Paving The Way For 21st Century Transportation
America will begin investing in a new generation of high-speed rail—including potential rail service connecting Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus—thanks to an Ohio PIRG-backed law that authorizes $13 billion in spending over the next five years. The bill is an important first step toward public transit and away from wasteful new highway projects.

Keeping Our Families Safe From Dangerous Products
Corporations that violate our product safety laws will face stiff fines and penalties, and hazardous products will be removed from store shelves more quickly, under a landmark law championed by Ohio PIRG in 2008. Our members and staff helped overcome the last-minute opposition of the chemical industry.

Promoting Young Voter Participation
In the 2008 presidential election, 3.4 million more 18- to 29-year-olds voted than in 2004, resulting in the largest number of young voters on record. The Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project deployed organizers to campuses across the nation—including Oberlin College, where they helped to register hundreds of young voters.

Holding Drugmakers Accountable For Safety
The FDA reform bill adopted by Congress in 2007 included several Ohio PIRG-backed provisions that force drug companies to post all clinical trial results, good and bad—an antidote to notorious cases like Vioxx, Paxil and Avandia.

Promoting Fair Elections
In response to an Ohio PIRG-backed ballot measure, in 2005, the state Legislature passed a law that will allow registered voters to vote before Election Day, ensuring that more Ohioans have a chance to reach the polls.

Making State Government More Transparent
Ohio PIRG supported House Bill 9 in the Ohio General Assembly, which will improve the public’s access to important government records. The new law will penalize state agencies that fail to release records at citizens’ requests.

Making College More Affordable
In 2007, Congress passed Ohio PIRG-backed legislation to cut the interest rates on subsidized student loans in half. This legislation will mean real savings for Ohio college students, averaging $4,420 over the life of their loans.

Protecting Ohioans From Identity Thieves
Legislation that Ohio PIRG fought for in Congress became law in 2005, making Ohioans’ personal financial information more secure by giving consumers a free copy of their credit report and more control over who accesses their reports.

Holding Elected Officials To Higher Ethical Standards
A new, independent office will police ethical scandals in Congress, under a plan endorsed by Ohio PIRG. Our staff helped make the case for the new Office of Congressional Ethics through a report showing that 23 states have independent panels to enforce ethics rules.