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Senators Capito and Luján Introduce GHOST Act to Combat Deceptive Ticket Resale Practices

Senators Capito and Luján Introduce GHOST Act to Combat Deceptive Ticket Resale Practices

U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Ben Ray Luján have jointly introduced the Guaranteeing Honest Ownership in Secondary Ticketing (GHOST) Act. This proposed legislation aims to safeguard fans and concertgoers from fraudulent practices prevalent in the secondary ticket market. The core of the GHOST Act is to prohibit ticket resellers from selling tickets they do not currently possess. Senator Capito emphasized that West Virginians, and consumers generally, who spend their money on event tickets should have confidence that the tickets they purchase are legitimate. She highlighted that deceptive practices often lead to consumers paying inflated prices for non-existent tickets. The GHOST Act seeks to introduce common-sense protections to enhance transparency and accountability within the ticket marketplace, ultimately ensuring a more equitable ticket-buying experience for consumers. The bill outlines specific provisions, including empowering the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to pursue action against viola...

Representative Erin Houchin's Bills on Scam Prevention and Broadband Funding Advance to House Floor

Representative Erin Houchin's Bills on Scam Prevention and Broadband Funding Advance to House Floor

Two bipartisan bills introduced by U.S. Representative Erin Houchin (IN-09) have successfully advanced out of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and have been reported to the full House of Representatives. H.R. 5967, known as the Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act, passed with a unanimous vote of 36-0 after an amendment. This legislation, co-sponsored with Representative Rob Menendez (NJ-08), aims to combat fraud, which cost Americans approximately $15.9 billion last year, by directing federal agencies to coordinate anti-fraud efforts. The second bill, H.R. 4950, the Data BRIDGE Act, also passed with a strong vote of 35-0. Introduced alongside Representative Robin Kelly (IL-02), this act proposes using USDA cropland data in broadband funding decisions to better target rural and farm areas, ensuring that broadband dollars are effectively allocated to underserved agricultural communities. Representative Houchin emphasized the importance of both bills, highlighting the need for coordinated fe...

Senator Grassley Urges President Trump to Embargo Diesel Exports Amid High Prices, Advances Identity Theft Legislation

Senator Grassley Urges President Trump to Embargo Diesel Exports Amid High Prices, Advances Identity Theft Legislation

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley is advocating for an embargo on diesel fuel exports by President Trump to alleviate the financial strain on Iowa farmers caused by high diesel prices. According to Grassley, these elevated prices are significantly impacting farmers' incomes. This call to action was made during his weekly Capitol Hill Report with Iowa reporters. Concurrently, Senator Grassley expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Farm Bill, which has advanced to the Senate floor after successfully passing the Senate Ag Committee. Additionally, the U.S. Senate has unanimously passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Grassley aimed at supporting victims of identity theft whose Social Security numbers have been compromised. This bill is now awaiting President Trump's signature to become law. During his report, Grassley also addressed President Trump's recent decision to ban three news media outlets from the White House.

Representatives Valadao and Pettersen Reintroduce Financial Literacy Bill for High School Students

Representatives Valadao and Pettersen Reintroduce Financial Literacy Bill for High School Students

Representatives David Valadao and Brittany Pettersen have reintroduced the 'Promoting Financial Literacy in Secondary Schools Act.' This bipartisan legislation aims to enhance financial literacy education for high school students across the United States. The bill proposes directing the Treasury Department’s Financial Literacy and Education Commission to develop and disseminate best-practice guidance specifically tailored for high schools. This guidance would cover essential financial topics such as budgeting, credit management, savings strategies, understanding various financial products, and navigating student loans. It is important to note that while the bill encourages the adoption of these best practices, it does not mandate that schools implement them. The reintroduction of this bill signifies a continued effort to equip younger generations with crucial financial knowledge.

US senators delay effort to permanently ban Chinese cars

US senators delay effort to permanently ban Chinese cars

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The two US senators backing a permanent legislative ban on Chinese vehicles in the United States agreed on Thursday to delay their plan to use a fast-track procedure to win Senate approval until next week, in order to seek the support of a lone

Senator Alex Padilla Co-Announces Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act

Senator Alex Padilla Co-Announces Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-California) was one of four legislators who co-announced the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act on September 17. This bipartisan legislation, still in development, aims to address long-standing gaps in health and safety protections for wildland firefighters. Co-led by U.S. Sens. John Curtis (R-Utah), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), the bill will be developed in collaboration with firefighters, unions, and health experts. Senator Padilla emphasized the importance of ensuring that firefighters have the necessary resources, safety equipment, and support to perform their jobs safely. The proposed act will establish a Wildland Firefighter Health Task Force and an advisory panel of outside stakeholders to coordinate exposure reduction and pilot respiratory technologies. U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Portland, Oregon) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan Advocates for RISE Act to Streamline College Admissions for Students with Disabilities

