House budget resolution bad for consumers and America

/in , /by

Budget blueprint would slash Medicaid and eliminate vital manufacturing and green energy policies

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

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 weaken Medicaid, which provides health insurance for nearly 72 million Americans.

“So much for America first,” said Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League. “The House Republican’s budget resolution puts everyday Americans last and corporate interests first.  No matter where you live—in a red state or blue state—this budget will hurt consumers. The proposed draconian cuts to Medicaid could deprive millions of hardworking Americans of access to affordable, quality healthcare.  Eliminating vital manufacturing and clean energy policies will harm our nation’s competitiveness, workforce, environment, and health. All of this for the sake of tax breaks for ultra-wealthy corporations that merely pocket the taxes and ship jobs overseas anyway. This is bad for consumers and bad for America.”

###

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 strongly supports the FTC noncompete rule 

/in , , , /by

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

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.

The rule reflects a fundamental principle: workers should have the freedom to advance their careers, whether they’re in healthcare, fast food, or any other field. Allowing employees to switch employers for better pay and working conditions without facing penalties or legal roadblocks is a matter of fairness.

“The rule aligns with the values of fairness and competition that benefit workers and consumers alike,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “It’s time to ensure that the workforce is empowered to thrive, and we urge the 5th Circuit to uphold the FTC’s authority in protecting workers from exploitative practices.”

###

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

/in , , , , , , , /by

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

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.

In its letter to the White House, the Meat Institute is pushing for the elimination of critical protections such as the Clean Water Act, food safety regulations, and farmworker protections under the Packers and Stockyards Act. NCL is opposed to these efforts, warning that weakening these protections will lead to further exploitation of workers and unsafe food production practices.

“The history of the meat industry is a stark reminder of why these protections exist,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “The horrifying conditions Upton Sinclair exposed in The Jungle led to critical reforms such as the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906—laws that NCL championed that continue to safeguard public health and ensure the safety of our food supply. We cannot afford to go backward.”

The emergence of widespread child labor in the meatpacking industry, with children working in hazardous conditions, echoes the dark past that led to these crucial regulations. The Meat Institute’s push to dismantle regulations on food safety, water pollution, and worker protections will not only harm workers, but also put consumers at risk. Without these safeguards, the public could face unsafe food products, environmental damage, and the continued exploitation of vulnerable workers.

###

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 groups file comments supporting DOT delay compensation rules 

/in , , /by

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

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.

NCL, the American Economic Liberties Project, Consumer Action, the Consumer Federation of America, and Travelers United called for:

  • Automatic cash compensation to consumers affected by flight disruptions that could have been prevented by the carrier
  • Food, drink, and lodging during disruptions
  • Maximum customer service wait times of 10 minutes
  • Rebooking on the next available flight
  • Prompt notice to disrupted travelers of their legal rights

The full comments can be found here.

Further reading:

### 

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

/in , /by

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

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.

As of this week, an agreement was made between the two North American countries to delay the tariffs for 30 days. This temporary pause allows time to see if these actions can lead to a solution without the need for harsh tariffs. If the agreements are not met or progress is not made, the tariffs could go back into effect after the 30-day period.

While these tariffs are framed as efforts to address national security concerns, the reality is that they could place an undue burden on everyday Americans. Consumers are already facing inflationary pressures, and these additional costs may only exacerbate the financial challenges that families and businesses face. The proposed 25% additional tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico, along with a 10% tariff on energy resources, will directly drive-up prices on essential goods. NCL is concerned that consumers could feel the impact when they purchase everything from groceries to vehicles, as the increased tariffs is expected to add to the cost of manufacturing and transportation. An estimate from the non-partisan Tax Foundation puts the cost of the proposed tariffs at $800 per household this year.

“We are deeply concerned that these tariffs could hurt everyday Americans,” NCL CEO Sally Greenberg said. “Products consumers rely on daily, from fruits and vegetables to meat and energy could see price increases as supply chains are disrupted. Higher prices on basic goods would make life harder for families across the country, all as a result of these ill-conceived trade policies.”        

###

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 strongly opposes the ‘Nullify Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act’ 

/in , , /by

Washington, DC – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL) voices its strong opposition to the newly introduced legislation, the Nullify Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act, which seeks to abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This legislation, introduced by Republican Congressman Andy Biggs, would repeal the landmark Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, eliminating vital federal workplace safety regulations. This would not only jeopardize the health and safety of millions of American workers but also threaten progress made in reducing workplace hazards.

