2020 Press Releases

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• 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.

• 7/28/2020 AG Tong Calls For Immediate Withdrawal of Directive that Strips CDC Control Over Coronavirus Data

  Attorney General William Tong today joined a multistate effort urging the Trump Administration to immediately withdraw its new reporting structure that prohibits hospitals from reporting COVID-19 data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and instead creates a system controlled solely by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

• 3/11/2020 Attorney General Tong Announces Settlement Ending Connecticut's Challenge to T-Mobile, Sprint Merger

  Attorney General William Tong today announced a settlement with T-Mobile, resolving the state’s challenge to the company’s merger with Sprint. The settlement includes terms to protect low income subscribers, extend access to underserved communities, protect current T-Mobile and Sprint employees, and preserve jobs in Connecticut. T-Mobile will reimburse Connecticut for the costs and fees of its investigation and its litigation challenging the merger. This settlement ends the legal challenge brought by Attorney General Tong and a multistate coalition, which alleged that the merger was unlawful and would lead to reduced competition and increased prices for consumers. Connecticut and the plaintiff states will not appeal the court’s ruling in the matter.

• 8/28/2020 Attorney General Tong Continues Fight to Protect Dreamers from Trump Administration’s Unlawful and Cruel Policies

  Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general from around the nation in continuing the fight against the Trump Administration’s efforts to eliminate DACA and threaten Dreamers with deportation.

• 6/16/2020 Attorney General Tong Urges Public to Report COVID19 Stimulus Payments Seized by Nursing Homes

  Attorney General William Tong today urged residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and residential care homes and their families to report any instances of improperly seized COVID-19 stimulus payments.

• 10/1/2020 Attorney General Tong Announces False Claims Settlement with My Father, My Son Rehabilitation and Counseling Center

  Attorney General William Tong, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Deidre S. Gifford today announced a $230,000 joint state/federal False Claims Act settlement with My Father, My Son Rehabilitation and Counseling Center LLC (MFMS) and its former owner, Chukwuemeka Okwuosa regarding illegal billing for psychotherapy services.

• 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."

• 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.

• 3/5/2020 Attorney General Tong, DCP Commissioner Seagull, Lt. Governor Bysiewicz Urge Residents to be Aware of Potential 2020 Census Scams

  With notices informing Americans about the need to participate in the decennial national headcount set to arrive in the mail mid-March, Attorney General William Tong, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz are urging Connecticut residents to be aware of potential 2020 Census scams.

• 5/4/2020 Attorney General Tong Urges Senate to Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

  Attorney General William Tong has joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general, led by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, urging the U.S. Senate to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which expired more than a year ago. As isolation and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic increases the risk to domestic violence victims, the Senate must to act immediately, the attorneys general argue.

• 6/16/2020 Attorney General Tong Urges EPA to Protect Drinking Water from Toxic Forever Chemicals

  Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, as part of a 22-state coalition filed comments with the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) supporting the agency’s plan to regulate perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), two types of PFAS “forever” chemicals, under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. While supportive of regulating PFOS and PFOA, the states also asked EPA to propose drinking water standards for other PFAS chemicals as well. The standards should reflect current science and protect human health, and EPA should act as quickly as possible.

• 3/6/2020 Attorney General Tong Calls for Suspension of Public Charge Rule During COVID-19 Outbreak

  Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general urging the Trump Administration to suspend the Public Charge rule in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. In a letter today to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the attorneys general criticize the Administration for discouraging access to health care during a public health crisis.

• 5/4/2020 Attorney General Tong Announces Settlement with Connecticut Counseling Centers Over Drug Testing Overpayments

  Attorney General William Tong, U.S. Attorney John H. Durham, and Department of Social Services Commissioner Deidre S. Gifford today announced a $295,211 joint federal/state settlement with Connecticut Counseling Centers (CCC) resolving overpayments for drug testing.

• 8/25/2020 Attorney General Tong Announces $85 Million Multistate Settlement with American Honda Motor Company, Inc. and Honda of America Mfg., Inc.

  Attorney General William Tong today announced that Connecticut has helped secure a more that $85 million multistate settlement with American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and Honda of America Mfg., Inc. (collectively “Honda”), over allegations Honda concealed safety issues related to defects in the frontal airbag systems installed in certain Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the United States. The systems were designed and manufactured by Takata Corporation, a long-time Honda supplier, and were first installed in Honda vehicles in the 2001 model year.

• 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.