CONSUMERS see also Credit; Product Safety; Toys

Amendments

Business and industry: empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes (S. 743), S2903 [23AP], S2926, S2928, S2971, S2972, S2973, S2974, S2975, S2977, S2978 [24AP], S3051, S3052, S3053, S3055, S3056, S3057, S3058 [25AP]

EPA: require a report on economic impact of certain energy-related rules and prohibit finalization of such rules that will cause significant adverse effects to the economy (H.R. 1582), H5247, H5248 [31JY], H5285, H5286 [1AU]

——— require a report on economic impact of certain energy-related rules and prohibit finalization of such rules that will cause significant adverse effects to the economy (H.R. 1582), consideration (H. Res. 315), H5000 [24JY]

SEC: protect retail customers from differing standards of conduct for brokers and investment advisers and confusion from rule changes (H.R. 2374), H6866 [29OC]

——— protect retail customers from differing standards of conduct for brokers and investment advisers and confusion from rule changes (H.R. 2374), consideration (H. Res. 391), H6848 [29OC]

Whistleblowing: provide anti-retaliation protections for antitrust whistleblowers (S. 42), S7799 [4NO]

Articles and editorials

Congress Must Level Playing Field on Internet Sales Taxes, S3080 [6MY]

Congress Should Extend the Sales-Tax Deduction, S8989 [19DE]

Draining the Swamp—Top 40 Troubling Listings From the Obamacare Navigator/Assister Security Nightmare, H6942 [30OC]

Erick Erickson Is Wrong. . . and Here’s Why, S2100 [21MR]

Fairness on Sales Taxes, S3080 [6MY]

No More Welfare for Banks—The FDIC and the Taxpayer Are the Underwriters of Too Much Private Risk Taking, S5669 [11JY]

Now Is the Time To Delay ObamaCare (excerpt), H6536 [11OC]

Obamacare Phone Offered to Health Insurance Buyers, H6222 [3OC]

ObamaCare’s Day One and D-Day, H6535 [11OC]

Obamacare’s Privacy Nightmare—The Bungled Opening of the Exchanges Should Worry Consumers, H6221 [3OC]

‘Pulling Out Hair’ Over ObamaCare Website ‘Nightmare’ (excerpt), H6536 [11OC]

Sticker Shock! Americans Floored by ObamaCare Costs (excerpt), H6536 [11OC]

Tax Internet Sales, Stimulate Growth, S2821 [22AP]

There’s a Reason This Is Called the Marketplace Fairness Act, S3080 [6MY]

This Is Why We Need ObamaCare, S7782 [4NO]

Thousands of Doctors Fired by UnitedHealthCare, H6536 [11OC]

What’s Fair for Business, S3081 [6MY]

Wonkblog Can’t Find Anybody Who Has Signed Up for Obamacare on Healthcare.gov, H6222 [3OC]

Bills and resolutions

Antitrust policy: restore application of Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers (see H.R. 344), H222 [22JA] (see H.R. 743), H593 [15FE] (see H.R. 911), H815 [28FE]

Aviation: reform and improve the oversight of passenger and baggage screening at domestic commercial airports by private screening companies (see S. 697), S2564 [10AP]

Bankruptcy: provide additional protections for debtors from discrimination by private employers (see H.R. 646), H500 [13FE]

Budget: cancel sequester for security-related functions through offsets by reducing Medicare payments, agricultural subsidies, and Federal retirement, and applying the chained consumer price index (see H.R. 3639), H7445 [3DE]

Business and industry: empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes (see S. 336), S772 [14FE] (see S. 743), S2684 [16AP] (see H.R. 684), H544 [14FE]

——— repeal disclosure requirements that allow for comparison of executive compensation to that of other employees (see H.R. 1135), H1395 [13MR]

Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act: improve (see H.R. 1456), H1908 [10AP]

Civil liberties: enhance consumer rights relative to consumer report disputes by requiring provision of documentation provided by consumers (see S. 1538), S6683 [23SE]

Claims: make the U.S. exclusively liable for certain claims of liability for damages resulting from, or aggravated by, inclusion of ethanol in transportation fuel (see H.R. 2267), H3215 [5JN]

Colleges and universities: establish a mechanism to allow borrowers of private education loans to refinance their loans (see S. 1266), S5499 [27JN]

Conservation of energy: incorporate smart grid capability into Energy Star Program, reduce peak electric demand, and reauthorize energy efficiency public information program to include smart grid information (see H.R. 2685), H4483 [11JY]

Contracts: establish fair procedures for arbitration clauses (see S. 878), S3158 [7MY] (see H.R. 1844), H2483 [7MY]

Courts: bar debt collectors from bringing legal action on a debt in which the statute of limitations has expired against any consumer (see H.R. 3402), H6952 [30OC]

CPSC: clarify terms of cooperation with foreign government safety agencies to improve safety of imported products (see S. 1887), S9105 [20DE]

——— making continuing appropriations for the Office of Compliance and Field Operations projects and activities (see H.J. Res. 86), H6223 [3OC]

——— remove exclusion of pistols, revolvers, and other firearms from the definition of ‘‘consumer product’’ in order to permit the issuance of safety standards (see H.R. 2464), H3988 [20JN]

——— require ratings labels on video games and prohibit the sale or rental of adult-rated video games to minors (see H.R. 287), H170 [15JA]

Credit: address certain issues relative to the extension of consumer credit (see S. 172), S357 [29JA] (see H.R. 990), H1318 [6MR]

——— clarify Federal law relative to reporting positive and negative consumer credit information to consumer reporting agencies by public utility or telecommunications companies (see S. 1613), S7673 [30OC]

——— clarify Federal law relative to reporting positive consumer credit information to consumer reporting agencies by public utility or telecommunications companies (see H.R. 2538), H4142 [27JN]

——— create a Federal charter for Internet consumer credit corporations (see H.R. 1566), H2025 [15AP]

——— empower States to set the maximum annual percentage rates applicable to consumer credit transactions (see S. 1229), S5264 [26JN]

——— establish a national usury rate for consumer credit transactions (see S. 673), S2500 [9AP]

——— establish independent oversight of mortgage servicing companies subjected to enforcement actions for unsafe and unsound practices related to residential mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure processing (see H.R. 1706), H2297 [24AP]

——— exclude from consumer credit reports medical debt that had been in collection and has been fully paid or settled (see H.R. 1767), H2390 [26AP]

——— exclude from consumer credit reports medical debt that has been in collection and has been fully paid or settled (see S. 160), S329 [28JA]

——— modify the definitions of a mortgage originator and a high-cost mortgage to preserve access to manufactured housing (see S. 1828), S8845 [16DE] (see H.R. 1779), H2391 [26AP]

——— permit a transitional period for completion of requirements for qualified registered mortgage loan originators (see H.R. 2379), H3652 [14JN]

——— prevent foreclosure of home mortgages and increase availability of affordable refinancing of mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (see H.R. 1712), H2297 [24AP]

——— prohibit distribution of checks or other negotiable instruments as part of a creditor solicitation to extend credit and limit consumer liability in conjunction with such solicitations (see S. 187), S400 [30JA]

——— 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. 2733), H4724 [18JY]

——— prohibit use of consumer credit checks against prospective and current employees for the purpose of making adverse employment decisions (see S. 1837), S8913 [17DE] (see H.R. 645), H500 [13FE]

——— provide for a timetable for verification of medical debt and increase efficiency of credit markets with more perfect information (see H.R. 2211), H2964 [24MY]

——— provide for affordable refinancing of mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (see S. 249), S519 [7FE] (see H.R. 736), H547 [14FE]

——— provide for removal of default information from a borrower’s credit report with respect to certain rehabilitated education loans (see H.R. 2561), H4143 [27JN]

——— require disclosure of terms of rental-purchase agreements (see S. 1208), S4793 [20JN] (see H.R. 1551), H2025 [15AP]

