NCL applauds confirmation of Dr. Murthy as ‘Nation’s Top Doctor’ – National Consumers League

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December 16, 2014

Contact: Ben Klein, National Consumers League, benk@nclnet.org, (202) 835-3323

Washington, DC – The nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization is lauding the confirmation of Dr. Vivek Murthy as U.S. Surgeon General after a 17-month political battle. On Monday, the Senate voted 51-43 to confirm Murthy to a post that had been vacant since July 2013. The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s pioneering consumer advocacy organization, works closely with the Surgeon General’s office on a variety of public health policy initiatives.

“Murthy, a great public health champion, is a strong advocate for the Affordable Care Act and, like the majority of Americans, for including reasonable gun policies as part of our nation’s health agenda. This vote was long overdue. Dr. Murthy is a widely respected physician and public health expert who can nobly fill the duties of the office of the Surgeon General. He is a leader, innovator, and entrepreneur in promoting public health,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL executive director. “For more than a year, many in Congress held the Surgeon General post hostage as confirmation votes were continuously delayed. We are pleased to have an ally and highly qualified public health expert occupying post as important as the nation’s top doctor.”

The National Consumers League has worked closely with the Surgeon General on medication adherence through its Script Your Future medication adherence campaign. Then-acting Surgeon General Rear Admiral Boris Lushniak spoke at the Script Your Future annual meeting in Washington, DC this November.

“Americans are fortunate to have someone of Dr. Murthy’s passion, creativity, and effectiveness in the job as Surgeon General,” said Greenberg. “We look forward to his tenure, to our continued joint work on medication adherence, and to supporting Dr. Murthy’s current and future initiatives as Surgeon General.”

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About the National Consumers League

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.

2015 Data Security Policy Agenda Urges Incoming Congress to Enact Stronger Protections – National Consumers League

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December 9, 2014

Contact: Ben Klein, National Consumers League, benk@nclnet.org, (202) 835-3323

Expert panel examines rising levels of fraud, identity theft and steps policymakers must take to confront the threat

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) today released its 2015 data security agenda for policymakers at a Capitol Hill briefing, where a panel of experts discussed actions the 114th Congress should take to improve data security at retailers, financial institutions, and government agencies.

“With the holiday shopping season in full swing after a year of seemingly endless data breaches, consumers are more concerned than ever about criminals stealing and exploiting their personal information,” said John Breyault, NCL’s Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud. “We want government, and particularly Congress, to address our nation’s data breach epidemic.”

Today’s discussion focused on NCL’s policy agenda, which lays out a series of measures lawmakers and regulators should take to protect consumers. It builds on the recommendations in NCL’s 2013 “State of Identity Theft” report and on innovative research NCL conducted this summer with Javelin Strategy and Research. Both studies found that the consumer impact of data breaches is severe, and that consumers urgently want government to act to protect their personal information from hackers and other criminals.

“Americans are losing confidence in our nation’s data security infrastructure as it fails again and again to protect our personal information,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director. “Right now, the bad guys have the upper hand. We can win this fight, but it won’t happen without leadership from Washington.”

Panelists at Tuesday’s briefing included Al Pascual, Director of Fraud and Security at Javelin Strategy and Research; Larry Clinton, President and CEO of the Internet Security Alliance; Jared Bomberg, Associate at Hogan Lovells LLP; Justin Brookman, Director of the Consumer Privacy Project and Center for Democracy & Technology; and Sam Simon, Senior Counsel to U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. 

Tuesday’s policy briefing was the latest event in NCL’s #DataInsecurity Project, an ongoing campaign to raise awareness and push for action on data security in light of an historic period of data breach incidents around the globe. The initiative continues tomorrow, December 10th, when the National Consumers League will join cyber security expert and investigative journalist Brian Krebs to discuss his new book, Spam Nation, and the rising occurrence of data breaches. More information can be found here.

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About the NCL #DataInsecurity Project

In 2013, there were 614 data breaches, which led to more than 550 million identities compromised. New data breaches means more identity theft and other fraud, and more consumers facing financial loss, great inconvenience, and a loss of trust in the marketplace. NCL’s #DataInsecurity Project raises awareness about the need for reforms aimed at better protecting consumer data and calls on our policymakers to act now to strengthen cybersecurity standards. 

About the National Consumers League

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.

