Daniel M. Greene Joins the National Consumers League as Senior Director of Consumer Protection and Product Safety Policy

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Washington, D.C. – The National Consumers League (NCL), America’s pioneering consumer advocacy organization, is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel M. Greene as the new Senior Director of Consumer Protection and Product Safety Policy. Mr. Greene brings a wealth of experience in legislative and regulatory strategy, consumer safety and protection, and public policy development.

“Daniel’s experience in product and auto safety, coupled with his proven track record of bipartisan collaboration, makes him an invaluable asset to our team,” said Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League. “His leadership will amplify our efforts to champion transparency, fairness, and safety for consumers nationwide.”

Most recently, Mr. Greene served as a Senior Professional Staff Member for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Prior positions include serving as a Legislative Assistant for the office of Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a Legislative Fellow in the office of Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-Penn.), and a Senior Public Affairs Advisor for the WarwickGroup.

“Tragically, threats to everyday consumers are pervasive and on the rise,” said Greene. “The unacceptably high number of deaths and injuries on our nation’s roads has become a traffic safety crisis, harm caused by hazardous and counterfeit products has reached epidemic levels, and the deluge of scammers and anticompetitive practices has had a crippling effect on the average consumer. I am honored to join an organization with a rich, 125-year history of fighting for consumer and worker rights. I am excited to bring my experience to NCL as we tackle the most pressing challenges facing consumers today.”

He is a graduate of The George Washington University with both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Public Policy.

In his new role, Mr. Greene will collaborate with policymakers, corporations, and safety advocates to address emerging consumer challenges and uphold the organization’s mission of promoting a fair and just marketplace.

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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.

Cecile Richards, a champion of women’s reproductive rights

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Washington, DC – The National Consumers League joins in mourning the untimely death of Cecile Richards, long-time Planned Parenthood president.

Consumers and patients owe Cecile Richards a debt of gratitude for the heroic efforts to protect access to healthcare and reproductive freedom for women across America and especially for championing the reproductive rights of those of modest means. Richards spent 12 years at the helm of Planned Parenthood and expanded membership from 3 to 11 million.

Since NCL’s founding in 1899, the healthcare of women and their bodies has been of paramount importance to the NCL. There is no better example than Cecile Richards of someone who embodies these values.
While her death saddens us, we know that she left an incredible legacy and strengthened the movement probably more than any other American. We thank her for her many years of dedication and hard work and for standing up for the principle that all women are entitled to make decisions about their own bodies without government interference.

Our thoughts are with Cecile and her family at this sorrowful time.

-Sally Greenberg, CEO, National Consumers League

 

NCL celebrates White House’s affirmation of Equal Rights Amendment ratification 

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

Washington, DC – Today, the president of the United States affirmed that the Equal Rights Amendment became the 28th amendment to the Constitution when Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the measure in 2020. The amendment prohibits discrimination based on sex, which would solidify protections for both consumers and workers.

There was a time not so long ago when women couldn’t get their own credit cards, couldn’t sign a mortgage or open a bank account in their own names. They needed their husbands or fathers to co-sign. And a time when women couldn’t be hired for certain jobs that were deemed too dangerous or unsavory. Laws adopted since have helped protect against that kind of discrimination, but laws can be altered or amended.

The ERA would guard against any rollbacks of women’s rights by legislation or court cases that are often politically motivated. Indeed, in recent years, many of the equality gains made by the women’s rights movement have been weakened.

“Non-discrimination is the basis for all other consumer protections,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “Non discrimination in goods and services without bias against gender, should be a fundamental right. It’s long past time the Constitution officially protected Americans from sex-based prejudice.”

The movement for the Equal Rights Amendment has been over a century in the making. Legal experts from the American Bar Association to the American Civil Liberties Union agree that the amendment has reached the requisite thresholds for ratification to the Constitution.

NCL extends gratitude to President Joe Biden for his record of championing rights and protections of all citizens and for his outstanding consumer and worker initiatives throughout his four years in office.

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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.

 

Protecting American Consumers: A Conversation with Sally Greenberg, CEO on Coffee with Ken

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

Washington, D.C. –Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumer League (NCL), was recently the featured guest on Ken Biberaj’s Coffee with Ken. On Protecting American Consumers: A Conversation with Sally Greenberg, they discussed her extensive background in consumer advocacy, the history and monumental victories of NCL, and NCL’s top priorities for 2025 as a new administration is on the horizon.

“Consumer protection is a bipartisan issue – whether it is about protecting your kids, safeguarding your health, preventing fraud, or addressing junk fees,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “We can all agree on the importance of these issues.”

NCL played a critical role in shaping policies like the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906, and today, Greenberg leads efforts to protect consumers in areas like fraud, airline transparency, food labeling, and alcohol labeling. Alcohol labeling continues to be a priority and has been an unmet consumer need for the last two decades. As a general matter, NCL prioritizes science-based information and it is fundamental to all NCL’s work.

Whether it is the ever-growing issue of fraud or endless junk fees, NCL is committed to bipartisan efforts to protect all consumers. How does NCL do it? “good data, good facts, relentless advocacy and working across the aisle.”

Watch the full episode here.

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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

The National Consumers League Urges Timely Action to Require Standardized Alcohol Content, Nutrition and Allergen Labeling on Beer, Wine, and Distilled Spirits Products

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

Washington, D.C. – Having pressed the Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for over two decades to require alcohol labeling on beer, wine, and distilled spirits products, the National Consumers League today called for an expedited process to finalize and implement a new TTB rulemaking that will give consumers the same important facts about the content of an alcoholic beverage that is now is readily available on all other beverages, food products, and dietary supplements.

TTB’s rulemaking, published in the Federal Register on January 17, 2025, includes two proposed rules, both of which are necessary for the 62 percent of adult Americans who drink to make responsible drinking decisions. The first rule would require a standardized label, similar to the Nutrition Facts label commonplace on food and beverage products, that tells consumers the percentage of alcohol per volume, the alcohol content in fluid ounces, and the calories, carbohydrates, fat, and protein per serving. The second rule requires listing allergens in the alcoholic beverage, which is important to the 33 million people in the US who have at least one food allergy. Currently, manufacturers of TTB-regulated beer, wine, and distilled spirits are not required to declare the presence of major allergens which are used as ingredients or processing agents.

Noting that overconsumption of alcohol is a costly public health problem that has become much worse in recent years, as alcohol-related deaths have risen substantially, NCL stated that the proposed labeling rules are long overdue to protect the health and safety of the public. According to the latest estimates, alcohol accounts for 30 percent of all traffic crash fatalities in the US, is a source of empty calories that contribute to obesity, and excessive drinking increases the risk of liver disease, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, alcohol use disorders, certain cancers, and severe injuries.

“While NCL is pleased that TTB published these labeling rules, the agency has a long history of asking for public comments, holding listening sessions, and publishing proposed alcohol labeling rules that are never finalized,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s CEO. “This is why we are pressing for an expedited process, because the health and safety of the public is at stake.”

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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.

NCL applauds DOT’s historic actions to require realistic airline scheduling 

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

Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a lawsuit yesterday against Southwest Airlines for chronically delayed flights. The lawsuit marks the first time an airline will face DOT charges in court for unrealistic scheduling. In the same announcement, DOT stated it issued a fine against Frontier Airlines for the same illegal conduct. This announcement came just weeks after the Department levied its first ever fine for chronically delayed flights against JetBlue Airlines.

“Advertised schedules should mean something. And when airlines habitually fail to meet their schedules, they should be held accountable,” said NCL Vice President John Breyault. “DOT’s actions have set a welcome precedent for future consumer protection action. We encourage the incoming Trump Administration to build on this record and continue protecting the flying public from illegal conduct.”

In all three of the cases, the airlines flew consistently delayed routes over the course of several consecutive months, according to flight performance data carriers regularly submit to DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Flight disruptions can quickly rack up costs for affected travelers who might seek rebooking or alternative transportation, require overnight accommodations, or miss scheduled events.

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 nclnet.org.

NCL Releases Top Ten Scams Report of 2024

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Sweepstakes and prizes are #1, while cryptocurrency scams are most expensive

Media Contact – Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, (202) 207-2829

Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL) announces our Top Ten Scams report of 2024. The number one scam of 2024 was Prizes, Sweepstakes, and Free Gifting accounting for 38% of reported scams. However, the most expensive scam causing the most amount of financial loss was Cryptocurrency and Investment schemes. The reported median loss for cryptocurrency scams was $30,000, up from $20,000 in 2023.

2024 is the second year in a row where Phishing/Spoofing and Internet Merchandise cams joined sweepstakes scams to round out the top three fraud categories.

Scammers look to get victims to send them money via methods that lack strong consumer protections. For scams involving a financial loss, Bank Account Debit and Wire Transfer made up 33.1% and 12.9% of complaints respectively.

