Media Releases

New list: Approaching 11th anniversary, top 11 actions CFPB recently took that anger financial industry

Consumer alerts

New list: Approaching 11th anniversary, top 11 actions CFPB recently took that anger financial industry

As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) turns 11 years old, a new list from U.S. PIRG highlights 11 ways this crucial agency has rededicated itself to its mission since Rohit Chopra was confirmed as its new director by the Senate last fall.

Media Releases  

Reinstated ‘polluter pays’ tax goes into effect, protecting Americans from toxic waste

Toxic threats

Reinstated ‘polluter pays’ tax goes into effect, protecting Americans from toxic waste

A chemical excise tax to fund Superfund toxic waste site cleanups nationwide will go into effect on Friday, reinstating one of several “polluter pays” taxes that had been allowed to lapse 26 years ago. The EPA’s Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up the country’s most hazardous waste sites.

Media Releases  

Philadelphia City Council passes one of the strongest local protections from lead in school drinking water in the nation

Clean water

Philadelphia City Council passes one of the strongest local protections from lead in school drinking water in the nation

By a unanimous vote, the Philadelphia City Council passed legislation Thursday requiring the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) to replace all of its old drinking fountains with lead-filtering hydration stations by 2025.

Media Releases  

Department of the Interior will end plastic pollution in parks, public lands

Recycling & compost

Department of the Interior will end plastic pollution in parks, public lands

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland issued an order on Wednesday, World Oceans Day, to phase out single-use plastic products on lands managed by the Department of the Interior by 2032. The order is intended to reduce -- and eventually eliminate -- plastic and polystyrene food and beverage containers, bottles, straws, cups, cutlery and disposable plastic bags at national parks and on other public lands.

Media Releases  

Show More