“This bill would be a catastrophic step backward for worker safety in this country,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “Repealing OSHA would put workers at great risk by dismantling the very protections that have helped reduce workplace injuries and deaths for over 50 years. Without OSHA, many workers will be left vulnerable to unsafe conditions, and it will be the most vulnerable—low-income and minority workers—who will bear the brunt of dangerous rollbacks. Additionally, OSHA plays a crucial role in ensuring children’s safety in the workforce by holding corporations accountable and enforcing laws against dangerous, illegal labor practices. We need to build on the progress made in workplace safety, not dismantle it.”

For over fifty years, OSHA has been instrumental in safeguarding workers from hazardous conditions, significantly reducing workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. When OSHA was founded in 1970, an estimated 14,000 workers were killed on the job each year, as compared with 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded in the U.S. in 2023, despite far more workers today. This is a remarkable track record of improving worker safety.

This is a direct result of OSHA’s regulations and oversight, saving countless lives. Mr. Biggs’ legislation threatens to undo these gains and will leave workers, including children, vulnerable to unsafe working conditions.

###

About the National Consumers League (NCL)

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneering consumer organization, dedicated to workers’ safety and the protection of children from labor exploitation. Our mission is to promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL urges swift passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act

/in , , , , /by

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

Washington, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senators Cruz and Klobuchar reintroduced the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a bill that would make it illegal to post non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) and require platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of notice. NCL strongly supports the TAKE IT DOWN Act and calls on the new Congress to prioritize swift passage of the measure. Last year, the legislation passed the Senate and was set to clear the House of Representatives, until Elon Musk intervened in end-of-year negotiations. 

“The TAKE IT DOWN Act has overwhelming bipartisan support. There’s no reason this can’t pass within the first 100 days.” said NCL Senior Public Policy Manager Eden Iscil. “Victims of NCII shouldn’t face pushback from digital platforms when they ask for the images of themselves to be removed. This bill would make that request a federal right.” 

The legislation also covers AI-generated NCII (i.e. deepfakes), a growing issue that can be just as damaging as in-person photography. 

###

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 commends CFPB’s rule to eliminate medical debt from credit reports

/in , /by

The National Consumer Law Center and a coalition of other leading consumer-focused organizations, including the National Consumers League, released the following press statement on January 7, 2025.

Sally Greenberg, NCL’s CEO, said “The magnitude of medical debt in America is crippling:100 million Americans carry medical debt that is not caused by profligate spending, but often by medical emergencies. Thus, punishing Americans who carry this debt by harming their credit scores, forcing them to turn to predatory lending if they need a car or home loan multiplies the harm. The CFPB’s rule stopping credit reporting agencies from sharing medical debt with lenders will prevent adding to the burden of the 15 million Americans with lowered credit scores due to medical debt. NCL supports this important rule.”

CFPB Rule Removes Medical Debts from Credit Reports

January 7, 2025 — Press Release

15 Million Americans Will See Credit Scores Improve 

Washington, DC– Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule to stop the harmful impact of medical debt on consumers’ credit scores. The rule will stop credit reporting companies from sharing medical debts with lenders and prohibit lenders from making lending decisions based on existing medical debt.

“Medical debt has damaged the financial record of tens of millions for far too long, causing credit rejections and pushing costs even higher for Americans struggling financially,” said Chi Chi Wu, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. “The CFPB continues with its impressive record of protecting consumers, providing critical relief to the 15 million Americans with unjustly lowered credit scores due to medical debt.”

Even though medical debt has minimal predictive value in forecasting about whether people will pay their loan payments, vast amounts of medical debt information remains in the credit reporting system. Medical debt unjustly damages the credit scores of millions, limiting their ability to obtain affordable credit, rent safe housing, or even get a job. It also assists debt collectors in seeking to coerce payments, including for inaccurate or false medical bills.

The big three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Transunion, Experian) voluntarily removed some medical collections information starting in 2022, but in 2024 the CFPB found that 15 million Americans still had more than $49 billion in outstanding medical debt on their credit reports. Consumers left behind by industry efforts were more likely to live in the South and in predominantly Black and Latino/Hispanic neighborhoods.

“Today’s medical debt rule will lessen the financial burdens for all households, but particularly for Black and Latine families, who carry more medical debt due to decades of intentionally racist policies and practices across health care, employment,housing, education, and financial services,” said Amanda N. Jackson, consumer campaign director for Americans for Financial Reform. “A good credit score is critical for participating in the U.S. economy, and this rule will continue to help lessen the negative credit impacts of medical debt.”

