WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Abeona Therapeutics Inc., New York, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeking reconsideration of the agency's preliminary determination regarding payment for ZEVASKYN, a gene therapy designed to treat wounds associated with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Abeona contends that the treatment meets all required criteria for the New Technology Add-On Payment, disputing the agency's view that ZEVASKYN does not demonstra more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Adjacent Markets, New York, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission concerning the agency's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on prediction markets and event contracts. The company emphasizes the need for clear and balanced public interest determinations for event contracts, warning that overly restrictive rules could hinder future innovation in this growing sector. Adjacent Markets develops prediction market index and reference rate products based on CFTC-regulated event contra more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The American Council on Education has expressed concerns to the U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid office regarding proposed revisions to the foreign gifts and contracts disclosure requirements under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. These associations emphasized that while compliance with national security obligations is critical, the department's current and proposed policies concerning donor information collection and public disclosure exceed statutory authority and pose constitutional issues. The more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Antares Nuclear, Seattle, Washington state, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) addressing the commission's proposed rule on licensing requirements for microreactors and other reactors with comparable risk profiles. The letter provides detailed recommendations to preserve the intended streamlined, risk-informed, and performance-based licensing framework that supports the deployment of microreactors designed with inherently low offsite consequences. The NRC's proposed Part more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Arizona Early Childhood Alliance, Phoenix, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families concerning the proposed rulemaking to remove wage and benefit requirements from Head Start Performance Standards. The alliance emphasized the importance of maintaining workforce quality to support positive outcomes for children served by the Head Start program. The organization highlighted longstanding evidence showing that child development outcomes more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Bank Policy Institute, a public policy and advocacy group representing a broad range of banks, has submitted a public comment letter opposing the charter application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. This letter outlines apprehensions regarding legal authority, regulatory risks, and systemic financial stability concerns that approval of the application could pose. The Bank Policy Institute emphasizes that approval of the application, whether independently or alongside similar filings from related enti more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Bank Policy Institute, the Clearing House Association and the Consumer Bankers Association jointly submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Bureau of the Fiscal Service addressing proposed rulemaking on federal agency disbursements. The financial industry organizations expressed support for Treasury's proposed reductions in federal government payments made by paper check, emphasizing the importance of modernizing payment infrastructure to combat fraud and improve security for American t more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Black Child Development Institute, Beachwood, Ohio, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the Office of Head Start's proposed rule, titled Restoring Flexibility To Support Head Start Program Access. The organization expressed opposition to the plan, highlighting concerns that loosening wage and benefit requirements will destabilize the Head Start workforce and diminish quality early education services for Black children and families. The Institute emphasized t more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, Sacramento, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development opposing the agency's proposed rule revisions on Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs. The coalition cautioned that the proposed changes threaten the safety and wellbeing of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, particularly those in the LGBTQIA+ community, and conflict with existing federal nondiscrimination laws. The coalition, which represents over 1,00 more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- ChildCareGroup, Dallas, Texas, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services opposing the proposed rule titled Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access. The organization expresses concerns that the rule would negatively impact the quality and accessibility of Head Start services by weakening wage and benefit provisions essential for maintaining a stable and qualified workforce. ChildCareGroup, North Texas' largest provider of early childhood programs, has been more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Children Now, a research, policy, and advocacy organization in Oakland, California, has expressed opposition to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' notice of proposed rulemaking titled "Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access." The public comment letter from argues that the proposal to rescind current wage and benefit standards for Head Start educators jeopardizes the quality and stability of this essential early learning program serving children living in poverty. The organization highli more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Children's Aid, New York, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families regarding the proposed rule "Restoring Flexibility To Support Head Start Program Access." The organization expresses concern that the rule changes will not effectively increase access to Head Start services without addressing funding constraints and labor market challenges. Children's Aid highlights that Head Start's long-standing role in supporting children from hig more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Chinese for Affirmative Action, a San Francisco, California-based civil rights organization advocating for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, has expressed opposition to the proposed revisions by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to Form AR-11, the Alien Change of Address form. The comments were submitted in response to the agency's Federal Register notice concerning the reinstatement with changes of a previously approved collection. The organization criticizes the proposed changes for exceeding the more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Clearing House Payments Co. LLC, New York, has submitted a public comment letter to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service of the U.S. Department of the Treasury in response to the agency's notice of proposed rulemaking focused on federal agency disbursement practices. As a key operator of the nation's payment system infrastructure, facilitating over $2 trillion in daily transactions, The Clearing House expressed support for Treasury's initiatives aimed at modernizing federal payments and reducing dependence on paper checks more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Council for Advancement and Support of Education submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid division regarding revisions to the information collection request (ICR) tied to foreign gifts and contracts disclosures. The comments focused specifically on the agency's proposal to require colleges and universities to disclose donor names and addresses as part of their reporting obligations under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. CASE, representing over 3,000 educational more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Council for Professional Recognition submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families addressing the agency's proposed rule on flexibility to support