drafted by the Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice at UC Berkeley School of Law and focuses on the substantial record of manipulative subscription traps relied on by the FTC in crafting the Rule. 

“The effort corporations have expended to fight this commonsense consumer protection regulation has surely exceeded any direct compliance costs associated with complying with the rule,” said National Consumers League Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault.  “Allowing consumers to cancel subscriptions as easily as they signed up is popular and should have been the law decades ago. The FTC’s Rule is long overdue and should not be stalled any longer.”  

“Americans are tired of being tricked and manipulated with subscription traps. Corporations should focus on ways to give people a transparent sign-up and cancellation process for products they actually want rather than ways to deceive and exhaust consumers into never-ending, costly subscriptions,” said Erin Witte, director of consumer protection at the Consumer Federation of America. “CFA is proud to join this brief and urge the Eighth Circuit to uphold the Click to Cancel rule.”   

“Whether it is gym memberships, news subscriptions, entertainment services, or home security services, recurring charges are easy to start but can be hard to cancel. Some companies hold consumers hostage when they no longer want to spend money on services and unfairly profit at significant expense to hardworking individuals and families,” said Shennan Kavanagh, director of litigation at the National Consumer Law Center. “The FTC’s Click to Cancel Rule is a fair and commonsense solution to this problem.” 

“The FTC Click to Cancel Rule requires that canceling a subscription should be as simple as signing up for one. Trustworthy companies should not lock customers into agreements to earn a profit,” said Ruth Susswein, director of consumer protection at Consumer Action. “Consumers deserve an easy exit policy with simple steps on how to cancel a subscription.”  

“Digital subscriptions for products and services are increasing, and so are the deceptive practices that trick people into staying and paying for them,” said Ira Rheingold, executive director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. “Hopefully, the court will uphold the FTC’s reasonable click-to-cancel rule and its simple steps to help keep consumers aware and businesses honest.” 

“People sign up for services. They don’t sign up for a treadmill they can never get off of,” said Ted Mermin, executive director of the Center for Law and Economic Justice at UC Berkeley. “The FTC scrupulously followed proper procedures in creating the Click to Cancel Rule, and that rule is going to benefit everybody in this country.” 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

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.   

Consumer warning: is your DNA data at risk? 23andMe on the brink of bankruptcy

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829   

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is issuing an urgent warning to consumers regarding the recent bankruptcy filing by 23andMe, the popular genetic information company. While 23andMe claims that consumer data will be protected during the bankruptcy process, there are significant concerns about the future of your personal genetic data and health information.     

“It remains uncertain whether consumer protections and agreements will be upheld within the context of the bankruptcy proceedings,” said NCL VP of Public Policy Telecommunications and Fraud John Breyault. “Additionally, there is concern that DNA samples may be classified as assets, raising questions about who may ultimately gain access to sensitive and private health information.    

23andMe’s privacy statement reads: “If we are involved in a bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your Personal Information may be accessed, sold or transferred as part of that transaction.” The bottom line is that all consumers have the right to delete their genetic information from 23andMe, and it is crucial to do so before any potential changes in ownership or privacy policies occur.  NCL urges consumers to take action to protect their data 

The California Attorney General has issued a consumer alert urging individuals to exercise their rights under state privacy laws, including the right to delete their data and request the destruction of any biological samples held by the company. Even mainstream media outlets like The Washington Post are urging consumers to exercise their rights, publishing a story this morning entitled “Delete your DNA from 23andMe right now.”   

 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)     

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.  

Trump administration’s decision to freeze electric vehicle infrastructure program: Consumers will pay the price 

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC — The National Consumers League (NCL) is alarmed by the Trump administration’s recent decision to freeze a vital program designed to expand electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and support clean energy initiatives across the country. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, created under the Biden administration, allocates nearly $5 billion to assist states in developing a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations along designated alternative fuel corridors.

“As of March 2024, there are nearly six million battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids on the road, and that number is growing daily,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “NCL believes this decision was a misstep that will ultimately cost consumers, as expanding charging infrastructure is essential to advancing clean transportation and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.”

This program was intended to bolster EV infrastructure improvements, primarily through the installation of new chargers. However, the Trump administration’s decision to freeze $3 billion in funding for EV charging stations is a significant setback for consumers.

Virginia has a total of 56,000 EVs, and the state is already beginning to feel the effects of this decision. 51 of its 53 planned electric vehicle charging stations are now on hold after the Trump administration rescinded funding. Attorneys at the Southern Environmental Law Center have called the freeze legally questionable.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)    

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 applauds West Virginia lawmakers for food dye/additives ban bill 

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications 202-207-2829

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) applauds West Virginia lawmakers for the passage of House Bill 2354. This bipartisan legislation amends the State Code regarding adulterated food and drugs, banning harmful food additives and dyes in processed food products sold in the state. Among the banned substances are Red Dye No. 3, Yellow Dye No. 5, Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Propylparaben, Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue Dye No. 1, Blue Dye No. 2, and Green Dye No. 3 – all deemed unsafe for consumption.

The bill passed the House on February 28 with a 93-5 vote and was introduced to the Senate. Last week, the Senate amended the bill, and now it must return to the House for a vote to concur with the changes. If the House passes the amended legislation it will go to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. If enacted, the legislation would ban food products containing the colors in school nutrition programs beginning on Aug. 1, 2025, and then extend to all food sold statewide on Jan. 1, 2028.

“West Virginia is leading the way in protecting public health by banning dangerous dyes and additives from its food supply,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “It’s well known that these synthetic dyes and additives pose serious health risks, and the Mountain State is showing others how to take bold action to safeguard their residents.”

In December, NCL also urged the FDA to issue a federal ban on Red No. 3, a petroleum-based colorant known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. The FDA issued the order to revoke authorization for the use of FD&C Red No. 3 on January 15, 2025. Manufacturers who use the dye in food and drugs will have until January 15, 2027 (food and supplements) or January 18, 2028 (ingested medications), to reformulate their products.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)

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 condemns illegal firings of FTC commissioners 

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829

March 18, 2025: Washington, DC — Today, President Trump unlawfully terminated Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter from their positions at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Commissioner Slaughter was terminated more than five years before her term would expire; Commissioner Bedoya was terminated more than two years before his term would expire.

The Commission conducts important work to protect Americans from a range of harms, including elder fraud, children’s privacy violations, and deceptive advertising. Today’s egregious violation of the consumer protection agency’s independence jeopardizes its bipartisan mission to protect everyday Americans from marketplace harms, even those perpetrated by politically-connected individuals.

“Consumer protection work is not a partisan game,” said NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault. “With consumers losing more than $150 billion to fraud each year, we need consistent and reliable watchdogs at our law enforcement agencies. The firing of dedicated public servants because they belong to the wrong political party will make the FTC’s work even harder. NCL unequivocally condemns these firings.”

Despite its hamstrung resources, the Commission does irreplaceable work to defend Americans from bad actors like scammers and monopolists. The agency returned $324 million in refunds to Americans in 2023. Every $1 of the FTC’s costs return an estimated $14 in benefits to consumers through its consumer protection and competition law enforcement efforts.

By illegally subjecting commissioners to White House control, President Trump has sent a message that common-sense consumer protection work should not continue unless it serves his political goals. Congress established independent agencies like the FTC, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Federal Elections Commission to ensure that federal oversight of critical issues is insulated from electoral, partisan, and personal games.

The Supreme Court has already ruled that a president cannot fire FTC commissioners simply for political purposes. The Supreme Court upheld this precedent as recently as 2020.

Further reading:

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
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.