Winning Concrete Results
Alerting Parents To Dangerous Toys
In November 2007, WashPIRG 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. We called on Congress and corporate America to fix the frayed product safety net.
Protecting Consumer Credit
WashPIRG helped pass legislation to allow consumers to freeze their credit report when they are victimized by identity theft. This prevents thieves from obtaining credit under your name while also preventing further harm to your credit rating.
Homebuyers’ Bill Of Rights
WashPIRG protects homebuyers from fraudulent and incompetent homebuilders and contractors. Our work includes backing legislation to increase warranty protections against poor workmanship and to prevent builders from forcing buyers to sign away basic legal protections.
Holding Drugmakers Accountable For Safety
As drug companies aggressively market their products, they also cover up drawbacks, as we saw with Vioxx, Paxil and Avandia. In 2007, the president signed a WashPIRG-backed law that makes drugs safer—and prevents pharmaceutical companies from keeping important clinical information from doctors.
Protecting Washington From Dangerous Mercury
Washington took another step toward preventing exposure to mercury when WashPIRG, working with the Washington Toxics Coalition and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, won passage of a new law in 2003, banning the sale of certain consumer products that contain mercury.
More In Student Aid, Less in Lender Subsidies
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.
Cutting Subsidies To ExxonMobil
In 2007, WashPIRG staff played a pivotal role in passing a House bill to take away excessive subsidies from oil and gas companies like ExxonMobil. The bill was a major show of force against the power of oil lobbyists in Washington.
Reinvigorating Democracy
In 2006, 18- to 29-year-old voter turnout increased by 2 million, almost twice that of the overall electorate. In 36 student-dense precincts where WashPIRG Students, other student PIRGs and our allies worked, youth voter turnout increased on average by 157 percent over 2002 turnout.