This rule is part of a larger initiative by the CFPB to address hidden junk fees charged by banks and financial companies that disproportionately impact low-income consumers. Since its formation, the CFPB has obtained over $21 billion in relief for over 205 million people. Despite its success and its popularity with the public, the agency’s future is at risk. Most recently, advisors to the President-elect have called for the CFPB to be shuttered. The medical debt credit reporting rule itself could also be overturned by Congress using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows Congress, with the President’s signature, to overturn new regulations.

“The medical debt rule shows how important the CFPB is to working people who are losing ground to corporate profiteering,” said Lauren Saunders, associate director at NCLC. “Working class folks must speak up to ensure the CFPB’s rule to limit medical debts on credit reports, and the CFPB itself, survive attacks by corporate America.”

The final rule does not apply to medical debts on credit cards, including specialized credit cards, which advocates had urged the CFPB to include. It also does not apply to credit reports used for non-lending purposes, such as employment and tenant screening

“Medical debt shouldn’t harm credit records regardless of how it shows up,” said April Kuehnhoff, senior attorney at NCLC. “And it shouldn’t damage the ability of Americans to get a job or an apartment.”

Additional Quotes

“When banking gets mixed up with health care, it causes a lot of heartache,” said Adam Rust, director of financial services for the Consumer Federation of America. “The CFPB’s new rule places a sensible boundary between the two. People often pay medical debt they know they do not owe to protect their credit scores. Others avoid seeking medical care, fearing it will harm their creditworthiness. The new rule means that medical debt collectors cannot weaponize the credit reporting system to their advantage, and sick people will not forego treatment just because they want to borrow money in the future.”

“The crushing financial burdens of medical debt should not continue to undermine people’s ability to take out a loan or qualify for a mortgage,” said Christine Chen Zinner, senior policy counsel at Americans for Financial Reform. “While today’s rule will help over 100 million people saddled with medical debt, this rule will critically lessen the negative credit impacts stemming from decades of racist housing, employment, healthcare, and other policies and practices that have left Black and Latine households with higher amounts of medical debt.”

“With this rule requiring removal of medical bills from credit reports, the CFPB protects millions of medical debt-strapped Americans from certain additional financial struggles triggered by the archaic credit reporting system,” said Christine Hines, senior policy director at the National Association of Consumer Advocates.

“Finalizing this rule is a big win for Mainers and people all over the country,” said Nora Flaherty-Stanford of Maine People’s Alliance. “More than 40% of Mainers say they’ve taken on medical debt in the last five years, and for most of them, it’s still hanging over their heads. We all know that’s not right, and as we celebrate this good news, we’re calling on our members of Congress to stand strong in supporting this rule and the CFPB.”

“Someone’s history of unexpected medical debt has no correlation with their willingness or ability to repay future bills, so it should have no bearing on a person’s access to credit, an apartment or a job,” says Ruth Susswein, Consumer Action’s director of consumer protection.

“Medical debt burdens millions of families across the country and can unfairly tarnish a person’s credit record, making it more difficult to qualify for an affordable loan, get a job, or even rent an apartment,” said Chuck Bell, advocacy program director for Consumer Reports. “Many consumers have medical debt on their credit reports that is inaccurate or under dispute because our medical billing and insurance reimbursement system is so complex and confusing. No one’s credit record should be ruined by medical debt since it’s not a reliable predictor of credit risk. The CFPB’s ban on medical debt reporting provides critical protection to consumers and will help ensure they can get the health care they need without fearing that their credit record will be damaged beyond repair.”

“This new rule is good news for at least 14 million people – including financially responsible families that have accumulated medical debt from unpredictable health issues, high out-of-pocket costs, insurance claim denials and billing errors,” said Patricia Kelmar, senior director of health care campaigns for U.S. PIRG. “We’ve known for years that medical debt is not predictive of credit-worthiness. The new rule builds on the CFPB’s important work on medical debt reporting and is yet another example of how the CFPB protects consumers from unfair practices.”

“Banning the reporting of medical debt will end the weaponization of credit reporting against those who are unlucky enough to get sick or injured and run up bills they cannot afford to pay,” said Renée Steinhagen, executive director, New Jersey Appleseed Public Interest Law Center and a member of the NJ for Healthcare Coalition. “Thanks to the new CFPB rule, they need no longer worry about their credit being ruined, which can make it harder to buy or rent a home or a car or even interfere with getting a job.”

