Issue Position: Protecting Connecticut Consumers and Homeowners

Issue Position

Rosa has long been an advocate for improved consumer safety. As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that deals with these issues, Rosa has made enormous progress in improving food and drug safety and the safety of consumer products. In addition, she has worked to protect Connecticut consumers from the dangerous practices of banks and mortgage lenders in today's economy.

Food and Consumer Product Safety

Rosa believes that no Connecticut family should have to worry about the availability of safe, healthy food. As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees all food safety and nutrition programs, Rosa has worked to increase access to safe, healthy food for all Connecticut families, particularly for school children and for our neediest families. She has been a leader in calling for the expansion of programs that provide fresh fruits and vegetables to schools, and in ensuring that food served in schools is completely safe. Rosa has held oversight hearings to examine whether the USDA can do more to prevent unsafe food from entering the school lunch program. She has also introduced legislation to increase inspections of food plants with products at higher risk of contamination, and to ensure that imported food is subject to the same regulations as domestically produced food, to eliminate the public health threat presented by contaminated food.

In addition, Rosa has fought to ensure the safety of consumer products, particularly those for children. After a record number of lead-based toy recalls, she sponsored legislation to toughen the Consumer Product Safety Act and enhance the accountability measures for establishments--both in this country and abroad--that distribute unsafe toys and other products to American families. Rosa believes that the distribution of unsafe consumer products is both completely unacceptable and completely avoidable, and will continue to fight to ensure that no parent has to worry about the safety of the toys and other products that they purchase for their children.

Holding Wall Street Accountable

To Rosa, safety as a consumer means not only protection against unsafe products, but also protection against the practices of corporations and banks that have exacerbated the economic downturn and hurt Connecticut families. She is committed to holding Wall Street executives accountable for their role in the financial crisis, and she will continue to fight against banks and corporations who spend taxpayers' money recklessly even as Connecticut families struggle. Rosa believes that it is critical to treat the root causes of the economic downturn, enacting policies that will allow for oversight and prevent similar financial calamities in the future.

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