NCL statement on Commerce Committee markup of the Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2015 – National Consumers League

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April 15, 2015

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

Washington, DC – Today, the House Energy & Commerce Committee approved HR 1770, the Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2015. NCL had previously hoped that this bill would be improved in committee. Unfortunately, as today’s partisan vote made clear, that has not happened. The following statement is attributable to John Breyault, NCL Vice President, Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud:

At a time when millions of consumers are increasingly at risk of identity theft due to massive data breaches, it boggles the mind that Congress is contemplating reducing data security protections. Unfortunately, that is exactly what will happen if H.R. 1770, the Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2015, becomes the law. The bill, which today passed out of committee on a party-line vote, would actually weaken existing consumer protections in 38 states. No major consumer groups are supporting this bill. Even Congressman Welch, who co-sponsored the bill, did not vote to move it to the floor.

Despite massive breaches at companies like Target, Home Depot, Anthem, Primera and countless others, it seems clear that the majority in Congress is intent on crafting a bill that weakens consumer protections by reducing or removing businesses’ data security obligations. Any Member of Congress who claims to be pro-consumer should oppose this bill in its current form. 

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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 on introduction of Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2015 – National Consumers League

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March 13, 2015

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC — The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s pioneering consumer and worker advocacy organization today expressed its disappointment with the introduction by Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Rep. Peter Welch of the “Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2015.” The following statement may be attributed to John Breyault, NCL vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud:

“At a time when millions of consumers suffer the effects of data breaches, it is disappointing that Congress would propose a bill that actually reduces consumer protections in this space. NCL supports a strong national data breach notification standard. Unfortunately, the bill proposed by Rep. Blackburn and Welch would preempt stronger existing state laws. For example, the bill covers fewer types of sensitive information, such as e-mail addresses, than many state laws.  In addition, the bill creates a disincentive for companies to notify affected consumers by instituting a ‘harm trigger’ that would enable breached companies to determine for themselves whether their customers should be notified of a breach. It is our sincere hope that this bill will be improved through the legislative process, rather that simply serving as a way for businesses to reduce their data security compliance burden. Failing that, it should be opposed as an anti-consumer measure.”

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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 releases “10 things you didn’t know about caffeine” for Caffeine Awareness Month – National Consumers League

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March 10, 2015

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

Washington, DC—During March, which is both National Nutrition Month and Caffeine Awareness Month, the National Consumers League (NCL) is calling on consumers to turn their attention to the world’s favorite pick-me-up: caffeine. Coincidentally—for the first time in its 35-year history—the Scientific Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, released last month for public comment, addresses caffeine safety and consumption. 

“Whether it’s a strong cup of morning Joe, a green tea with sushi, a chocolate bar at the movies, or an energy drink to get through the work day, the fact is that 85% of the U.S. population consumes caffeine every single day,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s executive director. “And while we know where to find it, and consume a lot of it, the majority of Americans are not ‘caffeine literate.’”

In the interest of informing American consumers and promoting moderation, NCL has released a guide that reveals 10 facts you likely didn’t know about caffeine.

  1. The earliest rumored consumption of caffeine was by a Chinese emperor in 3,000 BC who is said to have accidentally discovered that when certain leaves fell into boiling water, a fragrant and restorative drink resulted. We commonly know this drink as tea.
  2. Caffeine is found in the seeds and leaves of more than 60 plants around the world. Coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans, kola nuts, guarana plants, and yerba mate are just a few that contain caffeine.  
  3. Regardless of whether caffeine is naturally occurring (coffee or tea), or in its synthetic form (cola or energy drink), the chemical structure is identical, and its effect on the human body is the same.
  4. Birds, dogs, and cats cannot metabolize caffeine – so don’t feed your pets chocolate (or give them coffee)!
  5. The darker the coffee roast, the less caffeine in the coffee bean. Unroasted, green coffee beans have a higher concentration of caffeine. For teas, it’s the opposite: the darker the tea, the higher the caffeine.
  6. Around 400mg of caffeine per day is commonly cited as a safe intake level for healthy adults. That’s about 6-7 cups of black tea, 4-5 cups of home brew coffee, 2-3 Starbucks Grande Lattes, 8 cans of Diet Coke, or 5 cans of Red Bull. A typical serving or portion of caffeine is usually an 8 fl oz cup of home brewed coffee, a 20 fl oz diet cola, a 1.5 fl oz espresso shot and an 8.4 fl oz energy drink, all of which are about equal with a range of approximately 70-90mg of caffeine.
  7. Aside from the ‘pick-me-up’ that is a well-known effect of caffeine, there is evidence that caffeine has some positive effects against some diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. But too much caffeine can result in side effects like nervousness, anxiety, nausea, sleeplessness, and jitteriness.
  8. Eighty five percent of the US population consumes caffeine daily. How is it split? 64 percent from coffee, 17 percent from tea, 17 percent from sodas, and 2 percent from energy drinks.
  9. Caffeine takes 15-45 minutes to take effect. The average person will eliminate half of the original amount consumed between 4-6 hours.
  10. Pregnant women should avoid caffeine, and it is not recommended for children.

