NCL applauds DOJ investigation into airline collusion – National Consumers League

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July 2, 2015

Contact: Cindy Hoang, National Consumers League, cindyh@nclnet.org or (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s pioneering consumer advocacy group, applauds the Department of Justice (DOJ) for its announcement of an investigation into major U.S. airlines to determine whether they are colluding to keep airfares high. NCL is urging the DOJ to also examine the role that rising cancellation/change fees have played in the growing cost of air travel for consumers. In a 2013 report, NCL examined these fees and found that they are a growing source of concern for consumers and may contribute to the deceptive marketing of travel insurance policies.

The following statement is attributable to NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg:

As the airline industry reports record profits, consumers are faced with higher ticket prices, limited routes, and consistently terrible customer service. We support efforts by the DOJ and leaders in Congress like Sen. Richard Blumenthal to get to the bottom of this issue and determine whether airlines are participating in anticompetitive, anti-consumer conduct. 

With the increasing consolidation in the airline industry, it is now more critical than ever that regulators be on the lookout for anti-competitive conduct that harms the flying public.

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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.

NCL applauds Supreme Court vote to uphold ACA tax credits – National Consumers League

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June 25, 2015

Contact: Cindy Hoang, National Consumers League, cindyh@nclnet.org or (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s oldest consumer group, applauds the Supreme Court’s decision (6-3) upholding tax credits under the Affordable Care Act in the case of King v. Burwell.  The decision ensures that more than 6 million people will not lose tax credits in states using the federal marketplace that was established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  

The challenge to the ACA questioned the legality of health insurance tax credits offered through the more than 30 federally-run health insurance marketplaces, as opposed to marketplaces established by individual states.  A ruling for the plaintiffs would have resulted in millions of Americans rendered unable to afford health insurance due to the loss of subsidies and would have caused premiums to skyrocket. Chief Justice Roberts, in finding that the tax subsidies were legal, stated “Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them. If at all possible, we must interpret the Act in a way that is consistent with the former, and avoids the latter.”

NCL Executive Director, Sally Greenberg commented, “The Supreme Court’s decision is an affirmation of intent of Congress in enacting the ACA. This pivotal decision ensures that millions of Americans will continue to be able to afford health insurance, no matter which state they live in.  This is another step to toward the goal of providing health insurance for all Americans, a longstanding priority endorsed by NCL founders and early leaders. We should all feel vindicated that Congressional intent is being fulfilled and that the protections and coverage the ACA has provided will continue for millions of Americans.”

NCL stands with other consumer, health, and worker groups in support of the ACA. For decades, NCL has advocated for substantive reform to America’s health care system and was a staunch supporter of the Affordable Care Act when it passed in 2010. Today, we thank the Supreme Court for siding with consumers and workers with this important decision.

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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.

National consumer group disappointed in ACIP’s vote on MenB vaccination – National Consumers League

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June 25, 2015

Contact: Cindy Hoang, National Consumers League, cindyh@nclnet.org or (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC—Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) failed to give a broad recommendation for vaccination against meningitis B (MenB), and instead stated that only through individual patient decisions, and not as part of the routine vaccine schedule, should teens and young adults receive the MenB vaccine. The ACIP met yesterday at the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

The National Consumers League (NCL) is disappointed in this decision which has the potential to put at risk millions of teens and young adults for contracting the debilitating MenB disease. “We see no reason to expose anyone to this terrible illness when protection and prevention is available,” said Kamay Lafalaise, health policy associate for NCL, at the hearing at the CDC. “NCL believes the MenB vaccine should be part of the routine vaccination schedule to ensure parents and young people have access to the vaccine before another outbreak occurs.”

NCL is concerned that if the vaccine is not part of the routine schedule, few young people will get vaccinated against this rare but devastating illness. “We hope that no more families have to endure the pain and loss that MenB can cause,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of NCL. “We are pleased that ACIP broadened the recommendation to all youth populations, not just those ‘at risk’ but we don’t think this is enough.” 

According to the CDC there are approximately 160 reported cases annually of MenB; 10 to 15 percent of patients die and up to 19 percent of survivors have long term disabilities, including brain damage and limb amputations.

NCL asked the ACIP committee to add the vaccine to the routine schedule so that all college age students have this critical protection.

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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.