——— require inclusion of credit scores with free annual credit reports provided to consumers (see S. 471), S1229 [6MR] (see H.R. 1002), H1319 [6MR]

——— 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. 361), S773 [14FE] (see H.R. 839), H659 [26FE]

Crime: increase penalties for violations of securities protections that involve targeting senior citizens (see S. 1185), S4673 [19JN]

——— prevent identity theft and tax fraud (see S. 676), S2501 [9AP] (see H.R. 295), H170 [15JA] (see H.R. 531), H410 [6FE]

Dept. of Agriculture: protect against foodborne illnesses and provide enhanced notification of recalled meat, poultry, eggs, and related food products (see S. 1502), S6446 [12SE]

——— repeal a duplicative inspection and grading program for catfish (see S. 632), S2146 [21MR] (see H.R. 1313), H1821 [21MR]

——— require retail food stores to report detailed information on food items purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and the Dept. to publish such information (see H.R. 1752), H2350 [25AP]

Dept. of Commerce: create the America Star Program to establish standardized labeling for manufactured products allowing consumers to identify the extent to which the products are manufactured in the U.S. (see H.R. 2664), H4482 [11JY]

Dept. of Defense: develop innovative financial products that encourage savings and wealth-creation among active servicemembers and reduce use of predatory lenders (see S. 1741), S8360 [20NO]

Dept. of Education: add disclosure requirements to the institution of higher education financial aid offer form and make such form mandatory (see S. 1156), S4481 [13JN]

——— make technical improvements to the Net Price Calculator system to give prospective students a more accurate understanding of the true cost of college (see H.R. 3694), H7687 [11DE]

——— require certain institutions of higher education to provide notice of tuition levels for students (see H.R. 2020), H2716 [16MY]

Dept. of Energy: develop a new process for determining whether applications to export natural gas are in the public interest (see H.R. 1189), H1426 [14MR]

——— establish Home Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate Program (see H.R. 2128), H2952 [23MY]

——— improve the coordination of refinery outages through required scheduled maintenance and unplanned outages reporting (see S. 1073), S3844 [23MY] (see H.R. 2256), H3095 [4JN]

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. 390), S943 [27FE]

——— Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan Program funding (see S. 1333), S5800 [18JY]

——— develop a national model disclosure form to assist consumers in purchasing long-term care insurance (see S. 1473), S6208 [1AU]

——— include court-appointed guardianship and oversight activities under elder justice programs (see S. 975), S3569 [16MY]

——— prevent abuse of dextromethorphan by restricting over-the-counter sales and bulk distribution (see S. 644), S2146 [21MR]

——— provide for public disclosure of charges for certain hospital and ambulatory surgical center treatment episodes (see H.R. 2853), H5173 [30JY]

——— provide protections for consumers against excessive, unjustified, or unfairly discriminatory increases in insurance premium rates (see S. 482), S1229 [6MR] (see H.R. 1019), H1320 [6MR]

Dept. of HUD: authorize pilot program to improve asset recovery levels, asset management, and homeownership retention relative to delinquent single-family mortgages insured under FHA mortgage insurance programs (see H.R. 2815), H5050 [24JY]

Dept. of Labor: 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. 1565), S7063 [30SE] (see H.R. 2909), H5341 [1AU]

——— prohibit enforcement of requirement that certain consumer reporting agencies obtain and maintain an individual’s informed consent agreement when verifying income and employment (see H.R. 2722), H4723 [18JY]

Dept. of the Treasury: develop and present a legislative proposal to establish a consumption tax to replace income tax (see H.R. 2393), H3687 [17JN]

——— provide a receipt to each taxpayer who files a Federal income tax return (see H.R. 3039), H5398 [2AU]

Dept. of Transportation: improve cruise passenger security and safety (see S. 1340), S5840 [23JY] (see H.R. 2800), H4978 [23JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: issue, upon request, veteran identification cards to certain veterans (see S. 778), S2896 [23AP] (see H.R. 1598), H2123 [17AP]

Drugs: establish a list of synthetic drugs known as analogues and prohibit most importation, amend sentencing for violations, and improve regulation relative to such analogues (see S. 1323), S5799 [18JY]

——— improve prosecution of the sale and distribution of synthetic drugs known as analogues (see S. 1322), S5799 [18JY]

——— prohibit the manufacture, marketing, sale, or shipment of products designed to assist in defrauding a drug test (see H.R. 1930), H2568 [9MY]

Education: enhance entrance counseling and exit counseling for student borrowers (see S. 546), S1785 [13MR]

——— require certain protections for student loan borrowers (see S. 1803), S8668 [11DE]

EPA: establish programs to encourage water efficiency (see H.R. 123), H31 [3JA]

——— impose carbon pollution fee and use proceeds to provide rebate to consumers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and regulate hydraulic fracturing (see S. 332), S772 [14FE]

——— require a report on economic impact of certain energy-related rules and prohibit finalization of such rules that will cause significant adverse effects to the economy (see S. 1363), S5968 [25JY] (see H.R. 1582), H2066 [16AP]

——— require analyses of the cumulative and incremental impacts of certain rules and actions (see H.R. 2948), H5343 [1AU]

FCC: allow multichannel video programming distributors to provide subscribers a la carte video programming, penalize broadcasters for downgrading services, and eliminate sports blackout rule (see S. 912), S3326 [9MY]

——— direct wireless providers to permit the unlocking of mobile devices (see S. 481), S1229 [6MR]

——— expand and clarify prohibition on provision of inaccurate caller identification information (see H.R. 3670), H7566 [5DE]

——— increase consumer choice and competition in the online video programming distribution marketplace (see S. 1680), S7951 [12NO]

——— prevent television blackouts, ensure consumer choice in cable programming, facilitate retransmission consent negotiations between cable and content providers, and study sports programming costs (see H.R. 3719), H8107 [12DE]

——— provide for equitable distribution of Universal Service funds to rural States (see S. 1766), S8457 [21NO]

——— suspend and revise proposed rule that revised Universal Service fund distribution to rural carriers and encourage investment by rural rate-of-return carriers in deployment of broadband infrastructure (see S. 1858), S8976 [18DE]

FDA: ensure safe use of cosmetics (see H.R. 1385), H1824 [21MR]

——— ensure valid generic drugs may enter the market (see S. 504), S1269 [7MR]

——— prohibit use of Federal funds to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed rule entitled ‘‘Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption’’ (see H.R. 2071), H2838 [21MY]

——— prohibit wholesalers from purchasing prescription drugs from pharmacies and enhance information and transparency of drug wholesalers engaged in interstate commerce (see H.R. 1958), H2602 [14MY]

——— require that genetically engineered food and foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients be labeled accordingly (see S. 809), S2960 [24AP] (see H.R. 1699), H2297 [24AP]

——— 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. 2003), H2654 [15MY]

——— strengthen and secure the pharmaceutical distribution supply chain to protect consumers from counterfeit pharmaceuticals (see S. 957), S3531 [15MY] (see H.R. 1919), H2567 [9MY]

——— waive or reduce certain fees applicable to generic drug facilities if such fees present a significant barrier to market entry due to limited resources or other circumstances (see H.R. 3631), H7394 [2DE]

Federal agencies and departments: establish Federal customer service standards and improve service provided by Federal agencies (see S. 760), S2797 [18AP] (see H.R. 1660), H2164 [19AP]

Financial institutions: encourage institutions to work with their customers affected by the Government shutdown who may be facing short-term financial hardship and long-term damage to their creditworthiness (see H. Con. Res. 60), H6545 [11OC]

——— enhance ability of community financial institutions to foster economic growth and serve their communities, boost small businesses, and increase individual savings (see S. 1349), S5907 [24JY] (see H.R. 1750), H2350 [25AP]

——— ensure that customers can immediately close accounts at insured depository institutions on demand and without cost, and that consumers receive any balance in accounts immediately (see S. 1534), S6647 [19SE] (see H.R. 3137), H5765 [19SE]

