CONSUMERS related term(s) Credit; Product Safety; Toys

Amendments

Budget: reconciliation of the concurrent resolution and replacement of sequester established by the Budget Control Act (H.R. 5652), H2648 [10MY]

——— reconciliation of the concurrent resolution and replacement of sequester established by the Budget Control Act (H.R. 5652), consideration (H. Res. 648), H2581 [10MY]

CPSC: designate drywall manufactured in China a banned hazardous product (H.R. 4212), S8372, S8377 [21DE], H7448 [30DE]

FDIC: temporarily extend the Transaction Account Guarantee Program (S. 3637), S7704 [10DE], S7724, S7746, S7747, S7749, S7750 [11DE], S7982, S7983 [12DE], S8045 [13DE]

Health: reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), H1392 [19MR], H1504, H1505, H1507, H1509, H1511 [22MR]

——— reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), consideration (H. Res. 591), H1449 [21MR]

House of Representatives: establish battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in House parking areas at no net cost to Federal Government (H.R. 1402), H5650 [2AU]

Senate: establish battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in Senate parking areas at no net cost to Federal Government (S. 739), S3641, S3657 [24MY]

Articles and editorials

Brake the Internet Pirates, S23 [23JA]

Deal Is Closer for a U.S. Plan on Mortgage Relief, H517 [7FE]

Going After the Pirates, S28 [23JA]

Internet Piracy and How To Stop It, S28 [23JA]

Megaupload Shows Online Copyright Protection Is Needed, S23 [23JA]

Online Piracy and Political Overreach, S29 [23JA]

Policing the Internet, S28 [23JA]

Bills and resolutions

Alaska: promote availability of natural gas to North American markets by facilitating construction of Alaska-based pipelines (see S. 3629), S6800 [14NO]

Aviation: establish an air travelers’ bill of rights (see S. 3302), S4203 [14JN] (see H.R. 6449), H6230 [20SE]

——— require certain air carriers and their agents and ticket agents to disclose certain costs and fees (see H.R. 3867), H374 [1FE]

——— require security screening of passengers at airports to be carried out by private screening companies (see S. 3303), S4203 [14JN]

Budget: reconciliation of the concurrent resolution and replacement of sequester established by the Budget Control Act (see H.R. 5652), H2565 [9MY]

——— reconciliation of the concurrent resolution and replacement of sequester established by the Budget Control Act (H.R. 5652), consideration (see H. Res. 648), H2565 [9MY]

Business and industry: list employers that relocate call centers overseas, make such companies ineligible for Federal grants and loans, and require call center employees to disclose their physical location (see S. 3402), S5134 [18JY]

Buy American Week: designate (see H. Res. 705), H4064 [26JN]

Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act: improve (see H.R. 6065), H4654 [29JN]

Colleges and universities: require programs offered by institutions to meet licensure and accreditation requirements for an occupation in order to receive Federal tuition grants and loans (see S. 3474), S5870 [1AU] (see H.R. 6717), H7469 [30DE]

CPSC: designate drywall manufactured in China a banned hazardous product (see H.R. 4212), H1390 [19MR]

——— require certain warning labels to be placed on video games that are given certain ratings due to violent content (see H.R. 4204), H1390 [19MR]

Credit: address certain issues relative to the extension of consumer credit (see S. 3426), S5304 [24JY] (see H.R. 6483), H6273 [21SE]

——— clarify Federal law relative to reporting positive consumer credit information to consumer reporting agencies by public utility companies (see H.R. 6363), H5764 [10SE]

——— create a Federal charter for National Consumer Credit Corporations (see H.R. 6139), H5008 [18JY]

——— encourage mortgage loan modifications and suspending foreclosures and evictions (see H.R. 4848), H2204 [26AP]

——— establish a national consumer credit usury rate (see S. 3452), S5487 [26JY]

——— exclude from consumer credit reports medical debt that has been in collection and has been fully paid or settled (see S. 2149), S1194 [1MR]

——— prevent foreclosure of home mortgages and provide for affordable refinancing of mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through mortgages having 50-year terms of maturity (see H.R. 6366), H5765 [10SE]

——— prohibit Federal agencies from guaranteeing, making, or insuring a mortgage secured by a residence in a jurisdiction that has used eminent domain to take a residential mortgage (see H.R. 6397), H5999 [13SE]

——— provide exception from definition of loan originator for certain loans made relative to manufactured homes and amend Truth in Lending Act to modify definition of high-cost mortgage (see S. 3484), S5977 [2AU] (see H.R. 3849), H218 [31JA]

——— provide for affordable refinancing of mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (see S. 3085), S3085 [10MY] (see S. 3522), S6062 [10SE] (see H.R. 6428), H6060 [14SE]

——— provide homeowners with additional protections and safeguards against foreclosure (see H.R. 6395), H5999 [13SE]

——— require lender or servicer of a home mortgage, upon a request by the homeowner for a short sale, to make a prompt decision whether to allow the sale (see S. 2120), S850 [16FE]

Credit cards: establish a national usury rate for consumer accounts under open end consumer credit plans (see H.R. 4084), H943 [17FE]

Crime: prevent identity theft and tax fraud (see S. 3432), S5381 [25JY] (see H.R. 6205), H5326 [26JY]

——— provide penalties for fraudulent email schemes that force senior citizens to purchase unnecessary medical equipment (see S. 3556), S6454 [19SE]

Debt collection: protect against abusive debt collectors by regulating medical debt collection practices, prohibit collectors from seeking arrest warrants to collect debts, and provide information about the debt (see S. 3350), S4674 [27JN]

Dept. of Agriculture: authorize loans to certain entities that will make loans to consumers to implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures to promote energy cost savings and rural development (see S. 2216), S1932 [21MR]