NCL statement applauding California for mandate on childhood vaccines – National Consumers League

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June 24, 2015

Contact: Cindy Hoang, National Consumers League, cindyh@nclnet.org or (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC—National Consumers League congratulates California on its mandate for childhood vaccines. California sets an example for all other states by creating a common sense solution to address this important public health issue. Vaccines can lower the number of childhood deaths that occur each year from preventable diseases, such as measles and whooping cough. This law is critical for helping children stay healthy and immune from illness. Last year, NCL conducted a survey revealing that American adults’ lack sufficient information on the safety of vaccines and the risks of failing to vaccinate for contagious diseases. While many people believe the false claims that vaccines cause autism, California has been able to shed light on the necessity and safety of vaccinations. 

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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.

Consumer group re-issues pleas to CDC: add meningitis to routine vaccination schedule – National Consumers League

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June 24, 2015

Contact: Cindy Hoang, NCL Communications, (202) 207-2832, cindyh@nclnet.org

Atlanta, GA—Before an advisory committee of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today, the nation’s pioneering consumer advocacy organization urged the agency, for the second time this year, to add two government-approved vaccines to the routine schedule in order to fight the spread of meningitis “before more lives are needlessly lost to this devastating disease.”

In February 2015, Washington, DC-based National Consumers League (NCL) Executive Director Sally Greenberg, testified in support for the addition of serogroup B meningococcal, or MenB, vaccines to the routine schedule of vaccinations. At the meeting, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the vaccine for groups at increased risk for the disease and established it would consider broader use of the vaccine, particularly for adolescents, at today’s meeting.

Today, Kamay Lafalaise, health policy associate for NCL, along with other advocacy groups and parents who have lost children to the disease, stood before the same committee with the same message: add serogroup B meningococcal, or MenB, vaccines to the routine schedule of vaccinations.

“We see no reason to expose anyone to this terrible illness when complete protection and prevention is available,” said Lafalaise. “Once again, NCL believes that parents and young people should have access to these two FDA-approved vaccines before a deadly outbreak occurs, and therefore both vaccines should be added to the routine schedule.”

The meeting of the CDC’s ACIP comes on the heels of news in New York that the NY State Legislature has passed a bill mandating a vaccine against meningitis for seventh graders. Under the bill, failure to comply with the required vaccination would subject the student to school exclusion. Elsewhere across the nation, mandated vaccinations are the subject of hot debate, such as in California, where state legislators have introduced a bill that would repeal the state’s current “personal belief exemption,” including religious exemptions, making it among the nation’s toughest vaccine laws.

Lafalaise shared the results of NCL research that found widespread support among parents for vaccinations to protect their children from diseases. Furthermore, meningitis was found to be the disease parents were most concerned of out of all childhood diseases.

Meningococcal disease, which is sometimes called bacterial meningitis, can come on quickly and can lead to death or disability within hours. Meningococcal disease affects people of all ages, though adolescents and young adults are at increased risk. Serogroup B accounts for one-third of U.S. cases, and is the most common cause of disease in adolescents. From 2013 to 2015, four college campuses experienced outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease – two students have died, one student had both feet amputated.

 “If we wait, it could be too late. How many lives need to be lost before we take preventative action?” Lafalaise asked the committee.

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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.

NCL highlights impact of cancellation fees, mandatory hotel resort fees on the traveling public, urges reform at DOT – National Consumers League

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June 23, 2015

Contact: Cindy Hoang, NCL Communications, (202) 207-2832, cindyh@nclnet.org or John Breyault, (202) 207-2819, johnb@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL), America’s pioneering consumer advocacy organization, today highlighted the significant negative impact that cancellation/change fees and mandatory hotel resort fees are having on the traveling public. As the summer travel season shifts into high gear, millions of consumers are likely to experience the frustration of being hit with these poorly-disclosed fees.

In his remarks before the Department of Transportation’s Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection, NCL Vice President John Breyault called for common-sense reforms, including a requirement that cancellation/change fees be refunded in the event that an airline is able to resell vacated seats. He also urged the DOT to require that cancellation/change fees, which brought in nearly $3 billion in revenue for the airline industry in 2014, be prominently disclosed across all sales channels — including airline websites and online travel agents.

“These fees are a cash cow for the airline industry,” said Breyault. “Consumers often can’t predict when they’ll need to change their itinerary. If the airlines are going to sock them with $200 change fees, they can at least be upfront about the fact that they’re going to do it.”

Breyault also called on the DOT rein in the abuse of mandatory hotel resort fees, which hotels across the country have been increasingly charging consumers to cover things like in-room coffee, newspapers, local phone service, or fax service. “When was the last time you needed to fax something from your hotel?” asked Breyault. “Yet, hotels are routinely nickel-and-diming consumers through these required fees for services that most of us never use.”

