Friend,
A year ago, we couldn't have imagined the challenges we would face in 2020.
Throughout this difficult time, U.S. PIRG has been guided by the same mission we've always held to: To be a voice for Americans' health, safety and well-being whenever and wherever they are threatened. As we rise up to meet the challenges of the new year, will you help us keep this work going strong?
Your donation helps give us the resources we need to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, to move our country beyond plastic, and slash auto emissions harming our air quality and warming our planet.
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As we prepare to meet the challenges the new year will bring, we're taking a moment to reflect on the progress we've made together in a year of unprecedented difficulty:
* We responded to the COVID-19 crisis. As the coronavirus pandemic claims more and more American lives, our network is using its organizing, research and policy know-how to support and bolster our nation's emergency response. Together, we've won the release of vital repair information from ventilator manufacturers, organized health care professionals to call on congressional leaders to make sure critical supplies -- such as personal protective equipment -- go where they're needed most, and launched a campaign calling on governors to ramp up testing and contact tracing infrastructure so that we can reopen safely and get some pieces of our lives back.
* We started to move our country beyond plastic. From championing the first bottle recycling laws in the 1970's, to calling for statewide bans on the worst single-use plastics in 2020, our national network has championed policies to cut down on plastic waste since the beginning. This year, we saw the first statewide ban on polystyrene foam takeout containers take effect -- legislation that was championed by our partners at Maryland PIRG. Washington joined the growing list of states that have banned single-use plastic bags, and New Jersey adopted the nation's strongest law to curb plastic pollution.[1,2,3] But, we know it will take more than state commitments to tackle our plastic problem -- that's why U.S. PIRG has also launched a campaign calling on Whole Foods to phase out single-use plastic packaging in its stores.
* We worked for cleaner, healthier transportation. Exhaust from cars and buses still contaminates our air. Meanwhile, vehicles are the number one source of global warming emissions in the United States.[4] This year, our partners in Texas and Colorado helped win major funding initiatives for cleaner transportation in Austin and Denver.[5,6] And U.S. PIRG and our national network have built support for the Moving Forward Act, a sweeping $1.5 trillion infrastructure package that would increase investment in electric vehicle infrastructure, public transit, and biking and walking options.[7] With your support, we know we can make even more progress next year for clean air and a liveable climate.
None of this progress would have been possible without the support of people like you.
We've set a goal of raising $100,000 by the end of the year. Will you help us continue our campaigns to protect Americans' health, safety and well-being going strong into 2021?
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Thank you,
Faye Park
President
1. Associated Press, "Maryland's foam container ban law goes into effect today," WUSA9, October 1, 2020.
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2. "Gov. Inslee signs Washington plastic bag ban into law," KREM2, March 25, 2020.
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3. "Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Banning Single-Use Paper and Plastic Bags in New Jersey," State of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, November 4, 2020.
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4. "Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, last accessed November 19, 2020.
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5. Britny Eubank "Austin voters approve Proposition A to help fund $7.1B Project Connect plan," KVUE, November 4, 2020.
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6. Amanda Andrews, "Denver Voters Repeal Pit Bull Ban, Approve Tax Increases To Address Climate Change, Homelessness," KUNC, November 4, 2020.
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7. "H.R.2 - Moving Forward Act," Congress.gov, last accessed November 19, 2020.
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Your donation will power our dedicated staff of organizers, policy experts and attorneys who drive all of our campaigns in the public interest, from banning Roundup and moving us beyond plastic, to saving our antibiotics and being your consumer watchdog, to protecting our environment and our democracy. None of our work would be possible without the support of people just like you.
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U.S. PIRG
Main Office: 1543 Wazee St., Suite 460, Denver, CO 80202, (303) 801-0582
Federal Advocacy Office: 600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, 4th Fl., Washington, DC 20003, (202) 546-9707
Member Questions or Requests: 1-800-838-6554
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