——— establish fair and transparent practices related to marketing and provision of overdraft coverage programs at depository institutions (see H.R. 1261), H1630 [19MR]

——— improve regulation of credit unions and depository institutions (see H.R. 2572), H4173 [28JN]

——— limit ability of banks to engage in certain risky activities and conflicts of interest and restore certain provisions of law to separate investment banking from commercial banking (see S. 1282), S5667 [11JY] (see H.R. 3711), H7687 [11DE]

——— permit certain current loans that would otherwise be treated as non-accrual loans as accrual loans for certain purposes (see H.R. 927), H815 [28FE]

——— provide exception from requirement for annual privacy notices for financial institutions which do not share personal information with affiliates (see S. 635), S2146 [21MR] (see H.R. 749), H594 [15FE]

——— provide protection for consumers who have prepaid cards (see S. 1867), S9051 [19DE]

——— restore certain provisions of law to separate investment banking from commercial banking (see S. 985), S3569 [16MY] (see H.R. 129), H31 [3JA]

——— support and promote mutual community banks (see H.R. 1603), H2123 [17AP]

Financial literacy: provide grants to promote (see S. 829), S3028 [25AP] (see S. 1532), S6647 [19SE] (see H.R. 2920), H5342 [1AU]

——— provide incentives to encourage financial institutions and small businesses to provide continuing financial education to customers, borrowers, and employees (see H.R. 1538), H1991 [12AP]

Financial Stability Oversight Council: strengthen review authority of regulations issued by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (see H.R. 3193), H5883 [26SE]

Firearms: provide protection from gun violence by banning access to certain weapons, strengthening mental health infrastructure, and improving the understanding of gun violence (see H.R. 2910), H5341 [1AU]

Food: amend inspection laws to notify consumers of products produced from crops, livestock, or poultry raised on sewage sludge-treated land (see H.R. 213), H52 [4JA]

——— strengthen Federal consumer product safety programs and activities relative to commercially-marketed seafood (see S. 520), S1592 [11MR] (see H.R. 1012), H1319 [6MR]

Food industry: improve and clarify certain disclosure requirements for restaurants, similar retail food establishments, and vending machines (see S. 1756), S8457 [21NO] (see H.R. 1249), H1629 [19MR]

Foreign trade: require foreign manufacturers of products imported into the U.S. to establish registered agents in the U.S. who are authorized to accept service of process against such manufacturers (see H.R. 1910), H2567 [9MY]

FRS: bring the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau into the regular appropriations process (see H.R. 450), H315 [1FE] (see H.R. 3192), H5883 [26SE]

——— establish a grant program in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to establish centers of excellence in financial literacy education for young adults and families (see H.R. 891), H814 [28FE]

——— make the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau an independent agency (see H.R. 3519), H7187 [18NO]

——— provide consumers with a free annual disclosure of information the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau maintains on them (see S. 1667), S7927 [7NO] (see H.R. 3183), H5832 [25SE]

——— remove certain special deference provided by courts to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau when the Bureau is interpreting provisions of a Federal consumer financial law (see H.R. 3194), H5883 [26SE]

——— repeal Consumer Financial Civil Penalty Fund and deposit existing funds into the Treasury (see H.R. 3389), H6951 [30OC]

——— replace the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with a 5-person commission (see H.R. 2402), H3687 [17JN] (see H.R. 2446), H3988 [20JN]

——— replace the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with a 5-person commission, bring the Bureau into the regular appropriations process, and provide for a safety and soundness check (see S. 205), S438 [31JA]

——— require Senate confirmation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Inspector General (see S. 1310), S5708 [16JY] (see H.R. 3770), H8109 [12DE]

——— require the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to notify and obtain permission from consumers before collecting nonpublic personal information about such consumers (see H.R. 2571), H4173 [28JN]

FTC: establish the Office for the Prevention of Fraud Targeting Seniors (see S. 1358), S5907 [24JY] (see H.R. 1953), H2574 [13MY]

——— prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices relative to prices of products and services sold online (see S. 1830), S8845 [16DE]

——— promulgate rules requiring Internet merchants to disclose use of price-altering computer programs (see H.R. 2487), H4037 [25JN]

——— revise ‘‘do-not-call’’ registry regulations to prohibit politically-oriented recorded message telephone calls (see H.R. 1315), H1821 [21MR]

Gambling: establish a program for licensing of Internet poker by States and federally recognized Indian tribes (see H.R. 2666), H4482 [11JY]

——— regulate Internet gambling and provide consumer protections (see H.R. 2282), H3250 [6JN]

GAO: conduct a study on the impact of the requirement that depository institutions maintain certain reserves and Regulation D relative to exemptions from SEC registration requirements (see H.R. 3240), H6223 [3OC]

——— report to Congress on the effectiveness of FCC universal service reforms (see S. 774), S2844 [22AP]

Health: improve health of individuals and reduce health care costs by reorienting health care system toward prevention, wellness, and health promotion (see S. 39), S43 [22JA]

——— lower health premiums and increase choice for small business (see S. 24), S42 [22JA] (see H.R. 1558), H2025 [15AP]

——— make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly (see S. 642), S2146 [21MR] (see H.R. 1146), H1396 [13MR]

——— prohibit misleading and deceptive advertising or representation in the provision of health care services and require identification of the license of health care professionals (see H.R. 1427), H1856 [9AP]

——— provide individual and group market reforms to protect health insurance consumers and make such reforms contingent on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act repeal (see H.R. 2165), H2953 [23MY]

——— reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (see S. 44), S43 [22JA]

——— repeal mandate that individuals purchase health insurance (see H.R. 105), H31 [3JA]

Housing: permanently protect interests of tenants in the case of any foreclosure on any dwelling or residential real property and establish a right of action to enforce compliance with such protections (see S. 1761), S8457 [21NO] (see H.R. 3543), H7309 [20NO]

——— protect American taxpayers and homeowners by creating a sustainable housing finance system (see H.R. 2767), H4856 [22JY]

Information technology: provide for greater transparency in and user control over the treatment of data collected by mobile applications and enhance the security of such data (see H.R. 1913), H2567 [9MY]

——— require retail establishments that use mobile device tracking technology to display notices to that effect (see H.R. 210), H52 [4JA]

Insurance: preserve consumer and employer access to licensed independent insurance producers (see S. 650), S2146 [21MR] (see H.R. 2328), H3355 [12JN]

——— provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce (see H.R. 762), H594 [15FE]

——— provide improved consumer protection and rate review for health insurance coverage in the individual market (see H.R. 3504), H7151 [15NO]

——— require health insurance issuers and group health plans to disclose information regarding how certain taxes and fees impact the amount of premiums (see S. 764), S2797 [18AP] (see H.R. 1205), H1427 [14MR]

Internet: 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. 889), H814 [28FE]

Investments: protect investors in futures contracts (see H.R. 3009), H5397 [2AU]

IRS: issue regulations to allow enrolled agents to use or display their credentials when advertising their services or representing clients (see S. 1134), S4212 [11JN] (see H.R. 2313), H3287 [11JN]

Lawyers and attorneys: preclude law firms and licensed attorneys from the definition of a debt collector when taking certain actions (see H.R. 2892), H5260 [31JY]

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. 1326), H1821 [21MR]

Medicare: allow retail community pharmacies to deliver diabetic testing supplies to beneficiaries (see H.R. 2845), H5093 [26JY]

——— authorize the Dept. of HHS to negotiate lower covered part D prescription drug prices for beneficiaries (see S. 77), S213 (see S. 117), S214 [23JA]

——— count the negotiated price of drugs provided free or at nominal charge under compassionate treatment programs towards incurred out-of-pocket costs (see H.R. 1239), H1567 [18MR]

——— deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices (see H.R. 928), H815 [28FE]

——— distribute additional information to beneficiaries to prevent health care fraud (see H.R. 3616), H7354 [21NO]

——— exclude customary prompt pay discounts from manufacturers to wholesalers from the average sales price for drugs and biologicals (see S. 806), S2960 [24AP] (see H.R. 800), H596 [15FE]

