55th Annual Consumer Assembly (Virtual)
Each year, Consumer Federation of America’s Consumer Assembly serves as the consumer movement’s principal meeting where issues are debated and new initiatives are presented.
Tuesday, May 4th
Welcome & Introduction
1:00 PM
Jack Gillis, Executive Director
Consumer Federation of America
Keynote
1:05 PM
Rebecca Kelly Slaughter
Federal Trade Commission
Surveillance Society: Protecting Consumers from Discrimination, Disparate Impacts and Unfair Data Practices
1:30 PM
Consumers are increasingly surveilled to collect data about their activities, beliefs, interests, associations, health, economic status, and other characteristics in order to profile them for profit. The use of tracking technologies across websites and devices, facial recognition, artificial intelligence, automated decision-making, and targeted advertising is largely invisible to consumers and may result in illegal discrimination, disparate impacts, and unfair treatment. At the same time, one-sided terms of service and inadequate legal rights make it difficult for consumers to protect themselves. What should be done to ensure that data practices are just, fair and equitable?
Moderator
Susan Grant
Consumer Federation of America
Panelists
Rishi Bharwani
Accountable Tech
Caitriona Fitzgerald
Electronic Privacy Information Center
Jennifer Lee
ACLU Washington
COVID-19’s Disparate Impact on Housing Security
2:35 PM
The COVID-19 Pandemic has had a devastating impact on the American economy and the personal finances of many American consumers. Yet, some communities, in particular, have been especially hard hit. This panel explores how pre-existing income volatility and wealth disparities have increased significantly because of the pandemic and, as a result, exacerbated housing security challenges in both communities of color and low-income households. After outlining the problem, this panel will weigh the effectiveness of various policy options around rental assistance, affordable housing, and mortgage forbearance and forgiveness strategies to determine how best to help these communities recover.
Moderator
Aracely Panameño
Center for Responsible Lending
Panelists
Kanav Bhagat
Author & Researcher
Andreanecia M. Morris
HousingNOLA
Sarah Saadian
NLIHC
Keynote: A Conversation with Lisa Donner and Heather McGhee about the Costs of Racism
3:40 PM
Heather McGhee
Author, NYTimes best seller, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together
Lisa Donner
Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund
Wednesday, May 5th
Welcome & Introduction
1:15 PM
Jack Gillis, Executive Director
Consumer Federation of America
Keynote: Senator Ed Markey
1:20 PM
Senator Ed Markey
U.S. Senate
Beyond Debt Cancellation: Protecting Student Borrowers from Abuses in the Current System
1:30 PM
In the last decade, the student loan debt burden has grown to more than $1.7 trillion carried by 45 million borrowers. For decades, the Federal Government has set up programs to provide relief for certain borrowers, including public service workers, borrowers with disabilities, low-income consumers, servicemembers and veterans. However, systemic failures and mismanagement has equated to little actual relief for struggling borrowers. This panel will delve into these issues and what the current administration can do to help borrowers facing economic hardship. In addition, this panel will look at other consumer protection laws and how these can be applied to ensure that relief programs are working as intended.
Moderator
Kat Welbeck
Student Borrower Protection Center
Panelists
Yael Shavit
Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts
Persis Yu
National Consumer Law Center
Mike Saunders
Veterans Education Success
Can Regulators Keep Pace with New Investors and the Fintech Firms that Cater to Them?
2:35 PM
A new generation of investors and the financial firms that cater to them are transforming our markets, and regulators are struggling to keep pace. What have the recent social media-driven trading in GameStop and other “meme” stocks revealed about weaknesses in our markets and gaps in our regulations? How should regulators address gamification of trading apps like Robinhood and the psychological prompts that may notbe captured by traditional sales practice rules? A panel of experts will discuss how these issues are reframing our approach to investor protection and market regulation.
Moderator
Barbara Roper
Consumer Federation of America
Panelists
Gina-Gail Fletcher
Duke University School of Law
Angela Fontes
NORC at the University of Chicago
Tyler Gellasch
Healthy Markets Association
James F. Tierney
University of Nebraska College of Law
Keynote: The Time is Now – Recall Reform on the Hill
3:40 PM
Representative Grace Meng
U.S. House of Representatives