FANS Act promises to put brakes on cable bill increases – National Consumers League

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December 4, 2015

Contact: Ben Klein, National Consumers League, benk@nclnet.org, (202) 835-3323

Washington, DC – In testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today, the National Consumers League is calling on legislators to adopt pro-consumer legislation that could slow the rising cost of cable and satellite television bills. The FANS Act, sponsored by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), would condition professional sports leagues’ antitrust exemptions on agreements to reduce programming blackouts and increase opportunities for fans to access sports over the Internet.

“Fans and non-fans alike are right to be outraged that rising sports programming costs are driving their cable and satellite bills through the roof,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “As the leagues enjoy huge profits, taxpayers are right to question what they receive in return the tax breaks, antitrust exemptions and public subsidies lavished on professional sports teams.”

By placing conditions on sports leagues’ antitrust exemptions, the FANS Act would incentivize sports leagues to ensure that games remain on the air when broadcasters and cable and satellite companies cannot come to agreement on retransmission costs. In addition, the bill would encourage leagues to make games available online in areas where consumers are unable to acquire programming due to teams’ overlapping broadcast territories. Finally, the bill would help put an end to the decades-long policy of blacking out games on local television when they don’t sell out, a goal that has already been endorsed by a unanimous vote at the Federal Communications Commission.

“Consumers are the ultimate supporters of professional sports teams,” said Greenberg. “The FANS Act is an important step in recouping some of the public benefits that the leagues have long enjoyed at taxpayers’ expense.” 

Read Greenberg’s testimony here.

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About the National Consumers League

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.

Script Your Future celebrates successful three years of raising medication adherence awareness – National Consumers League

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November 20, 2014

Contact: Ben Klein, National Consumers League, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC— Upon completion of its initial three-year program to raise awareness among patients about the consequences of not taking medication as directed, the Committed Partners of the Script Your Future campaign gathered for their annual meeting yesterday. Three out of four Americans are non-adherent, meaning that they fail to take prescribed medicines as directed by their health care professionals. Coordinated by the National Consumers League and launched in 2011, the innovative, multi-stakeholder effort campaign has educated millions of patients, family caregivers, and health care professionals about the importance of adherence.

At the annual meeting, representatives from the campaign’s 130+ Committed Partners and other supporters gathered to celebrate the program’s accomplishments, examine “Lessons Learned” from years of campaign planning and implementation, hear from our pilot city field organizers, and present the awards for our Medication Adherence Team Challenge to the winning student teams from schools of pharmacy and health professions.

As former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop once said, ‘Drugs don’t work in patients who don’t take them.” “The National Consumers League’s Script Your Future campaign gets to the heart of the issue as to why patients fail to take their medications,” said Acting Surgeon General Rear Admiral Boris Lushniak, M.D., M.P.H. “Raising awareness about the importance of medication adherence is a priority for the Office of the Surgeon General.”

“The Script Your Future campaign has made a difference in the collective fight to increase awareness about this serious public health problem and has helped lay the groundwork for a healthier future for patients and our health care system,” said Janet Woodcock, MD, Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration. “The involvement of dozens of organizations, significant grass-roots support in the six pilot cities, and participation by health care professionals of the future through the Adherence Team Challenge has contributed to the success of this campaign.”

At the meeting, Script Your Future organizers presented awards to the winners of the 2014 Medication Adherence Team Challenge, who traveled to the meeting to represent their colleges and universities and receive the national honors. The month-long competition engaged health profession students and faculty in developing creative ideas for raising awareness about medication adherence as a critical public health issue.

This year’s awardees are: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Touro University California College of Pharmacy, Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy, and University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Pharmacy.

In its three years, the Script Your Future campaign has reached 12 million patients, distributed more than a million wallet cards for managing multiple medications, and provided direct counseling to 60,000 Americans.

“We are delighted to see how this campaign has grown over the years, as its messages on the importance of adherence have resonated with both health care professionals and patients,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “Through our Adherence Team Challenge, we are seeing a new generation of health care professionals who appreciate the value of putting the patient at the center of care, and we expect this will yield immeasurable improvements in patient-provider relationships—and ultimately in medication adherence—in the years to come.”

Script Your Future is supported by a coalition of more than 130 public and private partners, including health care professional groups, chronic disease groups, health insurance plans, pharmaceutical companies, business organizations, consumer groups, as well as researchers and government agencies. The Script Your Future pilot cities are Baltimore, Md.; Birmingham, Ala.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Providence, RI; Raleigh, NC; and Sacramento, Calif.

