Domestic violence survivors, crime victims, and other vulnerable individuals should never be forced to choose between calling 911 and keeping a roof over their heads. But nuisance ordinances do exactly that by threatening – even forcing – eviction when tenants call for help “too many” times.

Today I joined Senators Al Franken, Sherrod Brown, and 28 of my Democratic colleagues in a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, urging them to explain how nuisance ordinances may violate federal laws that ban discrimination against women and domestic violence survivors. HUD guidance will send a clear message that housing-related ordinances must protect vulnerable individuals – not leave them homeless.

Many communities have enacted nuisance laws to make sure renters aren't disturbing their neighbors. Trouble is, victims — especially of domestic abuse — often end up penalized for calling the police.
npr.org

Back before I became a Senator, I studied why people filed for bankruptcy. One of the main reasons that people would say they filed for bankruptcy was to just stop the constant barrage of phone calls from the debt collectors.

But student loan debt is different. Student loans are one of the few types of debt that you can’t get rid of in bankruptcy. So if your parents couldn’t afford to write a check to send you to college and then you get into trouble on a student loan – if yo...u can’t find a job, or if you get sick – then there’s no end in sight.

Tucked into last year’s budget was a provision allowing federal debt collectors to use robocalls to call student loan borrowers on their cell phones without their permission. They took people who already knew they were in a tough spot and squeezed them a little harder. I spoke out against this bad provision – and I sent a letter with Ed Markey and other Senators to the Federal Communications Commission, urging them to ensure that consumers are protected from an onslaught of unwanted calls.

The FCC heard those concerns, and issued a strong new rule that limits the use of robocalls for student loan borrowers. The federal government should be focusing on giving students the tools they need to repay their debts and avoid default – not harassing them morning, noon and night. This is a step in the right direction.

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The FCC will limit the number of robocalls loan servicers can make.
marketwatch.com|By Jillian Berman

The entire Massachusetts Congressional delegation supports Massachusetts AG Maura Healey’s enforcement of our state laws banning assault weapons. Healey’s leadership is making our communities safer, and the hateful language that has been used in an effort to bully and intimidate her has no place in Massachusetts or our country.

“Healey’s leadership is making our communities safer.” — Massachusetts Congressional Delegation
bostonglobe.com

Good news that the Drug Enforcement Administration is eliminating outdated regulatory barriers to marijuana research – plain old common sense given the growing pool of medical marijuana patients in the country. But I am disappointed that the DEA refused once again not to reschedule the drug – a decision that has big implications on medical research, law enforcement, and business. I’ll keep pushing to craft a more rational research and public health strategy, and that includes rescheduling marijuana.

The new policy could spur broad scientific study of a drug being used to treat dozens of diseases despite little rigorous evidence of its effectiveness.
nytimes.com|By Catherine Saint Louis and Matt Apuzzo

Last week, Aetna – one of the nation’s largest health insurers – unexpectedly announced that it would reevaluate its participation in the Affordable Care Act health care exchanges. Aetna has always had concerns about Obamacare, but as recently as April, the company said its ACA business was "a good investment." In May, Aetna announced plans to expand to more states. Last week, Aetna reported second-quarter earnings that beat expectations.

So what changed? In July, the Justice... Department announced that it would sue to block Aetna’s merger with another health insurance company because it would create monopoly-like conditions that reduce competition and drive up insurance costs. Aetna says this change of tone about the Affordable Care Act has nothing to do with the merger – but some analysts have suggested that Aetna might "use its future participation in the exchanges in bargaining over its purchase of Humana."

Aetna may not like the Justice Department’s decision to challenge its merger, and it has every right to fight that decision in court. But violating antitrust law is a legal question, not a political one. The health of the American people should not be used as bargaining chips to force the government to bend to one giant company’s will.

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HARTFORD — Aetna Inc. reported second-quarter profits Tuesday that beat Wall Street estimates as the insurer announced it will withdraw expansion plans for Affordable Care Act exchanges in response to steep financial losses.
courant.com|By Hartford Courant

Last week, Aetna – one of the nation’s largest health insurers – unexpectedly announced that it would reevaluate its participation in the Affordable Care Act health care exchanges. Aetna has always had concerns about Obamacare, but as recently as April, the company said its ACA business was "a good investment." In May, Aetna announced plans to expand to more states. Last week, Aetna reported second-quarter earnings that beat expectations.

So what changed? In July, the Justice... Department announced that it would sue to block Aetna’s merger with another health insurance company because it would create monopoly-like conditions that reduce competition and drive up insurance costs. Aetna says this change of tone about the Affordable Care Act has nothing to do with the merger – but some analysts have suggested that Aetna might "use its future participation in the exchanges in bargaining over its purchase of Humana."

Aetna may not like the Justice Department’s decision to challenge its merger, and it has every right to fight that decision in court. But violating antitrust law is a legal question, not a political one. The health of the American people should not be used as bargaining chips to force the government to bend to one giant company’s will.

