Texas Watch’s core mission is to strengthen consumer protections and ensure that our legal system is open and accessible for all Texans — not just the powerful few. Our thousands of citizen activists are committed to ensuring fairness and accountability in the insurance marketplace and balance in our courts.
We are dedicated to fighting for legal and insurance reforms that give average Texans the legal protections they need. We provide Texas families with a platform to become engaged in the political and legislative process through direct advocacy for real legal and insurance reforms. Our goal is to strengthen protections for children and seniors, lower insurance rates, provide safer workplaces and neighborhoods, and level the playing field for homeowners and small businesses.
Yesterday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took an important step in the fight against forced arbitration. The consumer watchdog announced a new rule to ban companies from using mandatory arbitration clauses that prevent consumers from banning together in court.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted yesterday 218-210 in favor of H.R. 1215, more aptly referred to as the Patient Death Act. The bill puts road blocks in the way of justice for injured patients and their families and greatly reduces accountability for unsafe hospitals and incompetent doctors. We've tried restrictive laws like this in Texas, and the results have been tragic for patients.
A group of U.S. Senators are taking important steps to better protect members of the military and their families from abusive financial practices. The Military Consumer Protection Act would allow for greater enforcement of protections designed to ease financial burdens on servicemembers during periods of military service.
Texas Watch has joined a group of national and state organizations supporting the important consumer legislation.