U.S. PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP for U.S. PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP
What was lobbied
6 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.) FOO
Implementation of FSMA.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| NASIMA HOSSAIN | — |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
S. 1346, HR 2669, S. 1483, S. 2075
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| 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. Opposed 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. 1) 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 or eliminate independence of CFPB, CFTC and SEC. 2) Support various efforts re consumer and transparency protections in various CFPB and other regulations including gift cards, credit cards, overdraft fees, credit bureaus, debt collectors, mortgages before Federal Reserve and all other financial agencies. Support strongest possible Dodd-Frank Title 14 mortgage rules. 3) Support Durbin interchange fee amendment in Dodd-Frank through comments to Federal Reserve and letters to hill opposing repeal/delay. 4) Opposed efforts to legalize predatory lending, such as 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. (7) Oppose HR 3606, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act; supported Senate efforts (Merkley, Levin, Landrieu) to improve bill, oppose similar capital formation bills that weaken investor protections, urged SEC to improve law through better rules. 8) Oppose HR 4367/S3204/similar bills to eliminate ATM signage notices. 9) Support efforts to strengthen Military Lending Act of 2007 (amt. to S 3254 this year). 10) Oppose HR 1909, HR 6139 and any similar bills to create federal non-bank OCC charter for high-cost paydyal lenders and similar firms, preempting authority of states and the CFPB. 11) Oppose HR 4101 to weaken debt collection rights. 12) Oppose HR 5817 and other efforts to weaken GLBA Financial Privacy notices.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| EDMUND M MIERZWINSKI | — |
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 strongest versions of HR 2086/S 2049, Medical Debt Relief Act. Oppose HR 6363 to weaken FCRA.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| EDMUND M MIERZWINSKI | — |
| RICHARD T WILLIAMS | — |
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. Supported strong food/product safety rules in EU/US trade negotiations. 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, HR 1873, S 987. 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. (5) Generally oppose all efforts to weaken consumer legal rights, such as Gosar amendment to HR 5 to eliminate certain consumer class action rights. (6) support efforts to strnegthen consumer legal rights, such as Markey (HR1120) bill to improve consumer disclosure of travel safety risks. 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. Support do not track and reforms based on Fair Information Practices. Product safety toys and products for children. Work on anti-regulatory bills on the house and senate side that will weaken public health protections.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| NASIMA HOSSAIN | — |
| EDMUND M MIERZWINSKI | — |
Government Issues GOV
Oppose legislation to impose cost-benefit analysis or other administrative burdens on agencies, including S. 3468, S 1606, S 2373, S 299, HR 2308, HR 3010, HR 10 and similar bills. Campaign Finance Reform.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BLAIR BOWIE | — |
| EDMUND M MIERZWINSKI | — |
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.