b'2021 ANNUAL REPORT Other legislative proposals CFA supported in 2021 included protecting consumers in negative option, continuity and auto-renewal transactions, guaranteeing consumers the right to pay with cash at retail stores, protecting seniors from fraud, prohibiting women from being charged more than men for largely similar products and services, outlawing unscrupulous practices in ticket resales, and barring the use of online bots to buy up popular consumer products. CFA will continue to fight for these consumer protections. COVID-19:As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to surge in the U.S., CFA advocated for consumer protections in each coronavirus recovery package, including organizing a letter to President Biden in February of 2021 highlighting critical budget-related items that would help consumers. This letter, signed by 32 national groups and 53 state groups, urged President Biden to halt garnishment and offset tax refunds, which contain stimulus payments, EITC, and Child Tax Credit payments; to fund a Housing Assistance Fund and housing counseling; and to cancel student debt.As Congress issued additional economic impact payments to consumers, CFA continued to advocate for these payments to be protected from assignment or garnishment.CFA continued to advocate for the extension of the pause on federal student loan payments.On another issue related to COVID-19, CFA joined other groups in advocating for refunds for consumers who had purchased non-refundable airline tickets but decided not to fly because of concerns about the virus and government advisories against travel. Discussions with the Department of Transportation in this regard are ongoing, and the agency plans to conduct a rulemaking in 2022 to consider whether there should be provisions for refunds in public emergency situations. 2021 ANNUAL REPORT5'