Labor Day’s dark reality: The alarming rise in child labor in America (Op-ed by NCL CEO Sally Greenberg was first published in USA Today, Sep 2, 2024)

/in , , , , , , , /by

By Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League and Chair of the Child Labor Coalition

It may seem counterintuitive to suggest that, on Labor Day, we devote our attention to a subset of the American population who should not be working, or at least not working in jobs that are entirely inappropriate for them.

According to the Department of Labor, the number of minors involved in documented child labor violations (not including the ones that are never reported) increased a mind-boggling 472 % between 2015 and 2023, with teenagers working late night shifts, too many hours, and working in hazardous environments. It can be speculated that, as labor shortages have worsened in this country, employers are turning to those under 18 to fill those gaps.

It’s not supposed to be this way.

Back in the early 20th-century industrialization era, children made up a large portion of the labor force in factories and mines.  This led to inhumane abuses and demands by groups like the National Consumers League to institute legal protections. Congress responded by passing the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938, which, among other provisions, limited the number of hours a minor could work, reduced their exposure to unsafe jobs, and ensured they didn’t have to work during the hours they should be in school.

This was a historic achievement for the National Consumers League, now celebrating its 125th anniversary. However, it’s a bitter reality that the organization is once again having to make child labor reforms an urgent priority.

Despite the safeguards of the FLSA, recent news reports highlight the alarming rise of child labor violations across the U.S., accompanied by a predominantly Republican and industry-led effort to attack state labor laws with the goal of weakening the FLSA. Over the past three years, twenty-eight states have introduced legislation undermining crucial protections for child laborers.

What is incomprehensible is that, instead of trying to correct a situation that is so obviously wrong, efforts have been made to weaken restrictions on hazardous work for teenagers and to extend the number of hours they can be called upon to work. Instead of trying to protect children, lawmakers are answering the calls of industry to make it easier for them to be exploited.

Children fall asleep in school today because they’ve come straight to class from working graveyard shifts. Teachers have contacted authorities when they found chemical burns on students’ limbs. A teenager had to have both legs amputated after an industrial accident while working for a construction company. And, most recently, a 16-year-old was electrocuted while working a roofing job.

We implore lawmakers to toughen existing penalties for employers who choose to ignore the law and exploit and endanger children.

On this Labor Day, it is right and necessary to ask our policymakers to renew their commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of all our children and recognize their value as a part of this country’s future instead of as a cheap source of labor.

###

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 among one of many organizations expressing concern for the growing catalytic converter theft problem

/in , , , , , , , , , , /by

August 29, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL), along with many other organizations representing a cross-section of industry and interested stakeholders, signed a letter to the chairs of both the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation expressing their strong support of an amendment to combat the growing national problem of catalytic converter theft. Catalytic converters are being stolen at increasingly high rates because they contain valuable metals, such as rhodium, platinum, and palladium.

NCL’s CEO Sally Greenberg recently shared her own catalytic converter theft experience in this blog post.

The letter to the committees can be found here.

###

 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 bill to curb child labor and other worker abuses

/in , , , , , , , , , , /by

July 31, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) applauds the July 26th introduction of legislation in the House of Representatives to increase fines for labor violations for workers, including child laborers and wage theft victims. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), the ranking Democrat on the Education and Workforce Committee, introduced the Labor Enforcement to Securely (LET’S) Protect Workers Act, H.R. 9137, which currently has 14 cosponsors.

“‘The LET’S Protect Workers Act’ would deal a blow to unscrupulous employers who exploit workers,” said Sally Greenberg, chief executive officer of NCL. “This much-needed, comprehensive bill will help protect child workers, farmworkers, miners, and others at risk by increasing civil monetary penalties for labor abuses and unfair labor practices. NCL and the Child Labor Coalition, which NCL chairs, heartily endorse the legislation.”

“Unfortunately, shortcomings in our labor laws enable unethical employers to exploit workers, endanger children, and suppress the right to organize—with little accountability.” said Rep. Scott. “That’s why I’m proud to introduce the ‘LET’S Protect Workers Act,’ which will hold bad actors accountable and strengthen penalties for labor law violations. This bill will help level the playing field and, once again, restore the balance of power between workers and their employers,” said Rep. Scott.

The ‘LET’S Protect Workers Act,’ says Rep. Scott, will:

  • Increase civil penalties for violations of child labor, minimum wage and overtime, worker health and safety, and farmworker protection standards.
  • Improve mine safety and reliable funding of black lung benefits through new and increased civil monetary penalties and the option to shut down scofflaw operators.
  • Set new penalties for retaliation against workers who exercise their family and medical leave rights.
  • Strengthen enforcement of mental health parity requirements for employer-sponsored health plans.
  • Close a loophole that allows employers to escape penalties for failing to keep records of workplace injuries if OSHA does not detect the violation within six months.
  • Create new penalties for violations of the National Labor Relations Act, consistent with the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.

