U.S. PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP for U.S. PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP

Consumer Issues/Safety/Products CSP

Supported efforts to implement new Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act, add resources, regulate dangerous and/or toxic products. Provided comments to hill, signed letters, lobbied on all aspects of legislation and proposed regulations pertaining to reform. Testified in previous quarters. Specific new law is PL 110-314 (HR 4040, Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act). 2) Supported efforts, Medical Device Safety Act (S. 540, HR 1346) to overturn Supreme Court decision in Riegel v. Medtronic limiting state common law remedies against certain medical device manufacturers. 3) Broadly support all other efforts to preserve consumer private rights of action and to oppose preemption of stronger state consumer financial or health and safety laws. 4) Supported Representative Weiners amendment to H.R. 3200, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, to require transparency by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) who contract with health plans in the national insurance exchange or with the public plan. OTHER ACTIVITIES: Supported various efforts to protect consumers from unfair business or marketplace practices by signing letters, lobbying or commenting on various proposals: 1) Mandatory Arbitration: Support (letters) for HR 1020, the Arbitration Fairness Act to ban mandatory arbitration in consumer laws. 2) Opposed (letter) S. 202 and S. 164, the "Passenger Vehicle Loss Disclosure Act of 2009" 3) Letters limited to opposition to elimination of inequitable conduct defense in the Patent Reform Act (S 515, HR 1260), to encourage generic substitutes for brand name pharmaceuticals. 4) Opposition to the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act, S 738, HR 1744, which would legalize unfair practices of predatory rent to own stores. 5) Supported aspects of Federal Aviation Administration reforms pertaining to Airline Passengers Bill of Rights (HR 915, FAA Reauthorization and S. 213 (Boxer-Snowe) 5) Support strong enforcement of antitrust laws, including opposition to merger of Ticketmaster and LiveNation (testimony in House in previous quarter). 6) Signed letters to White House urging amendments to GM/Chrysler bankruptcy negotiations to reinstate compensation rights of injured victims. 7) Supported variety of efforts, including Equal Employment for All Act (Cohen, House) to amend Fair Credit Reporting Act. 7) Urged support for legislation (not yet filed) to overturn Supreme Court in Leegin, reinstating ban on resale price maintenance. 8) Opposed aspects of Chrysler car company bankruptcy negotiations with administration that limited crash victim rights. PRIVACY: Support efforts to ensure that federal law provides consumers with strong privacy protection, prevents identity theft, and holds companies and government agencies accountable when they lose consumer data. Support includes lobbying, letters, and communications as necessary. Support HR 2221 in part/oppose in part. Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act (PL 110-314)

Contacted: U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Federal Reserve System; SENATE; Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA); Treasury, Dept of; State, Dept of (DOS); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Economic Council (NEC); White House Office; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS)

Bills named: H.R. 2221 (111th), S. 202 (111th), S. 164 (111th), H.R. 1020 (111th), H.R. 3200 (111th), H.R. 1346 (111th), H.R. 915 (111th), H.R. 1260 (111th), H.R. 4040 (111th), H.R. 1744 (111th), S. 213 (111th), S. 540 (111th)

Transportation TRA

FY 2011 House Transportation Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill and Surface Transportation Authorization Act

Contacted: State, Dept of (DOS); Treasury, Dept of; Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA); Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Economic Council (NEC); Federal Reserve System; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); SENATE; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); White House Office; Justice, Dept of (DOJ)

Banking BAN

1)Reform Financial Services Regulation. Provided comments to hill, signed letters, testified, lobbied on all aspects of legislation and proposed regulations pertaining to reform Consumer Financial Protection Agency (HR 3126, HR 4173) and other reforms to expand prudential regulation and add mortgage reforms and improve safety net as the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act--HR 4173 and the (S 3217) Dodd companion bill in the Senate, Restoring American Financial Stability Act. 2) Support efforts against unfair bank fees, including support for HR 1456, the Consumer Overdraft Protection Fair Practices Act (testified in House in March 2009). 3) Support reinstatement of federal usury ceilings on financial transactions (S. 500/HR 1608). 4) Support efforts to implement strong consumer and transparency protections in various regulations including gift cards, credit cards, overdraft fees, before Federal Reserve and other financial agencies. 5) Testify (6/16) before Senate Appropriations in support of Durbin interchange fee amendment to S 3217/HR 4173 and 4/28 before House Judiciary re support for antitrust interchange legislation, HR 2695. 6) Support efforts (Sec. 4901, HR 4173) to grant greater authority to FTC to better protect consumers against financial fraud and impose greater sanctions against wrongdoers. 8) Urged administration/DOJ to support state causes of actions/state attorneys general enforcement authority in various state and federal cases including Cuomo vs. Clearinghouse and OCC. 9) In various fora, urged administration, State and USTR to support international financial rules as floor not ceiling of consumer protection; 10) Support S 1595, Deceptive Loan Check Elimination Act.