“One in five New Jerseyans struggle with repaying medical debt,” said Beverly Brown Ruggia, Financial Justice Program director at New Jersey Citizen Action. “In a nation where good credit is essential for accessing housing, employment, and even medical care itself, it is unconscionable that anyone should face financial ruin and lose access to these basic necessities simply because they or a family member got sick. With this rule, the CFPB has stepped in once again to protect the most vulnerable among us from unfair treatment and potential financial devastation.”

“This landmark rule ensures consumers are no longer unfairly penalized for medical debt,” said Jennifer Holloway, staff attorney leading the Medical Debt Project at Tzedek DC. “By removing medical debt from credit reports, the CFPB helps individuals and families access housing, employment, and credit opportunities and advances racial and disability justice. This rule recognizes that access to medical care should not result in lifelong financial setbacks and will improve patients’ well-being by reducing stress and anxiety. Ultimately, this is a vital step toward supporting healthier and more financially secure communities.”

“The magnitude of medical debt in America is crippling:100 million Americans carry medical debt that is not caused by profligate spending, but often by medical emergencies. Thus punishing Americans who carry this debt by harming their credit scores, forcing them to turn to predatory lending if they need a car or home loan multiplies the harm,” said Sally Greenberg, chief executive officer at National Consumer League. “The CFPB’s rule stopping credit reporting agencies from sharing medical debt with lenders will prevent adding to the burden of the 15 million Americans with lowered credit scores due to medical debt. NCL supports this important rule.”

“This rule is a significant win for struggling Maryland families,” said Marceline White, executive director of Economic Action Maryland Fund (Economic Action). “More than 876,000 Maryland households have a medical debt they are unable to repay. No one should have their credit downgraded because they or a loved one fell ill and sought medical care.” 

“NALCAB – the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders applauds the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s final rule banning medical debt from credit reports. According to a report by the Urban Institute, adults who live in communities where the majority of the population are people of color are more likely to have medical debt in collections reported on their credit reports.  Today’s announcement will help boost the economic trajectory of Latinos and therefore further stimulate economic growth,” said Clarinda Landeros, Director of Public Policy, NALCAB. 

“As we work to create a country where healthcare is a human right, we must eliminate the many burdens of a healthcare system that puts profit over people,” said Katie Goldstein, Director of Housing and Healthcare Campaigns at Popular Democracy. “Too often, our people risk financial ruin when they seek medical care due to high costs and long term medical debt that impacts credit ratings and makes it more difficult to secure housing and employment. By eliminating medical debt from credit scores, today’s much-needed CFPB ruling will ease some of these barriers, will protect folks from predatory debt collectors, and will encourage more people to seek medical care with less fear of financial repercussions.”

“The National Fair Housing Alliance applauds the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s final rule banning medical debt from credit reports,” said Nikitra Bailey, executive vice president of the National Fair Housing Alliance. “Medical debt devastates the budgets of millions of families, especially those living in the South making it difficult for people living in the region to secure quality credit opportunities to purchase a home, start a business, or finance a car to get to work. It also disproportionately impacts Black and Latino consumers who are more likely to lack wealth to immediately address surprise medical expenses because they were long denied fair housing and lending opportunities. These medical debts can then result in collections reported on their credit reports, although the medical debits are not an accurate reflection of the consumer’s ability or willingness to repay debts. The CFPB’s final rule will help provide a more equitable path to access to credit and therefore further stimulate economic growth, especially in the South.”

“It surprises Alaskans when health insurance fails to protect them from the extremely high costs of healthcare in our state,” explained Claire Lubke, economic justice lead at Alaska Public Interest Research Group. “All it takes is an accidental visit to an out-of-network provider and we end up in a situation where 40% of Alaskans are holding medical debt, including military members and those with access to tribal health services. Allowing medical debt on credit reports punishes Alaskans for receiving medical care they need and often don’t realize is uncovered until it’s too late. AKPIRG commends the CFPB for improving access to necessary financial services for Alaskans who are working hard to overcome medical debt.”

“Medical debt often stems from unpredictable, unavoidable circumstances and shouldn’t stop access to financial opportunities. In Oregon, 30% of residents have incurred medical debt in the last two years. Of those residents, 85% report significant impacts, from increased stress and anxiety to financial hardship and delayed medical care. Oregon Consumer Justice applauds the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for finalizing this vital rule addressing medical debt on credit reports,” says Jagjit Nagra, executive director of Oregon Consumer Justice. “This rule is a critical first step in protecting consumers and promoting financial equity. In Oregon’s upcoming legislative session, we look forward to championing legislation that will further extend this rule’s impacts to exclude medical debt in employment and tenant screening and medical debt incurred using medical credit cards.”