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HARTFORD — Aetna Inc. reported second-quarter profits Tuesday that beat Wall Street estimates as the insurer announced it will withdraw expansion plans for Affordable Care Act exchanges in response to steep financial losses.
courant.com|By Hartford Courant

When fossil-fuel-backed Republicans in Congress abuse their power to stifle lawful state investigations on climate change, they don’t advance the First Amendment – they trample on it. Read my new Washington Post op-ed with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on the Congressional Republicans’ unprecedented attack on free speech and states’ rights for their big oil donors.

If Republicans really care about the First Amendment, they should call on ExxonMobil executives to testify and set the record straight.
washingtonpost.com

Who does the US Chamber of Commerce really work for? Giant multinational corporations who stash their profits overseas, leaving small businesses behind to pay taxes instead.

The Obama administration efforts to stop U.S. companies from moving overseas to lower their taxes has come under fire.
washingtonpost.com

Last year, I wrote to the Brookings Institution – a Washington, DC research and policy think tank – regarding their policy on pay-for-play academic studies. One of their scholars, Robert Litan, had testified as an expert witness at one of my Senate committee hearings on a new conflict of interest rule for retirement advisers. Dr. Litan had a study that said requiring retirement advisers to do what’s in their customers’ best interest would be terrible for retirees – a finding ...way out of line from other research. It turned out that the sole funding for Dr. Litan’s report was a company with a huge financial interest in making sure that rule would never see the light of day. The company was even allowed to review and comment on the report throughout the whole process.

Yesterday, the New York Times and New England Center for Investigative Reporting found that Dr. Litan did another major study for giant corporate interests – the telecom industry that was fighting net neutrality regulations. I guess even in the so-called independent think tank world, some people can be an expert on anything – for the right price.

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Acting as independent arbiters to shape government policy, many researchers also have corporate roles that are sometimes undisclosed.
nytimes.com|By Eric Lipton, Nicholas Confessore and Brooke Williams

When Wall Street banks and giant corporations want to influence lawmakers, they must disclose their lobbying expenditures. But these same corporations can make huge contributions to think tanks to fund industry-friendly studies that influence the same lawmakers, and the whole transaction is kept secret. This is thinly-disguised lobbying, and it’s just wrong. Read this New York Times story on how powerful corporations hide behind so-called “independent” think tanks to push their interests in Washington.

Think tanks are seen as independent, but their scholars often push donors’ agendas, amplifying a culture of corporate influence in Washington.
nyti.ms|By Eric Lipton and Brooke Williams

For years, Exxon and other big oil companies have claimed their products have little or no impact on the earth’s environment. But what did Exxon actually know about climate change? And when did they know it?

Reasonable questions, particularly if Exxon misled its investors about the long-term prospects of Exxon’s business model or if the company fooled consumers into buying their products based on false claims. So the MA and NY Attorneys General are investigating to see if Ex...xon violated state fraud laws.

Now, the Republican-led House Science Committee is using its subpoena authority as a political tool to help ExxonMobil and deny the causes of climate change. Chairman Lamar Smith’s has issued a subpoena to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to try to interfere in their climate change investigation. It’s a prime example of how House Republicans abuse their power and tilt the playing field for the big money guys.

House Republicans claim to be for states’ rights, so they should know that the Constitution gives STATES the power to enforce STATE laws—like Massachusetts law on investor fraud or consumer deception. We haven’t found another example – not one in 240 years – of a House committee subpoenaing a state Attorney General regarding their investigation of potential state law violations. And while the GOP claims that AG Healey’s investigation is a war on ExxonMobil’s 1st Amendment rights, companies do not have a right to lie to their investors and consumers about the negative impacts of climate change on their business in order to make a buck.

Every member of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation signed a letter to Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith expressing our concerns about this disgraceful effort to pander to Big Oil. Once again, the House Republicans put the interests of their big business donors over every other issue. I’m proud to stand with AG Healey in saying “enough.” Let her finish her investigation and see what the evidence shows.

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The Massachusetts Congressional delegation is urging U.S. House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith to cease House Republicans' blatant abuse of congressional subpoena authority in an effort to deny the causes of global climate change. In July, Smith issued subpoenas to Massachusetts Attorney Gen...
warren.senate.gov

Clinical trials – large scientific studies examining ways to improve human health – produce tons of data that potentially could be used to improve and save lives. Too often, though, much of that data remains locked away, never shared with other researchers, or the public. In today’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, I write about the importance of bringing more transparency to these studies to strengthen our clinical trial system and improve Americans’ health. Knowledge is power, and the stakes here are too high to hold back scientific information that could be used to answer new questions or guard against biased reporting of results.

Perspective from The New England Journal of Medicine — Strengthening Research through Data Sharing
nejm.org

Wage theft is a big problem all across this country, and Washington needs to get tough on employers who don’t pay their low-wage workers for all of their work. We can start right here in the United States Senate – with the company that runs the Senate cafeteria.

