WASHINGTON, June 3 -- Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is urging the U.S. Department of the Interior to reject a proposal to change the definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The organization warns that altering the definition would have damaging effects on endangered species, particularly by undermining protections against habitat destruction. "For most endangered wildlife, 'harm' is in no way synonymous with 'kill' or 'capture' as is being argued," stated the conservancy. "F more ST

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- A conservation organization is voicing strong opposition to a proposed alteration of the definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act, arguing the change would be detrimental to imperiled wildlife. The Umpqua Watersheds group contends that modifying the current interpretation would severely impact efforts to safeguard vulnerable creatures. The group emphasizes that habitat destruction remains the leading danger to species listed under the landmark conservation law more ST

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- Particle Health Inc., New York, has expressed deep concern to the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division about a failure to enforce information blocking provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act. The company asserts this lack of enforcement has led to increased anticompetitive behavior, hindering competition, innovation, and patient care within the U.S. healthcare system. Company CEO Jason Prestinario, stated, "I am writing to express serious concern regarding the pr more ST

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- URAC has urged the U.S. Department of Justice to address laws and regulations creating a monopoly in the health plan accreditation market. The group argues that these barriers, affecting Medicare advantage and state Medicaid programs, limit competition, stifle innovation, and raise costs for consumers. URAC contends that a single accrediting body dominates the market due to a federal law requiring Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans to have their care models approved so more ST

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- The American Immigration Lawyers Association is strongly opposing a proposal to reduce the size of the Board of Immigration Appeals from 28 to 15 members, warning it will exacerbate an already severe backlog of cases. In a letter dated May 13, 2025, to the Executive Office for Immigration Review, AILA argued that cutting adjudicators would undermine due process and fairness within the immigration system. AILA highlighted the current backlog of over 127,000 pending appeals, more ST

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- Heal the Ocean, a non-profit organization based in Santa Barbara, California, has voiced strong opposition to a proposed change by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act. The organization, with 27 years of work dedicated to preventing ocean pollution through various infrastructure and well-capping projects, expressed deep concern for the potential destruction of marine  more ST

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- A coalition of industry organizations has challenged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed human health water quality criteria for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, often called PFAS. In a letter dated April 29, 2025, sent to Acting Assistant Administrator Peggy Browne of the Office of Water, the groups urged the agency to withdraw and reconsider the draft criteria. The organizations contend that the EPA's approach to establishing these criteria, p more ST

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- The United Physical Therapy Association has called upon the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division to investigate several federal policies that it asserts are distorting competition within the physical therapy field. The organization contends that these policies favor large hospital systems and physician practices, threatening the viability of independent physical therapy clinics and increasing costs for patients and taxpayers. The UPTA's correspondence to the Antit more ST

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- A coalition of small business groups has pressed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to abandon its proposed 2026 industrial stormwater permit, arguing it imposes heavy costs without clear environmental benefits. The Small Business Low Risk Coalition submitted comments asserting the proposal lacks evidence and burdens thousands of small firms. The coalition argues the permit, published on December 13, 2024, fails to justify its costly monitoring requirements, particul more ST

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- The Illinois Soybean Association, representing over 40,000 soybean farmers across Illinois, has asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to carefully consider their comments regarding a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agricultural organization expressed appreciation for the chance to provide input and for an additional comment period, acknowledging the immense implications of such a decision for Illinois soybea more ST

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- The Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley, Big Pine, California, objects to a proposed rule by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that would remove the definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act. The rule, published on April 17, 2025, sparked immediate concern from the tribal government. "Plants, animals, and all that the Creator has provided must be respected. Altering the ESA regulations constitutes a policy change and is thus subject to Tribal consultatio more ST

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- Maine Audubon is urging the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reject a proposed rule that would redefine "harm" under the Endangered Species Act. The conservation group argues the change could severely impact wildlife in Maine and across the nation by weakening habitat protections. "The proposed rule would rescind the regulatory definition of 'harm,' defined as any significant habitat modification or degradation that kills or injures more ST