“The ‘LET’S Protect Workers Act’ will increase maximum fines for child labor violations by a factor of ten—from the current $15,000 to a maximum of $150,000,” said Reid Maki, NCL’s director of Child Labor Advocacy. “This bill is a much-needed boost to the current law and will help to deter a range of troubling labor violations.”

###

 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.

PBMs are driving the increase in out-of-pocket healthcare costs for consumers, says NCL

/in , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

July 23, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) today submitted a letter to both the Republican and Democratic chairs of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability expressing concerns about pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) driving the increase in out-of-pocket healthcare costs for American consumers. The letter was submitted just as the committee was conducting a hearing with top executives from Express Scripts, CVS Caremark, and Optum Rx.

The following statement is attributable to NCL’s Chief Executive Officer Sally Greenberg:

“We are concerned that these anti-consumer practices are putting the profits of insurance companies and their PBMs before patients, local pharmacies, employers, and state governments. Congress has an opportunity to review these corporate practices and work to ensure a reduced market power, thus minimizing the incentives for PBMs to steer patients towards higher-priced medicines, claim higher and higher rebates to fatten their bottom line, and ultimately driving independent pharmacies out of business.”

The full letter can be accessed here.

###

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 sues Washington Nationals over junk fees not disclosed in advertised prices

/in , , , , , , , , , /by

July 17, 2024

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL) announced that it has sued the Washington Nationals on behalf of a class of affected consumers in the District of Columbia and beyond for violations of the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act in connection with Nationals’ single-game ticket sales practices.

Consumers are entitled to truthful information from merchants, including information about prices. According to NCL’s complaint, the Nationals advertised deceptively low prices for their tickets by failing to disclose mandatory “ticket processing” fees that could increase ticket prices by more than 25%. The complaint explains that tickets the Nationals advertised on their website as “starting at $9” actually cost $11.25 once the mandatory “ticket processing fee” was added, and that in reality, the Nationals never intended to sell those tickets “starting at $9” on their official website.

Concealing fees of this sort – commonly known as “junk fees” – until late in the transaction is a misleading practice known as “drip pricing,” which frustrates and harms consumers, according to the complaint.

NCL’s complaint alleges that this has been a practice for the Nationals for years, and that these ticketing practices are misleading – and illegal under D.C. law. The D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA), D.C. Code § 28-3901 et seq., provides a robust set of protections for consumers.  Among other things, it protects the basic right not to be misled about the price of goods and services being offered for sale.

“It’s disappointing that ticket sellers like the Nationals hide the real price of their tickets from consumers until so late in the process,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s chief executive officer. “The junk fees attached to the Nationals’ tickets are wrong, and they’re illegal.  We hope this lawsuit brings some much-needed reforms to the ticketing industry to help protect consumers from these abusive practices.”

NCL’s lawsuit seeks damages on behalf of the class of consumers as well as other relief.

Read the full complaint here.

###

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.

Understanding the transformative potential of the Juneteenth holiday

/in , /by

By Sally Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer, NCL

As I sat in my home study and contemplated the meaning of the Juneteenth holiday last month – with all the division in the country, with states banning discussions about racial and other forms of discrimination in schools, 8 States Debat[ing] Bills to Restrict How Teachers Discuss Racism, Sexism, and a Supreme Court decision banning schools from considering affirmative action in admissions – I could be just sad. But, unexpectedly, the Washington Post brought some encouraging news.

More on that in a minute.

First some definitions: Juneteenth is a federal holiday that marks the day when enslaved people in Galveston, TX were informed by a Union general  two years after the Emancipation Proclamation that they were free. What is Juneteenth? Learn the history behind the federal holiday’s origins and name. Their enslavers had not bother to tell them.

So, Juneteenth gives Americans the opportunity to think, talk, discuss, and learn about the scourge of slavery in the United States and how it finally ended. Juneteenth is also an opportunity to talk about history and what followed emancipation; the passage of Jim Crow laws intended to keep emancipated slaves in a state of poverty, and included rampages against Black communities in many cities throughout the nation, most notoriously in Tulsa, OK where the  1921 Tulsa Race Massacre took place and where thousands of lynchings of African Americans and others, including Native Americans. And in 1913, Frank Leo, a Jew who was tried and pardoned, was hanged by an anti-Semitic lynch mob in Georgia. In fact, no ethnic group was immune from these attacks,  including the Irish and Italian Irish and Italian neighborhoods.

