Benefit Card Fairness Act of 2010

Eliminate predatory lending; ensure equal access to financial services to all Americans. Eliminate disparities in credit reporting. Ease home mortgage foreclosure crisis. Eliminate pay day lending (concerns about H.R. 1214). Support capping all interest rates at 36% APR (support H.R. 1608 / S. 500). Support a foreclosure moratorium (H.R. 527 / S. 241). Oppose "vulture funds". Support debt relief for poor nations, a.k.a. the Jubilee Act. Reform the mortgage servicers industry so that more loans are modified and fewer homes are foreclosed upon. Try to ensure that homeowner facing foreclosure are not forgotten in the Wall Street bailout. Try to stop abusive credit card practices (support H.R. 627 / S. 414). Support H.R. 200 / H.R. 1106 / S. 61, which allows bankruptcy judges to require loan modifications on primary residence mortgages. Support reauthorization, modernization and expansion of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), support H.R. 1479. Support efforts to eliminate predatory loans; support 1728. Oppose payday loans; working to improve H.R. 1214. Support 36% interest rate cap; support H.R. 1608 / S. 500. Support legislation to toughen financial fraud investigations and sentences; support S. 386. Support legislation to make it easier for homeowners to modify their mortgages through federal programs; support S. 896. Support the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) with strong civil rights mandates. Support financial literacy programs. Support an increase the demographic diversity of the financial services industry. Support H.R. 4173. Oppose exempting auto dealers from newly created CFPA. Oppose exempting college loans from CFPA. Oppose allowing CFPA, and all federal lending laws, to preempt stronger state laws. Support regulations to shut down yield spread premiums to mortgage brokers. Support financial counseling. oppose exempting Rent-to-Own operations from CFPA oversight. Support for the Benefit Card Fairness Act, H.R. 4552. Support creation of a strong CFPA, without exempting car dealers or student lenders, rent-to-own stores or payday lenders from its purview. Oppose federal preemption of state consumer financial protection laws. Ensure that rogue auto dealers are not exempted from the authority of the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, while at the same time ensuring that small, minority owned auto dealers who are fair to consumers are not run out of business. Support the creation of a strong, independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in H.R. 4173. Support S. 3245, the Payday Limitation Act of 2010. This legislation takes an aggressive approach to eliminating the worst of the payday debt trap problems. Support final passage of the conference report for H.R. 4173, the Restoring American Financial Stability Act. Support S. 3217, the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010. Support H.R. 3149, the Equal Employment for All Act, which would outlaw the use of credit scores by potential employers when making hiring decisions. Support Creation of the Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion Under the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010. Support FDIC guidence issued on limiting abusive overdract practices. Support Elizabeth Warren to be the first head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Support allowing consumers to close a bank account without incurring onerous fees.

Client expense: $50,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Social Security Administration (SSA), State, Dept of (DOS), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America, White House Office

H.R. 4173, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; H.R. 4552, Benefit Card Fairness Act of 2010; Issues related to financial services, CMS (Center for Medicaid Services) and health care.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 3149 - The Equal Employment for All Act, all provisions amending the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit the use of consumer credit checks against prospective and current employees for the purposes of making adverse employment decisions. H.R. 4552 - Benefit Card Fairness Act, all provisions amending the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to provide protection for consumers who have government benefit cards.

Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), SENATE, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), White House Office

Oppose plans to further reduce benefits of welfare recipients. Allow ex-offenders to apply for and receive food stamps. Support H.R. 329. Oppose allowing religious institutions to use federal dollars to administer TANF programs while discriminating. Support for the Benefit Card Fairness Act, H.R. 4552.

Client expense: $50,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Social Security Administration (SSA), State, Dept of (DOS), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America, White House Office

