NCL applauds federal agency’s decision to require mandatory labeling on all alcoholic beverages

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November 18, 2022

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, (703) 298-2614

Washington D.C. — Today the National Consumers League hailed the decision by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the federal agency that oversees alcohol labeling, to require mandatory labeling on all alcoholic beverages as a “great consumer victory.” NCL is grateful to the agency for this welcome – albeit long overdue – decision.

In 2003, NCL and other consumer groups filed a petition calling on TTB to provide consumers with robust nutritional information about the alcoholic beverages they drink. Today, 19 years later, the agency acted to grant the petition. The November 17 letter from TTB can be viewed here.

NCL and other consumer groups pursued two avenues this year to get movement on the labeling of alcoholic beverages: filing a lawsuit this past fall against the agency and working with Congress.

NCL also thanks the Senate and House Appropriations Committees for their inclusion of language in the Fiscal Year 2023 Financial Services and General Government Funding Bill that urges the agency to move toward mandatory nutritional labeling of alcoholic beverages.

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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 https://nclnet.org.

National Consumers League letter in support of Gilbride to DC Circuit Court of Appeals

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NCL sent the following letter to the Counsel of the President in support of Karla Gilbride’s nomination to serve on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

March 11, 2021

Ms. Dana Remus
Counsel to the President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Re: Support for the nomination of Karla Gilbride to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

Dear Ms. Remus:

The National Consumers League urges the Biden Administration to nominate Ms. Karla Gilbride to serve on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. As an organization founded in 1899 to advocate for the interests of consumers and workers, NCL believes that Ms. Gilbride would be an outstanding judge on one of the United States’ most important courts.

Ms. Gilbride’s legal acumen, combined with her compelling character traits of perseverance and integrity, make her uniquely suited to serve on our nation’s courts.  She has devoted her career to representing the underserved and most vulnerable members of our society. From her early legal work representing disabled Americans fighting for equal treatment and opportunity, to her extraordinary appellate work on behalf of citizens returning from incarceration who, as consumers, were being charged outrageous prepaid card fees, to her successful legal work to hold predatory debt collectors accountable, Ms. Gilbride has demonstrated not only superior oral and written legal skills, but also an unyielding dedication to protecting and serving the public interest.

As the executive director of the National Consumers League, I have witnessed Ms. Gilbride’s stalwart legal advocacy on behalf of consumers. She is a precise and thoughtful legal thinker. Many of us in the consumer community have admired her ability to explain complex legal concepts in basic terms, have benefitted from her willingness to comment on draft briefs and help other attorneys prepare for oral argument. She is a skilled advocate, a generous colleague, and a powerful public ambassador to policymakers on issues that are important to consumers.

Our federal courts must reflect the full range of professional legal experience, including those with legal services backgrounds. Karla Gilbride, who has used her prodigious legal skills to effectively represent marginalized people while also combatting challenges in her own life, is exactly the kind of judge the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals needs.

We thank you for your consideration and ask if you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Sally Greenberg

Executive Director

National Consumers League

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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.
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MLK legacy needed in 2021 more than ever

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By Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director

As our nation celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Day this week, let’s not forget the beautiful legacy of Dr. King at this difficult time in America.

Dr. King was a role model for all of us in how to bring about change peacefully. “True pacifism,” or “nonviolent resistance is a courageous confrontation of evil by the power of love,” Dr. King wrote. What America needs now—perhaps more than ever before—is Dr. King’s message and his devotion to nonviolent racial equality.

Here in Washington, DC, the 704+ thousand of us who call this city home (and still have no voting rights in Congress) are surrounded by tall fences, members of the National Guard carrying AK 47s, and barbed wire. This is sadly necessary to protect the President and Vice President at their January 20 Inauguration from violence by the likes of the white supremacist mobs who were wearing Trump hats, carrying Confederate flags, and who stormed the Capitol on January 6. Many chanted “Hang Mike Pence,” Mr. Trump’s own Vice President, and searched for Speaker Nancy Pelosi in hopes of assassinating her.

How ironic that as we celebrate the life of the remarkable American icon and civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, the Memorial in his honor on the National Mall must be closed due to threats of violence.

King taught us that violence is not inevitable nor necessary to effect social change. Over the past year, 93 percent of Black Lives Matter protests were peaceful. Dr. King would have been proud of that.

So here’s to Dr. Martin Luther King, who was and remains a role model to so many Americans and an inspiration to millions more.

The Board and staff of the National Consumers League expresses condolences to Congressman Raskin on loss of his beloved son

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For immediate release: January 7, 2020

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org, (412) 945-3242 or Taun Sterling, tauns@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC–The National Consumers League wishes to express our deepest condolences to our dear friend and colleague, Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and his wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin, on the tragic loss of their beloved son Tommy on New Year’s Eve.

Tommy was a wildly creative, energetic, passionate, brilliant young man with a wonderful sense of humor and so much promise. He was a treasured son, brother, grandson, cousin, and friend to so many. We mourn the loss of this outstanding young man. Tommy left this world far too soon, but we know that because of him, the world is a better place.

Once again, our hearts break for Tommy’s parents, sisters, and friends. Our thoughts are with the Raskin family during this terrible time.

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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 House passage of safety bills

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December 17, 2019

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org, (412) 945-3242 or Taun Sterling, tauns@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC–The National Consumers League applauds the passage by the House of Representatives of three bills to protect consumers, all of which came from the Energy and Commerce Committee.

“We are grateful for the leadership of Chairman Pallone and Subcommittee Chair Schakowsky in getting these bills through the Committee and to the House floor for passage,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “The House is taking an important in protecting Americans—especially our children—from dangerous products and protecting consumers from overseas scams.  Children are the most vulnerable consumers, and they need our advocacy. Products that prove dangerous to their health and wellbeing – like inclined sleepers and crib bumpers – should no longer be on the market, and we hope the Senate takes up these bills immediately. Thanks once again to the bipartisan efforts through the Commerce Committee and full House leadership for these important consumer protection measures.”

The House passed the following bills:

H.R. 4779, a bill to extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders Act of 2006, reauthorizes the U.S. SAFE WEB Act, which improved the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) ability to combat unfair or deceptive acts or practices that are international in scope, through Fiscal Year 2027 and requires the FTC to issue a report to Congress describing the Commission’s use of and experience with the authority granted by the Act. 

H.R. 2647, the “Safer Occupancy Furniture Flammability Act” or “SOFFA,” adopts the California upholstered furniture flammability standard as a national flammability standard for upholstered furniture to limit exposure to toxic flame retardant chemicals. 

H.R. 3172, the “Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2019,” designates inclined sleepers for infants as banned hazardous products under the Consumer Product Safety Act. The bill was amended to include the text of H.R. 3170, the “Safe Cribs Act of 2019,” which also designates crib bumpers as banned hazardous 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.