Federal Actions
From protecting Pennsylvanians' healthcare, to safeguarding our clean air and pure water, we're fighting day in and day out for everyone in our Commonwealth.
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Methane Emissions
President Trump's EPA, under Scott Pruitt, took actions to halt the regulation of methane -- one of the most potent and dangerous types of greenhouse gas emissions in the world
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit against the EPA and Scott Pruitt for abandoning their obligations in regards to methane regulation
AG Shapiro and AGs sued & won
Methane Landfill Emissions
President Trump's EPA failed to enforce the 2016 Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, even though it went into effect October 28, 2016
The EPA has proposed to rollback rule in its entirety
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs sued the EPA over their failure to implement the methand landfill rule -- maintaining that their failure to do so, and their reconsideration of the rule, is a violation of the Clean Air Act
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed comments against newly propoed rule
Filed Documents
President Trump's EPA sought to roll back the Clean Power Plan, "proposing to dismantle America's only federal limits on carbon pollution power plants." In its place, the EPA has adopted the ACE Rule
In April 2018, AG Shapiro + coalition filed comments opposing the CPP rollback
In October 2018, AG Shapiro + coalition filed comments opposing the proposed ACE Rule
In August 2019, AG Shapiro + coalition filed suit against Trump's ACE replacement rule
Filed Documents
Clean Cars
President Trump's EPA sought to roll back Clean Car Rule -- gutting our best chance of limiting automobile emissions standards and combating climate change
October 2018: EPA released formal proposal to roll back the rule
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed comments against EPA's new rule
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed suit against the EPA for revocation of California's waiver
NHTSA Penalty Delay
President Trump's Dept. of Transportation announced delay in enforcing of a rule that adjusts civil penalties related to corporate fuel economy standards
AG Shapiro + coaliton of AGs filed suit over Dept. of Transportation's delayed implementation of a 2015 rule
Filed Documents
President Trump's EPA refused to enforce stricter limits on smog (ground level ozone). Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to designate areas that have not attained these new standards within 2 years of the date
Summer 2017: The EPA said they would extend that deadline
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed suit against the EPA for their delay of the new rule, targeting a reduction of ground-level ozone / smog
Filed Documents
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos refused to enforce the Borrower Defense Rule – a key protection for students defrauded by for-profit universities
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed suit to force Dept. of Education into enforcing the rule
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos ordered the Dept. of Education to illegally block the implementation of an agency rule -- the Gainful Employment Rule, a critical tool used to protect students from predatory universities
August 10, 2018: The Dept of Education formally moved to rescind the rule
AG Shapiro led coalition of AGs in suing Dept. of Education for not enforcing the Gainful Employment Rule.
AG Shapiro then led coalition of AGs to submit comments, arguing that eliminating the rule violates the Dept. of Education's legal obligations to the public
Filed Documents
President Trump's DHS imposed a cruel and illegal tactic of separating children from their parents as families lawfully sought asylum into the US. These individuals were fleeing domestic, sexual and gang violence
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed a lawsuit opposing this illegal practice
Filed Documents
President Trump moved to end DACA -- endangering the livelihood of those who were brought to this country through no decision of their own, and who remain law-abiding contributors to our communities
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed suit against the Trump Administration's attempt to end DACA
Filed Documents
President Trump's Commerce Dept. sought to implement a citizenship question on the 2020 Census, anticipating that some immigrants might avoid answering the question, thus impacting Congressional representation, state funding, etc
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed a lawsuit opposing this illegal question on the Census
Filed Documents
President Trump's Dept. of Defense tried to ban transgender people from serving in America's military, committing a bigoted attack against the LGBTQ+ community and those hoping to defend our nation
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed several briefs -- and sent multiple letters -- demanding the federal gov't rescind its bigoted transgender military ban
U.S. State Dept. attempted to authorize online distribution of digital 3D gun assembly plans
The federal government's inaction would have given free rein to a company that aimed to provide downloadable gun files to anyone with internet access
AG Shapiro, PA State Police, and Governor Wolf took legal action -- blocking 3D gun distribution online throughout PA
AG Shapiro then worked with a coalition of AGs, suing the State Dept. to block distribution nationwide
The Trump Administration attempted to eliminate a provision in the Affordable Care Act, targeting requirement guaranteeing access to women's contraceptive care, by creating broad exemptions for employers with religious / moral objections to contraception
If successful this move would have made women pay out-of-pocket for basic healthcare -- particularly harming low-income women
Interim rules went into effect October 2017
Final rules issued November 2018
AG Shapiro led a coalition, suing the Trump Administration's illegal move to subvert the ACA
Filed Documents
Refusal of Care
President Trump's Dept. of Health & Human Services issued a new rule that would give medical professionals the right to discriminate -- refusing to provide care based on religious / moral objections
Rule slated to go into effect November 2019
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed comments
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed suit to block the rule
President Trump's Dept. of Health & Human Services issued a rule barring Title X family planning providers from providing women with medically accurate healthcare counseling -- including info on abortion services
This effort seeks to get in between women and their doctors, particularly harming low-income women
August 2018: AG Shapiro filed comments with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf against the proposed rule
April 29, 2019: AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs filed suit against Dept. of Health & Human Services after the rule was formally published
April 29, 2019: Injunction was won against the Gag Rule
President Trump's FCC moved to gut Net Neutrality - the basic principle prohibiting Internet service providers from favoring / blocking certain products + websites
AG Shapiro + coalition of AGs, filed official comments - followed by a lawsuit - in opposition to the endangerment of free speech in the 21st century