Shouldn’t we be teaching our kids about these events?

Sadly, there is a backlash from conservatives across America to “talk” about our history, as evidenced by the Supreme Court’s decision noted above. That recent decision also unleashed attacks on corporate efforts at diversity.

But a new survey in published in the Washington Post (WAPO) today buoyed me. Yes, there has been backlash against teaching American history; this includes bans on discussing the history of slavery, but also a long history of discrimination against Black, Hispanic, Asian, Jewish, Native, and LGBT Americans citizens throughout our nation’s existence.

However, the WAPO poll suggests the public supports teaching about these issues. The April 2024 survey found that most Americans – 61 percent overall – thinks that having Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs in U.S. companies is a good thing.

Support for programs to increase racial diversity in the workplace remained steady over the past year, despite the attacks from conservatives. Last year, 62 percent of Americans said efforts to increase racial diversity in workplaces were a good thing, according to a Post-Ipsos poll. Most popular were mentorship opportunities for underrepresented groups with 75 percent of Americans supporting.

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has banned DEI in his state, including at public colleges and universities. America First Legal, a group backed by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller, has filed legal complaints over diversity practices at scores of companies, including United Airlines, Kellogg’s, Nike, and organizations such as the FBI, National Football League, and Major League Baseball.

But the WAPO poll also found that more than 8 in 10 Americans overall said they believe the country has made progress on that front since the 1950s, but perceived progress differs by racial and ethnic groups.

The Post article didn’t take sides or draw any broad conclusions but what this polling says to me is that there is a lot more support for raising awareness about civil rights, teaching about our nation’s history – and all of it – and conducting mentorship and DEI trainings, and with it teaching and learning about the history of racial and other forms of discrimination in America. That should give all of us who support more – not less – education and DEI in general – cause for hope. What better day to celebrate that hope than Juneteenth.

###

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 staff attends consumer protection brownbag

/in , , /by

By Sally Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer, NCL

On June 25, 2024, the National Consumers League (NCL) joined the Consumer Protection Brownbag event, moderated by Adam Teitelbaum, the Director of the Office of Consumer Protection at the DC Attorney General’s Office.

I shared the history and mission of NCL and discussed our more recent successes, including NCL’s advocacy role for workers in DC receiving minimum wage through the “One Fair Wage” initiative and the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024, which now includes automatic refunds for flight cancellations and excessive delays and the elimination of fees for parents to sit with their children. We also discussed anti-trust concerns with the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger and the ongoing lawsuit involving the DOJ and DC OAG. Moreover, I spoke about our case against Starbucks for false claims regarding ethically sourced products. Finally, I covered a range of consumer protection efforts, from fraud prevention and unit pricing enforcement to proposed alcohol labeling reforms.

Erin Witte, Director of Consumer Protection at the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), spoke about the mission of CFA and her personal journey from criminal lawyer to consumer protections advocate. She outlined CFA’s current focus areas, including tackling junk fees, combating forced arbitration clauses that limit consumers’ legal recourse, and advocating for product safety, food and alcohol regulations, investor protection, and insurance reforms. She also discussed the link between credit scores and car insurance, and how this association is one of the primary drivers of rising insurance costs. Witte highlighted CFA’s collaboration with regulatory agencies to address these pressing consumer issues.

Witte, Teitelbaum, and I responded to questions during the question and answer session about the obstacles faced by attorneys and advocates pursuing consumer protections and how the possible changes in administrative deference could affect the future of consumer protection.

###

NCL applauds Supreme Court for siding with consumer protection in upholding CFPB’s constitutionality

/in , , , , , , , /by

May 16, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is pleased to celebrate the victory for consumers in today’s Supreme Court decision. In upholding the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) funding structure, the Court has rejected extremist legal theories and allowed the agency to continue its important work to maintain a fair financial marketplace and promote economic and racial justice.

“The Supreme Court delivered a blow to the payday lending industry who challenged the CFPB’s funding for their own commercial gain. This is good news for consumers across the country,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s CEO. “The Court’s ruling clears a cloud over agency’s work and makes clear that financial regulators will not be gutted on behalf of special interests.”

The Bureau’s funding structure was key to its independence from short-term political agendas, similar to the Federal Reserve Board and other key regulators. Without the CFPB, consumers would be vulnerable to a slew of junk fees, predatory collection practices, and unfair application processes for some of their biggest financial decisions.