——— permit providers of eligible food purchasing and delivery services to be approved as retail food stores that accept and redeem Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (see H.R. 4333), H1804 [29MR]

——— repeal a duplicative inspection and grading program for catfish (see H.R. 4296), H1803 [29MR]

Dept. of Commerce: establish a program to make preloaded debit cards available for the purchase of certain goods and services (see H.R. 6675), H7264 [18DE]

Dept. of Defense: carry out a program to develop innovative financial products that encourage savings and wealth-creation among active servicemembers and reduce use of predatory lenders (see H.R. 5946), H3702 [12JN]

Dept. of Energy: establish the Home Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate Program (see H.R. 4230), H1496 [21MR]

——— improve energy efficiency of electric instantaneous water heaters (see H.R. 3817), H158 [24JA]

Dept. of HHS: authorize a national toll-free hotline and website to provide child care consumer education information to help parents access child care under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program (see S. 2135), S1088 [28FE] (see H.R. 6707), H7435 [27DE]

——— develop a national model disclosure form to assist consumers in purchasing long-term care insurance (see S. 3229), S3516 [23MY]

——— establish a working group to develop and disseminate best practices to ensure accessibility in prescription drug labeling for visually-impaired and blind individuals (see H.R. 4087), H950 [24FE]

——— provide for public disclosure of charges for certain hospital and ambulatory surgical center treatment episodes (see H.R. 5709), H2644 [10MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: ensure veterans have information and protections required to make informed decisions on Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program benefits (see S. 2241), S2085 [27MR]

Electronic Communications Privacy Act: clarify and update standards for government and law enforcement access to stored communications and customer records (see H.R. 6339), H5706 [2AU]

EPA: prohibit finalization of rules under the Clean Air Act if a State regulatory authority gives notice that such rules will lead to an increase in price of electricity for end-use consumers (see H.R. 6501), H6274 [21SE]

FCC: establish data usage measurement standards for Internet service providers, ensure proper use of data caps, empower consumers to monitor data usage, and prohibit discrimination against any content (see S. 3703), S8302 [20DE]

——— promulgate regulations to provide for accurate disclosure of the terms and conditions of prepaid telephone calling cards and services (see H.R. 4319), H1804 [29MR]

FDA: ensure continued research and development of drugs and medical devices for use in children (see S. 2289), S2392 [17AP]

——— extend market exclusivity periods for drugs in certain combinations of drugs (see H.R. 6502), H6274 [21SE]

——— help prevent occurrence of cancer resulting from the use of ultraviolet tanning lamps by imposing more stringent controls on the use of such devices (see S. 2301), S2545 [19AP]

——— improve the safety of Internet pharmacies (see H.R. 4095), H1016 [28FE]

——— prohibit wholesalers from purchasing prescription drugs from pharmacies and enhance information and transparency of drug wholesalers engaged in interstate commerce (see H.R. 5853), H3166 [22MY]

——— require the label of drugs to contain a parenthetical statement identifying the source of any ingredient constituting or derived from a grain or starch-containing ingredient (see H.R. 4972), H2267 [27AP]

FDIC: protect certain information (see S. 2055), S261 [1FE]

——— temporarily extend the Transaction Account Guarantee Program (see S. 3637), S6894 [26NO]

Financial Consumers Association: establish to advance rights and remedies available to consumers relative to financial services transactions (see H.R. 6667), H6806 [13DE]

Financial institutions: address fee disclosure requirements (see S. 3204), S3280 [17MY] (see S. 3394), S5085 [17JY]

——— establish fair and transparent practices related to marketing and provision of overdraft coverage programs at depository institutions (see H.R. 5691), H2566 [9MY]

——— exempt debt collectors from liability when leaving certain voice mail messages as long as the collector follows regulations prescribed on the appropriate manner in which to leave such a message (see H.R. 4101), H1016 [28FE] (see H.R. 5794), H3102 [17MY]

——— permit certain current loans that would otherwise be treated as non-accrual loans as accrual loans for certain purposes (see H.R. 4029), H725 [14FE]

——— preserve privilege of information provided to Federal and State agencies (see H.R. 6125), H4863 [12JY]

——— provide exception from requirement for annual privacy notices for financial institutions which do not share personal information with affiliates (see H.R. 5817), H3103 [17MY]

——— provide for a safe, accountable, fair, and efficient banking system (see S. 3048), S3041 [9MY] (see H.R. 5714), H2644 [10MY]

——— support and promote mutual community banks (see H.R. 4217), H1426 [20MR]

Financial literacy: provide incentives to encourage financial institutions and small businesses to provide continuing financial education to customers, borrowers, and employees (see H.R. 4394), H1977 [18AP]

Food: strengthen Federal consumer product safety programs and activities relative to commercially-marketed seafood (see H.R. 6200), H5291 [25JY]

Food industry: improve and clarify certain disclosure requirements for restaurants, similar retail food establishments, and vending machines (see S. 3574), S6454 [19SE] (see H.R. 6174), H5200 [24JY]

——— require labels on packages of meat include a statement on whether the meat contains lean finely textured beef (pink slime) (see H.R. 4346), H1811 [30MR]

FRS: preserve privilege for information submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (see H.R. 3871), H374 [1FE] (see H.R. 4014), H696 [13FE]

——— require the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to conduct a small business review panel on the qualified mortgage rule before the Bureau can go forward with a final rule (see S. 3571), S6454 [19SE]

——— treatment of information provided to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (see S. 2099), S494 [9FE] (see S. 3394), S5085 [17JY]

Gift cards: increase consumer protections (see S. 3636), S6894 [26NO]

Government: require establishment of customer service standards for Federal agencies (see S. 3455), S5658 [30JY]

Health: make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly (see S. 3338), S4460 [25JN]