The Department of Labor just finished an investigation of Restaurant Associates, the company contracted to run the Senate cafeteria. DOL found that despite soaring profits, RA and its multibillion dollar food servic...es owners have cheated Senate cafeteria workers out of over $1 million in wages.

I’m happy that the hardworking men and women of the Senate cafeteria will now be paid back the wages that were stolen from them, but employers who cheat their workers out of hard-earned wages to increase profits shouldn’t be allowed to get government contracts. Period. Wage theft might be good for corporate profits, but it is against the law – and I’m glad that DOL is on the beat.

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Image may contain: 2 people , indoor

The FDA’s announcement that it is seeking public comment, supported by scientific research and data, on options for blood donation policies based on individual risk is great news for all Americans, and particularly for healthy gay and bisexual men who want to donate blood and save lives. Along with many of my colleagues, I have repeatedly pressed the FDA to develop a blood donation system that relies on science – rather than outdated and discriminatory stereotypes – to keep our blood supply safe. I look forward to following the FDA’s progress in designing effective, evidence-based blood donation policies based on the comments provided in response to this request.

This information collection will be used to assess the public's satisfaction with the USA.gov National Contact Center service.
federalregister.gov

Yesterday the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office took an important step to stop the spread of lethal assault-style weapons. These weapons of war have no place in our communities.

Read more here: http://www.mass.gov/ago/public-safety/awbe.html

Yesterday, the Education Department announced new standards to hold the companies that administer federal student loans more accountable and to improve the customer service for over 40 million Americans with federal student loans. These new standards have the potential to help millions of borrowers get into the right plan and avoid the consequences of default — that's good for borrowers, and that's good for the economy.

For years, the Department's student loan bank has given ...kid glove treatment to these companies, even though they have harmed borrowers, broken the law, and overcharged members of the military. I look forward to working with Secretary King to clean up the Department's student loan bank because the next steps will be crucial. These new customer service standards will be a game-changer for student loan borrowers only if the student loan bank is serious about reforms that borrowers desperately need.

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The Obama administration is taking a hard line, threatening to withhold compensation or new business if contractors fail to adhere to new standards.
washingtonpost.com|By Danielle Douglas-Gabriel

Want to see how giant corporations try to rig the system in their favor? Look at what ExxonMobil is doing to try to intimidate Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey.

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office is one of several AGs who are investigating whether ExxonMobil broke state consumer and investor protection laws by knowingly misleading people about climate change since the 1970s. She’s doing what state AGs do: investigating fraud. ExxonMobil first tried to kil...l the investigation a few weeks ago by suing AG Healey in a Texas court and attacking her integrity because she’s doing her job.

But none of that would scare AG Healey away from doing her job. So last week, ExxonMobil got the chair of the House Science Committee — a Texas Republican who has taken more that $675,000 from oil and gas companies — to subpoena Healey’s communications on this investigation. Yup, that’s right: They found a Congressman who is a powerful climate change denier and who guzzles down big oil money to interfere with a state AG’s ongoing investigation of whether a company is violating state law.

Committee Chairman Lamar Smith says he “takes very seriously his obligation to uphold & defend the Constitution” — but apparently not the 10th Amendment. For the GOP, states’ rights come in to play only if the states are restricting voting rights or regulating women’s bodies. No states rights for states investigating fraud over climate change.

This is an outrageous abuse of Congressional subpoena power to threaten a state Attorney General and help a campaign contributor. Let me offer a word of advice to Rep. Smith and his ExxonMobil buddies: You picked a fight with the wrong state and the wrong Attorney General.

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Federal elected officials have opened an investigation into an investigation by the attorneys general of Massachusetts and New York.
masslive.com

When the economic crisis hit in 2008, there was no one government agency with the sole responsibility of protecting consumers from big banks and financial institutions that cheated them. That’s why we created the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: to get the tricks and traps out of mortgages, credit cards, student loans, and other financial products, and level the playing field for working families.

Next week is the 5th anniversary of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and today they released a new video about all that they’ve accomplished in those five years. Watch this video and let your friends know: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is proof that government CAN work for the people.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Since we opened our doors 5 years ago, our actions have resulted in more than $11 billion in relief for more than 27 million consumers harmed by financial companies and individuals. We’re the CFPB and we’re on your side. ‪#‎ConsumersCount‬. http://go.usa.gov/xx5cC

Trump University was notified by New York state officials in 2005 that it was breaking New York law by calling itself a “university,” despite not being approved or licensed by the state as a university. They kept up that business scam for five more years while more and more vulnerable people maxed out their credit cards and lost thousands of dollars to Donald Trump’s scheme. It was heartbreaking and appalling.

Today I sent a letter to the Department of Education, Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Veteran Affairs with 11 of my Democratic colleagues – urging the agencies to work together on steps to warn students, veterans, and families about unlicensed and potentially fraudulent “universities” like Trump “University.”

Senate Democrats are calling on federal regulators to step up efforts to protect consumers from educational programs that engage in fraud and deceptive marketing, in light of the ongoing case against Trump University.
washingtonpost.com|By Danielle Douglas-Gabriel