NCL applauds CFPB final rule on overdraft fees

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December 12, 2024:  NCL Applauds CFPB Final Rule on Overdraft Fees

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

Washington, DC— Consumers across the U.S. burdened by abusive overdraft fee practices will receive some relief after today’s announcement that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has finalized its overdraft rule. The rule will curb many large banks’ fees from $35 to approximately $5, and is estimated to save American consumers up to $5 billion annually.

The National Consumer League (NCL) applauds the CFPB’s rule as it will prevent big banks and credit unions with more than $10 billion in assets from charging junk overdraft fees that burden families with hundreds of dollars a year in unfair charges and push marginalized communities out of the banking system. The rule will push banks to offer straightforward, affordable forms of coverage protection instead.

“Predatory overdraft fees disproportionately harm communities of color and low-income families, but no one is immune to the damaging effects of these exploitative practices,” says Sally Greenberg NCL’s CEO. “By finalizing its overdraft rule, the CFPB is standing up to big banks, protecting American consumers and their hard-earned money.”

The CFPB’s action to protect consumers provides clear rules of the road to ensure consistency and clarity regarding overdraft products. The final rule requires financial institutions with over $10 billion in assets to choose from one of three options for overdraft fees:

  1. Cap fees at $5 to cover the actual costs to oversee an overdraft program.
  2. Charge fees based on actual costs and losses as a service, rather than a profit center.
  3. Treat overdraft coverage like loans, with disclosures, opt-in options, and payment flexibility.

Read the comments submitted by NCL and 143 organizations submitted in support of this rule here.

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FTC’s win in lawsuit against the makers of dietary supplement Prevagen

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December 11, 2024

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

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) commends the Federal Trade Commission for its successful action against Quincy Bioscience, the makers of Prevagen, a supplement marketed as improving memory. By holding companies accountable for deceptive health claims, the FTC continues to protect consumers—particularly older Americans—from misleading marketing. Quincy Bioscience is just one of many dietary supplement manufacturers with a long history of making false claims, and we are so grateful to the FTC for pursuing this case successfully.  It should serve as a cautionary tale to all companies who engage in false and deceptive marketing and advertising.  This victory reaffirms the importance of rigorous scientific evidence in health-related advertising and demonstrates the FTC’s unwavering commitment to consumer protection.

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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.

The U.S. Department of Education’s role is critical for consumers

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December 9, 2024

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

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) rejects proposals to abolish the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and urges Members of Congress to strengthen the agency and its critically important role for consumers.

ED provides irreplaceable services for our public schools, alongside programs administered by other agencies like Head Start at the Department of Health and Human Services and the National School Lunch program at the Department of Agriculture. Despite making up only 3% of the federal budget, ED plays an outsized role in supporting K-12 and college education. Many underserved schools across the nation rely on ED’s Title I funding to continue operating a full range of educational and care services.

The US has long recognized a need for a limited but important federal role ineducation. Indeed, the original Department of Education was created in 1867 to collect information on schools and teaching that would help the States establish effective school systems. ED has evolved and changed with the times, but this early emphasis on getting vital information to teachers and education policymakers continues into the present.

Moreover, ED supports the essential role played by our public schools across America, schools that teach reading, writing, math and science, and are free to all students. The public school system represents the best of American democracy, fostering civic engagement and opportunity for all.

ED also pursues its twin goals of access and excellence through programs that cover every area of education and range from preschool education through postdoctoral research: including civil rights protections, Title IX rights, and  over $150 billion in new and consolidated loans annually. Without these loans, millions of students would not have access to higher education, so ED plays a truly essential consumer support role.

Finally, while ED’s programs and responsibilities have grown substantially over the years, the Department has the smallest staff of the 15 Cabinet agencies and has suffered funding cuts from Congress.

NCL calls on leaders across the political spectrum to reject proposals that would jeopardize the future of our nation’s children and instead focus on improving, refining, and supporting ED’s many positive contributions. NCL continues to advocate for policies to minimize the costs associated with seeking higher education, including legislation to bring the US in line with other developed nations by making college affordable for all.

Further reading

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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 applauds DOT advancement of delay compensation rules

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December 5, 2024

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

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) on compensating travelers for significant flight delays and cancellations. The Department is exploring remedies for passengers who are affected by disruptions that occur due to reasons within an airline’s control. Should DOT finalize a rule requiring cash compensation alongside food, lodging, and ground transportation when necessary, the U.S. would join other jurisdictions that have had similar regulations for decades, like the European Union and Canada.  

“Passengers shouldn’t bear the costs of poor business performance. Especially if you’re traveling with a family, expenses add up quickly for last-minute rebooking and accommodations when an airline has a meltdown,” said NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault. “In taking this step, the Department is continuing its important work to protect airline travelers. We look forward to supporting DOT’s rulemaking effort.” 

