Consumer Protection
My political career began as a consumer advocate when I led the successful campaign in 1969 to put freshness dates on products sold in the supermarket. I am a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where I serve as the Chairwoman of the Consumer Protection subcommittee. On the Committee, I have continued my efforts to protect consumers from unfair business practices, unsafe products, insurance abuses, and harmful chemicals in products, and to improve the safety of children's products, vehicles, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Legislation I've Introduced
Safe Cosmetics Act – The Safe Cosmetics Act would phase out the use of dangerous chemicals, including carcinogens and reproductive toxins, from use in personal care products. Visit Cosmetic Safety for more information.
More on Consumer Protection
Today, Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky released the following statement after the subcommittee markup of the Highly Automated Vehicle Testing and Deployment Act:
“The legislation coming out of today’s subcommittee markup is the product of bipartisan negotiations on a critical issue. I am grateful to Chairman Latta and both of our staffs for the hard work and good faith that went into the drafting and negotiation of the legislation.
(Washington, DC) – Following a series of infant deaths in New York City, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-NY) today sent a letter to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Acting Director Anne Schuchat calling on the agencies to renew their outreach and education efforts on safe infant sleeping.
Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky was joined by her colleague Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi in introducing legislation that would prohibit airlines from involuntarily ‘bumping’ ticketed passengers from flights. The bill, titled the Bumping on Overbooked Airplanes Requires Dealing Fairly (BOARD Fairly) Act, would ensure that the unacceptable incident that occurred on United Airlines Flight 3411 never happens again.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky released the following statement on her plans to introduce legislation in response to the violent forcible removal of Dr. David Dao from United Airlines flight 3411 out of Chicago O’Hare airport this Sunday:
“I am glad that United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz is finally giving this situation the serious attention it deserves. I will thoroughly review United’s report on April 30, and I hope to see serious policy changes that will prevent this sort of situation from ever happening again. However, I do not want to rely on voluntary compliance from the airlines to prevent this sort of incident.
“I am absolutely appalled at how United Airlines treated one of their customers flying out of Chicago this weekend. The use of extreme force featured in the video circulating on social media today is shocking and unacceptable.
Representative Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement in advance of a vote to repeal the FCC’s internet privacy rules on the House floor today:
“Edith Ramirez has been a leader in efforts to promote privacy protections for emerging technologies, stop unethical business practices, and inform consumers as they navigate the marketplace. Under Chairwoman Ramirez, the Federal Trade Commission saved consumers billions of dollars through its enforcement actions. It was a pleasure to work with her as Ranking Member of the House subcommittee on consumer protection, and I thank her for her nearly seven years of service on the Commission.”
###
“Edith Ramirez has been a leader in efforts to promote privacy protections for emerging technologies, stop unethical business practices, and inform consumers as they navigate the marketplace. Under Chairwoman Ramirez, the Federal Trade Commission saved consumers billions of dollars through its enforcement actions. It was a pleasure to work with her as Ranking Member of the House subcommittee on consumer protection, and I thank her for her nearly seven years of service on the Commission.”
###
After three reports of toddler deaths in IKEA Malm dresser tip-over accidents, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky called for a full recall. In June, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and IKEA announced a recall, which included stopping the sale of unstable dressers and providing repair kits or refunds for consumers. Congresswoman Schakowsky also introduced the Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth (STURDY) Act to improve the industry standard for dresser stability.
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Ranking Member on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade (IL-09); Frank Pallone, Jr., Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee (NJ-06); G. K. Butterfield (NC-01); and Lois Capps (CA-24) wrote Administrator Denise Turner Roth at the General Services Administration (GSA) calling on the agency to reduce the number of vehicles in the federal fleet under open recalls and end the practice of selling vehicles before recalls have been fixed.