Efficient water heaters will cut pollution, save money, save lives
Many households will save more than $170 each year in energy costs thanks to new water heater efficiency standards.
Good news
A round up of the latest good news, progress and actions in the public interest.
The Latest on Good news
STATEMENT: FDA says PFAS completely phased out of U.S. food packaging
STATEMENT: Biden administration takes steps to protect Arctic from drilling
Updates
280 more school districts are getting clean buses
Major milestone: 100,000 electric vehicles on Colorado roads
Chicago launches food scraps drop-off program
Featured Resources
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The CFPB Turns 10
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Report: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau turns 10
As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) turns 10 years old, a new report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund recaps how the agency has helped consumers over the past decade and the steps under way to refocus the CFPB on its mission after three years of retrograde decisions under the Trump Administration.
Statement: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau agrees to retain consumer complaint database and enhance elements of the key resource
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced today it would continue to maintain its public consumer complaint database, and that it also plans to make a number of “enhancements” to the database. These include: providing financial information and details into the complaint process to both better address questions and inform consumers before issuing a complaint; and adding materials to help consumers who seek answers to specific questions from financial companies.
U.S. PIRG celebrates 10 years of the Credit CARD Act
U.S. PIRG celebrated the 10th anniversary of the passage of the groundbreaking Credit CARD (Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure) Act today by joining with the law’s chief sponsor Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY) at a U.S. Capitol press conference.
The End for “Rent-A-Tribe” Payday Lending Schemes?
This month, Scott Tucker, a payday lender who used his proceeds to fund a LeMans racing team, was sentenced to 16 years in jail on federal racketeering and other charges. Last fall, his former business partner Charles Hallinan, known as the Philadelphia Main Line "godfather" of payday lending, was also convicted of federal racketeering charges. Tucker and Hallinan's main business model? Their claim that their payday loan enterprises were for the benefit of Native American tribal partners and therefore subject to tribal immunity. The authoritative public interest law firm Public Justice speculates: "Tribal Immunity" may no longer be a Get-Out-of-Jail Free Card for payday lenders." It's about time.
Some Tips To Protect Internet Privacy
You may have heard that Congress just voted to take away many of your online broadband privacy protections. After a little background, we will give you some tips on how to protect what’s left.