More than 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, and we’ll lose many more without swift action. Call on your governor to commit to ramping up testing and ensuring results come back quickly.
More than 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, and we’ll lose many more without swift action. Call on your governor to commit to ramping up testing and ensuring results come back quickly.
Financial Reform
Congressional override finally bans anonymous shell companies
From terrorist financing to Medicare fraud, anonymous shell companies have shielded the identities of wrongdoers and served as financial getaway cars for hiding dirty money. But in a historic override of a presidential veto, Congress has outlawed anonymous shell companies in the United States.
Consumer Protection
PennPIRG calls for extended protections against utility shutoffs
The statewide moratorium on utility shutoffs during the COVID-19 crisis helped thousands of Pennsylvanians weather the financial struggles brought on by the pandemic — and PennPIRG has been working to get the moratorium reinstated since it ended in November.
Public Health
Philadelphia passes ban on glyphosate, other toxic pesticides
The Philadelphia City Council has passed Healthy Outdoor Public Spaces, a bill which will institute bans on the use of certain pesticides on municipal property over the next three years. The banned chemicals include glyphosate, which has been linked to cancer and is the main ingredient in the weed killer Roundup.
Health Care
Bipartisan bill to stop surprise medical billing becomes law
Americans will now be protected from surprise medical bills sent by out-of-network providers thanks to a new bipartisan law prohibiting "balance billing," where providers charge patients the difference between their fees and the maximum allowed by the patient's insurance.
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News & Research
Blog Post
McDonald’s just committed to phasing out PFAS-treated food packaging from its restaurants globally by 2025. Other restaurants, like Burger King and Wendy’s, should follow its lead.
News Release | U.S. PIRG
The number of U.S. deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic surpassed 400,000 on Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
News Release | U.S. PIRG
President-elect Joe Biden announced Monday that he intends to nominate Rohit Chopra as Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) director and Gary Gensler as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
News Release | U.S. PIRG Education Fund
McDonald’s announced a commitment to eliminate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging used in its restaurants by 2025. PFAS are linked to kidney and liver problems, high cholesterol, reduced immune system function, and cancer.
RESOURCE
Coronavirus update
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, we’ve taken steps for all of our staff to work remotely for safety reasons. But rest assured, we’ll keep advocating for you as we work for a healthier, safer world.
Learn more about how we can work together to address the COVID-19 pandemic.