WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- A coalition of 16 wildlife and habitat conservation organizations has submitted a public comment letter to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure advocating for a new grant program aimed at enhancing the accuracy of publicly available road information in rural America. This initiative is being proposed in anticipation of the upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill. The letter, supported by numerous organizations representing hunters, anglers more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- A coalition of 17 legal and academic experts submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) criticizing a July 2025 report titled "A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate." The letter argues that the report was produced in violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), lacks scientific rigor, selectively promotes minority views, and would be inappropriate for federal policymaking if relied upon. The c more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- Fifty-three House Democrats has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education expressing serious concerns about proposed regulations stemming from Public Law 119-21. The letter criticizes the anticipated changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965, which are seen as detrimental to student access and affordability in higher education. In their communication, the representatives highlighted that the Department's decision to form two negotiated rulema more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- A coalition of six environmental conservation and public lands organizations committed to the stewardship of national forests has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service requesting an extension of the comment period for an Environmental Impact Statement related to a proposed recission of the 2001 Roadless Rule. The proposed change has spurred concerns among local stakeholders who argue that they require more time to adequately more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services advocating for improved nutrition care within the Medicare program, particularly concerning individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). With over 112,000 registered dietitian nutritionists as members, the Academy emphasizes the essential role these professionals play in delivering effective and evidence-based nut more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- AdvaMed has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expressing concern over proposed changes to the Calendar Year 2026 End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System (ESRD PPS). The organization represents over 600 medical technology companies and advocates for patient access to advanced medical devices and treatments. In their detailed letter, AdvaMed highlighted the urgent need for reforms in the ESRD PPS to enhance ac more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- BJC Health System, St. Louis, Missouri, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the fiscal year 2026 Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System. The letter emphasizes the importance of policy adjustments that would better support hospital-based pediatric ESRD programs and ensure equitable treatment for patients. In its correspondence, BJC underscored the critical role that hospital-bas more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The Center for Reproductive Rights, New York, has issued a public comment letter expressing strong opposition to the proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that seeks to amend medical benefits to prohibit abortion counseling and care under specific circumstances, including instances of rape, incest, and health emergencies affecting veterans and their eligible beneficiaries. The proposed rule, labeled RIN 2900-AS31, has raised significant concerns amo more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, Alaska, has submitted a public comment letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service expressing strong opposition to the proposed Incidental Take Authorization for the 8 Star Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project in Cook Inlet, Alaska. The council, which represents the federally recognized Chickaloon Native Village in Southcentral Alaska, voiced concerns about the project's more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- Citizens' Climate Lobby, Coronado, California, has submitted a public comment letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing strong opposition to the agency's proposed reconsideration of the 2009 Endangerment Finding and associated Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards. CCL's leadership contends that this proposal is based on misinterpretations of the law, congressional intent, and scientific research that could jeopardize Americans' health and economic stabilit more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- Hamilton & Associates Law Group, P.A., Boca Raton, Florida, has submitted a public comment letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in support of its proposed rule titled "Consolidated Licensing and Permit Procedure". The law group advocates for the consolidation of the exploration license and commercial recovery permit into a single application process, stating that it will streamline operations crucial to accessing mineral resources from the u more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The International Contrast Ultrasound Society, Chicago, Illinois, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in support of reassigning both Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Code 76978 and CPT Code 76979. The proposed reassignment is from APC 5571 (Level 1 Imaging with Contrast) to APC 5572 (Level 2 Imaging with Contrast), reflecting the significance of non-cardiac contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in clinical practice.  