Since its launch in 2011, the campaign has represented the interests of consumers and patients in providing materials in numerous languages through partnerships with pharmacies, hospitals, medical offices and clinics, and health insurance plans; hosted community events and health fairs across the country; partnered with local officials, and evaluated medication adherence awareness through research. The centerpiece of the first-of-its-kind, multi-year campaign is a website, ScriptYourFuture.org, which provides tools to support patient efforts to adhere to their prescribed medicine. Tools include free text message reminders, videos, sample questions, medication lists and charts to keep track of medicines, and fact sheets on common chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.

To learn more about the campaign, visit ScriptYourFuture.org.

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Script Your Future is a campaign of the National Consumers League (NCL), a private, non-profit membership organization founded in 1899. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. The National Consumers League serves consumers across the country by providing government, businesses and other organizations with the consumer’s perspective on a range of concerns – including health care and medication information. As an advocacy organization, NCL is working to educate consumers and key health stakeholders on the importance of taking medication as directed. For more information about this campaign, visit ScriptYourFuture.org, and for more information on our other areas of focus, please visit www.nclnet.org.

Group heralds minimum wage, paid sick days election victories – National Consumers League

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November 5, 2014

Contact: Ben Klein, National Consumers League, benk@nclnet.org, (202) 835-3323

ashington, DC— The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s pioneering consumer and labor organization, applauds election advances in a handful of states towards a living wage for all workers, with increases to the minimum wage in several states, and implementation of paid sick leave for workers in several others.

“Last night’s victories for working Americans are also victories for the states and communities where the minimum wage will be raised. Their citizens will have a better standard of living as a result of these increases,” said Sally Greenberg, executive director of NCL.

Arkansas raised its state’s minimum wage from $6.25 (lower than the federal minimum wage) to $7.50 an hour, with 50-cent increases scheduled for 2016 and 2017. Nebraska voters approved a boost to $8 an hour, and set it to increase to $9 an hour in 2016. South Dakota voters supported wage increases to $8.50 an hour and linked future increases to inflation. Alaska voters approved a hike from $7.75 to $8.75 and again to $9.75 in 2016, with additional increases tied to inflation.

Last night also provided workers in traditionally more liberal areas with wage increases as well. Illinois voters approved a non-binding measure to boost their state minimum wage from $8.25 to $10 next year. The city of San Francisco became the second city in the country, after Seattle, to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour in next few years. In a similar move, the city of Oakland, California, approved a measure taking its wage from $9 an hour to $12.25, set to begin in March.

Experiencing its biggest single advance in history, voters in four locations—the state of Massachusetts; Montclair and Trenton, NJ; and Oakland, CA—approved measures guaranteeing workers paid sick days. The victories reflect broad public support for Americans who work at the lowest paying jobs.

“Paid sick days are a common-sense policy that allows workers time off to care for themselves and family members. And with cold and flu season upon us, these policies will lead to healthier workplaces and classrooms,” said Michell McIntyre, outreach director of labor and worker rights at NCL. 

With last night’s victories at the ballot box, three states and 16 cities have passed paid sick days laws, including two states and 10 cities in 2014 alone. “With additional paid sick days legislation percolating in numerous states and several municipalities, clearly the public supports access to paid sick days for all workers,” said Greenberg.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its 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 group praises Berkeley vote on soda tax – National Consumers League

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November 5, 2014

Contact: Ben Klein, National Consumers League, benk@nclnet.org, (202) 835-3323

Washington, DC- The National Consumers League (NCL) applauds Berkeley, California for passing the nation’s first tax on sweetened beverages yesterday. The measure imposes a one-cent-per-ounce tax on distributors, with proceeds going to the city’s general fund. With the looming obesity crisis, soft drink consumption’s link to health problems like obesity and Type 2 diabetes was likely the motivating force behind the debate.

“The residents of Berkeley were wise to support this modest tax on soda and to stand up to the soft drink industry. Taxes like these promote healthier beverages and fight the causes of obesity, ” said Sally Greenberg, NCL executive director.

In San Francisco, a similar measure proposed a two-cent-cent-per-ounce tax but did not pass. This measure would have required a two-thirds majority vote, as proceeds were earmarked for health and nutrition programs. Mexico’s soda tax, which was instituted in January, has resulted in decreased sales of high-calorie beverages and an increase in sales of water and low-calorie beverages. Even in areas where proposed taxes don’t pass, consumer awareness about the adverse effects of soft drink consumption is increased, potentially yielding positive health outcomes.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its 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.