——— protect privacy of protected health information by requiring health care providers to encrypt devices that store health information, restricting access, and improving congressional oversight (see S. 3351), S4674 [27JN]

——— provide individual and group market reforms to protect health insurance consumers (see H.R. 4242), H1541 [22MR]

——— reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), consideration (see H. Res. 591), H1426 [20MR]

——— reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), return to House (see H. Res. 596), H1641 [27MR]

Health care facilities: invalidate pre-dispute arbitration agreements between long-term nursing care facilities and residents of such facilities (see H.R. 6351), H5707 [2AU]

Hydroelectric power: protect the Federal Columbia River Power System, Power Marketing Administration customers, and Bureau of Reclamation dams and facilities and promote hydropower generation (see H.R. 6247), H5628 [1AU]

Immigration: facilitate travel and investment in the U.S. by reforming visa procedures for certain foreign nationals investing in residential real estate (see H.R. 5741), H2712 [15MY]

Insurance: preserve consumer and employer access to licensed independent insurance producers (see S. 2068), S323 [2FE] (see S. 2288), S2392 [17AP]

——— prohibit use of consumer reports and consumer information in making any determination involving auto insurance (see H.R. 6129), H4868 [13JY]

Law enforcement: clarify that a video tape service provider may obtain a consumer’s informed, written consent on an ongoing basis and that consent may be obtained through the Internet (see H.R. 6671), H6828 [17DE]

——— enhance punishment for identity theft and other violations of data privacy (see S. 2111), S699 [15FE]

Lawyers and attorneys: preclude law firms and licensed attorneys from the definition of a debt collector when taking certain actions (see H.R. 6706), H7435 [27DE]

Medicaid: increase price transparency of hospital information and provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs (see H.R. 5800), H3102 [17MY]

Medicare: permit the Dept. of HHS to negotiate lower covered part D prescription drug prices for beneficiaries (see H.R. 6392), H5999 [13SE]

——— save and strengthen (see H.R. 6645), H6701 [11DE]

Motor vehicles: prevent car and truck rental companies from renting or selling vehicles that are under manufacturer recall (see S. 3502), S5977 [2AU] (see H.R. 6094), H4774 [10JY]

——— prevent car and truck rental companies from renting vehicles that contain a defect related to vehicle safety (see S. 3706), S8364 [21DE]

National Travel and Tourism Week: observance (see S. Res. 451), S3042 [9MY] (see H. Res. 653), H2646 [10MY]

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency: establish pilot program to facilitate communication between borrowers and servicers (see S. 3589), S6545 [20SE]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: improve eligibility requirements for uninsured individuals with a preexisting condition for coverage under the Preexisting Condition Insurance Program (see H.R. 6327), H5706 [2AU]

——— repeal amendments which disqualify expenses for over-the-counter drugs under health savings accounts and health flexible spending arrangements (see H.R. 5842), H3162 [18MY]

Pharmaceuticals: prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market (see H.R. 3995), H692 [9FE]

Post Office Consumer Action Group, Inc.: establish (see H.R. 6648), H6701 [11DE]

Postal Service: provide that the payment of a bill, invoice, or statement of account due, if made by mail, shall be considered to have been made on the date with which the envelope used to transmit such payment is postmarked (see H.R. 4003), H692 [9FE]

Power resources: enable Dept. of Energy and a Commission on Energy Independence and Domestic Refining Capacity to study, recommend, and implement incentive packages to increase domestic refining capacity (see H.R. 6314), H5705 [2AU]

——— impose windfall profit tax on oil and natural gas, allow a tax credit for the purchase of a domestic fuel-efficient vehicle, and make grants to mass transit systems for fare reductions (see H.R. 3784), H77 [18JA]

——— streamline criteria for storage and dispensing of fuels, provide liability protection for fuel retailers, and ensure retailers’ equipment is safe and compatible to sell new fuels (see S. 2264), S2242 [29MR] (see H.R. 4345), H1811 [30MR]

Product safety: establish a comprehensive process to inform consumers about food and product recalls (see H.R. 4759), H2125 [25AP]

Real estate: establish programs to provide counseling to homebuyers regarding voluntary home inspections and train counselors to provide such counseling (see H.R. 4219), H1426 [20MR]

——— prevent foreclosure of, and provide for the reduction of principal on, mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (see H.R. 3841), H218 [31JA]

Roads and highways: stop excessive toll hikes (see H.R. 6515), H6275 [21SE]

Safe Drinking Water Act: reauthorize provision of technical assistance to small public water systems (see S. 2166), S1459 [7MR]

SEC: require certain investment advisers to pay fees to help cover the costs of inspecting and examining investment advisers (see H.R. 6204), H5291 [25JY]

Securities: determine a customer’s net equity based on the customer’s last statement, prohibit certain recoveries, and change how trustees are appointed (see H.R. 6695), H7424 [20DE]

——— provide one-time payments from the SIPC Fund for customers during a pending lawsuit by the SEC against the Securities Investor Protection Corp. (see H.R. 4002), H692 [9FE]

Senior citizens: protect elder adults from exploitation and financial crimes, prevent elder adult abuse and financial exploitation, and promote safety for elder adults (see S. 3598), S6546 [20SE]

Small Business Saturday: designate (see S. Res. 589), S6626 [21SE] (see H. Res. 793), H6232 [20SE]

Taxation: clarify that any person who, for commercial purposes, makes available for consumer use a machine capable of producing tobacco products, is a manufacturer of tobacco products (see H.R. 4134), H1152 [5MR]

——— deny any deduction for advertising and marketing directed at children to promote the consumption of food at fast food restaurants or food of poor nutritional quality (see H.R. 6599), H6428 [16NO]

——— extend the energy efficient appliance credit (see H.R. 6056), H4603 [28JN]

——— make permanent the deduction of State and local general sales taxes (see H.R. 5333), H2316 [7MY]

