Table of Contents

No two-tier campaign finance laws: Consumer groups oppose DISCLOSE Act
A coalition of groups, including Consumer Action, sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressing disapproval of an exemption for the National Rifle Association in a pending campaign finance bill.

Online privacy bill needs to be fortified with FIPs and other protections
Consumer and privacy advocates responded to calls for comments on a draft online privacy bill proposed by Representatives Rick Boucher and Cliff Stearns. Among other items, the letter asks for an incorporation of Fair Information Practices (FIPs) and no federal pre-emption of stronger state privacy laws.

Let consumers compare health insurance rates fairly
Consumer Action sent a letter to Senator Feinstein and Representative Schakowsky supporting a bill that would make insurer rates publicly available to consumers.

Protection means choice: Give the CFPB and SEC authority over forced arbitration
Members of the Fair Arbitration Now coalition sent a letter to the Senate asking them to support provisions in the financial reform package that give the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Securities and Exchange Commission the ability to restrict forced arbitration.

Give the FTC the tools it needs to protect consumers
In coalition with other organizations Consumer Action asked the Senate to keep provisions in a bill under consideration that would strengthen the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Consumers deserve free access to credit scores with credit reports
Consumer Action joined its coalition partners in sending a letter to Senator Mark Udall asking him to support an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act which would require credit reporting agencies to give consumers free access to their credit scores when they obtain their free annual credit report.

Financial reform must include a strong, independent consumer regulator
Consumer Action joined its coalition members in asking Senator Christopher Dodd, Chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs to ensure that financial reform includes a regulatory structure that is able to truly protect consumers.

Debt collectors should not use paid medical debt to determine credit worth
Consumer Action sent a letter to Representative Mary Jo Kilroy supporting H.R. 3421, a bill that prohibit debt collectors from using settled or paid off medical debt in assessing credit worthiness.

Restore funding Congressional Office of Technology Assessment
A coalition of groups signed onto to ask for a return to funding for the Office of Technological Assessment, an independent testing agency used to help Congress make decisions on topics ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to acid rain.

Keep consumer protection agency independent
Consumer Action joined coalition members in sending a letter to the Senate imploring them to rejection any legislation placing the Consumer Financial Protection Agency under the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).