Head Start program access. The Council highlights the need for balancing access to Head Start services with the maintenance of a qualified, stable workforce to ensure consistent, high-quality early learning environments. The Council emphasizes the importance of the Child Development Associate  more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- CREA LLC, Indianapolis, Indiana, submitted a public comment letter to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regarding proposed revisions to regulatory capital rules. CREA emphasized that the current 100 percent risk weight applied to Low-Income Housing Tax Credit investments does not accurately reflect their risk profile. The organization highlighted that Housing Credit investments function more like fixed-income  more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Damarco Solutions, Minneapolis, Minnesota, submitted a supplemental public comment to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration opposing the agency's proposal to remove medical evaluation requirements for required use of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). The supplemental comment focuses on risks associated with required FFR use and challenges OSHA's justification for exempting these respirators from medical evaluations in the forthcoming amendment to the respiratory protection standard. OSHA's proposal, dis more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Deep Fission, Berkeley, California, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding the draft report entitled "Guidelines for Preparing and Reviewing Applications Under 10 CFR Part 57." The company commended the Commission's efforts to modernize regulatory review practices in alignment with the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act of 2024 and Executive Order 14300, which aims to reform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's mission and cul more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Educare Network, Chicago, Illinois, voiced opposition in a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the proposed rule titled Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access. The organization emphasized the critical importance of maintaining current workforce compensation and benefits standards to ensure stable, high-quality early childhood education through Head Start programs. Drawing on experience across 25 Educare schools located in urban, rural, suburban, and  more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- FGA Action, a policy organization, has expressed support for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families proposed rule to remove federally mandated staff wage and benefit requirements included in the 2024 final rule for the Head Start Program. In a public comment letter, FGA Action argues that the proposed rule appropriately returns compensation decisions to local programs, better aligns the program's Performance Standards with the Head Start Act, and protects enrollment oppo more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Andrew J. Medford, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget opposing proposed revisions to federal grant regulations, arguing that the changes would replace expert scientific judgment with political oversight throughout the research funding process. Medford challenges several provisions in the proposed rule, notably Section 200.205. This section requires agency heads to assign senior p more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- GS1 US, Ewing, New Jersey, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission addressing challenges related to consumer product recall fraud. The organization advocates for adopting globally recognized product identification standards to improve recall effectiveness and reduce fraudulent claims. GS1 US emphasized that unique and consistent product identification, such as the Global Trade Item Number encoded in UPC barcodes, provides a reliable point of reference for verifying products across more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Illinois Action for Children, a Chicago-based advocacy organization focused on early childhood education, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expressing concern over the Administration for Children and Families' proposed rule titled "Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access." The organization cautions that rolling back provisions supporting wages and benefits for Head Start staff could negatively impact program quality and accessibility. The letter e more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Independent Community Bankers has submitted a public comment letter urging the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to deny the application filed by Payward Inc., Cheyenne, Wyoming, for a National Trust Bank Charter for its subsidiary, Payward National Trust Company. The application proposes that PNTC will primarily provide services related to digital assets, including custody services, staking support, trading activities, and collateral management. ICBA contends that Payward's application fails to meet the stat more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Independent Community Bankers submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Bureau of the Fiscal Service regarding its proposed rule implementing Executive Order 14247 on the management of federal agency disbursements. The rule aims to transition federal payments from paper checks to electronic methods, including direct deposits, prepaid debit cards, and digital wallets. The Independent Community Bankers of America supports the overall goals of reducing fraud risk and operational burdens po more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- INFiN, a financial services alliance, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Bureau of the Fiscal Service regarding the notice of proposed rulemaking on the management of federal agency disbursements. The proposal seeks to amend regulations limiting paper check disbursements by federal agencies, pursuant to an executive order aimed at modernizing payments made to federal beneficiaries. INFiN represents more than 350 community-based financial service providers operating roughly 8,000 loca more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Inspire Development Centers, Sunnyside, Washington state, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services urging the agency to prioritize wage increases and improved benefits for the Head Start workforce. The organization emphasized that a stable and adequately compensated workforce is vital to maintaining high-quality early childhood education and access in underserved communities. The letter expressed concern over the absence of funding increases for Head Start programs over the pa more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Institute for Child Success, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, along with Help Me Grow National Center, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concerning the notice of proposed rulemaking titled "Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access." The organizations called for the agency to prioritize wage increases and improved benefits for the Head Start workforce to address ongoing instability and compensation challenges. The letter highlighted that Head Start prog more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Nicole Zieber, assistant professor of psychology at Kansas City University, Missouri, submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget expressing opposition to multiple provisions in a proposed rule regulating federal financial assistance. Zieber warned that the rule threatens the independence and stability of federally funded science. She criticized the mandate requiring political appointees to review discretionary grant awards for alignment with presidential policy, arguing it undermines establi more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Minnesota Head Start Association, Minneapolis, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families regarding the proposed rule titled "Restoring Flexibility To Support Head Start Program Access." The association represents 25 Midwest Regional Grantees, eight Tribal Nation Grantees, and one Agriculture Family Grantee serving about 12,000 children annually across Minnesota. The association expressed concern that the proposed regulatory changes  more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Mosaic Neuroscience, a