U.S. PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP for U.S. PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP
What was lobbied
9 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Waste (hazardous/solid/interstate/nuclear) WAS
Support Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (H.R.5845 and S.3263). Oppose RECOVER Act (H.R.5115).
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BART JOHNSEN-HARRIS | — |
Banking BAN
Group letter to support H.R. 5332, the Protecting Your Credit Score Act of 2020, (Gottheimer (NJ) (Passed House.) Group letters to support debt collection provisions of Section 110402 and 110601 of the House-passed HEROES Act, H.R. 6800, restricting the collection of consumer and small business debt. That section gives consumers and small businesses that are facing mounting debts a path to recovery. Urge its inclusion in next COVID stimulus package. Submitted Comments to Request for Information from Taskforce on Federal Consumer Financial Law, Docket No. CFPB-2020-0013. Group letters to Urge Congressional leaders and OMB to mandate that Treasury Secretary and Federal Reserve Board fully comply with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, Pub. L. 116-136) disclosure and transparency requirements and mechanisms, especially the provisions establishing the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC, 15010 and 15011). Briefed House Financial Services Committee staff (at their request) on our latest findings on pandemic's impact on number and types of consumer complaints in the CFPB database, particularly its impact on homeowners and mortgages. Group letter to Urge Congressional leaders to include include S1581 (Merkley-OR)/HR 6470 (Porter-CA) the Medical Debt Relief Act of 2019 in the next COVID-19 relief package. The reforms in the Medical Debt Relief Act are urgently needed to allow American families to access the health care they need without further straining their finances during this public health crisis. Group letter to urge CFPB Director to suspend all regulatory actions unrelated to COVID19 and take more steps to better protect consumers during pandemic, instead of loosening enforcement on financial firms. Group letter to urge CFPB Director to suspend actions to weaken Payday Lending and Car Title Loan Regulation, based on leak of internal whistleblower report. Group letter to support S3913 (Cortez-Masto-NV) The End Double Taxation of Successful Consumer Claims Act to correct 2017 tax reform error that harms consumer-plaintiffs and their attorneys by requiring both to pay taxes on same amount. Group letter to CFPB Director urging her to cancel Request for Information sent by Taskforce on Federal Consumer Financial Law, Docket No. CFPB-2020-0013. Sent group letter to OCC opposing its joint rulemaking with OCC to weaken the important Community Reinvestment Act. The Community Reinvestment Act was intended to curb redlining and racial discrimination, and to make access to credit more equitable. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Community Reinvestment Act Regulations Docket No: OCC-2018-0008 and RIN 3064-AF22. Joined consumer and banking industry organizations in letter to urge Congressional leaders at the soonest possible opportunity to clarify that economic impact payments responding to this public health emergency are exempt from otherwise legally binding garnishment orders.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| EDMUND M MIERZWINSKI | — |
Health Issues HCR
Supported the Medical Supply Transparency and Delivery Act, which would establish central, transparent coordination of the medical supply chain.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| MATTHEW WELLINGTON | — |
Government Issues GOV
Support pro-public health, pro-democracy, pro-consumer, and pro-environment provisions in House COVID-19 stimulus package (H.R.6800) and Senate COVID-19 stimulus package.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BART JOHNSEN-HARRIS | — |
Consumer Issues/Safety/Products CSP
Opposed anti- Right to Repair provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act in the Senate. Urged leadership of Senate Commerce Committee not to schedule a confirmation vote on and more generally to oppose the nomination of former chemical industry lobbyist Nancy Beck to chair the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Conducted general outreach activities to Congress on this matter. Joined coalition letter to FTC urging it to withhold final consent to the merger of prescription drug companies Abbvie and Allergan (AbbVie and Allergan; File No. 191 0169). Submitted group comment to US DOT on Defining Unfair or Deceptive Practices in Airlines and Ticketing Agents, Docket No. DOT-OST-2019-0182. Sent civil society letter to House Judiciary Committee leaders opposing efforts by U.S. Chamber of Commerce to demand sweeping business immunity from COVID19-related claims by consumers or workers. Sent consumer group letter to Congressional leaders opposing efforts by U.S. Chamber of Commerce to demand sweeping business immunity from COVID19-related claims by consumers or workers. Sent civil society letter to Congressional leaders opposing efforts by U.S. Chamber of Commerce to demand sweeping business immunity from COVID19-related claims by consumers or workers.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| EDMUND M MIERZWINSKI | — |
| KATIE MURTHA | — |
Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.) FOO
Supported dedicated funding in the appropriations bill to meet the current date set for duration limits for antibiotic use in farm animals.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| KATIE MURTHA | — |
Roads/Highway ROD
Support pro-environment provisions in House FY2021 surface transportation bill (H.R.2).
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BART JOHNSEN-HARRIS | — |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
Support provisions to fund FDAs priority action to improve antibiotic stewardship in veterinary settings in House FY2021 Agriculture/FDA appropriations bill and Senate FY2021 Agriculture/FDA appropriations bill.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| BART JOHNSEN-HARRIS | — |
Transportation TRA
Support increasing public transportation, bike and walk lanes, and public transportation in the Invest Act. Support funding for the USPS.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| KATIE MURTHA | — |
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.