2019 Press Releases

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• 3/5/2019 CONNECTICUT JOINS 21 STATES IN CHALLENGING NEW TITLE X RESTRICTIONS ON WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

  Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 21 state attorneys generals today in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new Title X “domestic gag rule.”

• 1/24/2019 Consumer Advisory: AG Tong, Consumer Counsel Katz Warn Ratepayers of Potential Errors on Electric Bills

  Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz said today that consumers who purchase electricity from third-party electric suppliers should carefully review their electric bills, and report any irregularities to state regulators. Customers should also carefully consider whether they are getting the best deal or whether a switch to the standard service rate would help save them money.

• 10/4/2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG, DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION WARN AGAINST LATEST SCAM TARGETING EVERSOURCE CUSTOMERS

  Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull today warned Eversource consumers of a new scam.

• 9/24/2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG JOINS COALITION OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN URGING CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO CLOSE AMMUNITION SALE LOOPHOLE

  Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in sending a letter today to Congressional leaders urging their support of legislation that would extend existing background check requirements on firearm sales to also include ammunition sales.

• 3/6/2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG JOINS STATES’ EFFORTS TO HALT SEISMIC TESTING OFF ATLANTIC COAST

  Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and eight other attorneys general today joined a group of non-governmental organizations in a motion to preliminarily enjoin the Trump Administration’s authorization of harassment of marine mammals via seismic air gun surveys in the Atlantic Ocean. These “seismic testing” surveys, meant to explore the ocean floor for oil and gas, will expose whales, dolphins, and porpoises to repeated sound blasts louder than 160 decibels. The surveys will threaten the health and life of hundreds of thousands of highly sensitive marine mammals, including multiple endangered or threatened species. In addition, these tests are another step toward allowing offshore drilling - an action that could result in severe and irreparable harm to coastal and marine resources, including our vibrant coastal economy.

• 10/11/2019 PUBLIC CHARGE WIN: COURT ISSUES NATIONWIDE INJUNCTION AGAINST RULE—ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG, GOVERNOR LAMONT ISSUE STATEMENTS

  Attorney General William Tong and Governor Ned Lamont released the following statements today after a federal judge in New York issued a nationwide injunction blocking implementation of the Trump administration’s new Public Charge Rule.

• 4/17/2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG, CONSUMER COUNSEL KATZ SUPPORT BAN OF “AUTO-RENEWALS” IN THIRD-PARTY ELECTRIC SUPPLIER CONTRACTS

  Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz today urged legislators to pass the comprehensive suite of protections for existing and prospective customers of third-party electric suppliers in House Bill No. 7155, An Act Concerning Consumer Protections for Customers of Electric Suppliers, including a proposed ban of so-called “auto-renewals” of third-party supplier contracts with residential consumers.

• 11/22/2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ARGUES PUBLIC SERVANTS DESERVE PROMISED STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS

  Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 21 state attorneys general today in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in support of public servants who have been denied promised federal student loan debt forgiveness.

• 3/22/2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG JOINS MULTISTATE AMICUS BRIEF CHALLENGING ANOTHER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ATTACK ON IMMIGRANT FAMILIES

  Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a multistate amicus brief defending the rights of immigrant families to access basic housing, healthcare, and other public benefits.

• 9/11/2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SEEKS PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER PUBLIC CHARGE RULE

  Attorney General William Tong today filed a motion to seek a preliminary injunction to stop the Trump Administration’s public charge rule from taking effect on Oct. 15 of this year. The public charge rule aims to deny entry, green cards, and visas to immigrants who have used or are deemed likely to use certain government assistance programs.

• 5/31/2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT ON DOJ SETTLEMENT WITH HERITAGE PHARMACEUTICALS OVER GENERIC DRUG PRICE FIXING

  Attorney General William Tong issued the following statement today regarding news that Heritage Pharmaceuticals has entered into a $7 million criminal and civil settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding price fixing of generic drugs.

• 9/3/2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG JOINS MULTISTATE COALITION IN SEEKING PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION TO HALT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S RULE ALLOWING INDEFINITE DETENTION OF CHILDREN

  Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of attorneys general, led by California and Massachusetts, in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to block the Trump Administration’s new rule circumventing the Flores Settlement Agreement, which has governed the treatment of children in immigration custody since 1997.

• 9/3/2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG JOINS BIPARTISAN COALITION FIGHTING FOR STUDENT BORROWERS

  Attorney General William Tong today joined a bipartisan coalition of 32 attorneys general from around the country in defending the states’ vital ability to enforce state and federal consumer protection laws against student loan servicers. In an amicus brief filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the attorneys general argue that the case brought by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania against student loan servicer Navient for exploiting student loan borrowers should be permitted to go forward in the federal courts.

• 2/27/2019 AG TONG ANNOUNCES START OF WELLS FARGO CONSUMER REDRESS REVIEW PROGRAM

  Attorney General William Tong today announced that Wells Fargo has begun a consumer redress review program through which consumers who have not yet been made whole through other remediation programs already in place can seek to have their inquiry or complaint reviewed by a Wells Fargo escalation team for possible relief.

• 10/8/2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG, NAUGATUCK MAYOR ANNOUNCE $7,000 FINE IN ILLEGAL DUMPING OF USED COOKING OIL IN NAUGATUCK

  Attorney General William Tong and Naugatuck Mayor N. Warren "Pete" Hess announced today the Office of the Attorney General has secured a $7,000 fine from the owner of a box truck involved in illegal dumping of stolen used cooking oil in Naugatuck. This is a significant fine that resolves the seizure of this vehicle that was used in violation of environmental laws. The money will be used to combat illegal dumping and blight in Naugatuck.