WASHINGTON, June 20 -- A coalition of the nation's leading aquariums and zoos has strongly urged the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA Fisheries to withdraw a proposed rule that would rescind the regulatory definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act. The letter emphasizes the critical role of habitat protection in species conservation and recovery. The Aquarium Conservation Partnership, representing aquariums and zoos acros more ST

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- A public communications letter addressed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) expresses strong support for the proposed rule on the deregulation of chrysanthemum white rust. Paul Fisher, a professor and extension specialist in floriculture at the University of Florida, cites over 30 years of experience in research and farm advising on floriculture as the basis for his endorsement. Fisher emphasizes the need to shift th more ST

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- TEAM Connect has submitted a public comment letter regarding the CY 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems (IPPS) Proposed Rule to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In their letter, the organization expressed appreciation for CMS's updates while outlining suggestions to aid the success of the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) participants. Those involved with TEAM Connect emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts among hospita more ST

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- A public comment letter addressed to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has urged the agency to prioritize research on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness, citing various studies indicating the need for a robust understanding of waning immunity. The letter highlights an urgent need for updated guidelines since emerging data shows variations in the effectiveness of vaccines, especially among different demographic groups. "Recent data presented at the FDA's VRBPAC meeting un more ST

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund have called on the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service to strengthen protections for grizzly bears under the Endangered Species Act. In a letter addressing the Service's proposed revision to the grizzly bear 4(d) rule, the organizations argue that the current regulations fail to adequately safeguard the species, citing a record 73 grizzly bear deaths in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in 2024, la more ST

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- Georgia Transmission Corp. has submitted comments to the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the proposed listing of the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The not-for-profit electric cooperative, owned by 38 of Georgia's 41 Electric Membership Corporations, expressed concerns that the proposed protections, specifically a Section 4(d) rule, could overly burden future construction and maintenance of its faciliti more ST

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- A public communications letter addressed to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Brian Ward, raised grave concerns regarding the inclusion of investigational COVID-19 vaccines in the CDC's Vaccine Immunization Schedule. Ward argues that this unprecedented move lacks lawful authority and could have significant implications for both individuals and federal programs. "The inclusion of unlicensed drugs in the Schedule is without precedent and lacks lawful authority," s more ST

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- The Regulation And Policy for Infectious Disease Stewardship (RAPIDS) Network Interoperability Working Group has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expressing their views on the 2026 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Systems (IPPS) Proposed Rule. This multi-stakeholder group, representing various hospital organizations, infectious disease professionals, electronic health record vendors, and diagnostic manufacturers, highlig more ST

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Men's Health Network (MHN), a national nonprofit dedicated to improving the health and well-being of men and boys, has submitted a public communications letter advocating for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to strengthen HPV vaccine recommendations and expand outreach targeting young males. The organization emphasizes the critical need for preventive care, particularly where disparities in vaccination and health education exist. "ACIP must adva more ST

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- Niko Nantsis, co-director of District 1 of the New York State Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, has submitted a public communications letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service advocating for the approval of the Darling 54 American Chestnut tree for Nonregulated Status. In his correspondence, Nantsis emphasizes that this blight-resistant variety can significantly enhance forest biodiversity and health. "The introduct more ST

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- A coalition of conservation organizations has strongly criticized a proposal by the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of Commerce National Marine Fisheries Service to rescind the long-standing definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal, published in the Federal Register on April 17, 2025, seeks to eliminate the current definition that includes habitat modification or degradation that kills or injures wild more ST