——— prohibit requirement that taxpayers reconcile amounts relative to reportable payment transactions to amounts related to gross receipts and sales (see S. 2083), S494 [9FE] (see H.R. 3877), H374 [1FE]

——— provide tax rate parity among all tobacco products (see S. 3081), S3084 [10MY]

——— provide taxpayer protection and assistance relative to tax preparation (see S. 3355), S4724 [28JN] (see H.R. 6050), H4603 [28JN]

——— repeal certain tax breaks for gas and oil companies and refund the revenue savings to registered vehicle owners (see H.R. 4231), H1496 [21MR]

Technology: combat trade barriers that threaten maintenance of an open, global Internet, that mandate unique technology standards as a condition of market access, and promote free flow of information (see H.R. 6530), H6275 [21SE]

Telecommunications: ensure State and local E911 fees, taxes, and surcharges are imposed in a fair and equitable manner relative to prepaid mobile services (see H.R. 3788), H77 [18JA]

——— prohibit mobile service providers from providing service on mobile electronic devices that have been reported stolen and enable consumers to remotely delete data from such devices (see H.R. 4247), H1542 [22MR]

——— require disclosures to consumers on the capability of software to monitor mobile device usage and require consent of the consumer prior to monitoring (see H.R. 6377), H5922 [12SE]

Telephones: prohibit unauthorized third-party charges on wireline telephone bills (see S. 3291), S4151 [13JN]

Television: provide certain rural counties with the ability to receive television broadcast signals of their choice (see H.R. 4469), H2030 [19AP]

Undertaking Spam, Spyware, and Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders (U.S. SAFE WEB) Act: extend (see S. 3410), S5212 [19JY] (see H.R. 6131), H4906 [17JY]

Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: technical corrections (see S. 3713), S8507 [28DE]

Whistleblowing: provide anti-retaliation protections for antitrust whistleblowers (see S. 3462), S5732 [31JY]

Cloture motions

FDIC: temporarily extend the Transaction Account Guarantee Program (S. 3637), S7724 [11DE]

——— temporarily extend the Transaction Account Guarantee Program (S. 3637), motion to proceed, S7664 [6DE], S7723 [11DE]

Letters

Contaminated Drywall Safety Act: Representative Ros-Lehtinen, Committee on Foreign Affairs (House), H6136 [19SE]

——— Representative Upton, Committee on Energy and Commerce (House), H6136 [19SE]

Dept. of Justice investigation into the impact of oil speculators on gasoline prices: Senator Blumenthal, S1774 [19MR]

Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs extension: several business organizations, S819 [16FE]

Felony prosecution of individuals relative to violation of Internet ‘‘terms of service’’ agreements: several organizations, S5915 [2AU]

FHA solvency and efforts to rebuild Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund: Carol J. Galante, Acting Assistant Sec. of HUD for Housing and FHA Commissioner, S8526 [30DE]

Impact of drug approval process on drug prices: Alfred E. Mann, H3585 [7JN]

Improve privacy of electronic communications: several organizations, S5914 [2AU]

Marketplace Fairness Act: several Senators, S817 [16FE]

Protecting Access to Healthcare Act: James T. Hay, California Medical Association, H1458 [21MR]

Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act: Harold A. Schaitberger, International Association of Fire Fighters, H2621 [10MY]

——— Representative Issa, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (House), E825 [17MY]

——— Representative Lungren, Committee on House Administration (House), E825 [17MY]

——— Representative Paul Ryan, Committee on the Budget (House), E825, E826 [17MY]

——— Stephen E. Blaire, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, H2580, H2613 [10MY]

Lists

Airline ticket fees, H929 [17FE]

Organizations supporting the Enzi amendment to S. 2237, Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act, on empowering States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes, S4883 [11JY]

Motions

Budget: reconciliation of the concurrent resolution and replacement of sequester established by the Budget Control Act (H.R. 5652), H2630 [10MY]

FDIC: temporarily extend the Transaction Account Guarantee Program (S. 3637), S7724 [11DE], S8001 [13DE]

Health: reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), H1516 [22MR]

Remarks in House

Air pollution: impact of economy-wide global warming pollution emission cap and trade program, H176 [25JA], H3399 [1JN]

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: economic impact of stimulus funding, H398, H399, H403, H404 [2FE]

Antitrust policy: restore application of Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers, H1509–H1511 [22MR], H4689 [10JY], H4788 [11JY]

Aviation: require certain air carriers and their agents and ticket agents to disclose certain costs and fees (H.R. 3867), H929 [17FE]

Better Business Bureau: anniversary, E1454 [10SE]

Budget: reconciliation of the concurrent resolution and replacement of sequester established by the Budget Control Act (H.R. 5652), H2455 [9MY], H2583–H2633 [10MY], H2702–H2705 [15MY], H2783 [16MY], H3135 [18MY], H3392 [1JN], H3586 [7JN], H4922–H4925 [18JY], H5295 [26JY], H5521 [31JY], H5958 [13SE], H6575 [30NO], H6751 [12DE], E755 [9MY], E802 [15MY], E823 [16MY], E825 [17MY], E908 [30MY], E2018 [31DE]

——— reconciliation of the concurrent resolution and replacement of sequester established by the Budget Control Act (H.R. 5652), consideration (H. Res. 648), H2573–H2583 [10MY]

——— reconciliation of the concurrent resolution and replacement of sequester established by the Budget Control Act (H.R. 5652), motion to recommit, H2631 [10MY]

Business and industry: empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes (H.R. 3179), H5138 [24JY]

——— list employers that relocate call centers overseas, make such companies ineligible for Federal grants and loans, and require call center employees to disclose their physical location (H.R. 3596), H3749–H3752 [19JN]