To maximize transparency for consumers, NCL believes that all products containing caffeine should declare the total amount of caffeine per serving—and per container—on their product labels or packaging.

“The FDA should provide the public with clear guidance on safe upper limits of caffeine intake for the general population of healthy adults and for other relevant age and gender groups, including pregnant women and young children,” said Greenberg. “If the FDA is still reviewing the science, it can at least provide interim advice, as Health Canada has done, in order for consumers to have some guidance to go on in the meantime.”

“The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans—which will be current for the five years following publication—should address caffeine holistically instead of implying, as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, that caffeine is only a potential concern when it is consumed via energy drinks or ‘high dose caffeine products,’” said Greenberg. “To deliver consumers with useable guidance, and common sense educational tools, the Dietary Guidelines should educate the public about the primary food and beverage sources of caffeine, and the amount of caffeine they contain.”

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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 praises McDonalds move towards antibiotic-free chicken – National Consumers League

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March 4, 2015

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

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL) welcomes the announcement by McDonald’s Corp. that its American restaurants will stop serving chicken raised with antibiotics that are vital to fighting human infections. Reports call this the most aggressive step by a major food company to change chicken producers’ practices in the fight against dangerous ‘superbugs.’ The following can be attributed to NCL’s Executive Director Sally Greenberg:

“We are pleased that the world’s biggest restaurant chain will discontinue serving chicken raised with human antibiotics within two years.  Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem that requires a range of approaches, including the prevention of the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. McDonald’s is a key player in the fast food industry—and in Americans’ eating habits. NCL is on record calling for the reduction and eventual elimination of unnecessary and dangerous use of antibiotics in our food supply. This is an important step forward towards achieving that goal.”

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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.

FTC report highlights continuing threat of identity theft to millions – National Consumers League

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March 3, 2015

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

Washington, DC – The release of the Federal Trade Commission’s annual Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book once again highlights the harm that identity thieves are inflicting on millions of American consumers. For the 15th consecutive year, complaints about identity theft topped the Commission’s annual list of top scams.

“Identity theft, and the data breaches that fuel it, must be a top concern not only of regulators at the FTC, but policymakers throughout Washington and beyond,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “The message from 332,000 identity theft complaints to the FTC is clear: more needs to be done to protect consumers from this fraud.”

The Data Book identified tax-related identity theft as a top source of identity theft complaints to the FTC. While there is no fool-proof way to prevent tax ID theft, NCL has published a step-by-step guide to spotting and recovering from this fraud.

According to Javelin Strategy & Research, nearly 1 in 3 data breach victims will also experience identity fraud.  As information on tens of millions of consumers affected by data breaches continues to fall in to the hands of cybercriminals, it is likely that millions more consumers will suffer from identity fraud.

For policymakers, the need for reform should be clear. Ensuring that companies collecting consumers’ data protect it critical to bringing down rates identity fraud. However, without leadership from Washington, businesses and other entities that amass vast troves of consumer data will have little incentive to put data security ahead of profits.

Unfortunately, real reforms to improve data security have languished in Congress while hackers and other cyber-crooks have had a field day at consumers’ expense.  That’s why NCL has called on policymakers to adopt NCL’s Congressional Data Security Agenda. The agenda calls for reforms that:

  • Create a national data breach notification standard, while protecting strong state laws like California’s;
  • Require data holders to abide by reasonable data security requirements;
  • Clarify and strengthen the FTC’s data security authority;
  • Promote robust cyber-insurance underwriting standards;
  • Increase federal civil and criminal penalties for malicious hacking; and
  • Strengthen international anti-cybercrime partnerships.

“While the 300,000-plus identity theft complaints may seem like a huge number, it is just a drop in the bucket given the fact that most ID theft victims don’t report the crime, if they’re even aware of it,” said NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud John Breyault. “While consumers can take steps to mitigate their risk of ID theft, they can’t prevent it entirely. That’s why we need leaders in Washington to help make sure that the companies that profit from consumers’ data protect it to the greatest extent possible.”

