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Good news
A round up of the latest good news, progress and actions in the public interest.
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STATEMENT: FDA says PFAS completely phased out of U.S. food packaging
Three big wins for the public interest in 2023
Updates
280 more school districts are getting clean buses
U.S. pledges to triple renewable energy by 2030
North Carolina’s houses of worship are going solar
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Statement: A true consumer’s champ clears hurdle to serve as CFPB director
Rohit Chopra will be the new director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). By a vote of 50-48 on Thursday, the Senate confirmed that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner will take on the top position at the CFPB. Mike Litt, U.S. PIRG’s consumer campaign director, issued the following statement.
Broadband is the “new electricity”
The House should pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill on the House floor this week. Among other provisions, it allocates $65 billion to make fast broadband more available -- especially in rural and tribal areas -- and more affordable. That total includes about $14 billion to subsidize access and about $42 billion to deploy broadband. Also, broadband providers would be required to use a new pricing label based on the easy-to-read FDA nutrition labels. Photo of "Rural Broadband Buildout Project" by Maryland GovPics, via Flickr, some rights reserved.
Statement: U.S. PIRG applauds Senate introduction of the Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act
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.
As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau turns 10, the future is bright
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.
Senate confirms Lina Khan as Federal Trade Commission commissioner
The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to confirm Columbia University Professor Lina Khan, a noted antitrust and anti-monopoly law expert, as a Federal Trade Commission Commissioner. U.S. PIRG supported President Joe Biden's nomination of Khan to the FTC and called on senators to confirm her based on her almost unparalleled qualifications.