2020 Press Releases

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• 7/22/2020 AG Tong Calls on Trump Administration to Abandon Rules Restricting Student Access to CARES Act Funds

  Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general from around the nation in urging the U.S Department of Education (DoE) to abandon a proposed rule that severely restricts the use of federal funds earmarked for students suffering from the devastating economic impact of COVID-19.

• 3/2/2020 Attorney General Tong Joins Bipartisan Coalition in Defending States’ Rights to Regulate the Rising Cost of Prescription Drugs

  Attorney General William Tong today joined a bipartisan coalition of 46 attorneys general filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court supporting states’ rights to regulate and address the rising cost of prescription drugs. In Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, the attorneys general argue that in order to protect the well-being of consumers, states must regulate pharmacy benefit managers, also known as PBMs.

• 6/18/2020 Attorney General Tong Statement on SCOTUS DACA Decision

  Attorney General William Tong issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court decision today blocking the Trump Administration’s effort to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

• 7/14/2020 AG Tong Statement on Trump Admin Decision to Rescind Visa Rule for International Students

  Attorney General William Tong released a statement today following the decision by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to rescind its cruel and unlawful visa rule for international students

• 10/9/2020 Attorney General Tong Opposes Trump Administration Proposal To Exclude Critical Habitat From Endangered Species Act Protections

  Attorney General William Tong this week joined a multistate coalition filing a comment letter opposing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) proposal to establish a new, unlawful process for excluding areas from critical habitat designations under the federal Endangered Species Act.

• 5/19/2020 Attorney General Tong Announces Settlement with Santander

  Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 34 attorneys general led announcing a settlement today with Santander Consumer USA Inc. (Santander) that includes approximately $550 million in relief for consumers with even more relief in additional deficiency waivers expected. The settlement resolves allegations that Santander violated consumer protection laws by exposing subprime consumers to unnecessarily high levels of risk and knowingly placing these consumers into auto loans with a high probability of default.

• 3/30/2020 Attorney General Tong Seeks Permanent Injunction to Protect National Guard Funds, Economy from Illegal Border Wall Diversion

  Attorney General William Tong and six attorneys general today filed a motion for partial summary judgment seeking to permanently block the Trump Administration from illegally diverting $3.8 billion in taxpayer funds to build an unnecessary and unwanted border wall. At a time when the entire nation is focused on responding to the COVID-19 crisis, the unlawful diversion adds unnecessary strain on already stressed state economies, and pulls funding from National Guard units on the front lines of the pandemic response.

• 3/12/2020 Attorney General Tong Seeks Emergency Moratorium on Utility Shut-Offs

  In a formal petition today with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, Attorney General William Tong sought an emergency moratorium on electric, natural gas, and water utility shut-offs in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The petition seeks to cease all utility service terminations for a 30 day period subject to renewal to ensure all residents may safely remain home during the epidemic.

• 3/6/2020 Attorney General Tong Delivers Testimony In Support of S.B. 211

  Attorney General William Tong released written testimony today in support of Senate Bill 211, "An Act Concerning the Duties of the Office of the Attorney General."

• 6/26/2020 Attorney General Tong Statement on Appeals Court Decision Blocking Unlawful Trump Border Wall

  Attorney General William Tong issued the following statement regarding the 2-1 decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals finding that the Trump Administration unlawfully diverted $2.5 billion in military funding for construction of the border wall.

• 4/3/2020 Attorney General Tong Issues Recommendations for Safe Video Conferencing

  Attorney General William Tong today encouraged all users of video conferencing technology to familiarize themselves with their platforms’ privacy and security features.

• 3/31/2020 Attorney General Tong Releases Guidance on Cybersecurity During COVID-19 Pandemic

  Attorney General William Tong today released cyber safety tips to keep in mind during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 8/4/2020 Attorney General Tong Joins Bipartisan Coalition Urging Federal Government to Increase Access and Affordability for Remdesivir

  Attorney General William Tong today joined a bipartisan multistate coalition led by California Attorney General Becerra and Louisiana Attorney General Landry in sending a letter request to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging them to use their legal authority under the Bayh-Dole Act to increase the availability of remdesivir. Remdesivir, a drug manufactured by Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead), has shown promising results in reducing mortality and hospitalization from COVID-19.

• 4/3/2020 Office of the Attorney General, Insurance and Consumer Protection Departments Release Travel Guidance During COVID-19 Pandemic

  Attorney General William Tong, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull and Connecticut Insurance Department Commissioner Andrew N. Mais released the following guidance to consumers regarding booking and canceling travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 10/6/2020 Attorney General Tong Urges Congress to Adopt New Consumer Protections to Protect Airline Industry Customers

  Attorney General William Tong and a bipartisan coalition of 40 attorneys general, led by Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, yesterday sent a letter urging Congress to enact new consumer protection measures for airline industry customers as part of or in connection with any further financial relief package provided to the airline industry.