Clerk of the House of Representatives
Legislative Resource Center
135 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
http://lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov 		Secretary of the Senate
Office of Public Records
232 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510
http://www.senate.gov/lobby
LOBBYING REPORT

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page

1. Registrant Name Organization/Lobbying Firm Self Employed Individual
Consumers Union of United States, Inc.

2. Address

Address1
1101 17th Street, NW Suite 500
 Address2
​
City
Washington
 State
DC
 Zip Code
20036
 Country
USA

3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)

City
​
 State
​
 Zip Code
​
 Country
​
4a. Contact Name b. Telephone Number c. E-mail
​Ms.
​ELISA ODABASHIAN
​4154316747
​odabel@consumer.org
5. Senate ID#
​10651-12
7. Client Name Self Check if client is a state or local government or instrumentality
​Consumers Union of United States, Inc.
6. House ID#
​318070000
TYPE OF REPORT 8. Year
​2012
 Q1 (1/1 - 3/31) Q2 (4/1 - 6/30) Q3 (7/1 - 9/30) Q4 (10/1 - 12/31)

9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report

10. Check if this is a Termination Report Termination Date
​
 11. No Lobbying Issue Activity
INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13
12. Lobbying 13. Organizations
INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were:
Less than $5,000
Less than $5,000
$5,000 or more $
​
$5,000 or more $
​30,000.00
Provide a good faith estimate, rounded to the nearest $10,000, of all lobbying related income for the client (including all payments to the registrant by any other entity for lobbying activities on behalf of the client). 14. REPORTING Check box to indicate expense accounting method. See instructions for description of options.
Method A. Reporting amounts using LDA definitions only

Method B. Reporting amounts under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code

Method C. Reporting amounts under section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code

Signature
Digitally Signed By: Elisa Odabashian, Director, West Coast Office
 Date
01/22/2013

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code CSP

16. Specific lobbying issues

S. 1233, Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Tax Act of 2011
S. 1445, Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2011
Issues related to auto and product safety, including graduated drivers licenses
Issues related to airline consumer protection and safety
Issues related to the implementation of the Kids Safe Chemicals and DATA Act

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Transportation - Dept of (DOT), Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
Ellen
Bloom
​
​
Ami
Gadhia
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code ENG

16. Specific lobbying issues

Issues related to Environmental Protection Agency authority and Clean Air Act amendments
Issues related to fuel economy

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
Ellen
Bloom
​
​
Shannon
Baker-Branstetter
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code FIN

16. Specific lobbying issues

S. 3636, Gift Card Consumer Protection Act of 2012
S. 3468, Independent Agency Regulatory Analysis Act of 2012
Issues related to free credit scores, fair lending, and the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform (P.L. 111-203)
Issues related to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's overdraft, qualified mortgage, and privacy rules
Issues related to student loan relief, gift cards, and ATM fees
Issues related to direct deposit
Issued related to granting legal immunity to lenders
Issues related to robocalls involving credit card offers

*Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also contacted.

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
Pamela
Banks
​
​
Ellen
Bloom
​
​
Ami
Gadhia
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code FOO

16. Specific lobbying issues

S. 1310, Dietary Supplement Labeling Act of 2011
H.R. 965, Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act of 2011
Issues related to food safety, including seafood fraud and meat and poultry safety, and energy drinks

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS), President of the U.S.,

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
Ellen
Bloom
​
​
Ami
Gadhia
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code HCR

16. Specific lobbying issues

Issues related to health care reform, and prescription drug safety, including compounding pharmacies
Issues related to the implementation of health exchanges under the Affordable Care Act
Issues related to healthcare-acquired infections
Issues related to medical device and patient safety
Issued related to Unique Device Identifier implementation

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS)

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
Lisa
Swirsky
​
​
Elizabeth
McGiffert
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code TEC

16. Specific lobbying issues

S. 1223, Location Privacy Protection Act of 2012
Issues related to Verizon Wireless spectrum-related transactions with cable companies
Issues related to Internet privacy, mobile device privacy, and cybersecurity

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Federal Trade Commission (FTC),

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
Ellen
Bloom
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code DIS

16. Specific lobbying issues

Issues related to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
Ellen
Bloom
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.

20. Client new address

Address
​
City
​
 State
​
 Zip Code
​
 Country
​

21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)

City
​
 State
​
 Zip Code
​
 Country
​

22. New General description of client’s business or activities

​

LOBBYIST UPDATE

23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client

First Name
Last Name
Suffix
First Name
Last Name
Suffix
1
​
​
​
3
​
​
​
2
​
​
​
4
​
​
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ISSUE UPDATE

24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains

​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
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AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)

Internet Address:

Name Address Principal Place of Business
(city and state or country)
Street Address
City State/Province Zip Country
City
State Country

26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client

1 2 3

FOREIGN ENTITIES

27. Add the following foreign entities:

Name Address Principal place of business
(city and state or country) 		Amount of contribution for lobbying activities Ownership percentage in client
Street Address
City State/Province Country
City
State Country
%

28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization

1 3 5
2 4 6