“Every year, complaints to Fraud.org paint a heartbreaking picture,” said NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault. “It is apparent the problem of fraud is not going away on its own. Policymakers at all levels should urgently address this issue and take comprehensive action to combat this epidemic.”

The top ten scam categories reported to Fraud.org in 2024 were:

  1. Prizes/Sweepstakes/Free Gifts: 38.27%
  2. Phishing/Spoofing: 18.83%
  3. Internet: General Merchandise: 17.04%
  4. Investments: Other (incl. cryptocurrency): 6.46%
  5. Fake Check Scams: 3.83%
  6. Advance Fee Loans, Credit Arrangers: 2.91%
  7. Friendship & Sweetheart Swindles: 2.04%
  8. Family/ Friend Imposter: 1.64%
  9. Internet: Information/Adult Services: 0.72%
  10. Misc. Other: 0.60%

*Other complaint categories (e.g. scholarship/grant scams, counterfeit drugs, work-at-home scams) outside of the top ten categories make up the remaining 5.69% of complaints.

“Reporting fraud is an essential step for victims,” said NCL Consumer Services Manager James Perry. “When an individual reaches out, we can connect them with the proper resources and begin to walk them through the recovery process. The information they share also helps inform decisions around fighting these scams.”

Online scams can affect anyone, especially in the ever-changing digital world we live in today.

The 2024 Top Ten Scams Report is available here

The National Consumers League Top Ten Scams report analyzed 2,526 complaints submitted by consumers to NCL’s Fraud.org campaign in 2024. This data is self-reported by victims and should not be considered a nationally representative sample. NCL shares complaint data with a network of law enforcement and consumer protection agency partners who combine it with other data sets to identify trends in fraud and build cases.

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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.

NCL applauds proposed FTC rules on MLM and other business opportunities

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

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed new and updated rules to combat deceptive earnings claims in the multi-level marketing (MLM) industry and, relatedly, business coaching and investment offers. NCL supports the FTC’s rulemakings and urges the incoming Trump Administration to see the initiatives finalized. 

“Working to keep Americans from being ripped-off is a bipartisan issue,” said NCL Vice President John Breyault. “We are glad the FTC is stepping up to protect individuals from being led into debt traps with false promises. The incoming Trump Administration should finalize these rules and bring an end to these unfair and deceptive business practices.” 

When the FTC voted to begin its rulemaking on earnings claims in 2022, the rulemaking moved forward on a bipartisan, 4-0 vote. The 2022 vote to review the Business Opportunity Rule was also a bipartisan, 4-0 vote. Without finalized rules, it is harder for the FTC to secure financial compensation for victims of deceptive MLMs and other similar firms. 

NCL’s joint comments with Consumer Federation of America in response to the 2022 advanced notice of proposed rulemaking on earnings claims can be found here. 

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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. 

The National Consumers League Applauds FDA for Taking Action on Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling

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

Washington, D.C. – On behalf of the nation’s consumers who are looking for better information to make healthier food purchases, the National Consumers League (NCL) applauds the Food and Drug Administration for issuing a proposed rule to require a standardized front-of-package (FOP) nutrition label on most packaged foods.

Intended to provide accessible, at-a-glance information when consumers are choosing what foods and beverage products to buy, the proposed FOP nutrition label, in the form of a “Nutrition Info” box, would prominently disclose whether the food/beverage contains high, medium or low amounts of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars per serving. As such, consumers will have a new tool to reduce their consumption of these nutrients and thereby lower their risk for obesity and diet-related chronic diseases that are responsible for a million deaths each year.

NCL, along with many consumer, nutrition and public health organizations, have been pressing for FOP nutrition labeling for decades, based on the experiences in 16 other countries where this front-of-package information has been successful in influencing healthier food purchasing decisions.

Now that the rule has been published, NCL urges the incoming Trump Administration to finalize this important rulemaking in the public interest. Taking this step would be an important way to make America healthy, a goal of the Trump Administration.

NCL has been at the forefront of food safety since 1899 and remains dedicated to advocating for clear food labels to help consumers make informed decisions. We believe in clear, truthful, and comprehensive food labeling, including ingredients, nutritional information, and any potential allergens. Our more than 125 years of advocacy have helped shape numerous historic policies and regulations that govern food safety and labeling today.

Below is an example of a FOP food label:

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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.

