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, 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.
Many of us are distrubed by telemarketers, but as you may know there is a way to stop getting these calls -- the Do Not Call Registry.This week I gave a speech on the registry. Please see my speech below:
"Hi, I’m Congresswoman Schakowsky, the Ranking Member of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee – which has jurisdiction over consumer protection issues, including the implementation and enforcement of the Do Not Call Registry.
Lawmakers Call for Stronger Protections for Consumers Following Breaches
CHICAGO – Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have jointly proposed new standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement on the new standards:
Washington, DC – Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed a stand-alone Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill:
“I am disappointed that the House of Representatives passed a stand-alone ‘Fast Track’ bill this afternoon. If the Senate passes a similar stand-alone measure, TPA will be used to rush through the highly-flawed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
"Early this month the Office of Personnel Management reported that hackers have accessed the Social Security numbers and personnel data of millions of federal employees. If you were impacted you should get a letter or an email -- in fact, you may have already gotten one. Click here to view a special website OPM has set up for those who have been impacted and click here to read a statement by OPM on this breach.
Washington, DC– Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement after the Senate trade agreement package failed to pass the House of Representatives:
“Today the House voted to derail ‘fast track’ authority that would not only be used to push through a highly-flawed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement but that would prevent Congress from amending trade pacts for the next six years.
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement after news broke that 41 individuals in Bangladesh had been charged criminally for their role in the April 2013 Rana Plaza collapse: