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Legislative Positions
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Support
S 1816: Freedom from Equifax Exploitation Act
Sponsor: Elizabeth Warren [D-MAnull] on 2017-09-14
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s1816
In light of the massive Equifax data breech that impacted the data privacy of 143 million Americans, the FREE Act would force credit-reporting firms to stop charging consumers to freeze their credit.
Support
S 1712: The SIMPLE Act
Sponsor: Ron Wyden [D-ORnull] on 2017-08-02
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s1712
The SIMPLE Act eliminates unnecessary paperwork requirements for borrowers enrolled in income driven repayment plans and automatically connects struggling borrowers to the relief that is already available to them under the law. The result will be fewer people weighed down by unaffordable student loan payments and fewer people defaulting.
Oppose
HR 2359: Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Liability Harmonization Act
Sponsor: Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) on 05/04/2017
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2359
Would dramatically reduce consumer remedies for the worst credit reporting violations (would eliminate punitive damages in individual cases and reduce statutory damages in class actions).
Oppose
HR 469: Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2017
Sponsor: Doug Collins (R-GA) on 2017-01-12
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr469
The "Sunshine Act" is a direct attack on access to the courts and the regulatory system and undermines citizen enforcement of our laws. It impedes the resolution of consumer protection, anti-discrimination, environmental protection, and other important cases before our federal courts.
Support
AB 375: The California Broadband Internet Privacy Act
Sponsor: Assemblymember Ed Chau on 02/09/2017
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB375
Limits what broadband providers (internet service providers, or ISPs) can do with customer data. The bill was crafted in response to the repeal of the Federal Communications Commission's 2016 internet privacy regulations by the Trump administration.
Support
AB 315: Pharmacy benefit management
Sponsor: Assemblymembers Jim Wood and Brian Dahle on 02/06/2017
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB315
Requires disclosure of drug acquisition costs, rebates received from pharmaceutical manufacturers and rates negotiated with pharmacies by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), entities that have played a major role in artificially raising drug prices for consumers, and which currently operate with virtually no oversight.
Support
SB 33: Arbitration agreements
Sponsor: Senator Bill Dodd on 12/05/2016
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB33
Would prohibit the use of forced arbitration clauses in contracts that were created fraudulently and allow victimized consumers to have their day in court to recover damages.
Oppose
AB 380: Electronic transactions: motor vehicle finance
Sponsor: Assemblymember Matt Dababneh on 02/09/2017
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB380
Currently, under California's Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, auto dealers are not permitted to enter into electronic conditional sales contracts for the purchase or lease of new or used motor vehicles. This bill would allow such practices.
Oppose
AB 165: Privacy: electronic communications: exclusions: local educational agencies
Sponsor: Assemblymember Jim Cooper on 1/17/2017
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB165
This bill would remove the basic privacy protections of the California Electronic Communication Privacy Act (CalECPA) for California’s public school students, teachers and staff.
Support
HR 2901 (S 797): Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Permanence Act of 2017
Sponsor: Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL); Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL); Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on 6/15/2017
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2901
Directs the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to establish a Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program to provide matching funds for the development, expansion, or continuation of tax preparation programs to assist low-income taxpayers and members of underserved populations.
Support
S 1450: The Commercial Flight Courtesy Act
Sponsor: Lamar Alexander [R-TNnull] on 2017-06-28
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s1450
The Commercial Flight Courtesy Act would prohibit the use of cell phones for voice communications on regularly scheduled commercial flights. It would allow the use of personal electronic devices such as Kindles and iPads during flight, which the Federal Aviation Administration has approved.
Watching
S 964 (HR 2356): MY DATA Act of 2017
Sponsor: Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT); Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) on 4/27/2017
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s964
Would prohibit providers of internet broadband services or content, applications, or devices from using unfair or deceptive acts or practices relating to privacy or data security. It would authorize the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), after consulting with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to promulgate regulations under this legislation.
Oppose
HR 2520: Balancing the Rights Of Web Surfers Equally and Responsibly (BROWSER) Act
Sponsor: Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on 5/18/2017
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2520
Consumer Action opposes this bill in its current form because it would undermine the enforcement of internet privacy by preempting stronger state legislation and by removing the Federal Communication Commission's privacy jurisdiction.
Support
S 1389: Military Consumer Enforcement Act
Sponsor: John Reed [D-RInull] on 2017-06-21
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s1389
The bill provides the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with the ability to enforce a range of civil and financial protections to eligible servicemembers, including capping interest rates, protecting against foreclosure and eviction without a court order, and requiring certain steps to obtain a default judgment against a protected servicemember.
Oppose
HR 1215: Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017
Sponsor: Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4] on 2017-02-24
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1215
This bill intends to deny victims of medical malpractice and defective medical products the ability to hold wrongdoers accountable, trampling on states’ rights. The GOP is now rushing it to markup, even though it will directly impede Americans’ access to safe quality medical care.