Welcome to Consumer Action’s Take Action Center. Consumer Action offers e-advocacy tools to help you make your voice and opinions heard. The free service allows you to play an active role in the political process by finding contact information for your federal and state elected officials, writing to Congress, sending letters to the editor, responding to key legislation and more. For more about our work, visit our Issues and Positions page.
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National Legislation
HR 2650: Payment Choice Act of 2019
Sponsor: Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ) on 2019-05-09
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr2650
This bill makes it unlawful for a person selling goods or services at retail to (1) refuse to accept U.S. cash for the goods or services, (2) post signs or notices stating that cash payment is unaccepted, or (3) charge a higher price to a customer who pays by cash.…
Support
National Legislation
S 4145: Payment Choice Act of 2020
Sponsor: Robert Menendez (D-NJ) on 2020-07-01
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s4145
This bill makes it unlawful for a person selling goods or services at retail to (1) refuse to accept U.S. cash for the goods or services, (2) post signs or notices stating that cash payment is unaccepted, or (3) charge a higher price to a customer who pays by cash.
Support
California Legislation
SB 1255: Equal Insurance HIV Act
Sponsor: Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) on 02/21/20
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB1255
This bill aims to prevent disability insurance companies from using an outdated and discriminatory insurance underwriting law that allows insurers to refuse life and disability income insurance applications for HIV-positive individuals based solely on a positive HIV test.
Support
California Legislation
SB 898: College Savings Account Bankruptcy Exemption
Sponsor: Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) on 01/30/20
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB898
This bill seeks to protect 529 college savings accounts from creditors should a family need to file for bankruptcy. Unlike retirement plans, ScholarShare accounts are not currently protected from creditor claims in California.
Support
California Legislation
SB 1196: Price Gouging
Sponsor: Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) on 02/20/20
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB1196
SB 1196 will strengthen state law to protect consumers from price gouging of essential supplies during the current COVID-19 pandemic and future states of emergency.
Support
National Legislation
HR 5934: SCAM Debt Act
Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici on 02-21-2020
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr5934
Among other improvements to the debt collection process, this legislation would expand the information disclosures that are required in collectors' validation notices and require collectors to notify consumers of their intent to take legal action against them.
Support
National Legislation
S 3300: Data Protection Act of 2020
Sponsor: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on 02-13-2020
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s3300
The Data Protection Act would create a data protection agency to address and govern how companies are using consumers' personal digital data, what third parties they're selling or sharing our data with, how they may be engaging in discriminatory or unlawful practices based on this data collection, and more.
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National Legislation
HR 6472: COVID-19 Price Gouging Prevention Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) on 04-07-2020
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr6472
HR 6472 would prohibit price gouging in connection with the public health emergency resulting from COVID-19, forbidding the sale of consumer goods and services (e.g. masks, food and water, etc.) at excessive prices, and creating legal ramfications for those who continue to price gouge.
Support
National Legislation
S 1581 / HR 6470: Medical Debt Relief Act
Sponsor: Senator Jeff Merkely (D-OR), Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) on 05-21-2019
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s1581
Consumer Action urges Congress to include this legislation in any future coronavirus relief packages, as it would prohibit credit reporting agencies from including medical debt in collections on credit reports for one year, and would mandate that all paid or settled debt (including medical collections) be removed within 45 days…
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National Legislation
S 3749: Public Health Emergency Privacy Act
Sponsor: Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on 05-14-2020
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s3749
This Act would ensure that Americans’ sensitive information is kept private and secure when they use a contact tracing app, exposure notification app or other technology as part of the public health response to the COVID-19 crisis.