Chairman Rockefeller Remarks on Today’s Legislative Hearing on S.3742, the Data Security Breach and Notification Act of 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Thank you, Senator Pryor, for holding this hearing, and I want to commend you for your continued, excellent stewardship of the Consumer Protection Subcommittee.
Rockefeller, Baucus Demand Transparency from Insurance Companies on Premium Increases
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-West Va.) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) sent a letter today to insurance companies with the five largest enrollments in the country demanding more transparency in calculations of premium increases. The Chairmen said today that they planned close oversight of the companies’ assertions about why premium increases might be necessary. The Senate leaders also made clear they would not tolerate false statements about the effects of the new health care law on premiums, especially since non-partisan, independent experts have concluded the Affordable Care Act will not result in large health insurance premium increases.
Rockefeller, Klobuchar & Wyden Respond to GAO Report on Wireless Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report, “Enhanced Data Collection Could Help FCC Better Monitor Competition in the Wireless Industry,” assessing competition in the wireless industry. The report was requested by U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), Committee members Senator Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
Rockefeller Praises Senate Passage of Bill to Improve Communications Accessibility for People with Disabilities
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued this statement after the Senate approved the Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act (S. 3304). The legislation will update existing disabilities law to reflect accessibility to new and emerging technologies.
Pryor, Rockefeller Introduce Legislation to Protect Consumers’ Personal Information and Prevent Identity Theft
WASHINGTON, D.D.—U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) today introduced legislation to require businesses and nonprofit organizations that store consumers’ personal information to put in place strong security features to safeguard sensitive data, alert consumers when this data has been breached, and provide affected individuals with the tools they need to protect their credit and finances. Currently, there is no single federal standard for guarding many types of consumer information.
Chairman Rockefeller Continues Fight to Protect Consumers from Harmful and Deceptive Business Practices
WASHINGTON, D.C.— In his continued effort to protect consumers from harmful and deceptive business practices, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today sent a letter to Nathaniel Lipman, President of Affinion Group, Inc. asking for more information about Affinion’s use of a “live check” enrollment process.
Pryor, Rockefeller Introduce Legislation to Increase Transparency, Competition in Insurance Industry
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) introduced the Insurance Competition and Transparency Act of 2010 today that would strike a provision in the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act that restricts the FTC’s authority to investigate and disclose information about practices employed by insurance companies that may reduce competition in the marketplace. Currently, many insurance companies, including the health insurance industry, are largely exempt from this FTC oversight.
Chairman Rockefeller Says FTC Rule to Protect Consumers from Deceptive Debt Settlement Practices is Enormously Important
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a new rule to protect consumers from deceptive debt settlement practices. The new rule will require debt settlement companies to disclose more information about the services they provide, and bar them from charging upfront fees. The debt settlement industry was the subject of a Commerce Committee investigation initiated by Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV.
Chairman Rockefeller’s Statement on the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement about the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization extension would reauthorize the FAA through September 30, 2010 and implement critical aviation safety and pilot training improvement measures. Senate action on the extension is expected in the coming days.
Consumer Online Privacy: Hearing Summary
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on consumer online privacy.