Media Statements
Statement: Baltimore advocacy groups call for improved water infrastructure in wake of boil-water advisory in West Baltimore
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) issued a Boil Water Advisory (BWA) for portions of West Baltimore, advising that drinking water is boiled before consumption.
Statement: EPA targets two toxic PFAS chemicals under Superfund law
Hazardous designation would speed cleanup of dangerous PFOA and PFOS
Statement: Important hospital patient safety measure won’t be ‘suppressed’ as originally planned
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ensured a safer future for millions of American patients late Monday with the release of its final rule on the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS). The final rule excludes a proposed provision that would have “suppressed” the calculation and publication of the CMS Patient Safety and Adverse Events Composite (Patient Safety Indicator 90), which reveals how well hospitals have prevented serious patient injury.
Statement: Equifax must be held accountable for mishandling consumer data yet again
According to the Wall Street Journal, Equifax sent to lenders millions of incorrect credit scores for consumers applying for auto loans, mortgages and credit cards. The Journal reports that the scores, sent during a three-week period from mid-March through early April, were sometimes off by 20 points or more in either direction. The Journal says Equifax called the error a “technology coding issue.” We’re calling on regulators to investigate Equifax to get to the bottom of this.
Statement: Climate deal would reinstate much needed ‘polluter pays’ tax on oil industry
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia have reached a deal on a reconciliation bill that, among major climate and energy efficiency provisions, includes an oil excise tax to fund Superfund toxic waste site cleanups nationwide. If passed, this bill would reinstate one of several “polluter pays” taxes that was allowed to lapse 26 years ago.
Statement: Inflation Reduction Act could be a ‘game changer’ for climate and clean energy
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia have reached a deal on a reconciliation bill that would represent the nation’s largest ever investment in clean energy and climate solutions.
Statement: U.S. Postal Service more than doubles its electric vehicle commitment
The U.S. Postal Service announced on Wednesday that it would purchase at least 25,000 electric vehicles as part of its plan to replace an aging fleet, more than doubling its previous commitment.
Statement: U.S. PIRG joins Rep. Maloney and Sens. Booker and Warren for press conference on predatory overdraft fees
Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY) and Sens. Cory Booker (NJ) and Elizabeth Warren (MA) were joined by Mike Litt, U.S. PIRG’s consumer campaign director, and other advocates Tuesday to urge action on legislation to protect financial institutions’ customers from predatory overdraft fees.
Statement: New federal rule would help tackle country’s largest source of global warming pollution: transportation
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden’s administration announced a new proposed rule on Thursday to address the climate impact of the nation’s transportation system. The rule, proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will require state transportation departments and metropolitan planning organizations to report the carbon dioxide emissions of vehicles traveling on their respective sections of the federal highway system, and to set declining yearly emissions targets. The public will have 90 days to comment on the proposed rule.