Eliminate predatory lending; ensure equal access to financial services to all Americans. Eliminate disparities in credit reporting. Ease home mortgage foreclosure crisis. Eliminate pay day lending (concerns about H.R. 1214). Support capping all interest rates at 36% APR (support H.R. 1608 / S. 500). Support a foreclosure moratorium (H.R. 527 / S. 241). Oppose "vulture funds". Support debt relief for poor nations, a.k.a. the Jubilee Act. Reform the mortgage servicers industry so that more loans are modified and fewer homes are foreclosed upon. Try to ensure that homeowner facing foreclosure are not forgotten in the Wall Street bailout. Try to stop abusive credit card practices (support H.R. 627 / S. 414). Support H.R. 200 / H.R. 1106 / S. 61, which allows bankruptcy judges to require loan modifications on primary residence mortgages. Support reauthorization, modernization and expansion of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), support H.R. 1479. Support efforts to eliminate predatory loans; support 1728. Oppose payday loans; working to improve H.R. 1214. Support 36% interest rate cap; support H.R. 1608 / S. 500. Support legislation to toughen financial fraud investigations and sentences; support S. 386. Support legislation to make it easier for homeowners to modify their mortgages through federal programs; support S. 896. Support the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) with strong civil rights mandates. Support financial literacy programs. Support an increase the demographic diversity of the financial services industry. Support H.R. 4173. Oppose exempting auto dealers from newly created CFPA. Oppose exempting college loans from CFPA. Oppose allowing CFPA, and all federal lending laws, to preempt stronger state laws. Support regulations to shut down yield spread premiums to mortgage brokers. Support financial counseling. oppose exempting Rent-to-Own operations from CFPA oversight. Support for the Benefit Card Fairness Act, H.R. 4552. Support creation of a strong CFPA, without exempting car dealers or student lenders, rent-to-own stores or payday lenders from its purview. Oppose federal preemption of state consumer financial protection laws. Ensure that rogue auto dealers are not exempted from the authority of the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, while at the same time ensuring that small, minority owned auto dealers who are fair to consumers are not run out of business. Support the creation of a strong, independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in H.R. 4173. Support S. 3245, the Payday Limitation Act of 2010. This legislation takes an aggressive approach to eliminating the worst of the payday debt trap problems. Support final passage of the conference report for H.R. 4173, the Restoring American Financial Stability Act. Support S. 3217, the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010. Support H.R. 3149, the Equal Employment for All Act, which would outlaw the use of credit scores by potential employers when making hiring decisions. Support Creation of the Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion Under the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010.

H.R. 4173, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; S. 3217, Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010; H.R. 4552, Benefit Card Fairness Act of 2010; Issues related to financial services, CMS (Center for Medicaid Services) and health care reform.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 4552, Benefit Card Fairness Act; necessary components for a comprehensive jobs bill

Client expense: $140,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Vice President of the U.S.

H.R. 4552, Benefit Card Fairness Act; necessary components for a comprehensive jobs bill

Client expense: $140,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Vice President of the U.S.

Issues related to the regulation of consumer financial products, including Senate proposals for financial regulatory reform, and provisions in H.R. 4173 (the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act). Issues involving payment cards, interchange fees, and card issuer practices, including H.R. 2382 (the Credit Card Interchange Fees Act), H.R. 2695 (the Credit Card Fair Fee Act), S. 1212 (the Credit Card Fair Fee Act), H.R. 1456 (the Consumer Overdraft Protection Fair Practices Act), H.R. 1487 (the Overdraft Fee Notification Act), H.R. 3904 (the Overdraft Protection Act), S. 1799 (the Fairness and Accountability in Receiving Overdraft Coverage Act), H.R. 4300 (the Restoring America's Commitment to Consumers Act), and H.R. 4552 (the Benefit Card Fairness Act). Issues pertaining to data security, including S. 773 (the Cybersecurity Act). Issues related to the use of payment cards in connection with the purchase of prescription medications over the Internet, including provisions in S. 525 (the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act) and H.R. 1298 (companion legislation to S. 525). Issues related to the use of payments cards in connection with the regulation of Internet gambling, including H.R. 2266 (the Reasonable Prudence in Regulation Act), H.R. 2267 (the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act), H.R. 2268 (the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act), and H.R. 4976 (the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act). Market access issues in global markets.

Client expense: $820,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Eliminate predatory lending; ensure equal access to financial services to all Americans. Eliminate disparities in credit reporting. Ease home mortgage foreclosure crisis. Eliminate pay day lending (concerns about H.R. 1214). Support capping all interest rates at 36% APR (support H.R. 1608 / S. 500). Support a foreclosure moratorium (H.R. 527 / S. 241). Oppose "vulture funds". Support debt relief for poor nations, a.k.a. the Jubilee Act. Reform the mortgage servicers industry so that more loans are modified and fewer homes are foreclosed upon. Try to ensure that homeowner facing foreclosure are not forgotten in the Wall Street bailout. Try to stop abusive credit card practices (support H.R. 627 / S. 414). Support H.R. 200 / H.R. 1106 / S. 61, which allows bankruptcy judges to require loan modifications on primary residence mortgages. Support reauthorization, modernization and expansion of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), support H.R. 1479. Support efforts to eliminate predatory loans; support 1728. Oppose payday loans; working to improve H.R. 1214. Support 36% interest rate cap; support H.R. 1608 / S. 500. Support legislation to toughen financial fraud investigations and sentences; support S. 386. Support legislation to make it easier for homeowners to modify their mortgages through federal programs; support S. 896. Support the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) with strong civil rights mandates. Support financial literacy programs. Support an increase the demographic diversity of the financial services industry. Support H.R. 4173. Oppose exempting auto dealers from newly created CFPA. Oppose exempting college loans from CFPA. Oppose allowing CFPA, and all federal lending laws, to preempt stronger state laws. Support regulations to shut down yield spread premiums to mortgage brokers. Support financial counseling. oppose exempting Rent-to-Own operations from CFPA oversight. Support for the Benefit Card Fairness Act, H.R. 4552. Support creation of a strong CFPA, without exempting car dealers or student lenders, rent-to-own stores or payday lenders from its purview. Oppose federal preemption of state consumer financial protection laws.