CFTC: take certain actions to reduce excessive speculation in energy markets, H1895, H1896 [17AP], H1929 [18AP]

Colleges and universities: address increasing levels of student loan debt and default rates, H515 [7FE], H590 [8FE], H1969–H1975 [18AP], H2052–H2055 [24AP], H2116 [25AP], H2145, H2146 [26AP]

CPSC: anniversary of legislation exempting off-highway vehicles from certain lead prohibitions, E1428 [3AU]

——— designate drywall manufactured in China a banned hazardous product (H.R. 4212), H6134–H6137 [19SE]

——— designate drywall manufactured in China a banned hazardous product (H.R. 4212), Senate amendment, H7448–H7450 [30DE]

Credit: require lender or servicer of a home mortgage, upon a request by the homeowner for a short sale, to make a prompt decision whether to allow the sale (H.R. 1498), H385 [2FE]

Dept. of Defense: regulate open-end credit loans to Armed Forces members and reduce use of predatory lenders, H5075 [19JY]

Dept. of Justice: prevent online threats to economic creativity and theft of intellectual property (S. 968), H33 [18JA], H84 [23JA]

——— prevent online threats to economic creativity and theft of intellectual property by seeking injunctions against foreign websites dealing in illegal content and goods (H.R. 3261), H33, H40, H45 [18JA], H84 [23JA]

Economy: impact of stimulus funding, H6797 [13DE]

——— impact of switch to chained consumer price index as means to measure cost-of-living, H7362 [20DE]

Education: funding, H2116, H2120, H2121 [25AP]

EPA: require analyses of the cumulative and incremental impacts of certain rules and actions, H6200 [20SE]

——— waive ban on over-the-counter asthma inhalers enacted as part of international agreement to stop using products containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and allow existing stock to be sold until FDA approves replacement, H4872 [17JY]

Financial institutions: establish fair and transparent practices related to marketing and provision of overdraft coverage programs at depository institutions (H.R. 5691), E752 [9MY]

——— provide exception from requirement for annual privacy notices for financial institutions which do not share personal information with affiliates (H.R. 5817), H6580–H6584 [3DE], H6723, H6724 [12DE]

——— provide home loan modifications to eligible homeowners and assist homeowners and prospective homeowners with foreclosure prevention programs and information on loan modifications, H701 [14FE]

Financial Stability Oversight Council: strengthen review authority of regulations issued by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (H.R. 1315), H516 [7FE]

Food: require labels on food that contains, or is produced with, a genetically engineered material (H.R. 3553), H6073 [19SE]

——— strengthen Federal consumer product safety programs and activities relative to commercially-marketed seafood (H.R. 6200), E1327 [25JY]

FRS: move the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau into the Dept. of the Treasury, H2602 [10MY]

——— preserve privilege for information submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (H.R. 4014), H1555, H1556 [26MR], E448 [27MR]

FTC: approval of merger between Express Scripts, Inc., and Medco, E704 [7MY]

Government: require establishment of customer service standards for Federal agencies (H.R. 538), H5778, H5779 [11SE]

Government regulations: exempt regulations on offshore bank account disclosure, middle income tax relief, invasive species, prescription drug safety, and foreclosure relief and predatory lending from regulatory freeze, H5318 [26JY]

——— provide reasonable and proportional fees and rules for electronic debit transactions, H6163 [20SE]

Health: delay enactment of medical malpractice tort reform until the Dept. of HHS has submitted a report on the potential effect on health care premium reductions, H1505–H1507 [22MR]

——— preserve joint and several liability for damages in medical malpractice, H1465 [21MR]

——— preserve liability for damages for serious and irreversible injuries, E427 [22MR]

——— provide individual and group market reforms to protect health insurance consumers (H.R. 4242), H3799 [19JN], H4749 [10JY]

——— reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform, H2623, H2629 [10MY], H7407 [20DE]

——— reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), H1369, H1370, H1384–H1388 [19MR], H1399, H1400, H1420–H1425 [20MR], H1439, H1440, H1441, H1453–H1490, H1494 [21MR], H1499, H1500, H1501–H1519, H1521, H1522, H1524 [22MR], E415, E416, E418, E421, E423, E425, E427, E429, E431, E433, E434, E435, E436 [22MR], E442 [26MR], E481 [29MR]

——— reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), consideration (H. Res. 591), H1443–H1452 [21MR]

——— reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), motion to recommit, H1516 [22MR]

——— reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), return to House (H. Res. 596), H1593 [27MR]

Health care professionals: prohibit exemption of health care professionals who intentionally harm patients from medical malpractice liability, H1482 [21MR]

House of Representatives: establish battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in House parking areas at no net cost to Federal Government (H.R. 1402), H5650 [2AU]

Housing: clarify treatment of homeowner warranties under current law (H.R. 2446), H5612, H5613 [1AU], E1423 [3AU]

Intelligence services: protect U.S. intelligence and military capability, defend certain sensitive information against cybersecurity attack, and promote U.S businesses, H3306 [31MY]

L.L. Bean, Inc.: anniversary, E1195 [29JN]

Law enforcement: clarify that a video tape service provider may obtain a consumer’s informed, written consent on an ongoing basis and that consent may be obtained through the Internet (H.R. 6671), H6849–H6851 [18DE]

Lithonia, GA: tribute to HomeSafe Georgia Foreclosure Prevention Event, H6597 [4DE]

Medicaid: increase price transparency of hospital information and provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs (H.R. 5800), H3409 [5JN]

Motor vehicles: provide incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and increase investment in advanced vehicle technology, development, and manufacturing, H976 [28FE]

New Jersey Citizen Action (organization): anniversary, E787 [15MY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: implementation of medical loss ratio requirements for health insurance plans, H6514 [29NO]

——— improve eligibility requirements for uninsured individuals with a preexisting condition for coverage under the Preexisting Condition Insurance Program (H.R. 6327), E1399 [3AU]

——— repeal amendments which disqualify expenses for over-the-counter drugs under health savings accounts and health flexible spending arrangements, H3584, H3591, H3593, H3594, H3601, H3605, H3606, H3609, H3611, H3613, H3614, H3616 [7JN], E1031 [8JN]

——— repeal amendments which disqualify expenses for over-the-counter drugs under health savings accounts and health flexible spending arrangements (H.R. 5842), H3366 [1JN]

——— repeal of Patient’s Bill of Rights, H4812 [11JY]

Peabody Energy, Inc.: call for investigation into contracts with public power organizations to fund Prairie State Energy Campus in Marissa, IL, and impact on consumer electricity rates, H6161 [20SE], H6236 [21SE]

Petroleum: impact of oil speculators on gasoline prices, H1163 [6MR], H1395 [20MR], H2060 [24AP]

——— provide relief from high gas prices by repealing subsidies for large oil companies, releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, reforming royalty laws, and penalizing price gouging (H.R. 1748), H1229 [7MR]

Power resources: prohibit granting new leases to oil companies until they forgo oil and gas subsidies, use U.S. made products, and hire U.S. workers, H3943 [21JN]

——— protect from price-gouging of gasoline and other fuels (H.R. 964), H1036 [29FE], H1104 [1MR], H1175, H1176 [6MR]

SEC: delay effective date of requirement for cost/benefit analysis of regulations until certification that such requirement will not divert resources from mission to protect investors and the financial system, H5282, H5283 [25JY]

——— exempt inter-affiliate swaps from certain regulatory requirements put in place under the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 2779), H1548–H1551 [26MR], E479 [28MR]

Senate: establish battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in Senate parking areas at no net cost to Federal Government (S. 739), H5649 [2AU]

Small Business Saturday: observance, E1780 [16NO]

Taxation: clarify that any person who, for commercial purposes, makes available for consumer use a machine capable of producing tobacco products, is a manufacturer of tobacco products (H.R. 4134), E561 [17AP]

——— deny any deduction for advertising and marketing directed at children to promote the consumption of food at fast food restaurants or food of poor nutritional quality (H.R. 6599), H6419 [16NO]

——— make permanent the deduction of State and local general sales taxes, H5689 [2AU]

——— provide taxpayer protection and assistance relative to tax preparation (H.R. 6050), E1172 [28JN]

Undertaking Spam, Spyware, and Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders (U.S. SAFE WEB) Act: extend (H.R. 6131), H5829, H5830 [11SE]

Remarks in Senate

Air pollution: impact of economy-wide global warming pollution emission cap and trade program, S3691 [4JN], S5640 [30JY]

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: economic impact of stimulus funding, S898 [17FE], S3298 [21MY], S4434 [25JN]

Budget: reconciliation of the concurrent resolution and replacement of sequester established by the Budget Control Act (H.R. 5652), S2989–S2991 [9MY], S3110, S3133 [14MY], S3137 [15MY]

——— reconciliation of the concurrent resolution and replacement of sequester established by the Budget Control Act (H.R. 5652), unanimous-consent request, S3615 [24MY]

Business and industry: empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes, S4880–S4884 [11JY]

——— empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes (S. 1832), S369 [7FE], S815–S817 [16FE]

Colleges and universities: address increasing levels of student loan debt and default rates, S237 [1FE], S2068–S2070 [27MR], S2536–S2538 [19AP], S2992 [9MY], S7675 [6DE], S8021 [13DE]

Courts: settlement in class-action lawsuit filed by merchants against Visa, MasterCard, and financial institutions, S5961 [2AU]

CPSC: anniversary of legislation exempting off-highway vehicles from certain lead prohibitions, S5968 [2AU]

——— designate drywall manufactured in China a banned hazardous product (H.R. 4212), S8377 [21DE]

Credit: address certain issues relative to the extension of consumer credit (S. 3426), S5490 [26JY]

——— encourage financial institutions to discontinue certain fees on debit and prepaid cards used by colleges and universities to disburse student financial aid, S5199 [19JY]

——— establish a national consumer credit usury rate (S. 3452), S5489 [26JY]

——— promulgate regulations regarding debit and credit card interchange transaction fees, S3403–S3405 [22MY], S5960–S5962 [2AU]

——— provide for affordable refinancing of mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (S. 3522), S6066 [10SE], S6075 [11SE]

Crime: provide penalties for fraudulent email schemes that force senior citizens to purchase unnecessary medical equipment (S. 3556), S6458 [19SE]

Dept. of Agriculture: Farmers Market Promotion Program funding, S4357 [20JN]

——— promote access to healthful foods in areas known as health deserts, S4196 [14JN]

——— repeal duplicative inspection and grading program for catfish, S4181 [14JN]

Dept. of Defense: extend enforcement authority of the Military Lending Act to certian Federal agencies, S7332 [3DE]

Dept. of HHS: contract with public relations firm for advertising campaign to promote preventive health benefits of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, S3467 [23MY]

Dept. of Justice: prevent online threats to economic creativity and theft of intellectual property (S. 968), S21, S27–S31 [23JA]

——— prevent online threats to economic creativity and theft of intellectual property (S. 968), motion to proceed, S13 [23JA]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: ensure veterans have information and protections required to make informed decisions on Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program benefits (S. 2241), S2087 [27MR], S2589 [23AP]

Drugs: address increase in synthetic drug use, S679–S682 [15FE]

——— ban the sale of certain synthetic drugs, S4449 [25JN], S4625 [26JN]

——— ban the sale of certain synthetic drugs (S. 409), S680, S681 [15FE]

——— ban the sale of certain synthetic drugs (S. 839), S680, S681 [15FE]