——— require the Dept. of HHS to negotiate lower covered part D prescription drug prices for beneficiaries (see H.R. 1102), H1357 [12MR]

Medicare/Medicaid: improve oversight of nursing facilities by preventing inappropriate influence over surveyors (see H.R. 2864), H5173 [30JY]

Money: repeal legal tender laws, prohibit taxation on certain coins and bullion, and repeal superfluous laws related to coinage (see H.R. 77), H30 [3JA]

Motor vehicles: prevent car and truck rental companies from renting vehicles that contain a defect related to vehicle safety (see S. 921), S3326 [9MY]

——— protect consumers from discriminatory State taxes on motor vehicle rentals (see H.R. 2543), H4142 [27JN]

——— require dealers to disclose the presence of event data recorders on new automobiles and require manufacturers to provide the option to enable or disable such devices (see H.R. 2414), H3758 [18JN]

National Cyber Security Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 399), H6954 [30OC]

National Oilheat Research Alliance Act: reauthorize and improve (see S. 913), S3326 [9MY] (see H.R. 1985), H2653 [15MY]

National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week: support (see H. Res. 340), H5476 [10SE]

National Travel and Tourism Week: observance (see S. Res. 141), S3430 [14MY] (see H. Res. 205), H2484 [7MY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow waiver of certain requirements when the requirement would result in a significant decrease in access to coverage or significant increase in premiums or other costs (see H.R. 2700), H4523 [16JY]

——— delay application of annual fee on health insurance providers and return to consumers any amounts attributable to the expected application of such fee (see H.R. 3367), H6901 [29OC]

——— eliminate limitation on deductibles for employer-sponsored health plans (see H.R. 2995), H5396 [2AU]

——— ensure that individuals can keep their health insurance coverage (see S. 1642), S7795 [4NO] (see H.R. 3406), H6952 [30OC]

——— ensure that individuals who attempted to, or who are enrolled in, qualified health plans offered through an exchange have continuity of coverage (see S. 1886), S9105 [20DE] (see H.R. 3745), H8108 [12DE]

——— extend open enrollment period for health care plans and protect individuals from penalties during the enrollment extension (see S. 1693), S8000 [13NO]

——— improve the patient navigator program (see S. 1666), S7927 [7NO]

——— increase qualified health plan options by offering plans with lower premiums but requiring higher out-of-pocket costs (see S. 1729), S8186 [19NO]

——— prohibit Federal funds for the establishment or operation of patient navigator programs (see H.R. 2087), H2910 [22MY]

——— protect personal and financial information by requiring certain certifications by entities awarded funds to operate a navigator program or other exchange activities (see H.R. 3429), H6953 [30OC]

——— provide for a fixed annual open enrollment period for health exchange plans and disclose premium and cost-sharing information prior to enrollment (see S. 1849), S8975 [18DE]

——— provide that the reinsurance program be applied equally to all health insurance issuers and group health plans (see S. 1724), S8186 [19NO] (see H.R. 3755), H8108 [12DE]

——— repeal amendments which disqualify expenses for over-the-counter drugs under health savings accounts and health flexible spending arrangements (see S. 1647), S7829 [5NO] (see H.R. 2835), H5088 [25JY]

——— repeal if it is determined that the Act has resulted in more uninsured individuals than at the time of enactment (see S. 1894), S9105 [20DE]

——— repeal the funding mechanism for the transitional reinsurance program in the individual market (see H.R. 3489), H7109 [14NO]

——— require certain certifications before funds may be awarded for the operation of a navigator program (see H.R. 2980), H5396 [2AU]

——— require certain preconditions for allowing premium tax credits, reductions in cost-sharing, and funding of navigators and related exchange enrollment activities (see H.R. 2951), H5343 [1AU]

——— require transparency in the operation of American Health Benefit Exchanges (see S. 1590), S7574 [28OC] (see H.R. 3362), H6900 [29OC]

Petroleum: grant EPA waivers giving communities flexibility in use of fuel blends and require the EPA and Dept. of Energy to conduct a fuel system requirements harmonization study (see S. 1319), S5799 [18JY] (see H.R. 2823), H5087 [25JY]

Pharmaceuticals: allow personal importation and reimportation of prescription drugs (see H.R. 3715), H8107 [12DE]

——— prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market (see S. 214), S469 [4FE] (see H.R. 3709), H7687 [11DE]

Pipelines: establish State revolving loan funds to repair or replace natural gas distribution pipelines (see S. 1768), S8457 [21NO]

——— require gas pipeline facilities to accelerate the repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of high-risk pipelines used in commerce (see S. 1767), S8457 [21NO]

Postal Service: provide authority to mail wine and beer (see H.R. 1718), H2298 [24AP]

——— reinstate overnight delivery standards for market-dominant products (see H.R. 2459), H3988 [20JN]

Power resources: enhance energy security by expanding access to domestic energy resources, boost employment opportunities in the energy sector, and provide consumers relief from artificial price increases (see H.R. 3033), H5398 [2AU]

——— protect from price-gouging of gasoline and other fuels (see H.R. 2070), H2838 [21MY]

——— require national energy policy to expand use of renewable and alternative sources, increase refining capacity, promote conservation and efficiency, and expand research and development (see H. Res. 58), H413 [6FE]

——— secure unrestricted reliable energy for American consumption and transmission (see H.R. 2081), H2838 [21MY]

——— 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 H.R. 1214), H1547 [15MR]

Privacy: allow entities required to comply with orders or directives requiring the provision of electronic data to the Federal Government to publicly disclose the volume and type of such data (see H.R. 2736), H4724 [18JY]

——— consolidate congressional oversight provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (see S. 1631), S7728 [31OC]

——— extend protections against unreasonable searches and seizures to electronic communications information and require specific court-issued warrants to obtain such information (see S. 1037), S3843 [23MY]

——— improve privacy of electronic communications (see S. 607), S1950 [19MR] (see H.R. 1847), H2483 [7MY]

——— increase protections for consumer or subscriber password information and provide that the FBI may not access password information (see H.R. 3557), H7310 [20NO]

——— notify consumers before a video service collects visual or auditory information from the viewing area and provide consumers with choices that do not collect such information (see H.R. 2356), H3590 [13JN]

——— prevent mass collection of records of innocent Americans and provide greater accountability and transparency of Government surveillance activities and programs (see H.R. 2399), H3687 [17JN]

——— prohibit any U.S. agency, including the National Security Agency, from searching telephone records of U.S. citizens without a warrant based on probable cause (see S. 1121), S4021 [7JN]

——— provide for public disclosure of information regarding surveillance activities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (see H.R. 3756), H8108 [12DE]

——— strengthen privacy protections, accountability, and oversight relative to domestic surveillance (see S. 1215), S5017 [24JN]

——— update privacy protections for electronic communications information that is stored by third-party service providers in order to protect consumer privacy while meeting law enforcement needs (see H.R. 1852), H2483 [7MY]

Product safety: ban flame retardant chemicals from use in resilient filling materials in children’s products (see H.R. 2934), H5342 [1AU]

——— ban use of bisphenol A in food and beverage containers (see H.R. 2248), H3095 [4JN]

——— ban use of bisphenol A in food and beverage containers for children, baby food, and infant formula and regulate its use in other food containers (see S. 1124), S4058 [10JN]

——— prohibit the sale of infant formula after the expiration date on the product (see H.R. 2306), H3256 [10JN]

Recycled materials: support improvement in collection, processing, and consumption of recycled materials (see S. Res. 309), S8457 [21NO]

Safe Drinking Water Act: reauthorize provision of technical assistance to small public water systems (see S. 864), S3091 [6MY] (see H.R. 654), H500 [13FE]

SEC: exempt inter-affiliate swaps from certain regulatory requirements put in place under the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (see H.R. 677), H501 [13FE]

——— prohibit mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements (see H.R. 2998), H5396 [2AU]

