U.S. PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP for U.S. PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP
What was lobbied
8 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN
Advocacy to create new regulations that would protect students from adusive financial production, particularly private student loans, and credit cards and debit cards.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| GARY KALMAN | — |
| RICHARD T WILLIAMS | — |
Transportation TRA
Transportation reauthorization, transportation appropriations.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| GARY KALMAN | — |
| DANIEL JEFFREY SMITH | — |
Banking BAN
1)Reform Financial Services Regulation. Provided comments to hill and administrative agencies -- signed letters, lobbied on all aspects of legislation and proposed regulations pertaining to implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act which had become law 21 July 2010. Oppose all rollback legislation including Bachmann (HR 87), Moran (S 737), Shelby (S 746 and S 1615), DeMint (S 712) Bachus (HR 1121), Duffy (HR 1315), Capito ( HR1667) and any similar bills 2) Emphasis on opposing Congressional efforts to weaken Title 10 of Dodd-Frank, its establishment of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Oppose efforts in HR 1 and any other appropriations bills to weaken budget of CFPB, CFTC and SEC. 2) Support various efforts re consumer and transparency protections in various regulations including gift cards, credit cards, overdraft fees, mortgages before Federal Reserve and all other financial agencies. 3) Support Durbin interchange fee amendment in Dodd-Frank through comments to Federal Reserve and letters to hill opposing repeal/delay. Oppose bills such as Tester (S 575) to delay Durbin. 4) oppose efforts to legalize predatory lending, suchas rent to own proposals from Canseco (HR 1588) and Landrieu (S. 881) 5) Oppose efforts to weaken other investor protection reforms, such as HR 1062 (Hayworth) and HR 1573 (Lucas) and HR 2308 (Garrett) (6) Support efforts to increase consumer protection in international financial services treaty and trade negotiations.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| GARY KALMAN | — |
| EDMUND M MIERZWINSKI | — |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
Lobbying for money for student aid, specifically Pell Grant funding and student loan subsidies, withing the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. S. 1346, HR 2669, S. 1483.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| GARY KALMAN | — |
| DANIEL JEFFREY SMITH | — |
| RICHARD T WILLIAMS | — |
Bankruptcy BNK
1) Support efforts to protect consumer housing, mortgage renegotiation and foreclosure protections. 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 Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Support HR 2086, Medical Debt Relief Act.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| GARY KALMAN | — |
| EDMUND M MIERZWINSKI | — |
Consumer Issues/Safety/Products CSP
Supported efforts to implement 2008 Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act, which added resources, regulated dangerous and/or toxic products. Opposed Pompeo (KS) amendment to weaken its database. Miscellaneous other support for consumer safety protection as needed. Support strong CPSC rules, including crib safety and database. 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) to ban mandatory arbitration in consumer laws, including support for Arbitration Fairness Act. 2) Supported aspects of Federal Aviation Administration reforms pertaining to Airline Passengers Bill of Rights 2) Support strong enforcement of antitrust laws including specific opposition to MEDCO merger and CVS Caremark mergers, 3) Urged support for legislation to overturn Supreme Court in Leegin, reinstating ban on resale price maintenance. 4) Opposed aspects of HR 326, Stop Online Piracy Act and similar legislation. 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. Filed comments to FTC and Department of Commerce on proposed privacy regimes. No formal position yet on some proposed Internet privacy and data breach bills, but strongly oppose concepts that legalize current invasive practices, preempt state laws, fail to provide adequate eforcement for consumers.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| NASIMA HOSSAIN New | — |
| GARY KALMAN | — |
Education EDU
Lobbying for money for student aid, specifically Pell Grant funding and student loan subsidies, withing the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. Lobbying for the introduction of better standards to protect students attending colleges with low quality standards. Advocacy to create new regulations that would protect students from adusive financial production, particularly private student loans, and credit cards and debit cards.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| GARY KALMAN | — |
| RICHARD T WILLIAMS | — |
Government Issues GOV
HR 2517 - Shareholder Protection Act. Disclosure of political spending at publicly traded corporations. Campaign Finance Reform.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BLAIR BOWIE | — |
| GARY KALMAN | — |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.