Breyault recommended that the DOT require mandatory hotel resort fees to be included with the rates for bundled airfare/hotel packages so that consumers can accurately compare rates and make informed, budget-conscious decisions.

“Consumers cannot make informed buying decisions without clear and accurate disclosure of important fees and surcharges before they reach the point of sale,” said Breyault. “This is even more important in the market for airfares and hotels, where consumers often find themselves captive in situations where it’s difficult to fight unfair fees.”

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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.

National consumer group pushing CPSC for safer standard for table saws; ‘Ten amputations a day could be prevented’ – National Consumers League

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June 23, 2015

Contact: Sally Greenberg, National Consumers League, sallyg@nclnet.org, or (202) 207-2830 or Cindy Hoang, National Consumers League, cindyh@nclnet.org or (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC—National Consumers League (NCL) Executive Director Sally Greenberg will testify tomorrow, June 24, before the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), urging the federal agency to act quickly to adopt a safety standard for table saws. NCL is the nation’s pioneering consumer advocacy group, and for several years it has been calling for a standard to require available technology upgrades to the very dangerous products, which cause a preventable 10 amputations each day in the United States.

MEDIA ADVISORY

What: Public Hearing of the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Where: CPSC Hearing Room 420, Bethesda Towers Building, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814
When: 10 am, Wednesday, July 24, 2015
Hearing is open to the public

“We have before us a consumer product that causes grave injury and a proven safety technology that prevents those injuries. Ten amputations a day could be prevented virtually 100 percent of the time,” Greenberg will testify. “To me that screams out for a requirement that every table saw be required to adopt a safer design.”

Greenberg will be accompanied by Joshua Ward, a college student from Sisters, Oregon, who suffered multiple amputations while working on a table saw in his high school woodshop class in 2012. The accident severed three of his fingers and broke multiple bones. After extensive surgery and treatment, his surgeons were able to save one of his fingers. To date, Josh has undergone seven surgeries and has fought multiple infections. His medical bills exceed $350,000.

Ward traveled from Oregon to ask CPSC to enact a table saw standard that would prevent the type of injuries he has endured. “My lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter vanished when I lost my fingers. CPSC has known about safe table saw technology for over ten years – it is time for the agency to enact a safety standard,” said Ward.

According to CPSC’s statistics, there are approximately 40,000 emergency room-treated table saw injuries every year, about 4,000 of which are amputations. That’s more than 10 amputations every day. In 2003, a petition was filed with the CPSC asking the agency to enact a requirement that every table saw sold in the U.S. be equipped with “active injury mitigation” (AIM) technology that would prevent serious injuries and amputations by stopping the moving saw blade when it comes in contact with, or in close proximity to, human flesh. AIM technology has been proven to virtually eliminate serious injuries resulting from contact with a spinning table saw blade.

In 2010, after the CPSC had not moved forward on a table saw standard in seven years, NCL wrote a letter urging the Commission to take “speedy action” on table saw safety. NCL’s Greenberg also worked with table saw victims from across the country on a public education campaign highlighting the need for a table saw safety regulation. Following NCL’s campaign, in 2011, the Commission voted unanimously to begin the rulemaking process for a table saw safety standard.  

Tragically for Ward and thousands of other victims, it has been almost four years, and CPSC has still not proposed a safety standard for table saws. Greenberg teamed up with Ward to make another push for CPSC to take action. This week, Greenberg and Ward will meet individually with CPSC Chairman Elliot Kay and the four CPSC Commissioners. After their testimony, they plan to meet with Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. Their message is clear: CPSC should act expeditiously to enact a table saw standard.

Greenberg believes that table saws present an easy case for CPSC. “I am disappointed and discouraged at the lack of progress on this very fixable product hazard. While Josh is strong and is overcoming his injuries with tremendous spirit and perseverance, we all know that the lifelong physical and emotional pain and disability he suffers were preventable. We ask [the CPSC] to act as quickly as possible to make table saws safer and put an end to these preventable and heartbreaking tragedies.”

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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.

NCL’s Greenberg to speak at NOW conference – National Consumers League

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June 18, 2015

Contact: Carol McKay, NCL Communications, (412) 945-3242, carolm@nclnet.org

New Orleans, LA—Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League (NCL), will join other women’s rights advocates at the National Organization for Women’s 2015 Strategy Summit and Bylaws Convention, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans this week.