U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan Advocates for RISE Act to Streamline College Admissions for Students with Disabilities

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, is actively campaigning for the passage of the RISE Act, legislation designed to remove obstacles for students with disabilities seeking higher education. The proposed act aims to simplify the documentation process by allowing high school Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or previous accommodation records to serve as valid proof of a disability. Additionally, the RISE Act mandates that colleges and universities publicly disclose their policies and procedures regarding disability accommodations. This initiative comes as students like Javi Sandoval from Manchester Community College have faced significant challenges, including the need to re-verify dyslexia at considerable personal expense after their high school IEPs expired. Senator Hassan emphasizes that the bill's core purpose is to eliminate unnecessary financial burdens and paperwork for students with disabilities or special education needs as they transition to college.

Ski Resort Industry Urges Senate to Reject Sunshine Protection Act of 2026

Ski Resort Industry Urges Senate to Reject Sunshine Protection Act of 2026

The U.S. ski resort industry is actively lobbying U.S. senators to oppose the Sunshine Protection Act of 2026, a bill that aims to establish permanent daylight saving time. Five resort trade groups and two resort companies, collectively representing 115 ski areas across 10 states, sent a letter to 19 senators on September 10, outlining their concerns. They argue that the proposed legislation would result in a significant reduction of morning sunlight during winter months, posing substantial operational, economic, and safety risks for mountain communities and resort workers. The industry emphasizes that adequate morning sunlight is critical for safe operations in alpine environments, including preparing ski areas and ensuring timely openings. The House of Representatives previously passed the bill on July 14 with a vote of 308-117, with proponents citing polls indicating public dissatisfaction with semi-annual clock changes.

Senate Republicans signal support for Iran war despite midterm angst

Senate Republicans signal support for Iran war despite midterm angst

The Senate's narrow avoidance of a largely symbolic resolution underscored just how central backlash to the war has become in the midterms.

Federal Trade Commission Revises Rules of Practice and Seeks Public Comment on Personalized Pricing and Impersonation Scams

Federal Trade Commission Revises Rules of Practice and Seeks Public Comment on Personalized Pricing and Impersonation Scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved the publication of Federal Register notices to amend its Rules of Practice. These revisions aim to align the rules with the FTC Act and reflect organizational changes, including the establishment of the American Competition Enforcement Division. The amendments also correct minor errors and omissions in the previous version of the rules. Concurrently, the FTC is seeking public comment on a proposed enforcement policy statement regarding personalized pricing strategies. This policy targets businesses that use detailed individual customer data to charge customized prices without clear and conspicuous disclosures. The FTC is concerned about practices where consumers reasonably expect uniform pricing but are subjected to personalized pricing based on their data. Additionally, the FTC is considering updating its Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses to address the role of online platforms in promoting impersonation scams. An Advance Notice of Proposed ...

Virginia State Bar Warns Public of Phone Scams Impersonating Lawyers; FTC Provides Reporting Channels

Virginia State Bar Warns Public of Phone Scams Impersonating Lawyers; FTC Provides Reporting Channels

The Virginia State Bar has issued a warning to the public about a sophisticated phone scam where criminals are impersonating legitimate lawyers and law firms. These scammers use Caller ID spoofing technology to make their calls appear to originate from actual law offices. They often falsely claim that individuals owe a debt and demand immediate payment, frequently threatening arrest or other legal action. The Virginia State Bar advises both the public and legal professionals to be cautious. For those who believe they have been targeted, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers federal reporting channels, including an online form and a hotline at 1-877-382-4357, in addition to state-level reporting options through the Virginia Office of the Attorney General.

Coalition Demands Emergency Congressional Hearing on Student Loan System Chaos

Coalition Demands Emergency Congressional Hearing on Student Loan System Chaos

A coalition of 89 national and state labor unions, civil rights organizations, consumer protection groups, and student and borrower advocates has sent an urgent letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives committees overseeing federal student loans and servicers. The letter demands an emergency hearing to address the widespread chaos and confusion experienced by borrowers over the past year. This situation has been exacerbated by the Trump Administration's implementation of significant cuts to financial aid and student loan repayment programs under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' (OBBBA). The advocates included a memo with their letter, detailing borrower stories from the 'One Big Bill' campaign, which highlight skyrocketing payments and persistent servicing issues following the act's implementation. The coalition is seeking immediate congressional attention to the deteriorating state of the student loan system and its impact on borrowers.