Group calls on Burger King, others to match European fast food worker wages – National Consumers League

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October 28, 2014

Contact: Ben Klein, National Consumers League, benk@nclnet.org, (202) 835-3323

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL) is calling on the CEOs of three companies to pay their workers a living wage in the United States, after a story appeared in the New York Times documenting that three chains–Burger King, McDonalds, and Starbucks–pay the equivalent of $20 an hour and provide myriad vacation and sick leave benefits to fast food workers in Denmark. 

“We are writing to you and to your competitors in the industry to ask that [you] pay a living wage to your entire workforce, starting in the United States, because clearly you can and will in countries that demand it,” said the letter, signed by Sally Greenberg, the League’s executive director.

The letter continued: “We believe it is both callous and unpatriotic for Burger King to shortchange the wages of your workforce, while paying more than double those wages in other countries where unions are more powerful.” 

NCL is demanding that these fast food outlets act to close this wage gap immediately. The Times story, written by Liz Alderman and Steven Greenhouse, noted that the average wage for fast food workers in the United States is $8.90/hour. According to a recent study from the University of California at Berkeley, half of American fast food workers have to rely on public assistance to make ends meet.

“The obvious conclusion is that Burger King and its fast food competitors also mentioned in the story can and do pay a living wage and decent benefits in other countries, but refuse to do so for your very own American workforce,” said Greenberg. NCL also noted that the National Restaurant Association, an industry trade group, regularly opposes increased wages and benefits fast food and other workers in the restaurant industry.

NCL noted that while hamburgers in Denmark might cost a bit more — 80 cents or so according to the Times — “… they sell there as they would here. If doing the right thing requires raising the price of a Whopper by 80 cents, so be it. Consumers will pay that in the United States, as they do in Denmark.”

Finally, the NCL letter asked the company not to offer up the usual excuses. “Please don’t respond by telling us how good Burger King is to its workforce or try to defend this behavior by explaining why things are different in Denmark. Consumers and workers support companies that treat their workforces with respect and pay them a living wage. This revelation about Burger King paying $20 and myriad benefits to your workforce across the Atlantic calls out for a company response.”

The NCL letter offered to work with the companies and support serious efforts to close the wage gap.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its 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.

National Consumers League statement on FTC action on data throttling – National Consumers League

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October 28, 2014

 

Contact: Ben Klein, National Consumers League, benk@nclnet.org, (202) 835-3323

Washington, D.C. – The National Consumers League today applauded the Federal Trade Commission for its actions to address consumer complaints that AT&T engaged in unfair throttling of consumers’ wireless data services. The following statement is attributable to Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director:

“It is important that wireless carriers be clear and upfront with their customers about what level of service they should expect when they pay for ‘unlimited’ data services. What should be unacceptable is if carriers allow consumers to pay for ‘unlimited’ plans but then use unreasonable throttling for business reasons instead of true network management reasons. It is clear from the FTC’s complaint that more than 3.5 million consumers did not get the level of service they expected based on the information they received. It is our hope that the FTC’s investigation will prompt a reevaluation of throttling practices that may be widespread in the wireless industry.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its 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 group welcomes ‘Food Scores’ rating tool – National Consumers League

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October 28, 2014

Contact: Ben Klein, National Consumers League, benk@nclnet.org, (202) 835-3323

Washington, DC- Today the National Consumers League (NCL) commends new consumer food education database recently released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The tool, called “Food Scores,” awards packaged food products ratings on a 1-to-10 scale that takes into consideration nutrients, ingredients and processing  as well as identifying how the food measures up on a variety of criteria such as organic certification, the use of antibiotics in livestock, animal welfare, and exposure to pesticides. With more than 80,000 packaged foods in its database, the tool can serve as a source for providing consumers with quick, clear answers to their questions about what is in—and behind—the foods they purchase.

“Food Scores is a tool for consumers looking to learn as much as they can about a product in one place,” said Sally Greenberg, executive director of NCL. “Educating consumers about which foods measure up and which are actually filled with fat, sugar, and sodium is a vital step in promoting healthier eating and ending the obesity crisis.”

The Food Scores database is a combination of information gleaned from manufacturer labeling and Environmental Working Group’s own research. In addition to the overall score, the database provides three more detailed scales addressing nutrition, ingredient, and processing concerns. It also provides the Nutrition Facts panel, ingredient list, and any certifications or seals the product bares.