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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 on White House Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights discussion draft – National Consumers League

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March 2, 2015

Contact: Ben Klein, NCL Communications (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League today expressed its hope that the White House’s proposal for a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights will be just the beginning for a negotiation to enshrine strong consumer privacy protections in law. Unfortunately, should the proposal released last week be passed, it would in many ways actually weaken existing privacy and data security protections.

The following statement is attributable to John Breyault, NCL Vice President, Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud:

“The President has rightfully made protecting the privacy and security of consumers’ personal data a top priority of his Administration. Unfortunately, the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights released on Friday fails to create a robust framework for consumer privacy and data security protection. Instead, it relies on industry-created codes of conduct without effective enforcement mechanisms. What’s worse, it would preempt laws in nineteen states, many stronger that the proposed standard, that provide data security protections for their citizens. We hope that this draft proposal will serve as the starting point, not a high water mark discussions about how to better protect consumers’ privacy and data security in the digital age.”

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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 Consumers League, FDA, National Alliance for Hispanic Health partner to distribute medication adherence radio PSAs in Spanish – National Consumers League

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February 26, 2015

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

Washington, DC—Thanks to a partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Consumers League (NCL) has created a new Spanish-language radio public service announcement (PSA) to encourage consumers to take their medications as directed. The new PSAs are the latest tool released by NCL’s Script Your Future campaign and features the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance). Script Your Future is a multi-media public awareness campaign, coordinated by NCL, the nation’s pioneering consumer group, to educate consumers and key health stakeholders on the importance of taking medication as directed.

“Poor medication adherence is a huge public health problem, resulting in 125,000 deaths per year, not to mention hospitalization and costs to our health care system of $300 billion annually,” said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the NCL. “We are pleased that this partnership with the FDA and the Alliance has enabled us to reach Hispanic communities with these crucial patient messages about the importance of improving one’s personal adherence and working with their health care professionals to better manage chronic conditions.”

The new Spanish radio PSA features the voice of Dr. Jane Delgado, president and CEO of the Alliance reminding patients with chronic conditions of the importance of taking medications as prescribed and refers listeners to the Script Your Future website and the Su Familia helpline for more information. The Script Your Future website now also features information on medication adherence, along with resources and tools for patients with chronic conditions, all in Spanish.

“The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is proud to partner with NCL and FDA to raise awareness in the Hispanic community about the importance of taking your medicines in the recommended way,” said Dr. Delgado. “Helping people take their medicines as directed will benefit individuals, our families, our communities, and our healthcare system as a whole.  Working with NCL and its Script Your Future program is a natural fit for our Su Familia helpline, which offers Hispanic consumers free, reliable and confidential health information so they can make informed decisions about their health.”

“Making sure patients have the information they need to fully understand their medicines and the importance of taking them as prescribed is critical to ensuring healthier futures for Americans as well as our health care system,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, which supports the partnership with NCL. “We are pleased these messages will now be able to reach people through the Spanish-language radio stations in their communities.”

For more information, visit ScriptYourFuture.org. To access the PSA, click here.

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Script Your Future, launched in 2011, is a three-year national public awareness campaign about medication adherence coordinated by the National Consumers League (NCL), a private, non-profit membership organization founded in 1899. NCL’s mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information about the Script Your Futurecampaign, visit www.ScriptYourFuture.org. For more information on NCL, please visit www.nclnet.org.

Consumer group issues taxpayer warning against ID thieves filing illegitimate returns – National Consumers League

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February 24, 2015

Contact: Ben Klein, NCL Communications (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – With Tax Day quickly approaching, the National Consumers League (NCL), is warning consumers to be on the lookout for tax identity fraud and offering tips on recovering from this scam. According to the Treasury Department, 1.6 million Americans fell victim to tax ID theft in the first half of 2013 alone. The Government Accountability Office estimates that identity thieves stole $5.2 billion in 2013 as a result of this fraud.

“While most Americans dread Tax Day, fraudsters increasingly are cashing in with lucrative tax identity fraud scams,” said John Breyault, NCL vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud. “What makes this scam particularly pernicious is the ease with which fraudsters can steal personal information, file a false tax claim, and then turn the fraudulent refund into untraceable cash before the consumer realizes they have been a victim of a scam.”