——— protect retail customers from differing standards of conduct for brokers and investment advisers and confusion from rule changes (see H.R. 2374), H3652 [14JN]

——— protect retail customers from differing standards of conduct for brokers and investment advisers and confusion from rule changes (H.R. 2374), consideration (see H. Res. 391), H6827 [28OC]

——— require certain investment advisers to pay fees to help cover the costs of inspecting and examining investment advisers (see H.R. 1627), H2157 [18AP]

Securities: determine a customer’s net equity based on the customer’s last statement, prohibit certain recoveries, and change how trustees are appointed (see S. 1725), S8186 [19NO] (see H.R. 3482), H7109 [14NO]

——— 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. 827), H658 [26FE]

Senior citizens: establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security (see H.R. 1585), H2066 [16AP] (see H.R. 2154), H2953 [23MY]

——— establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits (see H.R. 1030), H1327 [7MR]

——— establish a Home Care Consumer Bill of Rights and State Home Care Ombudsman Programs, and provide quality assurance for home and community-based services (see S. 998), S3657 [21MY]

Small Business Saturday: designate (see S. Res. 313), S8565 [9DE] (see H. Res. 410), H7051 [13NO]

Sports: decrease the frequency of sports blackouts and require the application of the antitrust laws to Major League Baseball (see S. 1721), S8100 [18NO] (see H.R. 3452), H6997 [12NO]

——— reduce sports-related concussions in youth (see S. 1014), S3761 [22MY] (see H.R. 2118), H2911 [22MY]

Taxation: constitutional amendment prohibiting Federal Government from compelling someone to engage in commercial activity (see H.J. Res. 27), H502 [13FE]

——— constitutional amendment to limit congressional power to impose a tax on failure to purchase goods or services (see S.J. Res. 16), S3987 [6JN] (see H.J. Res. 28), H502 [13FE]

——— deny any deduction for direct-to-consumer advertisements of prescription drugs (see H.R. 923), H815 [28FE]

——— deny any deduction for marketing directed at children to promote consumption of food of poor nutritional quality (see H.R. 2831), H5088 [25JY]

——— disclose certain tax return information relative to identity theft (see H.R. 926), H815 [28FE]

——— impose a retail tax on disposable carryout bags (see H.R. 1686), H2246 [23AP]

——— make permanent the deduction of State and local general sales taxes (see S. 41), S43 [22JA] (see S. 127), S284 [24JA] (see H.R. 2854), H5173 [30JY]

——— make permanent the moratorium on Internet access taxation and multiple and discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce (see S. 31), S42 [22JA] (see S. 1431), S6206 [1AU] (see H.R. 434), H300 [29JA] (see H.R. 3086), H5546 [12SE]

——— promote neutrality, simplicity, and fairness in the taxation of digital goods and services (see S. 1364), S5968 [25JY] (see H.R. 3724), H8107 [12DE]

——— provide an above-the-line deduction for health insurance premiums (see H.R. 3791), H8125 [19DE]

——— provide incentives for the establishment of supermarkets in certain underserved areas (see H.R. 3015), H5397 [2AU]

——— provide tax rate parity among all tobacco products (see S. 194), S438 [31JA]

——— repeal excise tax on telephone use and other communications services (see S. 213), S469 [4FE]

Technology: allow consumers to unlock mobile wireless devices for interoperability purposes (see S. 467), S1127 [5MR] (see S. 517), S1592 [11MR] (see H.R. 1123), H1395 [13MR]

Telecommunications: make it illegal to alter or remove the unique equipment identification number of a mobile electronic device (see S. 1070), S3844 [23MY]

——— 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. 1730), H2349 [25AP]

Telephones: prohibit unauthorized third-party charges on wireline telephone bills (see S. 1144), S4405 [12JN]

Television: establish signal quality and content requirements for the carriage of public, educational, and governmental channels and preserve support for such channels (see S. 1789), S8601 [10DE]

Toxic Substances Control Act: reauthorize and modernize (see S. 1009), S3760 [22MY]

Travel and tourism: facilitate international travel to the U.S. by reforming visa procedures for certain foreign nationals (see H.R. 1354), H1823 [21MR]

——— require operators of international travel websites to provide information on potential health and safety risks associated with overseas vacation destinations marketed on the website (see H.R. 1370), H1823 [21MR]

Veterans: provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures (see H.R. 821), H658 [26FE]

Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: technical corrections (see S. 451), S1126 [5MR]

Whistleblowing: provide anti-retaliation protections for antitrust whistleblowers (see S. 42), S43 [22JA]

Cloture motions

Business and industry: empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes (S. 743), S2927 [24AP], S3013 [25AP]

——— empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes (S. 743), motion to proceed, S2785 [18AP], S2833 [22AP]

Comments

Conservatives support proposal to empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes, S2098 [21MR]

E-mails

Marketplace Fairness Act: Al Cardenas, American Conservative Union, S3076 [6MY]

E-Mails

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act implementation impact on health care, coverage, costs, and accessibility, S9030 [19DE]

——— Shannon and David McKichan, S9030 [19DE]

Letters

Ban flame retardant chemicals from use in resilient filling materials in children’s products: Ana Mascarenas and Martha D. Arguello, Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles (organization), E1195 [1AU]

——— Arlene Blum and Veena Singla, Green Science Policy Institute, E1195 [1AU]

——— Beverley Thorpe, Clean Production Action (organization), E1197 [1AU]

——— Bruce Lesly, First Focus Campaign for Children (organization), E1196 [1AU]

——— Jamie McConnell, Women’s Voices for the Earth (organization), E1196 [1AU]

——— Jenny Levin, Federation of State PIRGs, E1195 [1AU]

——— Kenneth A. Cook, Environmental Working Group (organization), E1196 [1AU]

——— Malin Nasman, IKEA North America Services, LLC, E1196 [1AU]

——— Marian Wright Edelman, Children’s Defense Fund (organization), E1197 [1AU]

——— Matthew Melmed, Zero to Three—National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, E1197 [1AU]

——— Pamela Miller and Maricarmen Cruz-Guilloty, Alaska Community Action on Toxics (organization), E1197 [1AU]

Empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes: David French, National Retail Federation, S2100 [21MR]

——— several organizations, S2099 [21MR]

Financial deregulation legislation: Mary Jo White, SEC, H7484 [4DE]

Intelligence services authority to collect business records under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: Peter J. Kadzik, Dept. of Justice, H5025 [24JY]

Keep Student Loans Affordable Act: several youth, consumer, civil rights, and educational organizations, S5545 [9JY]

Marketplace Fairness Act: Christine Gregoire and Bill Haslam, Governor of Tennessee, National Governors Association, S2951 [24AP]

——— Grover G. Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform (organization), S3070 [6MY]

——— Lance Trebesch, S2828 [22AP]

——— Senators Enzi and Alexander, S3071 [6MY]

——— several Senators, S2950 [24AP]

——— Tom Corbett, Governor of Pennsylvania, and Steven L. Beshear, Governor of Kentucky, National Governors Association, S2951 [24AP]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act advertising campaign by ProgressNow Colorado (organization): Julie Welch, E1853 [12DE]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act implementation impact on health care, coverage, costs, and accessibility, H7107 [14NO]

——— Kathleen Stephan, S8018 [14NO]

——— Kim Curtis, E1644 [13NO]

——— Michelle Hatley, S8018 [14NO]

Protecting Consumers From Unreasonable Credit Rates Act: several legal and consumer organizations, S2503 [9AP]

Retail Investor Protection Act: Brian H. Graff, National Association of Plan-Advisors, H6859 [29OC]

——— Charles Symington, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Inc., H6860 [29OC]

——— David J. Stertzer, Association for Advanced Life Underwriting, H6859 [29OC]

——— R. Bruce Josten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, H6858 [29OC]

——— several Senators, H6860 [29OC]

Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act: several organizations, H2982, H2983 [3JN]

——— Stanley C. Weisser, California State Board of Pharmacy, H2981 [3JN]