Further reading:

  • NCL statement on Fifth Circuit decision to invalidate CFPB’s independence
  • NCL applauds the CFPB’s effort to prohibit junk fees in financial services
  • NCL supports CFPB’s proposal to remove medical debt from credit reports
  • NCL applauds decisive action by CFPB against fraudulent payments processor
  • NCL supports confirmation of Rohit Chopra as CFPB director
  • Leading consumer groups call on FTC and CFPB to update study on accuracy of consumer data

###

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 statement on Senate Reintroduction of Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act

/in , , , , , , , /by

May 15, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

Washington, DC – Last week, Senate Democrats reintroduced legislation to revamp federal cannabis policy. The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act aims to legalize cannabis at the federal level, create a new regulatory framework for cannabis, expand research into cannabis’ potential and risks, and more.  The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization, has been actively monitoring the growing threats to consumer safety as the market for untested, unapproved cannabis products has exploded. NCL Chief Executive Officer, Sally Greenberg, released the following statement:

“We are grateful to Senators Schumer, Wyden, and Booker for their ongoing leadership in this space and for acknowledging the critical role of FDA in helping to protect public health. As cannabis products have grown in popularity – and most recently, high THC products have perpetuated the market – it is increasingly important that, if cannabis is legalized, our federal policies and regulations are science-based and prioritize public health. We know that cannabis manufacturers often make misleading or even false claims about their products ability to mitigate or even cure various health issues and consequently our leaders must help consumers better navigate this marketplace across the U.S. FDA is best positioned to achieve that outcome. A new report reiterates the need to ensure that FDA has sufficient regulatory tools and resources to mitigate public health risks and that more research be done to better understand the benefits, risks, drug interactions, etc. of cannabis products.”

Learn more about the cannabis consumer market and the path to safe cannabis at cannabiswatch.org.

###

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.

Dallas High School team from Pennsylvania wins 2024 National LifeSmarts Championship

/in , , , , /by

April 24, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

Washington, DC – Pennsylvania’s Dallas High School students were crowned the 2024 National Varsity LifeSmarts Champion in San Diego, California, this past Sunday, April 21. Coached by Kevin West, the Pennsylvania team consisted of Captain Marie Popielarz, Artem Smagin, Kareem Almeky, Riley Dewey, and Mahi Dohl.

Joining them in the final match was the Selah Gold FCCLA team from Selah, Washington. Members of the Washington team were Captain Hannah Christianson, Macie Ladd, Indiana Hilmes, and Hannah Rees, with Jeff and Dania Cochran serving as their coaches.

Rounding out the final four teams were the Crosby High School Bulldogs from Connecticut and the Country Clovers 4-H team from Delaware 4-H.

This year’s competition marked the 30th anniversary of LifeSmarts, the youth consumer education program of the National Consumers League. Forty-seven student teams—consisting of 230 students—traveled from across the country to compete over four days at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina in San Diego.

“This year’s Nationals was special because we are celebrating 30 years of the LifeSmarts program, with this year’s event being our largest competition to date,” said LifeSmarts Program Director Lisa Hertzberg. “I want to congratulate all the teams and their coaches who came to San Diego to compete, learn from each other, and have fun. Congratulations to this year’s winning team from Dallas High School in Dallas, Pennsylvania!”

LifeSmarts is an education and scholarship program run by the Washington, DC-based National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization. It competitively tests junior high / middle school, and high school student’s knowledge of five topic areas including consumer rights and responsibilities, personal finance, health & safety, technology & workforce preparation, and the environment in online and in-person competitions using a quiz bowl-style format. LifeSmarts is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in partnership with student leadership programs such as 4-H BPA, FBLA, FCCLA, and SkillsUSA.

Each student on the first-place team received a $1,500.00 scholarship; second-place team members received $1,000.00 scholarships; and third-place team members received $750 scholarships. Team members who placed fourth received gift cards.

Teens from each of the 47 teams represented at Nationals also competed as individuals, and the top-scoring student in each LifeSmarts topic received a $500 scholarship from NCL. The 2024 winners are:

  • Consumer Rights and Responsibilities: Maria Huck, West Virginia
  • Environment: Artem Smagin, Pennsylvania
  • Health and Safety: Martaja Powell, Alabama
  • Personal Finance: Blake Sullivan, Missouri
  • Technology and Workforce Preparation: Jeremiah Hawley, Wyoming

Coleman Mangham from Varsity Wild Card 1 (Tift County 4-H, Georgia) and Shelby Brewer from Massaponax High School in Virginia were awarded co-LifeSmarts Students of the Year. They each received $100 Amazon gift cards.

