Winning Concrete Results
Alerting Parents To Dangerous Toys
In November 2007, U.S. PIRG released our 22nd annual toy safety report. Over the years, the report has resulted in more than 100 recalls and other enforcement actions and alerted parents and regulators to dangerous toys.
Fighting Political Corruption
In 2007, the president signed a U.S. PIRG-backed lobby reform bill that bans gifts and travel paid for by lobbyists and requires the disclosure of money that lobbyists raise for candidates. We supported the bill in order to change the way that powerful special interests use money and favors to form preferential relationships with lawmakers.
Pioneering Prescription Drug Reform
In 2007, the president signed a U.S. PIRG-backed law to rein in the makers of drugs like Vioxx, Paxil and Avandia, all of which had dangerous and deadly side effects. The bill reforms the Food and Drug Administration’s drug safety review process, makes drugs safer, and holds drug makers more accountable for the safety of consumers.
Standing Up For Students, Not Lenders
We helped pass the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, the most meaningful higher education reform in more than 15 years. The legislation gives billions of dollars in additional aid to students through the Pell Grant program. The bill is funded by reducing wasteful lender subsidies.
Stopping Identity Theft
In the wake of failures in data security on the part of data dealers and credit card companies, U.S. PIRG crafted model legislation that has been enacted in 40 states. We also helped pass a law that provides one free credit report each year.
Reforming Corporate Boardroom Practices
After a wave of corporate scandals, including Enron, WorldCom and Tyco, President Bush approved a landmark U.S. PIRG-backed law that better regulates accountants and holds executives accountable to investors and employees.
Stopping Predatory Lending
Predatory lenders target vulnerable borrowers and can charge as much as 300 percent interest on short-term loans. U.S. PIRG has defeated efforts by rent-to-own stores to legalize their predatory practices nationally and has worked to restrict the practices of predatory payday lenders in numerous states.
Reducing Fire-Related Dangers From Cigarettes
In 2005 and 2006, U.S. PIRG helped pass fire-safe cigarette acts in California and Massachusetts. Requiring cigarette manufacturers to use slower burning paper that self-extinguishes will save thousands of lives and prevent millions of dollars in property damage.