With the release of the database, EWG hopes to point out the prevalence of excessive sugar in products consumers wouldn’t suspect such as salad dressings, yogurt, and granola bars. Advocates expect the database to also apply pressure on industrial food makers to stop adding unnecessary ingredients out of convenience. Food Scores is currently an online tool but will be made available as a mobile app.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its 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.

Americans toss 40 percent of food produced, while 50 million go hungry; New report raises concerns about food waste in U.S. – National Consumers League

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October 24, 2014

Contact: Ben Klein, National Consumers League, benk@nclnet.org, (202) 835-3323

Washington, DC- A new report published to coincide with Food Day reveals that America is one of the worst food waste offenders, tossing 35 million tons of food each year, and offers solutions for retailers and consumers. Released by the National Consumers League, the report finds that, worldwide, a quarter to a third of all food goes to waste, and in America, the figures are more stark: 40 percent of our food remains uneaten, and the numbers are trending upwards.

“We hope this report sounds the alarm. America needs to grapple with this issue and begin to take steps to change the national mindset on food and food waste. Like the United Kingdom, which has embarked on a national strategy to reduce food waste by 50 percent by the year 2020, Americans need to be mindful of our buying and consuming habits. We are throwing away 40 percent of the food we produce, while nearly 50 million Americans struggle to put food on the table,” said Sally Greenberg, executive director of NCL. “It is a shame that we as American consumers waste so much food while millions of families are food insecure. It’s a disconnect that needs to be addressed. ”

NCL’s new report, Wasted: Solutions to the American Food Waste Problem, is an examination of the financial, ethical, and environmental concerns associated with food waste, and offers solutions to address the challenge. The report highlights how certain retailer practices encourage consumers’ overbuying and highlights the crucial role industry, environmental, and consumer groups working together could play in reducing food waste and decreasing its substantial environmental and landfill consequences.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans threw out 35 million tons of food in 2012, 50 percent more than in 1990. American families toss out an estimated 25 percent of the food they purchase, costing between $1,350 and $2,275 for a family of four each year. At the same time in the United States, 14 percent of households struggle to put food on the table. Raising consciousness about the importance of food as a commodity could lead to more responsible habits, according to the consumer advocacy group.

“Food waste has ethical, financial, and environmental implications. Wasting food, when one in nine people on earth suffers from chronic hunger, is wrong,” said Kelsey Albright, NCL food policy fellow and the lead author of the report. “As Americans’ relationship with food trends further from the farm and closer to the grocery store isles, knowledge about origin, preparation, and storage is lost, and our appreciation of food and incentives to conserve this precious resource have diminished.”

NCL’s Food Waste report demonstrates that many consumers are aware wasting food is a problem, but consistently underestimate their contribution to it. Few people realize the environmental effects of growing, transporting, and ultimately throwing out food. The amount of oil needed to feed each person every year is 400 gallons. Additional oil is used when transporting uneaten food as trash. When food begins decomposing in garbage dumps, methane, the second most prevalent greenhouse gas emitted in the United States, is released.  

“While there is waste at every stage in the American supply chain, the good news is that consumers are responsible for the largest percentage of food waste, and they have the power to make a difference,” said Greenberg. “Our report emphasizes consumers’ need for information about food storage and expiration dates and encourages retailers to promote better consumer choices.”

TIPS FOR CONSUMERS TO REDUCE WASTE

  1. Plan out meals in advance and use a list when grocery shopping to prevent overbuying.  Always inventory the fridge and pantry before heading to the grocery store.
  2. Properly store and preserve food, preparing or freezing what can’t be used before it goes bad. Learn classic preservation methods like canning and drying produce.
  3. Know how to properly read and interpret expiration/sell-by and use-by dates. Rely on senses to determine whether food has spoiled or is still edible.
  4. Make smaller portions for dinner at home and always take home – and actually eat –leftovers from restaurants.
  5. Get creative and repurpose foods that may go bad soon. For example, stale bread can be turned into croutons and breadcrumbs; apples into applesauce or baked goods.
  6. Compost scraps of food that cannot be eaten.

“This report outlines why addressing food waste should be the next big environmental movement in this country,” said Elizabeth Bennett, the founder of Fruitcycle, a social enterprise that makes healthy snacks from fruit that would otherwise go to waste. “The massive scope of the issue means that there is tremendous opportunity for consumers, farmers, retailers, and other businesses to work together to create solutions.”

NCL’s report was released in conjunction with Food Day, a nationwide celebration for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food.

To read the new report, visit nclnet.org/foodwaste.

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About the National Consumers League

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.