Oppose plans to further reduce benefits of welfare recipients. Allow ex-offenders to apply for and receive food stamps. Support H.R. 329. Oppose allowing religious institutions to use federal dollars to administer TANF programs while discriminating. Support for the Benefit Card Fairness Act, H.R. 4552.

Client expense: $50,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Social Security Administration (SSA), State, Dept of (DOS), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America, White House Office

Monitored H.R. 4552, Benefit Card Fairness Act of 2010; H.R. 4941, Anti Cash Smuggling Act of 2010; and H.R. 4966, Stored Value Device Registration Act for impact to prepaid card industry; Addressed "deposit taking activity" and other definitional provisions of S. 3217, Restoring American Financial Stability Act to ensure minimal impact on ability of prepaid card industry to continue to offer its products at convenient retail locations.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $90,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Issues involving payment cards, interchange fees, and card issuer practices, including H.R. 2382 (the Credit Card Interchange Fees Act), H.R. 2695 (the Credit Card Fair Fee Act), S. 1212 (the Credit Card Fair Fee Act), H.R. 1456 (the Consumer Overdraft Protection Fair Practices Act), H.R. 1487 (the Overdraft Fee Notification Act), H.R. 3904 (the Overdraft Protection Act), S. 1799 (the Fairness and Accountability in Receiving Overdraft Coverage Act), H.R. 4300 (the Restoring America's Commitment to Consumers Act), and H.R. 4552 (the Benefit Card Fairness Act); issues related to the regulation of consumer financial products, including Senate proposals for financial regulatory reform, and provisions in H.R. 4173 (the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act); issues pertaining to data security, including S. 773 (the Cybersecurity Act); issues related to the use of payment cards in connection with the purchase of prescription medications over the Internet, including provisions in S. 525 (the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act) and H.R. 1298 (companion legislation to S. 525); issues related to the regulation of Internet gambling, including H.R. 2266 (the Reasonable Prudence in Regulation Act), H.R. 2267 (the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act), H.R. 2268 (the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act), and H.R. 4976 (the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act); and market access issues in global markets.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $200,000

H.R. 3149 - The Equal Employment for All Act, all provisions amending the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit the use of consumer credit checks against prospective and current employees for the purposes of making adverse employment decisions. H.R. 4552 - Benefit Card Fairness Act, all provisions amending the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to provide protection for consumers who have government benefit cards.

Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Monitored HR 4552 - Benefit Card Fairness Act of 2010, HR 4941 Anti Cash Smugglig Act of 2010, and HR 4966 Stored Value Device Registration Act of 2010 for impact to prepaid card industry; addressed "deposit taking activity" and other definitional provisions of Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 to ensure minimal impact on ability of prepaid card industry to continue to offer its products at convenient retail locations.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $50,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Reauthorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) - support strong reauthorization S. 1859 - Child Support Protection Act - Support H.R. 4552 Benefit Card Fairness Act - support S.Amdt 3356 TANF Emergency Fund - support extension of this ARRA provision through Dec. 2011 H.R. 4851 Extension of UI benefits with ARRA provisions - support

Client expense: $75,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives, President of the U.S., SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Vice President of the U.S.

Duty suspension on various chemicals. Legislation: HR4345 (Bayowet FT-248), HR4346 (Thionyl chloride), HR 4347 (Baypure DS), HR4348 (Bayowet C4), HR4349 (Disflamoll TOF), HR4350 (Disflamoll DPK), HR4552 (Ortho-Phenylphenol), HR4553 (O-Chlorotoluene), HR4554 (Bayderm Bottom DLV-N), HR4555 (ethylene-vinyl acetate), HR4556 (Iminodisuccinate), HR4920 (resins), HR4921 (Lewatit), HR5390 (4-ADPA); HR5392 (N-phenyl-N-trichloromethyl thio-benzenesulfonamide)

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $10,000

Government targets: Commerce, Dept of (DOC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)

Duty suspension on various chemicals. Legislation: HR4345 (Bayowet FT-248), HR4346 (Thionyl chloride), HR 4347 (Baypure DS), HR4348 (Bayowet C4), HR4349 (Disflamoll TOF), HR4350 (Disflamoll DPK), HR4552 (Ortho-Phenylphenol), HR4553 (O-Chlorotoluene), HR4554 (Bayderm Bottom DLV-N), HR4555 (ethylene-vinyl acetate), HR4556 (Iminodisuccinate), HR4920 (resins), HR4921 (Lewatit), HR5390 (4-ADPA); HR5392 (N-phenyl-N-trichloromethyl thio-benzenesulfonamide)

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $10,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE