U.S. Enters the Paris Climate Change Conference Committed to Curbing Power Plant Pollution

In his 2015 State of the Union address, President Obama noted that “No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change.” But the threats posed by climate change are not some distant concern for future generations. They are impacting our lives now. Severe storms, wildfires, and floods are occurring more frequently and on a larger scale because of climate change. Changes in weather patterns are resulting in more severe droughts that reduce crop yields and increase food prices.  

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New Rules Will Make Your Thanksgiving Dinner Safer – in a Couple of Years

As you plan your Thanksgiving dinner menu, stop and give thanks for new rules issues by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 13th just in time for our uniquely American holiday dedicated to feasting. The rules mean the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 has finally been implemented.

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Report: US Ranks as Third for Financial Secrecy

The Tax Justice Network has released the largest ever survey of global financial secrecy. The United States ranks third—only Switzerland (#1) and Hong Kong (#2) pose larger threats to financial transparency efforts, according to the index.

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One Year After Deadly Texas Chemical Leak, Has Safety Improved?

One year ago, a toxic chemical leak at a DuPont plant in La Porte, Texas killed four workers, including grandmother Crystle Wise. A massive leak of 23,000 pounds of methyl mercaptan erupted in the plant’s pesticide manufacturing building in the early morning hours of Nov. 15, 2014, and Wise and other co-workers died when they were overcome trying to stop the leak.

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No Longer Willing to be Bullied and Fracked, How One Pennsylvania Town Fought Back

In defiance of a corporate lawsuit over a proposed fracking wastewater injection well, the citizens of Grant Township, Pennsylvania on Tuesday evening adopted the country's first municipal charter establishing a local bill of rights—a document which codifies environmental and democratic rights, and bans such drilling activity as a violation of that pact.

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Of, By, and For the People: Pro-Democracy Victories

Voters in Maine, Ohio, and Seattle approved statewide pro-democracy ballot initiatives last week. The successes of these ballot initiatives echo an increasing public interest in the negative role big money and influence can play in politics across the country.

Each state’s initiative took a different approach to protecting our democracy.

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Warren Bill Would Give Seniors a Raise; the SAVE Benefits Act Takes a Stand Against Inequality

Roughly two-thirds of seniors rely on Social Security for more than half of their income. In stark contrast, a new report we co-published last week with the Institute for Policy Studies found that the 100 largest CEO retirement accounts contain $4.9 billion—more than 41 percent of Americans families have saved for retirement, combined.

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In Major Victory, President Obama Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline

In a major victory for public health and the environment, President Obama took final action on the Keystone XL pipeline and rejected the risky project on Nov. 6. The move comes after pipeline company TransCanada tried to game the system earlier in the week by asking the Obama administration to suspend the company's permit application. The administration denied that request, which was seen as an attempt to delay a final decision on Keystone XL until after Obama was out of office.

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EPA Tackles Highly Toxic Pesticide in Major Advance for Farming Areas in the U.S.

After years of pressure by public health and environmental advocates, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finally proposing to greatly restrict a dangerous, neurotoxic pesticide called chlorpyrifos. This chemical causes a variety of developmental problems and lowers IQs. The pesticide is especially dangerous to children and developing fetuses.

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The Deal’s Done: What’s in the Budget Agreement

Early this morning, the Senate passed a two-year budget deal, that President Obama is expected to sign soon.  It would:

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