COVID-19 | U.S. PIRG
Nursing Home Safety During COVID
Ongoing research by U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Frontier Group, analyzing government data, shows that too many of the 1.3 million Americans residing in the nation’s 15,000 nursing homes are at risk due to dangerous shortages of personal protective equipment and/or staff.
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.
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News & Research
For most of last year, more than 200,000 people at any given time were in nursing homes that themselves acknowledged they were suffering from staff shortages.
Plastic is a problem not just for our environment, but also for our health. Chemicals used to make plastics anti-microbial, flame retardant, and more, can be toxic.
A new analysis by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Frontier Group found that 8 percent of nursing homes nationwide had a critical shortage of surgical-grade N95 masks, as of Dec. 27. And 4 to 6 percent of homes reported shortages in at least one other category of PPE.
Shortages improved during the fall but worsened in December
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Kathy Kraninger submitted her resignation Wednesday soon after the inauguration of new President Joe Biden. Resignation opens seat for President Biden’s new nominee Rohit Chopra.
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.