Consumer Protection

Washington, D.C. – “Yesterday, Home Depot confirmed that its customers are the victims of what may be the largest data breach of a retailer in history. Reportedly, in an attack that went unnoticed by the company for five months, more than 60 million credit and debit card numbers and associated pieces of personal information were stolen from Home Depot stores by hackers – similar to the 2013 breaches of Target and other major retailers. Worse still, Home Depot did not notify its customers or make any public statement until contacted about the breach by a journalist.

Washington, D.C. – Today, General Motors (GM) announced its plan to compensate the victims of its failure to address defective ignition switches in its vehicles, and its failure to recall those vehicles in a timely manner. Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement in response:

WASHINGTON — U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) are urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct new public hearings and issue a new environmental impact study (EIS) of the O’Hare Modernization Program in response to increased noise pollution and questions raised over the hearings process.

Chicago, IL – Today, General Motors announced the results of their internal report. Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement in response to the announcement:

The internal report released today on the General Motors ignition switch defect is very troubling. It shows that the company, through a series of failures lasting more than ten years, repeatedly neglected to put the safety of its customers first. At least 13 people – and perhaps many more – died because GM did not adequately value safety.

Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a settlement with General Motors over the company’s failure to report defective ignition switches to the agency and initiate a recall in a timely manner. Rep. Schakowsky issued the following statement in response:

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on the General Motors recall for faulty ignition switches that played a role in at least 31 frontal crashes and 13 deaths. Rep. Schakowsky issued the following statement on the hearing:

“The fact that 13 people lost their lives is extremely tragic, and it is even more painful because these deaths were avoidable.

Washington, D.C. – Today the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a final rule requiring rearview video systems in all new vehicles under 10,000 pounds by May 2018. Rep. Jan Schakowsky – who sponsored legislation requiring this new safety provision – issued the following statement on the rule:

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, a National Labor Relations Board regional director ruled that Northwestern University football players are employees of the University and have the right to form a union and bargain collectively. Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement on this matter:

"I am pleased with the NLRB ruling that correctly recognizes Northwestern football players as University employees. These young men dedicate 40-plus hours a week for much of the school year to the football program and they deserve the right to unionize.