Safeguarding Consumers

Sherrod played an active role in enacting the Dodd-Frank regulations, standing with students, homeowners, and taxpayers, who demanded a safer financial system after Wall Street caused the Great Recession. He opposes efforts to rollback key parts of the law and has called out the the big banks for their attempts to take us back to the days when Ohioans were on the hook for Wall Street’s reckless bets. Sherrod knows the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a critical consumer watchdog, and he stood with the agency against the Trump Administration’s efforts to compromise its independence. Sherrod believes the CFPB Director must be a relentless fighter for consumers, not an instrument of Wall Street and payday lenders. He’s also a staunch opponent of financial corporations that use forced arbitration clauses to avoid accountability. These provisions prevent victims their access to court when they’re taken advantage of. Sherrod has spearheaded efforts to give these victims the chance to recover damages and seek the justice that they deserve.

Sherrod fought for the more than 145 million Americans who were affected by the Equifax security breach. He demanded answers for the victims and worked to hold the company accountable for its negligence. After Sherrod called for a closer look at the company’s taxpayer-funded government contracts, the IRS announced it would halt its business with Equifax.

Sherrod has been a tireless advocate for consumers who are targeted and trapped by predatory payday lenders. Payday lenders’ abusive behavior furthers a cycle that prevents consumers from escaping high-interest loans, hurting those who need help the most. Sherrod has worked to provide fair and effective alternatives to the Ohioans who find themselves forced to turn to payday loans to pay for basic necessities like food and housing.

Sherrod has a long record of making sure products are safe for consumers. His legislation to apply poison packaging protections to liquid nicotine containers has helped protect children from accidental poisonings. Sherrod has also worked to bring safety warnings to everyday consumer products, including crib bumpers, caffeine, sunblock, and electronic cigarettes.