Consumers receive W-2 forms from their employer by the end of January, but often wait to file their taxes closer to Tax Day on April 15. Since the IRS aims to process refunds quickly, fraudulent claims often go undetected. NCL, the nation’s pioneering consumer advocacy group, has published a new guide at Fraud.org to help consumers identify this scam and give advice about how to avoid becoming a victim.

NCL’s analysis of the top scams reported to the Fraud.org database in 2014 revealed a spike in “Phantom Debt Collector” scams. Cases in which a fraudster impersonates an IRS agent make up a significant portion of these scams. Tax related identity theft scams made up nearly a third of the identity theft complaints to the FTC in 2014.

“There is no foolproof way to avoid becoming a victim of tax identity fraud, but there are steps consumers can take to better protect themselves,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL executive director. “The best thing consumers can do is file their taxes as early as possible to ensure the IRS receives the legitimate tax return before the scammers send in a fraudulent return. Also, consumers need to be increasingly vigilant to protect their personal information. Consumers should frequently change their passwords and refrain from sending sensitive information such as Social Security Numbers or bank account information over email or text message.”

Tips for Consumers

  • File your taxes as early as possible during tax season. Scammers depend on the fact that many taxpayers wait until late in tax-filing season to file. Filing early reduces the risk that a tax ID thief will be able to use your personal information to file fraudulently ahead of you.
  • Check your annual Social Security Administration earnings statement carefully. If there are earnings listed that you don’t recognize, someone else could be using your identity to obtain employment.
  • Review your credit report for any suspicious activity.
  • Never give out personal information, such as your SSN, date of birth, or bank account information in response to unsolicited emails, postal mail, over the phone or via text message, social media or other platform.

For more information about how to spot and avoid this scam, and what to do if you believe you’ve fallen victim, visit www.Fraud.org.

NCL thanks Intuit Tax and Financial Center for the unrestricted educational grant that helped make this consumer guide available at Fraud.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.

Statement regarding Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster’s announcement on Ticketmaster agreement – National Consumers League

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February 12, 2015

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL), America’s oldest consumer group, applauds Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster for working to improve Ticketmaster’s disclosure of nontransferable, restricted tickets. This form of ticketing, called paperless or credit-card-entry tickets by the live event industry, requires consumers to buy tickets with a credit or debit card and then use that same card and photo ID to gain entry to the event.

“With restricted tickets, live event fans are often unaware that the tickets they are purchasing are tied to their credit card and are nontransferable. NCL believes consumers should always have the choice of transferable tickets, but General Koster’s efforts help ensure that fans are at least aware, before making a purchase, that their tickets are nontransferable.  No consumer should face losing 100 percent of their hard earned money because their plans changed and they cannot resell or even give away their tickets.

An additional concern, not addressed in the agreement with Ticketmaster, is the impact that paperless ticketing has on unbanked and underbanked consumers. According to the Federal Reserve, 34.4 million U.S. households have no or limited access to traditional banking services, such as debit or credit cards. By requiring a credit or debit card as proof of purchase, paperless ticketing can lock millions of unbanked and underbanked out of the live event marketplace.

NCL advises consumers to always read the fine print before purchasing tickets online as part of our Consumer Guide to Buying Tickets Online.”

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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 praises outgoing FDA Commissioner Hamburg – National Consumers League

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February 5, 2015

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC– The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s pioneer consumer advocacy organization, thanks Dr. Margaret Hamburg for her service to the Food and Drug Administration as Commissioner.

“Dr. Hamburg’s leadership at the FDA will be sorely missed,” said Sally Greenberg, executive director of NCL. “Under her leadership, the FDA implemented key food safety provisions, stood up for broad access to contraception for women,  advancing the safety of medical devices, and speeding up safe and effective drug treatments and devices. Dr. Hamburg was particularly effective at convening and including diverse voices to best serve American consumers.”

In 2011, NCL honored Hamburg with the Trumpeter Award. NCL noted that Hamburg is  “one of the most powerful and influential voices in public health, working to protect the safety of the food supply, provide access to safe and effective medical products, and find innovative ways to prevent illness and promote health.” Hamburg served as the health commissioner in New York City, the youngest person to serve in that role,  and earned praise for her effective programs that battled tuberculosis, slowed the spread of AIDS, and boosted childhood immunization rates.

Hamburg was confirmed as FDA Commissioner by the U.S. Senate in 2009; she is among the longest-serving FDA commissioners the modern era. NCL salutes her for her legacy as FDA Commissioner and for her friendship and support for NCL’s medication adherence program, Script Your Future.

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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.