Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility

Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility (Texas PSR) is a state-level chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, an environmentalist and anti-nuclear organization that advocates for addressing environmentalist issues, including “global climate change, proliferation of toxics, and pollution.” The group has also weighed in on non-environmental political issues, including foreign policy and gun control. ^{1 2 3}

Texas PSR is a member of the Alliance for a Clean Texas and the Texas Public Health Coalition. ⁴ It has student chapters at six medical schools: the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, the University of Texas at Austin-Dell Medical School, and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. ⁵

Policy Advocacy

In 2025, Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility denounced a decision by the second Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which classified six greenhouse gases as threats to public health and eliminated certain emission standards for new vehicles. Texas PSR claimed the decision would accelerate climate change which it argues significantly affects Texas due to its natural climate and oil and gas industry. Texas PSR called the decision “a profound retreat from science-based regulation as well as common sense.” ⁶

In August 2025, Texas PSR wrote a statement in response to the July 2025 flooding in Central Texas that killed 135 individuals, attributing the flooding to the impacts of climate change. Texas PSR recommended that the state government respond to the floods by acknowledging “the connection between human activity and extreme weather events,” investing in weather-dependent infrastructure, supporting “climate adaptation and mitigation strategies,” and incentivizing the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. ⁷

Texas PSR condemned the June 2025 U.S./Israeli military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them “reckless and dangerous,” and likely to increase the risk of broader military conflict. ²

In May 2014, Texas PSR put out a statement on gun violence, advocating for stricter gun control laws including a ban on certain semiautomatic rifles, a ban on magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds, a requirement for background checks on all firearm and ammunition purchases, a ban on online ammunition sales, and tighter state-level gun control laws. ³

Also in May 2014, Texas PSR put out a statement advocating for the government to incentivize the development of weather-dependent energy sources. ⁸

Texas PSR opposes hydraulic fracking as “a potential threat to public health,” and supports increased federal, state, and local regulations on fracking. ⁹

Texas PSR signed a call to action by Fossil Free for Health, which advocates for “every elected official and policymaker at every level of government” to support policies that protect Americans from the negative health impacts of conventional fuels, including by holding fuel companies legally responsible for the negative health impacts of fuels, prohibiting new fuel infrastructure development, phasing out fuel production, and promoting the adoption of weather-dependent energy. ¹⁰

Activities

Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility holds chapter meetings, hosts seminars, and makes public statements in support or against specific policy proposals. ¹¹

In 2025, Texas PSR launched the Environmental Health Committee, a coalition of health professionals, public health officials and researchers, students, and community advocates who coordinate legislative testimony and strategic media outreach. ¹²

Also in 2025, Texas PSR successfully opposed an attempt to repeal Texas’ Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. ¹²

In September 2024, Texas PSR co-hosted the Gun Violence Prevention Forum to brainstorm strategies to induce gun-control legislation. ¹¹

In June 2024, Texas PSR hosted a seminar on the alleged negative effects of climate change on mental health. ¹¹

In March 2024, Texas PSR hosted a seminar on the alleged effects of climate change on child health, including heat-related illnesses and respiratory diseases. ¹¹

Also in March 2024, Texas PSR co-hosted the Disarming Toxic Empire Conference at the University of Texas School of Law, which “addressed nuclear disarmament and environmental justice.” ¹¹

In January 2024, Texas PSR held a seminar on how private medical practice owners can reduce the greenhouse emissions of their businesses. ¹¹

Funding

In 2022, the last year full tax records were publicly available as of January 2026, Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility reported $67,707 in revenue, with nearly all funds coming from charitable contributions. ¹³

In 2022, Texas PSR received a grant from the Environmental Defense Fund. ¹⁴

In 2016, Texas PSR received a $113,080 grant from the Episcopal Health Foundation for the development of a pilot Toxic-Free Child program to educate pregnant women and families about  environmental toxins. ¹⁵