Media Statements

Statement: Important hospital patient safety measure won’t be ‘suppressed’ as originally planned

Health care

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.

Media Statements  

Statement: Equifax must be held accountable for mishandling consumer data yet again

Consumer alerts

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.

Media Statements  

Statement: Climate deal would reinstate much needed ‘polluter pays’ tax on oil industry

Toxic threats

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.

Media Statements  

Statement: U.S. PIRG joins Rep. Maloney and Sens. Booker and Warren for press conference on predatory overdraft fees

Consumer alerts

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.

Media Statements  

Statement: New federal rule would help tackle country’s largest source of global warming pollution: transportation

Global warming solutions

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.

Media Statements  

Statement: Air travel chaos reinforces need for airlines to be more accountable to passengers

Consumer alerts

Statement: Air travel chaos reinforces need for airlines to be more accountable to passengers

  U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and  six other consumer and passenger rights groups have sent a letter to Congress asking the chairs and ranking members of the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee and the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to make it clear to airlines they need to reform -- urgently.

Media Statements  

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