Economy: impact of switch to chained consumer price index as means to measure cost-of-living, S7731 [11DE], S8171–S8175 [19DE], S8247 [20DE]

FCC: establish data usage measurement standards for Internet service providers, ensure proper use of data caps, empower consumers to monitor data usage, and prohibit discrimination against any content (S. 3703), S8303 [20DE]

FDA: create standards for information provided to patients when receiving prescription medications, S3464 [23MY]

——— ensure continued research and development of drugs and medical devices for use in children, S3477 [23MY], S3565 [24MY]

——— ensure continued research and development of drugs and medical devices for use in children (S. 2289), S2395 [17AP]

——— help prevent occurrence of cancer resulting from the use of ultraviolet tanning lamps by imposing more stringent controls on the use of such devices (S. 2301), S2547 [19AP]

——— institute regulation and oversight of energy drinks as beverages to ensure safe caffeine levels, S6843–S6845 [15NO]

——— provide additional quality control of drugs, S3417 [22MY]

FDIC: allow participation in the Transaction Account Guarantee Program to be voluntary, S8002, S8003 [13DE]

——— charge rates necessary to account for losses in the Transaction Account Guarantee Program, S8002, S8003 [13DE]

——— temporarily extend the Transaction Account Guarantee Program (S. 3637), S6896, S6908 [26NO], S6909 [27NO], S7740 [11DE], S8000–S8004, S8025 [13DE]

——— temporarily extend the Transaction Account Guarantee Program (S. 3637), motion to proceed, S7664 [6DE], S7721, S7723 [11DE]

——— temporarily extend the Transaction Account Guarantee Program (S. 3637), unanimous-consent agreement, S7692 [10DE], S7989 [12DE]

Federal Housing Finance Agency: decision to prohibit use of principal reduction by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prevent foreclosure, S5936 [2AU]

Financial institutions: provide for a safe, accountable, fair, and efficient banking system (S. 3048), S5921–S5923 [2AU]

——— provide home loan modifications to eligible homeowners and assist homeowners and prospective homeowners with foreclosure prevention programs and information on loan modifications, S361 [7FE]

Food: allow States to require labels on food that contains, or is produced with, a genetically engineered material, S4169 [14JN], S4384 [21JN]

FRS: establish Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, S5960 [2AU]

——— preserve privilege for information submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (H.R. 4014), S2113 [27MR], S2115 [28MR], S7751 [11DE]

Gift cards: increase consumer protections (S. 3636), S6895 [26NO]

Health: make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly (S. 3338), S4685 [27JN]

——— reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), S2007 [22MR], S2009 [26MR], S2282 [29MR], S2288 [16AP]

——— reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), unanimous-consent agreement, S2113 [27MR]

House of Representatives: establish battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in House parking areas at no net cost to Federal Government (H.R. 1402), S6007 [2AU]

L.L. Bean, Inc.: anniversary, S4669 [27JN]

Law enforcement: clarify that a video tape service provider may obtain a consumer’s informed, written consent on an ongoing basis and that consent may be obtained through the Internet, S5914 [2AU]

——— clarify that a video tape service provider may obtain a consumer’s informed, written consent on an ongoing basis and that consent may be obtained through the Internet (H.R. 6671), S8320 [20DE]

——— enhance punishment for identity theft and other violations of data privacy (S. 2111), S700, S803 [15FE], S805 [16FE]

Morality and ethics: impact of violence on society, S8100 [18DE]

National Travel and Tourism Week: observance, S3069 [10MY]

——— observance (S. Res. 451), S3049 [9MY]

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency: establish pilot program to facilitate communication between borrowers and servicers (S. 3589), S6553 [20SE]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: implementation of medical loss ratio requirements for health insurance plans, S5712–S5714 [31JY]

——— repeal amendments which disqualify expenses for over-the-counter drugs under health savings accounts and health flexible spending arrangements, S3829 [7JN]

Petroleum: impact of oil speculators on gasoline prices, S1773 [19MR], S2018–S2020 [26MR], S2134, S2140 [28MR], S2217 [29MR]

Pharmaceuticals: allow importation of prescription drugs from Canada, S3467 [23MY], S3537, S3540–S3545, S3557, S3559, S3562 [24MY], S4441–S4446 [25JN], S4849 [11JY]

——— prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market, S3411 [22MY], S3542, S3547, S3553, S3557 [24MY]

Postal Service: establish citizen’s protection advocates and require Strategic Advisory Commission on Postal Service Solvency and Innovation to develop inter-agency agreements to provide additional services, S2648, S2649 [24AP]

Power resources: establish commission to analyze and report on cumulative impacts of certain EPA rules and actions on gasoline and diesel fuel prices, S2125 [28MR]

——— provide consumer gas price relief, increase domestic transportation fuel production, and close oil company tax loopholes, S2047 [27MR]

——— streamline criteria for storage and dispensing of fuels, provide liability protection for fuel retailers, and ensure retailers’ equipment is safe and compatible to sell new fuels (S. 2264), S2250 [29MR]

Privacy: improve privacy of electronic communications, S5914 [2AU]

——— improve privacy of electronic communications (S. 1011), S66 [24JA]

——— prevent identity theft, ensure privacy, and enhance penalties, law enforcement, and protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information, S5914 [2AU]

——— prevent identity theft, ensure privacy, and enhance penalties, law enforcement, and protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information (S. 1151), S66 [24JA]

——— protect consumers and businesses from identity theft and require notice of security breaches, S5716 [31JY]

——— protect consumers from identity theft, provide notice of and remedies for security breaches, and enhance accountability and penalties for unauthorized use of personally identifiable information, S1686 [15MR]

SEC: exempt inter-affiliate swaps from certain regulatory requirements put in place under the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 2779), S2113 [27MR], S2115 [28MR]