Statement on the need for the CMS Rule on Coverage of Obesity Medications

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Media contact: National Consumers League – Lisa McDonald, lisam@nclnet.org, 202-207-2829

Washington, D.C. – We, the undersigned organizations, are enthusiastically supportive of the proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to align coverage policy to reflect the prevailing medical consensus that obesity is a chronic disease. We urge the incoming administration to finalize this policy through the rulemaking process. By extending access to obesity medications for people living with obesity who lack access to comprehensive evidence-based care in Medicare and Medicaid, the proposed CMS rule would address an urgent health crisis and leading contributor to the “Unhealth” of Americans. If action is not taken, the total number of adults with overweight or obesity will reach 213 million. To achieve making America healthier, obesity must be addressed, treated and managed effectively.

Medicare Part D’s prohibition of coverage for “weight loss” medications is a major barrier for older Americans and those living with disabilities, and many dual eligible beneficiaries, to receiving medically necessary, safe, and effective FDA-approved pharmacotherapy to treat obesity. Medicare’s current categorization and restriction is outdated. It does not align with current medical evidence, standards of care or the understanding of the disease.

The CMS proposed rule would require coverage for obesity medications under Medicare and Medicaid by acknowledging obesity as a chronic condition. We wholeheartedly agree with the rule’s proposal to reinterpret these medications for the treatment of obesity, that would provide coverage under Medicare and Medicaid.

Obesity is a treatable chronic disease that plays a major factor in many other conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, lipid disorders, certain cancers, sleep apnea, arthritis, and mental illness. The treatment of obesity requires a comprehensive approach including administering intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) and bariatric surgery under Medicare Part B and providing Medicare Part D coverage for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved obesity medications.

The obesity epidemic has had a negative impact on our nation’s health and economy. Among older adults (aged 60+), the prevalence of obesity is 42.8 percent, similar to the level among younger and middle-aged adults. More than 20 percent of the population will be 65 years of age or older by 2030, up from 15 percent today, highlighting the importance of addressing obesity among older Americans. Among Medicaid beneficiaries, the prevalence of obesity is 38 percent, while the prevalence of overweight and obesity is 70 percent among Medicaid adults.

Without treatment Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries with obesity risk further health deterioration and an increased likelihood in the onset of complications including obesityrelated cancers, type 2 diabetes, and end stage renal disease. Additionally, people with
severe obesity have a 48 percent higher risk of physical injury including falls which lead to higher costs and mortality rates.

The new administration must take action to address this crisis, by allowing Medicare and Medicaid to offer comprehensive obesity care for the millions of Americans who need these services and treatments. This action would improve the health of individuals before they enter the Medicare program, thereby supporting better health and reducing long-term costs.

A Philip Randolph Institute
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Alliance for Aging Research
Alliance for Patient Access
Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention
American Academy of Physician Associates
American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
American Diabetes Association
American Gastroenterological Association
American Kidney Fund
American Liver Foundation
American Medical Women’s Association
American Psychological Association Services
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
American Society for Nutrition
Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation
California Black Health Network
California Chronic Care Coalition
CancerCare
Caregiver Action Network
Center for Patient Advocacy Leaders (CPALs)
Choose Healthy Life
Chronic Care Policy Alliance
Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses
ConscienHealth
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
DCM Foundation
Diabetes Leadership Council
Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition
Endocrine Society
Fatty Liver Foundation
Gerontological Society of America
Global Liver Institute
HealthyWomen
ICAN, International Cancer Advocacy Network
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Liver Coalition of San Diego
Looms For Lupus
Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.
Lupus Foundation of America
MacDonald Center for Nutrition Education and Research
MANA, A National Latina Organization
Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Missouri Psychological Association
Movement is Life
National Alliance for Caregiving
National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA)
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
National Black Nurses Association, Inc
National Caucus and Center on Black Aging
National Consumers League
National Council on Aging
National Hispanic Council on Aging
National Hispanic Health Foundation
National Hispanic Medical Association
National Kidney Foundation
National Psoriasis Foundation
Nevada Chronic Care Collaborative
Obesity Action Coalition
Obesity Care Advocacy Network
Obesity Medicine Association
PAs in Obesity Medicine
RetireSafe
Society for Women’s Health Research
Society of Behavioral Medicine
STOP Obesity Alliance
The American Society for Preventive Cardiology
The Mended Hearts, Inc.
The Obesity Society
WomenHeart
YMCA of the USA

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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.