Whole Foods has led on plastics in the past, but the company recently got an "F" in a report by As You Sow for failing to tackle plastic pollution. Tell Whole Foods' CEO to get rid of single-use plastics in its stores.
Whole Foods has led on plastics in the past, but the company recently got an "F" in a report by As You Sow for failing to tackle plastic pollution. Tell Whole Foods' CEO to get rid of single-use plastics in its stores.
Democracy
Maryland electoral reforms go into effect
Maryland is making big strides toward a fairer, more accessible democracy. In May, several bipartisan, Maryland PIRG-backed bills went into law to increase access to early voting, improve the state’s mail-in voting system, and reduce the influence of corporate interests in our elections via a public campaign financing program.
Antibiotics
The results are in: Laws to reduce the overuse of antibiotics work
The routine use of antibiotics in agriculture puts us at risk of antibiotic-resistant infections — but Maryland's new law to combat this problem shows promising results. Since the passage of the Maryland PIRG-backed Keep Antibiotics Effective Act, non-therapeutic antibiotics use is down in livestock and poultry farming, from nearly 100 percent use on chickens to less than 2 percent statewide.
Blocking Rooftop Solar
The companies, lobbyists and front groups undermining local clean energy
Transportation
Maryland scales down wasteful $11 billion highway 'boondoggle'
The Maryland Department of Transportation has decided to reduce the scope of a proposed widening project for the Capital Beltway — which Maryland PIRG identified as one of the country's most wasteful highway "boondoggles" in 2018. Tailpipe pollution and vehicle crashes are only exacerbated by highway expansions, which tend to worsen traffic congestion rather than alleviate it.
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News & Research
News Release | U.S. PIRG
The Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act (VCFCA) was reintroduced in the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on Wednesday. This bill would limit interest rates on loans and go a long way toward protecting consumers, especially veterans, who are often victimized by predatory lenders.
Blog Post
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau celebrated its 10th birthday last Wednesday. It begins its second decade refocused on its mission of protecting you and me after a few years of, ironically, championing shady business practices over consumers. The agency’s first decade was full of success, setbacks, and promise.
News Release | U.S. PIRG
A bipartisan group of senators met Tuesday afternoon to prepare for a vote planned Wednesday on a $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework that aims to boost federal investment in U.S. infrastructure, including billions for roads, clean water and power infrastructure, according to media reports.
Blog Post
Today, the U.S. House takes a key vote. HR2668, the Consumer Protection and Recovery Act, would restore the FTC's Section 13(b) authority to hold wrongdoers accountable and compensate consumer-victims harmed by their actions. The Supreme Court had recently ruled that the power, used for over 40 years to recover billions, was not clearly articulated in law.
Cover photo via Flickr by Mr. Blue MauMau, some rights reserved.
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.