more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- International Motors LLC submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation urging the agency to consider essential provisions in the upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization (STR) legislation. Representing approximately 10,000 U.S. employees, the leading commercial vehicle manufacturer emphasized the importance of addressing critical issues such as truck parking, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) infrastructure, and the federal excise tax on truck more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- Kaneka Medical America LLC, New York, is urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to consider the inclusion of Humanitarian Use Devices (HUDs) in its coverage for dialysis services, particularly focusing on the LIXELLE(R) 2-microglobulin apheresis column. The company submitted a public comment letter regarding the proposed rule on the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System, emphasizing the importance of including HUDs as either renal dia more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The Medicaid and Medicare Advantage Products Association of Puerto Rico (MMAPA) has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) advocating for increased support for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) treatment in Puerto Rico. The letter addresses proposed changes to the ESRD Prospective Payment System (PPS) for calendar year 2026, aiming to ensure equitable healthcare access for local beneficiaries. In the letter, MMAPA expressed gr more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding its proposed rule for the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System for calendar year 2026. MedPAC expresses its appreciation for CMS's ongoing efforts to enhance Medicare, particularly given the pressures the agency faces. The Commission's letter outlines key discussions surrounding a proposed 1.9 percent  more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The National Kidney Foundation, New York, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services outlining key areas where reforms are urgently needed for the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for the calendar year 2026. The letter emphasizes that the current ESRD bundle and the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) have not been updated sufficiently and require a modernized approach. NKF points out that the ESRD more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) has issued a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) urging the agency to reverse its decision to transition oral-only phosphate-lowering therapies (PLTs) from Medicare Part D to the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) bundle. The letter emphasizes that this policy change, effective January 1, 2025, has the potential to disrupt access to vital treatments for chronic more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing its opposition to the proposed removal of three vital reporting measures from the End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program, effective Payment Year 2027. The measures in question include the Facility Commitment to Health Equity, Screening for Social Drivers more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The Oregon Council of Trout Unlimited (OCTU) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Forest Service strongly opposing the proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule. The nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to conserving coldwater fish and their habitats, argues that the rule is vital for protecting ecosystems and promoting recreational opportunities. The Roadless Rule, originally established in 2001, prohibits new road construction across 58.5 million acres of more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- Paxman, Houston, Texas, and Dignitana, Dallas, Texas, have submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services addressing the proposed Physician Fee Schedule for the upcoming calendar year. In their correspondence, the companies implore the agency to reconsider the proposed physician payments for their scalp cooling technologies, which are utilized to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy. The request follows the recent conversion of Category  more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- Press Ganey, South Bend, Indiana, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed rule for the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for Calendar Year 2026. The organization emphasized its long-standing mission to improve clinical quality and enhance the patient experience across healthcare settings. In its letter, Press Ganey commended CMS for its methods involving stakeholder en more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- StrataTech Education Group, the operator of Tulsa Welding School and The Refrigeration School, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education addressing critical issues regarding the upcoming negotiated rulemaking. The organization emphasizes the importance of supporting diverse, career-focused students, including adult learners, veterans, and first-generation students, while raising concerns about the practical implementation of federal educatio more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- Universidad Ana G. Mendez, San Juan, Puerto Rico, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education expressing concern over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), specifically regarding its new accountability measures that could adversely affect educational institutions in Puerto Rico. In the letter, UAGM outlined recommendations that aim to provide relief from the OBBBA stipulations, particularly the accountability measure linked to median earning more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Associate Chair Stefania Fatone submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging the agency to designate graduate-level prosthetics and orthotics (P&O), physical therapy (PT), and occupational therapy (OT) degree programs as "professional degree programs" under a new financial aid law. According to the letter, P&O, PT, and OT are allied health professions that provide interventions  more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- Vantive Healthcare LLC, Deerfield, Illinois,has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) opposing the proposed termination of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model at the end of 2025. The company expresses concerns that this decision could adversely impact both patients and providers in the renal care community. In its letter, Vantive highlights its commitment to elevating kidney and organ therapies, advoc more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 -- The Women Lawyers on Guard Action Network, Arlington, Virginia, has expressed firm opposition to a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that seeks to eliminate abortion health care and counseling for veterans and their families. In a public comment letter submitted to the agency, representatives of WLGAN emphasized that the proposed changes would severely undermine the healthcare rights of millions of veterans, particularly women and marginalized commun more ST