Support the Medical Device Safety Act
The Supreme Court's decision in Riegel v. Medtronic had the affect of giving complete immunity to medical device manufacturers. Now people injured through no fault of their own can't hold the manufacturer accountable. Many are forced onto Medicare or Medicaid and it is estimated that taxpayers will be on the hook for over $1 billion to cover the their healthcare. This is unfair on many levels. Tell Congress to fix this and pass HR 1346/S 540, the Medical Device Safety Act.
TAKE ACTION!
Get the Facts and Learn More About the Real People Injured by Faulty Devices
Tell the Senate You Support a Consumer Financial Protection Agency!
The financial meltdown of 2008 can be directly attributed to the fact that government regulators allowed the major financial institutions of Wall Street to conduct business in a reckless and unconstrained manner. While this incredulous behavior went unchecked, consumers were held hostage by predatory mortgages, and one-sided consumer agreements that usurped the consumer protection laws meant to protect them.
For that reason, Congress agreed to establish the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA). The Senate is now debating this issue and there is a possibility that the CFPA could be lost. Contact the Senate and tell them you want a strong independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency today!!
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Watch a Video on the Importance of the CFPA
Fight to End Forced Arbitration in Cases of Sexual Assault and Discrimination!
We really need your URGENT help. Please contact the members of the Conference Committee and express your support for including the Franken Amendment in the Department of Defense Appropriations bill. A decision will be made THIS WEEK, so your urgent action is appreciated.
You all may remember the case of Jamie Leigh Jones, an employee of Halliburton/KBR who after being drugged, gang raped, and confined in a shipping container by Halliburton employees, filed a lawsuit against Halliburton but was denied due to a forced arbitration clause in her employment contract. Thanks in large part to your email campaign, last Tuesday, the Senate voted 68-30 in favor of this amendment. Assuming the provision survives a conference committee, companies like Halliburton will no longer be able to get federal defense contracts if they deny employees their day in court when they are subjected to rape, sexual assault, or a hostile working environment.
We need your help to ensure that the amendment isn’t taken out of the bill in conference. The Senators and Representatives receiving this action alert sit on the very committee that will decide whether this amendment stays in the bill or is stripped out. Please contact their offices as soon as possible and tell them how important it is that this amendment becomes law. Ask them to protect the rights of sexual assault victims and keep this important measure as part of the Department of Defense Appropriations bill!
Send a Message and TAKE ACTION!
Read Jamie’s Story
Support Fairness in Arbitration!
On April 29th, people who were harmed by forced arbitration traveled to DC to participate in Arbitration Fairness Day and urge support for the Arbitration Fairness Act. The Chamber of Commerce has inundated Capitol Hill with misleading paper opposing the Arbitration Fairness Act.
Businesses oppose the Arbitration Fairness Act because the system of forced arbitration allows them to escape accountability for discrimination, harassment, gross negligence, fraud, and other corporate wrongdoing. Businesses aren’t looking out for the best interests of consumers and employees; they want to protect their ability to force individuals into a system that they design. Who wouldn’t want to control the method by which claims against them are resolved?
The Truth: HR 1020, the Arbitration Fairness Act does not eliminate arbitration, it just makes it voluntary. In other words, big business can’t force you to sign away your right to hold them accountable for their wrongdoings, but a consumer can still choose arbitration.
Don’t listen to the hype. The Chamber knows full well that they must use scare tactics to try and defeat this bill because they are on the wrong side of this issue. They think Americans won’t hold them accountable for spreading anti-consumer rhetoric.
Send a Letter to Congress and tell them not to be fooled by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and their well-funded, big business allies. Insist that they put People over Profits!
For more information on forced arbitration and the upcoming Arbitration Fairness Day, or to sign a petition please visit www.fairarbitrationnow.org.
Consumer Groups Supporting HR 1020, the Arbitration Fairness Act
Support S. 540/H.R. 1346, the Medical Device Safety Act of 2009
In February of 2008, the Supreme Court decided that medical device manufacturers cannot be held accountable for producing dangerous and defective products. They felt that FDA’s approval of a medical device warranted this immunity. It should not. The Medical Device Safety Act will return our rights that have been taken away by fixing this problem and putting the law back the way it was just over a year ago.
On March 31st, Medical Device Patients from across the country traveled to Washington, DC to voice their support for the Medical Device Safety Act.
Read Their Stories
Take Action! Send a Letter to Congress
Learn More About the Medical Device Safety Act
Supporters of the Medical Device Safety Act
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