NCL has supported a delay compensation mandate for years. In recent airline meltdowns, it has become commonplace for families to lose significant sums of money in out-of-pocket expenses, with reports highlighting losses of $2,000 to $7,500 in costs associated with rebooking flights, finding lodging, and contending with price gouging. U.S.-based air carriers already pay compensation for significant delays and cancellations when servicing certain overseas routes, like those in Europe, but do not provide those same protections when flying domestically.  

Additional reading: 

Consumer groups file amicus brief supporting DOT’s airline fee transparency rule 

NCL urges Congress to strengthen consumer protections against aviation cyber incidents, including delay compensation 

Advocates call on Biden Administration to act on airline passenger protection mandates 

NCL applauds Congress’s passage of aviation consumer protection improvements 

Full list of advocates’ legislative priorities for aviation consumer protection 

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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 stands firm against threats to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

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December 3, 2024

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

Washington, DC – As the nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization, the National Consumers League (NCL) is outraged by recent calls to eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a vital agency safeguarding Americans from corporate exploitation, fraud, and abuse. The reckless suggestion to “cancel” the CFPB by Elon Musk, is a direct attack on consumer protections.

“Eliminating the CFPB would leave U.S. consumers defenseless against predatory practices, corporate greed, and fraudsters,” says National Consumer League’s John Breyault, VP of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud. “Without a strong CFPB, deception in the marketplace will flourish, harming not just consumers, but also honest businesses striving to treat their customers with fairness and respect.”

The CFPB, created in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis through the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, is a lifeline for millions of Americans. Under the leadership of Director Rohit Chopra, the CFPB has delivered $20 billion in consumer relief. The watchdog agency has proven indispensable, delivering multiple wins for everyday Americans, including:

  • Wells Fargo Settlement: A historic $1 billion resolution following fraudulent account-opening practices.
  • Medical Debt Protections: Proposed measures to eliminate medical debt from credit reports, potentially impacting $49 billion in reported debt.
  • Reducing Fraud on Payment Apps: Implemented protections to reduce fraud on Digital Payment App platforms like Apple Pay and Venmo.

The NCL unequivocally opposes any effort to dismantle the CFPB, as doing so would expose Americans to fraudsters, discriminatory lending, and exploitative financial practices. Eliminating the bureau would not only reverse years of progress but would also send a dangerous message to those likely to break the law that corporate profits matter more than consumer protections.

The National Consumers League stands firm: We will not let consumer protections be sacrificed. Americans deserve fairness, transparency, and accountability. We call on all policymakers to stand with consumers and defend the CFPB.

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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.

Millions would benefit as Biden Administration expands coverage for anti-obesity medications under Medicare and Medicaid

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November 26, 2024

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

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) applauds the action by President Joe Biden to allow millions of Americans on Medicare and Medicaid to have coverage for new and very effective anti-obesity medicines (AOMs), thereby removing one of the biggest obstacles impeding access to quality obesity care in the country.

At a time when obesity has become the nation’s most widespread chronic disease, it worsens the outcomes of more than 230 other chronic diseases, and is responsible for an estimated 400,000 premature deathsannually, the proposed rule issued by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has the potential to save lives and improve the health outcomes of 7.4 million Americans. This includes approximately four million adult Medicaid enrollees who would gain new access to anti-obesity medicines and an estimated 3.4 million Medicare beneficiaries whose treatment with AOMS would be covered, reducing their out-of-pocket costs by as much as 95 percent.

The cost of new anti-obesity medicines is an obvious concern to organizations like NCL, the public health community, and policymakers. However, CMS’s proposed expansion of Medicare and Medicaid coverage for a new class of injectable GPL-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor) agonists that can achieve a substantial weight loss (up to 20 percent) represents an important investment in the improved health of Americans.

“Today’s proposed action is a major step forward in ensuring that adults with obesity get the same quality care and access to treatments as those with the 230 chronic conditions where obesity is a significant factor,” says Nancy Glick, National Consumers League Director of Food and Nutrition Policy. “Today, only 10 percent of people with obesity get help from medical professionals, meaning the disease remains largely undiagnosed and undertreated. If CMS’s proposed rule is implemented, it will go a long way towards closing this obesity treatment gap, especially since health insurance companies closely align coverage decisions with Medicare policy.”

In January 2024, NCL worked with the National Council on Aging and leading obesity experts to issue the first Obesity Bill of Rights for the nation, which establishes eight essential rights so people with obesity will be screened, diagnosed, counseled, and treated according to medical guidelines. The Right to Coverage for Treatment is one of these essential rights and will become a reality for millions of Americans on Medicare and Medicaid if CMS’s proposal goes into effect.

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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.

Sally Greenberg: Fluoridated water is essential for public health, not a danger

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Sally Greenberg: Fluoridated Water is Essential for Public Health, Not a Danger

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

Washington, DC— In response to recent media coverage about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo campaigning against water fluoridation, Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League (NCL), issued the following statement:

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s statements on fluoride could jeopardize a proven public health measure. Consumers are best served by reliable, evidence-based health information, not alarmist misinformation.”