Lists

Governors and former governors who support S. 743, Marketplace Fairness Act, S2952 [24AP]

Groups opposed to H.R. 2374, Retail Investor Protection Act, H6865 [29OC]

Minnesota supporters of proposal to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes, S2105 [21MR]

Organizations supporting S. 743, Marketplace Fairness Act, S2873 [23AP]

Statements supporting S. 743, Marketplace Fairness Act, S2833 [22AP]

Memorandums

Empower States To Require Online Retailers To Collect and Remit State Sales and Use Taxes: Steven Maguire, Jeanne Grimmett, and Erika K. Lunder, Congressional Research Service, S2103 [21MR]

Motions

Business and industry: empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes (S. 743), S2785 [18AP]

EPA: require a report on economic impact of certain energy-related rules and prohibit finalization of such rules that will cause significant adverse effects to the economy (H.R. 1582), H5291 [1AU]

SEC: protect retail customers from differing standards of conduct for brokers and investment advisers and confusion from rule changes (H.R. 2374), H6870 [29OC]

Remarks in House

Business and industry: empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes (H.R. 684), H2446 [7MY], H2538 [9MY], H2646–H2649 [15MY], H2832 [21MY]

——— ensure that companies sharing cyber threat information do not sell consumers’ personal information for marketing purposes, H2134, H2135 [18AP]

Climate: carbon pollution reduction, H2230 [23AP]

Colleges and universities: address increasing levels of student loan debt and default rates, H2285–H2287 [24AP]

Contracts: establish fair procedures for arbitration clauses (H.R. 1844), H2448 [7MY]

Credit: modify the definitions of a mortgage originator and a high-cost mortgage to preserve access to manufactured housing (H.R. 1779), E566 [26AP]

Dept. of Education: require certain institutions of higher education to provide notice of tuition levels for students (H.R. 2020), H2905 [22MY]

Dept. of Energy: establish Home Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate Program (H.R. 2128), H7267 [20NO]

——— prohibit giving veto power over EPA energy-related rules, H5243, H5245, H5247, H5248 [31JY]

——— State Energy Program and Weatherization Assistance Program funding, H4274 [9JY]

——— Weatherization Assistance Program funding through reductions in National Nuclear Security Administration funding, H4275, H4276 [9JY]

Dept. of HHS: provide protections for consumers against excessive, unjustified, or unfairly discriminatory increases in insurance premium rates, H7131 [15NO]

Dept. of HUD: Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding, H1670 [20MR]

Dept. of Labor: allow regulations to prevent fraud related to pensions and other retirement savings accounts, promote investment education and advice, and require financial service providers to disclose any fees, H6870 [29OC]

——— issue fiduciary duty rule to protect access to investment education and advice and assure reasonable financial compensation to financial service providers, H6866–H6869 [29OC]

Dept. of the Treasury: provide a receipt to each taxpayer who files a Federal income tax return (H.R. 3039), E1242 [2AU]

Direct Deposit and Direct Payment via ACH Month: observance, E585 [3MY]

Economy: impact of Government shutdown, H6646 [22OC], H6688 [23OC]

EPA: ensure ability to enforce rules that result in reduced incidence of cancer, premature mortality, asthma attacks, or respiratory disease in children and seniors, H5291 [1AU]

——— make all estimates and data of the economic impact of energy-related rules publicly available, H5285, H5286 [1AU]

——— prohibit blocking of energy-related rules resulting in consumers saving money at the gas pump, H5245 [31JY]

——— 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, H2778 [20MY]

FDA: prohibit wholesalers from purchasing prescription drugs from pharmacies and enhance information and transparency of drug wholesalers engaged in interstate commerce, E784 [4JN]

——— reevaluate proposed rule entitled ‘‘Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption’’, H3727 [18JN]

——— require that genetically engineered food and foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients be labeled accordingly (H.R. 1699), H2258 [24AP]

——— strengthen and secure the pharmaceutical distribution supply chain to protect consumers from counterfeit pharmaceuticals, H5961, H5962, H5965 [28SE]

——— strengthen and secure the pharmaceutical distribution supply chain to protect consumers from counterfeit pharmaceuticals (H.R. 1919), H2968–H2984 [3JN], E784, E796 [4JN], E883 [17JN]

——— strengthen and secure the pharmaceutical distribution supply chain to protect consumers from counterfeit pharmaceuticals (S. 957), H2979 [3JN]

Federal agencies and departments: establish Federal customer service standards and improve service provided by Federal agencies (H.R. 1660), H5207–H5209 [31JY]

Financial institutions: establish fair and transparent practices related to marketing and provision of overdraft coverage programs at depository institutions (H.R. 1261), E335 [19MR]

——— provide exception from requirement for annual privacy notices for financial institutions which do not share personal information with affiliates (H.R. 749), H1337–H1339 [12MR]

——— restore certain provisions of law to separate investment banking from commercial banking (H.R. 129), H4861 [23JY], H5595 [18SE], H6683 [23OC]

Financial literacy: require financial literacy and economic education counseling for student borrowers, H2935 [23MY]

FRS: require the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to notify and obtain permission from consumers before collecting nonpublic personal information about such consumers, H4222 [9JY]

Gambling: regulate Internet gambling and provide consumer protections (H.R. 2282), E1669 [14NO]

GAO: establish pilot program to collect and publish Dept. of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit redemption data, H3889 [19JN]

Health: reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform, H533, H534 [14FE], H2463 [7MY]

Housing: protect American taxpayers and homeowners by creating a sustainable housing finance system, H6430 [9OC]

Information technology: provide for greater transparency in and user control over the treatment of data collected by mobile applications and enhance the security of such data (H.R. 1913), H2558 [9MY]

Medicare: reform, H437 [12FE]

Motor vehicles: provide incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and increase investment in advanced vehicle technology, development, and manufacturing, H1962 [12AP]

National Security Agency: prohibit funding to acquire information for purpose of targeting U.S. citizens or to acquire, monitor, or store electronic communications by citizens, H5022, H5023 [24JY]

National Travel and Tourism Week: observance, E637, E639 [9MY]

——— observance (H. Res. 205), H2449 [7MY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: advertising campaign by ProgressNow Colorado (organization), H7698 [12DE], E1853 [12DE]

——— extend open enrollment period for health care plans and protect individuals from penalties during the enrollment extension, H7156 [18NO]

——— impact of implementation on health care, coverage, costs, and accessibility, H6980 [12NO], H7006, H7008 [13NO], H7055, H7058, H7061, H7062, H7064, H7065, H7081, H7082, H7083, H7084, H7085, H7086, H7087, H7088, H7089, H7090, H7091, H7092, H7093, H7094, H7095, H7107 [14NO], H7114, H7115, H7149 [15NO], H7169, H7170 [18NO], H7191, H7198, H7199, H7200, H7247–H7250 [19NO], H7257, H7258, H7259, H7262, H7264, H7265, H7266, H7298 [20NO], H7314, H7339–H7341 [21NO], H7367, H7368 [2DE], H7403, H7404, H7405, H7406, H7407, H7429 [3DE], H7454, H7457, H7459, H7460, H7461, H7491 [4DE], H7510, H7558, H7559, H7560 [5DE], H7630, H7635, H7638, H7670–H7673 [11DE], H8097 [12DE], E1644 [13NO], E1721 [20NO], E1799 [5DE]

——— implementation, H7173 [18NO], H7266 [20NO]

——— improve eligibility requirements for uninsured individuals with a preexisting condition for coverage, H5998 [28SE]

Pontiac, IL: inclusion of OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Consumer Reports (publication) ‘‘Safest Hospitals’’ list, E1537 [22OC]

Postal Service: reinstate overnight delivery standards for market-dominant products (H.R. 2459), H4531 [17JY]

Power resources: protect from price-gouging of gasoline and other fuels (H.R. 2070), H2859 [22MY], H4998 [24JY]

