Health professionals warn we don’t have enough ventilators to treat the projected number of COVID-19 patients. Tell the Trump administration to use its emergency powers to dramatically ramp up ventilator production.
Health professionals warn we don’t have enough ventilators to treat the projected number of COVID-19 patients. Tell the Trump administration to use its emergency powers to dramatically ramp up ventilator production.
Transportation
Massachusetts Legislature considers bill to require MBTA to go electric
The Massachusetts Senate is considering a bill that would require the MBTA to fully transition to electric buses by 2040. The effect would be staggering: 55,000 tons of greenhouse gases would no longer be emitted each year — the equivalent of taking more than 10,600 cars off the road. MASSPIRG is urging the Legislature to pass this vital bill.
Public Health
Massachusetts unveils new program to protect kids from lead poisoning
On Jan. 14, Massachusetts launched a new program to get the lead out of school drinking water. The School Water Improvement Grants program (SWIG) will provide schools with water filling stations certified to remove lead, and will conduct water testing for schools that have not yet been tested.
Democracy
Time tells: Massachusetts' online voter registration program is increasing enrollment.
Massachusetts began its online voter registration program four years ago. Since then, it has become the most popular way to register, accounting for more than half of the registration forms received by the state between 2016 and 2018.
Public Health
Responding to the crisis
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever, we need to work together to ensure that our government has a coordinated, strategic response to safeguard the public’s health, protect consumers from emerging dangers and ensure people can still participate fully in our democracy.
We can't do it without you.
MASSPIRG is your advocate for the public interest, speaking out for healthier, safer, more secure lives for all of us.
News & Research
News Release | U.S. PIRG
Marriott, the world’s largest hotel chain in terms of guest rooms, disclosed Tuesday that up to 5.2 million customers were impacted by a security breach related to the company’s loyalty app.
News Release | U.S. PIRG
In response to a critical shortage of ventilators needed to keep severe COVID-19 patients breathing, President Donald Trump ordered General Motors to produce the life-saving machines under the Defense Production Act. The Department of Health and Human Services will be responsible for implementation of and follow through on that order.
News Release | U.S. PIRG
The novel coronavirus presents an unprecedented crisis for our country and demands an unprecedented government response. Congress is poised to approve spending more tax dollars in a single stimulus bill than ever before in U.S. history. With so much money on the line, taxpayers need to know that their dollars will be well spent.
Blog Post
The federal government must show leadership, and coordinate hospital supplies such as masks and ventilators.
News Release | MASSPIRG Education Fund
Boston—Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is calling on the country’s top online marketplaces to crack down on price gouging amidst the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Maura Healey joined a bipartisan group of 33 attorneys general, led by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro along with co-leading Attorneys General Hector Balderas (NM), William Tong (CT), and T.J. Donovan (VT), in sending a letter today urging the companies -- Amazon, Craigslist, eBay, Facebook and Walmart -- to quickly implement preventative measures on their platforms to ensure that consumers don’t get taken advantage of during this public health crisis.
RESOURCE
Coronavirus update
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, we’ve taken steps for all of our staff to work remotely for safety reasons. But rest assured, we’ll keep advocating for you as we work for a healthier, safer world.
Learn more about how we can work together to address the COVID-19 pandemic.