Advisory: Rep. Johnson Leading Special Order on Forced Arbitration with Progressive Caucus

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, April 14, 2016, Congressman Johnson is leading a one-hour special order on forced arbitration from the House Floor hosted by the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

WHO: Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4), ranking member of the House Judiciary subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law (RRCAL) and sponsor of The Arbitration Fairness Act; Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-5); Rep. David Cicilline (RI-1); Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA-38); Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-2); Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-17);

WHAT: Special Order Hour: Forced Arbitration, Unfair and Everywhere; members will discuss legislation dealing with overturning the use of arbitration clauses in investor and financial services contracts; nursing home contracts; how forced arbitration affects veterans and service members; and the Arbitration Fairness Act;

WHEN: Thursday, April 14 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. (subject to change depending on vote schedule);

WHERE: Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives; C-SPAN;

WHY: Since the early 2000’s, corporations, banks and other types of businesses have been quietly stripping Americans of their rights through the use of forced arbitration clauses that allow corporations to break state and federal laws and escape all public accountability. Forced arbitration clauses are buried in the fine print of everyday employment and consumer contracts for products and services such as credit cards, child care, cell phones, car loans, home construction, student loans, rent-to-own products, payday loans, health insurance policies, and nursing home admission forms.

But the tide is turning. In the face of mounting data showing how forced arbitration lets corporations off the hook for breaking the law, federal agencies and lawmakers are taking vital steps to curb the use of forced arbitration clauses.

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