Privacy: cease Federal Government use of license plate scanners to amass database of citizens’ movements, H4842 [22JY]

——— effects of domestic surveillance, H5080–H5083 [25JY]

——— extend protections against unreasonable searches and seizures to electronic communications information and require specific court-issued warrants to obtain such information, H3261 [11JN]

——— prevent mass collection of records of innocent Americans and provide greater accountability and transparency of Government surveillance activities and programs (H.R. 2399), H7337 [21NO], E899 [17JN]

——— prohibit funding to any U.S. agency, including the National Security Agency, to collect records that pertain to persons not subject to an investigation, H4991, H5022–H5027 [24JY], E1130 [24JY], E1135, E1145 [25JY], E1244 [2AU]

Product safety: ban flame retardant chemicals from use in resilient filling materials in children’s products (H.R. 2934), E1195 [1AU]

——— ban use of bisphenol A in food and beverage containers (H.R. 2248), H6660 [22OC]

SEC: communications with Dept. of Labor relative to monitoring standards of conduct for brokers and investment advisers, H6861 [29OC]

——— protect retail customers from differing standards of conduct for brokers and investment advisers and confusion from rule changes (H.R. 2374), H6758 [23OC], H6855–H6872 [29OC], E1602 [30OC]

——— protect retail customers from differing standards of conduct for brokers and investment advisers and confusion from rule changes (H.R. 2374), consideration (H. Res. 391), H6841–H6850 [29OC]

——— protect retail customers from differing standards of conduct for brokers and investment advisers and confusion from rule changes (H.R. 2374), motion to recommit, H6870 [29OC]

Senior citizens: establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits, H1948 [11AP]

——— establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits (H.R. 1030), H1996 [15AP]

Sports: decrease the frequency of sports blackouts and require the application of the antitrust laws to Major League Baseball (H.R. 3452), H7062 [14NO]

Taxation: constitutional amendment to limit congressional power to impose a tax on failure to purchase goods or services (H.J. Res. 28), H2357 [26AP]

——— disclose certain tax return information relative to identity theft (H.R. 926), E224 [28FE]

——— impose a retail tax on disposable carryout bags (H.R. 1686), E511 [23AP]

Travel and tourism: facilitate international travel to the U.S. by reforming visa procedures for certain foreign nationals (H.R. 1354), H2490 [8MY]

Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: impact, H3022 [4JN]

Remarks in Senate

Air pollution: impact of economy-wide global warming pollution emission cap and trade program, S34–S36 [22JA], S5608 [10JY], S5727, S5748 [17JY]

——— impose carbon pollution fee and use proceeds to provide Federal deficit reduction, reduced Federal tax rates, and other direct taxpayer benefits, S2270 [22MR], S8904 [17DE]

——— oppose carbon pollution fee, S2271 [22MR]

Business and industry: empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes, S2093–S2106, S2108 [21MR], S2248, S2273–S2278 [22MR]

——— empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes (S. 743), S2696 [16AP], S2697 [17AP], S2926–S2931, S2937–S2953 [24AP], S2983, S2985–S2991, S2994–S3009, S3013, S3016–S3018 [25AP], S3070–S3084 [6MY], S3153–S3155 [7MY]

——— empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes (S. 743), motion to proceed, S2785 [18AP], S2820–S2825, S2827–S2834, S2836–S2838 [22AP], S2859–S2863, S2866, S2871–S2873, S2875–S2882, S2885, S2891–S2894 [23AP], S2909, S2918, S2919 [24AP]

——— enforcement authority of States to collect State sales and use taxes from remote sellers in foreign countries, S3007 [25AP]

——— exempt businesses with less than certain amount of online sales from requirement to collect and remit State sales and use taxes, S2878, S2881 [23AP], S8939 [18DE]

——— give businesses more time to comply with online sales tax regulations, S2986–S2991 [25AP]

——— implement a sunset for requiring online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes, conduct study on costs of compliance, and limit State audits of online retailers, S2999 [25AP]

——— include tribal governments in provisions to empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes, S3154 [7MY]

——— require all foreign and domestic companies registered with the SEC to report annually on amounts paid to each country for access to oil, gas, and minerals, S5598 [10JY]

Climate: carbon pollution reduction, S2447 [8AP]

Colleges and universities: establish a mechanism to allow borrowers of private education loans to refinance their loans (S. 1266), S5548 [9JY], S5611 [10JY]

Credit: empower States to set the maximum annual percentage rates applicable to consumer credit transactions (S. 1229), S5268, S5269 [26JN]

——— establish a national usury rate for consumer credit transactions (S. 673), S2502–S2504 [9AP]

——— prohibit use of consumer credit checks against prospective and current employees for the purpose of making adverse employment decisions (S. 1837), S8916 [17DE]

——— promulgate regulations regarding debit and credit card interchange transaction fees, S6181 [1AU]

Dept. of Agriculture: impact of Government shutdown, S7247 [7OC]

——— repeal a duplicative inspection and grading program for catfish, S3931 [4JN], S4047 [10JN]

Dept. of Education: add disclosure requirements to the institution of higher education financial aid offer form and make such form mandatory (S. 1156), S5220 [26JN]

Dept. of Energy: improve efficiency standards and allow continued manufacture of grid-enabled water heaters for use in electric thermal storage or demand response programs, S6499 [17SE]

——— improve the coordination of refinery outages through required scheduled maintenance and unplanned outages reporting (S. 1073), S6585 [18SE]

——— State Energy Program and Weatherization Assistance Program extension and reauthorization, S6432, S6436 [12SE]

Dept. of HHS: provide protections for consumers against excessive, unjustified, or unfairly discriminatory increases in insurance premium rates (S. 482), S1234 [6MR]

Drugs: establish a list of synthetic drugs known as analogues and prohibit most importation, amend sentencing for violations, and improve regulation relative to such analogues (S. 1323), S5801 [18JY]

Economy: impact of Government shutdown, S7844 [6NO]

——— reform the financial regulatory system of the U.S., S994–S996 [28FE]

Electronic Communications Privacy Act: anniversary, S7570 [28OC]

EPA: authorize WaterSense Program labeling system for water-efficient appliances, plumbing fixtures, landscaping, and new homes and establish Blue Ban grant program for water and sewer utilities, S6422 [12SE]

——— impose carbon pollution fee, S4393 [12JN], S5480 [27JN], S5897 [24JY]

——— impose carbon pollution fee and use proceeds to provide rebate to consumers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and regulate hydraulic fracturing (S. 332), S1083 [4MR], S1257 [7MR], S1283–S1285 [11MR], S1837 [14MR], S1886 [18MR], S5735 [17JY]

——— increase consumer choice and competition in the online video programming distribution marketplace (S. 1680), S7953 [12NO]

Financial institutions: limit ability of banks to engage in certain risky activities and conflicts of interest and restore certain provisions of law to separate investment banking from commercial banking (S. 1282), S5668–S5671 [11JY]

——— provide for a safe, accountable, fair, and efficient banking system, S5662 [11JY]

Food: allow States to require labels on any food, beverage, or other edible products sold that contain, or are produced with, a genetically engineered material, S3731, S3750 [22MY], S3796, S3797 [23MY]

FRS: impact of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, S5675 [15JY], S5692, S5702–S5704 [16JY]

——— provide an Inspector General for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, S5698 [16JY]

——— replace the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with a 5-person commission, S5702 [16JY]

Health: reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform, S2300, S2301 [22MR], S8940 [18DE]

Insurance: provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce, S6745, S6750 [24SE]

Interstate compacts: allow establishment for the purpose of expanding health insurance options, S8940 [18DE]

National Travel and Tourism Week: observance (S. Res. 141), S3436 [14MY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: disapprove rule imposing mandates on current health plans in order to retain grandfathered status, S7786 [4NO], S7991 [13NO]

——— eliminate cap on flexible spending account contributions and requirement for prescriptions for over-the-counter drugs under health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts, S2302 [22MR]