Senate: establish battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in Senate parking areas at no net cost to Federal Government (S. 739), S3657 [24MY]

Taxation: adjust gasoline tax rates with inflation, S1448–S1450 [7MR], S4690 [28JN]

Transportation: improve consumer protection through regulation of the household goods moving industry, S8197–S8199 [19DE]

U.N.: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change endangerment findings relative to impact of economy-wide global warming pollution emission cap and trade program, S5856 [1AU]

Undertaking Spam, Spyware, and Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders (U.S. SAFE WEB) Act: extend (H.R. 6131), S6827 [14NO]

Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: technical corrections (S. 3713), S8507 [28DE]

Water: amend consumer confidence reporting requirements for community water systems, S4383 [21JN]

Whistleblowing: provide anti-retaliation protections for antitrust whistleblowers (S. 3462), S5736 [31JY]

Reports filed

Access to Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 1206) (H. Rept. 112–694), H6396 [15NO]

Battery Recharging Stations Establishment for Privately Owned Vehicles in House of Representatives Parking Areas at No Net Cost to Federal Government: Committee on House Administration (House) (H.R. 1402) (H. Rept. 112–625), H5326 [26JY]

Clarify That a Video Tape Service Provider May Obtain a Consumer’s Informed, Written Consent on an Ongoing Basis and That Consent May Be Obtained Through the Internet: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (H.R. 2471), S7214 [29NO]

——— Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (H.R. 2471) (S. Rept. 112–258), S8302 [20DE]

Consideration of H.R. 5, Protecting Access to Healthcare Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 591) (H. Rept. 112–416), H1426 [20MR]

Consideration of H.R. 5652, Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 648) (H. Rept. 112–472), H2565 [9MY]

Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 1588) (H. Rept. 112–565), H4654 [29JN]

Government Customer Service Improvement Act: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (House) (H.R. 538) (H. Rept. 112–534), H3706 [15JN]

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 5) (H. Rept. 112–39), H1366 [16MR]

Location Privacy Protection Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 1223), S8071 [17DE]

Preserve Privilege for Information Submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 4014) (H. Rept. 112–417), H1426 [20MR]

RESPA Home Warranty Clarification Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 2446) (H. Rept. 112–633), H5524 [31JY]

Restoring Access to Medication Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 5842) (H. Rept. 112–516), H3479 [5JN]

SEC Exemption of Inter-Affiliate Swaps From Certain Regulatory Requirements Put in Place Under the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: Committee on Agriculture (House) (H.R. 2779) (H. Rept. 112–344), H639 [8FE]

Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act: Committee on the Budget (House) (H.R. 5652) (H. Rept. 112–470), H2565 [9MY]

Undertaking Spam, Spyware, and Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders (U.S. SAFE WEB) Act Extension: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 3410), S5731 [31JY]

——— Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 6131) (H. Rept. 112–653), H5764 [10SE]

Undertaking Spam, Spyware, and Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders (U.S. SAFE WEB) Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 3410) (S. Rept. 112–248), S7458 [5DE]

Statements

FDIC Transaction Account Guarantee Program Temporary Extension: Executive Office of the President, S7723 [11DE]

Marketplace Fairness Act: Several Individuals, S817 [16FE]

Protecting Access to Healthcare Act: Several Representatives and Scholars, H1504 [22MR]

Small Banks’ Regulatory Burdens: Adam Levitin, Georgetown University Law School, H6582 [3DE]

Tables

Annual cut in Social Security benefits under chained consumer price index, S8173 [19DE]

Texts of

H. Res. 591, consideration of H.R. 5, Protecting Access to Healthcare Act, H1443 [21MR]

H. Res. 596, return to House of H.R. 5, Protecting Access to Healthcare Act, H1593 [27MR]

H. Res. 648, consideration of H.R. 5652, Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act, H2573 [10MY]

H.R. 5, Protecting Access to Healthcare Act, H1501–H1503 [22MR]

H.R. 538, Government Customer Service Improvement Act, H5778 [11SE]

H.R. 1402, battery recharging stations establishment for privately owned vehicles in House of Representatives parking areas at no net cost to Federal Government, H5650 [2AU]

H.R. 2446, RESPA Home Warranty Clarification Act, H5612 [1AU]

H.R. 2779, exempt inter-affiliate swaps from certain SEC regulatory requirements put in place under the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, H1548 [26MR]

H.R. 4014, preserve privilege for information submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, H1555 [26MR]

H.R. 4212, Drywall Safety Act, S8377 [21DE], H6134 [19SE]

H.R. 5652, Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act, H2583–H2600 [10MY]

H.R. 5817, Eliminate Privacy Notice Confusion Act, H6580 [3DE], H6723 [12DE]

H.R. 6131, Undertaking Spam, Spyware, and Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders (U.S. SAFE WEB) Act extension, H5829 [11SE]

H.R. 6671, clarify that a video tape service provider may obtain a consumer’s informed, written consent on an ongoing basis and that consent may be obtained through the Internet, H6849 [18DE]

S. 739, battery recharging stations establishment for privately owned vehicles in Senate parking areas at no net cost to Federal Government, S3657 [24MY], H5649 [2AU]

S. 2111, Cyber Crime Protection Security Act, S701 [15FE]

S. 2241, GI Bill Consumer Awareness Act, S2088–S2092 [27MR]

S. 3081, Tobacco Tax Equity Act, S3088 [10MY]

S. 3452, Protecting Consumers From Unreasonable Credit Rates Act, S5490 [26JY]

S. 3462, Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act, S5736 [31JY]

S. 3637, FDIC Transaction Account Guarantee Program temporary extension, S6896 [26NO]

S. Res. 451, National Travel and Tourism Week, S3047, S3049 [9MY]

S. Res. 589, Small Business Saturday, S6635, S6684 [21SE]