Greenberg will speak today, Friday, June 19, along with other panelists about the recent Food and Drug Administration advisory committee approval of the first-ever treatment for female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Joining Greenberg will be Susan Scanlan, president of the advocacy group Even the Score, Amanda Parrish, a patient who participated in the clinical trial of the FSD treatment, and Jan Erickson, NOW Director of Government Relations.

For more information about the conference, click 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.

NCL statement in support of House vote against fast track – National Consumers League

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June 12, 2015

Contact: Carol McKay, NCL Communications, (412) 945-3242, carolm@nclnet.org

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League lauds the House of Representatives vote to reject the “fast track” measure to negotiate the Trans Pacific Partnership. In a 302-126 vote against the bill, the House levied a blow to President Obama’s efforts, which advocates feared would ultimately result in American job losses.

The following statement can be attributed to NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg.

We applaud the House of Representatives for the overwhelming vote against the “TPP” and giving the President fast track authority. NCL believes the Trans-Pacific Partnership is bad for both workers and consumers. It would undermine U.S. laws and regulations for the benefit of corporations, and it would undermine jobs here at home as well. Under the TPP, according to the Economic Policy Institute, the U.S. would ship more than 130,000 jobs abroad to Vietnam and Japan alone, forcing American workers to compete for jobs with those overseas, such as Vietnamese workers who make less than 60 cents an hour. We urged Congress to reject fast track because of the harm it would bring to American workers, trading away our system of consumer and worker protections for increased profits for corporate interests.

The House vote reflects the public’s concerns about fast track and these trade deals, and we are very pleased that the House took a decisive vote against this bad trade deal.

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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.

NCL calls on Congress to move forward on data security agenda in wake of OPM data breach – National Consumers League

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June 12, 2015

Contact: Carol McKay, NCL Communications, (412) 945-3242, carolm@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – In response to reports that a data breach at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) may have affected as many as 14 million current and former federal government workers and federal retirees, the National Consumers League (NCL) is urging Congress to move forward on legislation that increases data security requirements for federal agencies and the private sector alike. NCL has also released tips for those affected to remain vigilant against possible spear-phishing attacks and take steps to protect their identities.

“The OPM hack is yet another symptom of the failure of Congress to move forward on comprehensive data security legislation,” said John Breyault, NCL vice president of public policy, telecommunications and Fraud. “While Congressional legislation will not result in perfect data security protection, it can create an important baseline of consumer protection from malicious data breaches. In the face of large-scale breaches at organizations like OPM and smaller breaches as thousands of small businesses, Congress needs to act sooner, rather than later.”

While consumers wait for more robust data protections to come out of Washington, affected current, former, and retired federal workers should take steps to reduce their risk of identity theft. Such steps can include:

  • Check credit reports. Affected workers should visit annualcreditreport.com to check their credit reports from the major credit reporting bureaus. Look for suspicious activity like recently-opened accounts you don’t recognize and dispute them as suspected fraud with the credit reporting bureau.

  • Beware of spear-phishing emails and phone calls. OPM has announced that it will be sending most breach notifications by email from the opmcio@csid.com email address. That email will include the worker’s name and a PIN to enroll in credit monitoring and identity theft protection from identity and fraud protection firm CSID. Phone calls where the caller identifies herself as a representative of OPM are likely a scam. Consumers can also enroll directly in the CSID program online here.

  • Place fraud alerts on credit reports. Consumers should request a free 90-day fraud alert with each of the major credit reporting bureaus. A fraud alert requires businesses to verify an applicant’s identity before credit is provided to an applicant.

  • Take advantage of credit monitoring and identity theft protection. OPM is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft protection and mitigation services to affected employees via CSID. While these services won’t prevent all instances of identity theft, they can be helpful in reducing risk. More information is available here.

  • Mark calendars to file taxes early in 2016. The information reportedly compromised in the OPM breach can be used by cyberthieves to file fraudulent tax returns. Filing early in the tax season (instead of closer to the filing deadline) can help prevent this type of identity theft.

  • Contact banks and credit card companies. Affected workers’ banks may recommend reissuing credit and debit cards and changing checking and savings account numbers. Get in touch with these financial institutions to find out if such actions are necessary. Also, closely monitor monthly statements and dispute any suspicious charges.

  • Update passwords. Changing passwords on online accounts (mail, social media, financial services), particularly if the account is associated with an official .gov email address, can help reduce the risk of account takeover fraud. Tips on creating stronger passwords are available from ConnectSafely.org.

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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.