10-R116

2010 -- H 7902

Enacted 03/11/10

 

 

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

COMMEMORATING "NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION WEEK"

DURING MARCH 7TH THROUGH MARCH 13TH, 2010, IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

 

     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Kilmartin, Marcello, Shallcross Smith, Almeida, and Martin

     Date Introduced: March 11, 2010

 

 

     WHEREAS, In today’s economy, consumers must be ever vigilant in spending and

investing their hard-earned dollars. Even the savviest consumer can make misinformed financial

decisions or fall prey to poor investment planning, risky credit practices, or fraud. Education is

the first line of defense for consumers to make smarter monetary decisions; and

     WHEREAS, Commemoration of the 12th annual National Consumer Protection Week

(NCPW) during March 7th through March 13th, affords federal and state governments and

agencies with the opportunity to highlight consumer protection and education efforts around the

country and within each state. This year’s theme has been designated as “Dollars and Sense:

Rated ‘A’ for All Ages”; and

      WHEREAS, NCPW is also a week to recognize and educate consumers about the

resources that are available to citizens, and is a time to provide practical tips for consumers to

learn more about credit and money management, retirement planning, and insurance, as well as

how to make better fiscal decisions; and

     WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, consumer protection offices within the Department of

Business Regulation’s Division of Banking, Insurance Division, and the Public Utilities

Commission Securities Division, and offices such as the Consumer Protection Unit in the

Department of Attorney General and Rhode Island Housing HelpCenter are all available to aid

and educate consumers. These agencies stand ready to provide consumers with a broad spectrum

of consumer protection information in the areas of banking, credit and debt, health, identity theft

and privacy, investing, money, mortgages, and rights and responsibility; and

     WHEREAS, On the federal level, more than one hundred agencies collaborated to create

the website www.consumer.gov, which provides helpful information ranging from how credit

reports work to how to buy a new home. It also helps to provide consumers with the tools they

need to protect themselves and make smart choices on how and where to spend their money; and

     WHEREAS, On both the federal and state levels, government is doing its part to stand up

for consumers with support, debate, and enactment of legislation that protects consumers from

excessive bank account overdraft fees and abusive mortgage lending practices, and that puts into

place lemon laws to protect consumers who have purchased a new vehicle that is defective; and

     WHEREAS, This year’s commemoration of “National Consumer Protection Week” will

focus attention on the importance of being a careful and educated consumer at every age and

through all stages of life, from grade school to retirement; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby supports and celebrates “National Consumer Protection Week”

during March 7th through March 13th, 2010, in the State of Rhode Island. We furthermore

encourage all Rhode Islanders to investigate and become more informed about the myriad

resources available to help them take full advantage of their consumer rights and to make the best

possible decisions for their futures; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Director of the Department of Business

Regulation, and the Consumer Protection Unit Department of the Office of the Attorney General.

     

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LC02190

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