Attorneys General Ask Congress to Fund Expanded Access to Broadband

October 23, 2020

We urge Congress to close the digital divide and help ensure that all Americans have home internet connectivity necessary to participate in telemedicine, teleschooling, and telework as part of any additional legislation that provides relief and recovery resources related to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

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NAAG Urges U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to Reevaluate Changes to Claims Processing Policy

October 22, 2020

We urge the VA to postpone any change to this long-standing policy until the VA, VSOs and veterans can have more thorough discussions regarding the VA’s reasons for the change, the implications it will have on VSOs and veterans, and whether there are alternative solutions that do not call for complete elimination of this critical quality review.

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Attorneys General Urge Congress to Adopt Key Changes to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)

October 22, 2020

As state Attorneys General, we are often the administrators of grant funding, through our state compensation programs or otherwise, financed directly from the Fund. In order to ensure the predictability and sustainability of these critical funds, change must be enacted to support our states’ ability to effectively serve victims and survivors of crime for years to come.

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Texas et al. v. Organon (Remeron), No. 04-5126 (D.N.J. 2004)

October 9, 2020

Plaintiff states settled with drug maker Organon USA, Inc. and its parent company, Akzo Nobel N.V., resolving antitrust claims involving the antidepressant drug Remeron between June 2001 and October 2004. The states’ complaint alleged that Organon unlawfully extended its monopoly by improperly listing a new “combination therapy” patent with the U.S. Federal Drug Administration. In addition, the complaint alleged that Organon delayed listing the patent with the FDA in another effort to delay the availability of lower-cost generic substitutes. The $26 million settlement resolved claims brought by state attorneys general, as well as a private class action brought on behalf of a class of end payors. Organon also agreed to make timely listings of patents and to submit accurate and truthful information to the FDA.

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Ohio, et al, v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., et al.(D.D.C. 2002); see also In re Buspirone Antitrust Litigation,Case No. 01 CV 11401, MDL 1410, MDL 1413 (S .D.N.Y.)

October 9, 2020

Plaintiff States sought damages and injunctive relief, alleging that the drug company, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Co. (BMS) wrongfully maintained a monopoly on Taxol, a drug for which the Plaintiff States alleged Defendant fraudulently filed a patent. BMS’s alleged wrongful action delayed entry into the market by generic competitors of the drug, resulting in higher prices for Taxol. In 2008, plaintiff states sued BMS for failing to report accurately to the states, pursuant to the settlemen, a patent arrangement involving the drug Plavix. The company pleaded guilty to lying to the FTC and the states recovered $1.1 million in fines.

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Florida, et al. v. Nine West Group, Inc. and John Doe, 1-500, 80 F. Supp.2d 181 (S.D.N.Y. 2000); No. 00-CV-1707 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 14, 2000)

October 9, 2020

Plaintiff States sought damages and injunctive relief, alleging that Nine West Group (Nine West) conspired with unnamed dealers to set the minimum resale price at
which retailers were permitted to sell women’s dress shoes to customers.

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NAAG Asks Department of Education to Discharge Loans of Disabled Veterans

October 7, 2020

We write, as the Attorneys General of our jurisdictions, to urge the Department of Education to take prompt action to satisfy its statutory mandate to discharge the student loans of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or otherwise unemployable. As a nation, we have a moral obligation to assist those who have put their lives on the line to defend us.

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Attorneys General Urge Senate to Support Veterans by Passing the Veteran Treatment Court Coordination Act

October 7, 2020

We urge the Senate to further support this important court program. H.R. 886 would establish a Veteran Treatment Court Program in the Department of Justice to provide grants and technical assistance to state, local and tribal courts that implement Veterans Treatment Courts. As Attorneys General, we strongly support this important program in our courts and encourage the continued support of the Congress for our nation’s veterans.

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NAAG Endorses Autism CARES Act of 2019

October 7, 2020

ASD impacts hundreds of thousands of Americans. Congress began addressing autism in 2000 with the first enactment of the bill. The 161 cosponsors of the current House and Senate bills and the 118+ bipartisan members of the Congressional Coalition for Autism Research and Education demonstrate its significance. The Autism CARES Act of 2019 will continue Congress’ ongoing mission to ensure that those living with ASD receive the necessary support and research. Therefore, we, the undersigned attorneys general, ask you to support and to enact the Autism Cares Act of 2019 before September 30, 2019.

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NAAG Endorses the FIGHT Act

October 7, 2020

This legislation is crucial to federal and state efforts to curb the opioid epidemic nationally and within each individual state. It is for these reasons that we commend Senators Portman and Manchin for their leadership in bringing forward this important legislation, and we urge you to take up and pass S. 2701 before the DEA’s temporary order expires.

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