“This rule not only relieves patients and their loved ones from the financial burden of medical debt on their credit reports, but also relieves them from the real and harmful physical and mental impacts of medical debt on their health,” said David Zhao, Equal Justice Works Fellow, sponsored by Amgen Inc. and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, at Public Counsel. “In Los Angeles, one in ten adults is substantially burdened by medical debt, leading them to be 2-3.5 times more likely to be food insecure, forgo prescriptions, and be unstably housed. Under the CFPB’s new rule, patients can break the cycle of delaying further medical care due to the stress and anxiety of having their medical bills show up on their credit reports.”

Related Resources

###

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’s latest podcast highlights the disparities with the 340B drug pricing program

/in , /by

January 6, 2025

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

Washington, DC – The National Consumer League (NCL) has released a new episode of its We Can Do This podcast, shedding light on the inequities and lack of transparency surrounding the 340B Drug Pricing Program. This federal initiative was designed to provide medications at reduced prices to low-income patients, but it has been manipulated by large healthcare entities to generate billions in profits with minimal oversight. As a result, the program’s intended beneficiaries—low-income patients—are often forced to pay full price for medications they cannot afford.

In this episode, NCL’s CEO Sally Greenberg is joined by Amy Hinojosa, President and CEO of MANA, a National Latina Organization, and founding member of the Health Equity Collaborative, and Dr. Ge Bai, an expert on healthcare accounting, finance, and policy at Johns Hopkins University about the shocking lack of transparency around a program that has more than doubled in cost to taxpayers reaching more than $120 Billion in 2022. Both experts emphasize the importance of accountability to ensure that the 340B program truly benefits those it was designed to serve.

“The 340B program was created as a ‘buy-low-sell-low’ initiative. But over the years, it has evolved into a ‘buy-low-sell-high’ program,” said Dr. Ge Bai. “Hospitals can still buy drugs at a low price, but when they sell those drugs, they do so at full price—without any discount. This allows hospitals to reap substantial profits from the difference between the discounted purchase price and the high selling price.”

The episode also discusses the bipartisan 340B ACCESS Act (HR 8574), proposed legislation aimed at restoring transparency and accountability to this critical healthcare program.

The 340B Access Act (HR 8574) seeks to:

  • Ensure that discounts directly reduce patient costs
  • Modernize contract pharmacy arrangements
  • Strengthen eligibility requirements
  • Implement public reporting measures
  • Prevent abuse by middlemen

“Entering this new legislative session, there is a real opportunity to leverage bipartisan support and push the 340B ACCESS Act across the finish line,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “The bottom line is that this program needs stronger guardrails to ensure that everyday Americans—especially those in underserved communities—have access to affordable medications.”

Additional Resources:

Dr. Ge Bai, PhD, CPA, Johns Hopkins University: Do Nonprofit Hospitals Deserve Their Tax Exemption?

340 B State Press Releases

 

###

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 death of President Jimmy Carter from NCL CEO Sally Greenberg

/in , , , , , , , /by

January 1, 2025

The National Consumers League (NCL) extends condolences to the family, friends, and community of former President Jimmy Carter upon his death this week. In addition to being an honest and effective Commander in Chief and humanitarian who expanded access to housing for low-income families through his work on Habitat for Humanity, President Carter should also be remembered as a great consumer champion.

During his presidency, Mr. Carter championed consumer protection in a variety of ways. He appointed labor and consumer champion Esther Peterson, who also served as president of the National Consumers League, to head the White Office of Consumer Affairs. Like President Lyndon Johnson (LBJ)  before him, who first named Peterson to the post of Special Adviser to the President Jimmy Carter understood that consumer rights permeate citizens’ experiences with companies and with government.

Unlike his processor, Mr. Carter gave Mrs. Peterson a staff and access to him personally in the Oval Office. As such, Mr. Carter elevated consumer protection far beyond LBJ’s decree. Along with re-appointing Esther Peterson, Carter issued a historic decree in April of 1978, “Memorandum from the President on Consumer Affairs,” the first of its kind, directing the heads of every government agency to take a series of steps to prioritize consumer protection. 

Notably, Mr. Carter stated that “the Agency for Consumer Advocacy is mainly designed for participation in very large administrative proceedings; it is only one of a number of steps which will better protect the consumer.”

On a personal note, I had the honor of meeting President Carter in 1978, when he appointed my aunt, Geri Joseph, to serve as Ambassador to the Netherlands. I was lucky to be able to attend her swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office. I found him to be kind and charming; despite a number of pressing matters, he took the time to introduce himself to every member of our family who was gathered for the occasion. 

###