Winning recognition as LifeSmarts Coaches of the Year were Ginger Walters from Massaponax High School and Sahvanna Mease from Calhan High School Colorado. Both coaches received $100 Amazon gift cards.

LifeSmarts State Coordinators of the Year were awarded to Mary Hillmann of Minnesota, and Kay Johnson and Tammie McCarthy, both from Wisconsin.

The Sarah Weinberg LifeSmarts Memorial Scholarship, given each year to a student who demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to community service, was awarded to Marie Popielarz from Pennsylvania.

Many LifeSmarts teams entered the anti-counterfeiting digital poster contest, sponsored by Amazon. Winners of the digital poster contest were: School Without Walls, District of Columbia; Buffalo High School FBLA, Wyoming; Calhan High School Varsity, Colorado; Sweepstakes Team 3, Blair Oaks High School, Missouri; West Chicago High School, Illinois; JCHS FCCLA, Kansas; Tift County 4-H, Georgia; Sweepstakes Team 2, West Feliciana High School, Louisiana; Sweepstakes Team 4, Larimer County 4-H, Colorado; and Riverside High School / Hi-Point Career Center BPA, Ohio. Each team received a $100 cash prize.

Winners in the identity theft essay contest were Kyle Bakhsh – Sweepstakes Team 1 (Cobb County 4-H, Georgia); Parker Bennett – Sweepstakes Team 4 – Louisiana; Allie Higgins – Idaho;  Maria Huck – West Virginia, and Kristina Plank – Riverside High School/ Ohio Hi-Point Career Center BPA . Each received a $1,000 scholarship, courtesy of Norton.

Kenvue sponsored scholarships that were awarded to five students who excelled in educational and outreach efforts in OTC medicine safety. Winners were Alex Piscane, Florida; Chloe Doiron, Sweepstakes Team 2, West Feliciana High School Louisiana; Kyle Bakhsh, Sweepstakes Team 1, Cobb County 4-H, Georgia; Mahi Dohl, Dallas High School, Pennsylvania; and Natalie Rodriguez, Econoponax, Massaponax High School, Virginia.

The top teams in the TikTok/Instagram videos on OTC medicine safety garnered praise from the contest’s judges and were recognized with achievement certificates. The schools recognized were:

  • Sweepstakes 4- Colorado, Larimer County 4-H, Colorado
  • School Without Walls, Washington, DC
  • Gordon County 4-H Varsity, Georgia
  • Junction City High School FCCLA, Varsity WC 3, Kansas
  • John Marshall High LifeSmarts for Life, West Virginia
  • Minidoka County 4-H, Teal Taters 4-H Varsity, Idaho
  • Litchville-Marion High School, The Money Hounds, North Dakota
  • Dallas High School, Pennsylvania
  • Benton County 4-H, Norton WC 2, Arkansas
  • Pryor High School Tigers, Oklahoma
  • Blair Oaks High School Team Falcon, Sweepstakes Team 3, Missouri
  • Tift County 4-H, Varsity WC 1, Georgia

The LifeSmarts Team Spirit Award went to Odessa High School FBLA from Missouri. The team demonstrated outstanding camaraderie and great sportsmanship throughout the four-day championship.

Awards for best t-shirt design, Instagram contest, and meme and pin design were also announced. The best meme went to Francis Marion FBLA, Alabama. The People’s Choice t-shirt winner was JCHS FCCLA, Kansas and the LifeSmarts team t-shirt award went to West Virginia’s John Marshall High School. The Instagram contest winner was Odessa High School, Missouri. The inaugural LifeSmarts pin design contest was won by Gracie Erichsen of Junction City High School FCCLA, Kansas, and Landon Rourke and Layson Ferguson of West Feliciana High School, Louisiana.

“Students who come to Nationals are some of the most dedicated and competitive students in the country. Their knowledge of consumer topics is vast, which is commendable because that is the goal we set for the LifeSmarts program—to be well-informed consumers,” said NCL Chief Executive Officer Sally Greenberg. “The information they acquire through this program will help them become savvy and well-informed consumers.”

Sponsors of the 2024 National LifeSmarts Championship were Amazon, Kenvue, Norton, Discover, Tide, FICO, Comcast Universal, Melaleuca, AARP, Bayer, JP Morgan Chase, American Express, Washington State Employees Credit Union, and Zillow.

At Sunday’s closing ceremony, NCL announced that Chicago, Illinois will be hosting the 2025 National LifeSmarts Championship next year.

To learn more about NCL’s youth consumer education program, visit LifeSmarts.

Photos from the 2024 National LifeSmarts Championships can be found here.

###

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.