——— ensure that individuals can keep their health insurance coverage, S7786 [4NO]

——— ensure that individuals can keep their health insurance coverage (S. 1642), S7797 [4NO], S7861 [6NO]

——— impact of implementation on current health insurance plans, S4624 [19JN]

——— impact of implementation on health care, coverage, costs, and accessibility, S7585, S7589, S7605–S7608 [29OC], S7638, S7660 [30OC], S7716 [31OC], S7782, S7785–S7787 [4NO], S7803, S7804, S7806–S7808, S7811–S7813 [5NO], S7837–S7839, S7842, S7849–S7852, S7860 [6NO], S7892, S7903 [7NO], S7938 [12NO], S7966, S7969–S7971, S7973–S7977, S7982, S7986, S7991 [13NO], S8014–S8024, S8030–S8033 [14NO], S8086, S8087 [18NO], S8144 [19NO], S8293, S8297–S8299 [20NO], S8415, S8444 [21NO], S8587–S8593 [10DE], S8610–S8612, S8615, S8627, S8643–S8648, S8653–S8656, S8660, S8666 [11DE], S8679–S8686, S8692–S8709, S8718–S8722, S8725–S8733, S8736, S8739, S8746–S8749, S8753, S8754, S8759–S8763, S8769 [12DE], S8779–S8783, S8788–S8791, S8796, S8800 [13DE], S8817 [15DE], S8830, S8833 [16DE], S8880–S8882 [17DE], S8939–S8943, S8965–S8968 [18DE], S9017, S9029–S9032 [19DE], S9084–S9086 [20DE]

——— impact of medical loss ratio requirements for health insurance plans, S4542 [18JN]

——— impact on education system, S8942 [18DE]

——— implementation, S4626 [19JN], S8686 [12DE]

——— provide for a fixed annual open enrollment period for health exchange plans and disclose premium and cost-sharing information prior to enrollment (S. 1849), S8941, S8977 [18DE]

——— provide that the reinsurance program be applied equally to all health insurance issuers and group health plans (S. 1724), S8189 [19NO]

——— require transparency in the operation of American Health Benefit Exchanges (S. 1590), S7577–S7579 [28OC], S7586 [29OC], S7816 [5NO], S7842 [6NO]

——— require transparency in the operation of American Health Benefit Exchanges (S. 1590), unanimous-consent request, S7609 [29OC]

——— suspend navigator program until precautions are taken to prevent identity theft, corruption, and fraud, S7975 [13NO]

Privacy: improve privacy of electronic communications (S. 607), S1951 [19MR], S7411 [11OC], S7570 [28OC], S9044 [19DE]

——— prohibit any U.S. agency, including the National Security Agency, from searching telephone records of U.S. citizens without a warrant based on probable cause, S4203 [11JN], S6052–S6056 [30JY]

——— prohibit any U.S. agency, including the National Security Agency, from searching telephone records of U.S. citizens without a warrant based on probable cause (S. 1121), S4024 [7JN], S4027 [10JN]

——— strengthen privacy protections, accountability, and oversight relative to domestic surveillance (S. 1215), S5019 [24JN]

Product safety: ban use of bisphenol A in food and beverage containers for children, baby food, and infant formula and regulate its use in other food containers (S. 1124), S4059 [10JN]

Real estate: exempt qualified residential mortgages from credit risk retention requirements, S7365 [10OC]

Senior citizens: establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security, S2955 [24AP]

Sports: reduce sports-related concussions in youth (S. 1014), S3765 [22MY]

Taxation: extend the deduction of State and local general sales taxes, S8989 [19DE]

——— moratorium on Internet access taxation and multiple and discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce, S3153, S3154 [7MY]

——— provide tax rate parity among all tobacco products (S. 194), S466 [4FE]

Technology: allow consumers to unlock mobile wireless devices for interoperability purposes (S. 517), S1594 [11MR]

Telephones: prohibit unauthorized third-party charges on wireline telephone bills (S. 1144), S4407 [12JN]

Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: impact, S8820 [15DE]

Whistleblowing: provide anti-retaliation protections for antitrust whistleblowers (S. 42), S156 [22JA], S7799, S7800 [4NO], S7826 [5NO], S9043 [19DE]

Reports filed

Consideration of H.R. 2218, Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act and H.R. 1582, Energy Consumers Relief Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 315) (H. Rept. 113–174), H4978 [23JY]

Consideration of H.R. 2374, Retail Investor Protection Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 391) (H. Rept. 113–253), H6827 [28OC]

Court-Appointed Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 975), S9051 [19DE]

Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 42), S7724 [31OC]

Electronic Communications Privacy Improvement: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 607), S3028 [25AP]

Energy Consumers Relief Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 1582) (H. Rept. 113–164), H4856 [22JY]

FISA Improvements Act: Committee on Intelligence (Senate, Select) (S. 1631), S7724 [31OC]

——— Committee on Intelligence (Senate, Select) (S. 1631) (S. Rept. 113–119), S7951 [12NO]

Improve Privacy of Electronic Communications: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 607) (S. Rept. 113–34), S3568 [16MY]

Retail Investor Protection Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 2374) (H. Rept. 113–228), H5832 [25SE], H6051 [30SE]

Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 1919) (H. Rept. 113–93), H3014 [3JN]

Statements

Amash Amendment to H.R. 2397, Dept. of Defense Apppropriations, Prohibiting Funding to Any U.S. Agency To Collect Records That Pertain to Persons Not Subject to an Investigation: Representative Van Hollen, E1170 [31JY]

Legislative Proposals To Relieve the Red Tape Burden on Investors and Job Creators: Anne Simpson, California Public Employees’ Retirement System, H7481 [4DE]

Minnesota Proposal To Require Online Retailers To Collect and Remit Sales and Use Taxes: Alliance for Main Street Fairness, S2105 [21MR]

Retail Investor Protection Act: Executive Office of the President, H6860, H6865 [29OC]

Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act: Pew Charitable Trust, H2981 [3JN]

Tables

Marketplace Fairness Act timeline, S2949 [24AP]

Testimonies

Oklahomans Are Hit Hard by ObamaCare, S8746 [12DE]

Texts of

H. Res. 315, consideration of H.R. 2218, Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act and H.R. 1582, Energy Consumers Relief Act, H4995 [24JY]

H. Res. 391, consideration of H.R. 992, Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act, H.R.2374, Retail Investor Protection Act, and H.J. Res. 99, disapprove President’s exercise of authority to suspend the debt ceiling, H6841 [29OC]

H.R. 749, Eliminate Privacy Notice Confusion Act, H1337 [12MR]

H.R. 1582, Energy Consumers Relief Act, H5246 [31JY]

H.R. 1660, Government Customer Service Improvement Act, H5207 [31JY]

H.R. 1911, Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act, H2969–H2978 [3JN]

H.R. 2374, Retail Investor Protection Act, H6855 [29OC]

S. 42, Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act, S156 [22JA], S7799 [4NO]

S. 194, Tobacco Tax Equity Act, S440 [31JA]

S. 517, Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, S1595 [11MR]

S. 607, improve privacy of electronic communications, S1952 [19MR]

S. 673, Protecting Consumers From Unreasonable Credit Rates Act, S2504 [9AP]

S. 743, Marketplace Fairness Act, S3083 [6MY]

S. 764, Patients’ Right To Know Act, S2799 [18AP]

S. 1144, Fair Telephone Billing Act, S4408 [12JN]

S. 1215, FISA Accountability and Privacy Protection Act, S5020–S5027 [24JN]

S. 1323, Protecting Our Youth From Dangerous Synthetic Drugs Act, S5802 [18JY]

S. 1680, Consumer Choice in Online Video Act, S7954–S7961 [12NO]

S. 1803, Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights, S8669–S8673 [11DE]

S. Res. 141, National Travel and Tourism Week, S3434 [14MY]

S. Res. 309, support improvement in collection, processing, and consumption of recycled materials, S8464 [21NO]

S. Res. 313, Small Business Saturday, S8573 [9DE]