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
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.
CHICAGO - Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky participated in an event highlighting a new report by Kids In Danger (KID) and Shane’s Foundation that analyzes injury statistics and presents independent testing results for furniture tip-overs, revealing significant risks to children from dressers and chests in the home and dangerous inadequacies in current safety standards and testing. KID’s testing illustrates the instability of furniture commonly found in children’s rooms and offers recommendations to improve furniture stability.
In February, a 22-month old from Apple Valley, Minnesota was killed by a falling Malm dresser; his family was unaware of the danger the Malm dresser posed, including two previous deaths from Malm dresser tip-overs
Today, after urging from the lawmakers, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and IKEA announced a recall of Malm dressers, stopping the sale of Malm dressers until safety improvements are made, and offering a refund for consumers who have purchased Malm dressers
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) has introduced the Protect Consumers from Phony Phone Charges Act to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to restrict unauthorized third-party fees sneaked onto consumers’ wireless and landline phone bills:
In February, a 22-month old from Apple Valley, Minnesota was killed by a falling Malm dresser; his family was unaware of the danger the Malm dresser posed, including two deaths from Malm dresser tip-overs
Committee Leaders Respond to Insufficient Results After Testing Deadly Takata Air Bags
Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued the following statement in response to the investigation into defective Takata airbag inflators.
Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued the following statement today in response to the “Proactive Safety Principles” released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a group of automakers.
Washington, DC- Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky – joined by Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D-MA), Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) – introduced H.R. 4187, The Secure and Protect Americans’ Data Act. The legislation would enhance data security and require prompt disclosure and credit monitoring in the event of a breach.
Washington, DC- Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced major changes to the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) – also known as the five-star safety ratings system – set to debut in 2018. The updated analysis will include consideration of pedestrian and rear-seat passenger safety. Rep. Schakowsky released the following statement in response:
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reached a consent order with Takata over the Japanese part supplier’s defective airbags that have caused at least eight deaths and at least 100 serious injuries. The settlement includes the largest-ever fine levied by NHTSA – $200 million. It also prohibits Takata from entering into any new contracts after Oct. 31 to build airbag inflators with ammonium nitrate and a desiccant – the chemical components suspected to cause the violent airbag explosions that necessitated the recalls. Rep.