The comments made by Kennedy and Ladapo echo similar claims from the 1960s, when groups like the John Birch Society suggested that fluoridation of drinking water was a “communist plot.” Today’s anti-fluoride activists point to a 2019 Canadian study that found that pregnant mothers exposed to higher fluoride levels during pregnancy, gave birth to baby boys with slightly lower IQ’s, as measured at ages 3-4. In this study, mothers were asked to self-recall beverage consumption per day and did not take into account the children’s fluoride exposure in early childhood.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls fluoridated drinking water one of the most successful public health interventions in U.S. history, with its origins dating back to 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since then, water fluoridation has been proven to significantly reduce rates of tooth decay, especially in economically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. The CDC estimates that fluoridated drinking water reduces tooth decay by approximately 25% in children and adults. Health authorities, including the American Dental Association and World Health Organization, affirm that fluoride is safe at the levels currently used in the U.S.

“Fluoridated water is a vital measure to protect public health and reduce health disparities in dental care,” says Greenberg. Recent examples of removing fluoride from water, such as Calgary, Canada (2011) and Juneau, Alaska (2007), resulted in an explosion of dental decay. In both cities, the absence of fluoride in the drinking water corresponded with an increase in cavities and dental surgeries, particularly among children. For more information, visit CDC’s resources on fluoride.

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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 CFPB final rule enabling supervision of payment apps

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

WASHINGTON, DC–Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized its larger participant rulemaking, allowing the Bureau to better ensure that payment app companies are complying with federal consumer protection law. As the use of payment apps has exploded over the past decade, CFPB oversight is critical to ensuring that consumers using these apps are receiving the full care and protections they are legally entitled to, including safeguards around payment errors, peer-to-peer fraud, and corporate surveillance.  

“As our financial system evolves, it’s important that regulators keep up. Director Chopra and CFPB staff have done invaluable work over the past three years to ensure that payment facilitators follow the law, even as the technology advances,” said NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault. “The final rule announced today will help better protect the millions of consumers who use digital wallets and payment apps every day.” 

Additional reading:

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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.

Nonprescription Analgesic/Antipyretic Drug Development in Children 2 to less than 12 Years of Age

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November 15, 2024

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Sally Greenberg, NCL CEO testifies at the FDA about Nonprescription Analgesic/Antipyretic Drug Development in Children 2 to less than 12 Years of Age.

A full video of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration meeting can be found here:

Nonprescription Analgesic/Antipyretic Drug Development in Children 2 to less than 12 Years of Age

Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League, testifies at 1:32:24.

Trump’s Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services Threatens Public Health

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November 15, 2024

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

WASHINGTON, DC– President-elect Trump’s decision to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a grave error, prioritizing conspiracy theories over evidence based science and medical research that is a foundation of our public health system.

The nomination is a staggering blow to the integrity of our nation’s healthcare delivery system. Kennedy, one of the loudest anti-vaccine voices during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been vocal about his theory that vaccines cause autism, a theory unsubstantiated by medical research. Vaccines are one of the most significant achievements in modern medicine, virtually eradicating childhood diseases such as smallpox and polio, saving millions of lives, and ensuring that our children grow up healthy and safe. The World Health Organization has repeatedly affirmed that vaccines are a cornerstone of public health, drastically reducing child mortality and preventing devastating diseases.

Parents across the nation, regardless of their political affiliations, share the same goal: to see their children grow up healthy and strong. By advancing vaccine skepticism, Mr. Kennedy jeopardizes not only children’s health but also public confidence in science, medicine, and the agencies tasked with protecting public safety—a foundation that has taken over a century to build.

If he is confirmed for the position, Mr. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer by training with no experience in the health or medical community, would oversee critical agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His anti-science stance raises serious concerns about his ability to lead a department responsible for infectious disease control, food and drug safety, Medicare and Medicaid policy, and life-saving medical research.

In addition, Mr. Kennedy has proposed drastic changes to the FDA, including loosening regulations on raw milk and eliminating the user fees that fund the oversight of drugs and medical devices. These fees are essential for ensuring timely reviews and approvals for medical devices and drugs. Eliminating them delay the availability of new medical innovations and treatments that serve public health.

This is not the first time that Trump has recommended an unqualified individual for Secretary of Health and Human Services. In 2016, President Trump selected Tom Price, whose tenure ended after just three months due to ethical issues and misuse of taxpayer funds.

The Department of Health and Humans Services deserves a leader committed to advancing science, protecting public health, and upholding the integrity of the nation’s healthcare systems. With this nomination, President-elect Trump is proposing putting the fox in the henhouse, essentially putting our public health under an unsuitable leader who would dismantle the very programs that protect our health and the nation’s food supply.

The National Consumers League calls on the U.S. Senate to reject this nomination. Furthermore, we urge President-elect Trump to withdraw this appointment and select a candidate who will champion science, uphold public trust, and protect the health of the nation.