Contacted: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); SENATE; Natl Economic Council (NEC); Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); White House Office; Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Treasury, Dept of; State, Dept of (DOS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Federal Reserve System; Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS); Justice, Dept of (DOJ)

Bills named: H.R. 1456 (111th), H.R. 2695 (111th), H.R. 3126 (111th), H.R. 1608 (111th), S. 500 (111th), H.R. 4173 (111th)

Health Issues HCR

On HR 4757, the Health Insurance Rate Authority Act; On HR 4700, the Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act; on Senate Amendment 4361, to curtail pay-for-delay settlements that discourage generic prescription drugs; On S. 3078, the Health Insurance Rate Authority Act

Contacted: Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA); Natl Economic Council (NEC); SENATE; Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; State, Dept of (DOS); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Treasury, Dept of; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Federal Reserve System; Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Bills named: H.R. 4700 (111th), S. 3078 (111th), H.R. 4757 (111th)

Bankruptcy BNK

1) Restructure Mortgages in Bankruptcy and add foreclosure protections: Provided comments to hill, signed letters, lobbied on all aspects of legislation and proposed regulations pertaining to reform. Significant provisions added as Title 14 of HR 4173. Supported efforts to enact strongest possible provisions to allow bankruptcy judges to restructure first mortgages. Bills included S 61, HR 200 and HR 1106. 2) Support efforts to repeal/amend 2005 bankruptcy law (PL 109-8) restrictions on consumer rights. Previous testimony in House (House Judiciary) on credit cards and bankruptcy.

Contacted: Transportation, Dept of (DOT); SENATE; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA); White House Office; Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Treasury, Dept of; State, Dept of (DOS); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Natl Economic Council (NEC); Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS); Federal Reserve System; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)

Bills named: H.R. 1106 (111th), H.R. 200 (111th), H.R. 4173 (111th)

Government Issues GOV

Campaign Finance: HR 5175, DISCLOSE Act--reaction legislation to Citizens United; Voting Rights: NVRA, National Voter Registration Act; Campaign Finance: Shareholder Protection Act, HR 4790; Voting Rights: Online Voter Registration, HR 1719

Contacted: Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Treasury, Dept of; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Natl Economic Council (NEC); Federal Reserve System; Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); SENATE; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA); Federal Trade Commission (FTC); State, Dept of (DOS); White House Office; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 4790 (111th), H.R. 1719 (111th), H.R. 5175 (111th)

Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.) FOO

Support re-authorization of the Child Nutrition Act; enactment of S.510 (the FDA Modernization Act); support measures to ban Bisphenol A in food packaging (HR 1523; S.593; S753)

Contacted: White House Office; State, Dept of (DOS); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Federal Reserve System; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA); SENATE; Treasury, Dept of; Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Natl Economic Council (NEC)

Bills named: S. 510 (111th), S. 593 (111th), H.R. 1523 (111th)

Chemicals/Chemical Industry CHM

Support Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008 (HR 2868), all titles; Drinking Water System Security Act (H.R. 3258), all titles; oppose proposals to extend existing CFATS program for another 4 years (S. 2996) support Kid Safe Chemicals Act (HR 6100; S3040 in 110th ; not yet introduced in 111th) all titles; support measures to ban or restrict use of Bisphenol A (HR 1523; S.593; S753)

Contacted: Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); SENATE; White House Office; Federal Reserve System; Natl Economic Council (NEC); Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); State, Dept of (DOS); Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); Treasury, Dept of; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Bills named: S. 593 (111th), H.R. 2868 (111th), H.R. 3258 (111th), S. 2996 (111th), H.R. 1523 (111th), H.R. 6100 (111th)

Environment/Superfund ENV

Support reauthorization of Superfund polluter pays tax

Contacted: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Economic Council (NEC); Treasury, Dept of; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS); Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); Federal Reserve System; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); SENATE; Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); State, Dept of (DOS); White House Office; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

Closing corporate tax looholes highlighted in the budget

Contacted: Food & Drug Administration (FDA); White House Office; Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); SENATE; Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Natl Economic Council (NEC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); State, Dept of (DOS); Federal Reserve System; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS); Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Treasury, Dept of; Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)