New Member Welcome: Public Citizen

CEC is pleased to welcome Public Citizen Texas as one of CEC’s newest member organizations.

Public Citizen – Texas
309 East 11th St., Suite 2
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 477-1155

http://www.citizen.org/texas
texasfeedback@citizen.org
www.facebook.com/publiccitizentx
www.twitter.com/publiccitizentx

Adrian Shelley, Executive Director
ashelley@citizen.org
Stephanie Thomas, Researcher and Community Organizer–Houston Representative sthomas@citizen.org

Since 1984, Public Citizen’s Texas State Office has concerned itself with environmental enforcement policies, global warming, promoting renewable/clean energy, product safety, nuclear safety, medical safety, auto safety/quality, pesticide safety, insurance reforms, campaign finance/ethics issues, improving state government agency operations, and fair trade policies. When you turn on your lights, file an insurance claim, file a complaint about your doctor or lawyer, inquire about political contributions to your legislators, buy gas, rent a car, buy or recycle a product, appear before a judge at an administrative agency, see a pesticide warning sign or hear about a dangerous product your rights have been affected by the work of Public Citizen’s Texas office.

In Houston, Public Citizen focuses on the Healthy Port Communities Coalition, which advocates for the reduction of diesel emissions from freight movement–by ships, rail, and truck–as well as the adoption of zero emission goals at Port Houston. Public Citizen is creatively seeking ways to build collective power throughout the region to influence decision makers on important issues such as freight transport, renewable energy, exposure to toxics, and community right-to-know. Public Citizen seeks solutions that are safe, clean, efficient, renewable and just. Public Citizen Texas provides central staff on duty to assist young people and student groups who want to get active on their campuses and/or in their communities.

Adrian Shelley, formerly of Air Alliance, recently became the Director of Public Citizen Texas, following Tom “Smitty” Smith’s retirement from his tenure as Director of Public Citizen’s Texas office, having served since 1985. Mr. Smith testified more than 1,000 times on energy and other issues before the Texas Legislature and Congress and participated in the passage of the Texas Renewable Portfolio standards, which has led to more than 10,000 megawatts of wind power being installed in Texas, and the creation of the Texas Emissions Reduction program, which has cleaned up dirty diesel engines in Texas, being just two of his and Public Citizen’s Texas many accomplishments. “Smitty is a hero of mine, and I am honored to continue his work in Austin,” Shelley said. “As a native Texan, I look forward to advocating on behalf of all Texans.”