public benefit biomedical company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget expressing concerns about proposed revisions to government-wide regulations governing federal financial assistance. The letter outlines potential negative impacts of the proposed rule on biomedical research, especially for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and related neurodegenerative diseases. Mosaic Neuroscience's leadership, including its co-founder and CEO who more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The National Association for the Education of Young Children submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the proposed removal of staff compensation requirements from the Head Start Program Performance Standards. The organization, which represents nearly 50,000 members including early childhood educators and advocates, expressed strong concern about how the proposed regulatory changes could affect the quality and accessibility of Head Start programs. NAEYC highlighted th more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The National Association of Manufacturers has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission addressing concerns over consumer product recall fraud. Representing 13 million American workers across all states and sectors, NAM highlighted the adverse effects of fraudulent claims on manufacturers and the overall recall system. NAM pointed out that recall fraud undermines consumer protection and imposes severe financial and reputational damage on manufacturers. Advances in technology, especi more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The National Community Reinvestment Coalition has submitted a public comment letter opposing Payward Inc., Cheyenne, Wyoming, in its application for a national trust bank charter through the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The coalition cites issues with statutory authority, risks to community investment, consumer protection concerns, and potential harm to the financial system's safety and soundness. The NCRC, representing more than 700 community-based organizations across the nation, works to promote equitabl more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The National Education Association has expressed opposition to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed rule aimed at restoring flexibility to support Head Start program access. The NEA submitted a public comment letter addressing concerns that the proposed rule would weaken critical workforce protections established in the 2024 Head Start Final Rule, which were designed to improve recruitment, retention, compensation, and overall workforce stability. According to the NEA, the proposal threatens Head Sta more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The National Indian Head Start Directors Association has expressed opposition to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families' proposal to eliminate federal wage and benefit standards for the Head Start workforce. In a public comment letter, NIHSDA highlights concerns that rescinding these standards will not solve the underlying funding shortfall but will instead worsen workforce instability in Tribal Head Start programs across Indian Country and Alaska. NIHSDA argues that th more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The National Treasury Employees Union has expressed opposition to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's proposed addition to its Privacy Act System of Records Notice. The agency seeks to establish a routine use allowing disclosure of employee information, including Social Security numbers, to the news media and public under broadly defined circumstances of "legitimate public interest." These might include preserving confidence in the bureau's integrity or demonstrating accountability. The union criticizes the propos more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- New America, an independent non-profit policy and research organization, urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reject a proposed regulatory rollback affecting Head Start, a federal program serving children and families living in poverty. In a public comment letter, New America opposed the "Restoring Flexibility To Support Head Start Program Access" rule, cautioning it would undermine the program's ability to provide high-quality education and care. The organization highlighted that Head Start has succ more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Ohio Head Start Association, Columbus, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expressing strong opposition to the proposed rescission of wage and benefit requirements for the Head Start workforce. The association urged the department to focus instead on increasing compensation for Head Start staff nationwide. The organization highlighted that Head Start programs in Ohio serve more than 27,000 children across over 700 centers, employing over 7,600 Ohioans. It emphasized t more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, Kingston, Washington state, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families regarding the Office of Head Start's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled "Restoring Flexibility To Support Head Start Program Access." The Tribe expressed strong concerns over the proposal to eliminate wage and benefit standards for Head Start employees, emphasizing the critical need for adequate funding to maintain a stable and qualifi more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Raising Illinois Prenatal-to-Three Coalition, Chicago, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expressing concerns over the current funding and compensation conditions for Head Start staff. The coalition emphasizes the urgent need to increase wages and improve benefits to address workforce instability exacerbated by flat federal funding and administrative delays. The group highlights that Head Start programs have faced stagnant federal funding for several years, with the  more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- REPLOY Power, Austin, Texas, has provided a public comment letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission concerning the agency's proposed rulemaking for licensing requirements applicable to microreactors and other reactors with comparable risk profiles under 10 CFR Part 57. REPLOY Power addressed multiple facets of the proposed regulation, advocating for a risk-informed, performance-based approach and clarifications tailored to the unique deployment and operational characteristics of factory-manufactured and transporta more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Samuel Lawrence Foundation, Del Mar, California, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission concerning proposed reforms to the licensing requirements for microreactors and reactors with comparable risk profiles. The foundation expressed support for updating guidelines focused on nuclear material and harm scenarios rather than energy output, but highlighted concerns about the pace and scope of the revisions, which they warn may compromise public safety. The foundation criticized t more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- SCUS Head Start Programs Inc. submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Head Start expressing concerns regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled "Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access." Save the Children Head Start, operating in rural communities across Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, emphasized that while program flexibility is important, current funding constraints continue to hinder effective workf more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Sequence Labs LLC, Kalispell, Montana, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advocating for the inclusion of seven peptides on the Section 503A Bulk Drug Substances List. The peptides under consideration are BPC-157, TB-500, KPV, MOTS-c, Emideltide, Semax, and Epitalon. Sequence Labs emphasized the importance of a regulated compounding pathway that would allow licensed healthcare practitioners to legally and safely access these peptides for individualized patient care. The company more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Society for Research in Child Development submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concerning proposed regulatory changes aiming to rescind workforce wages and benefits provisions in the Head Start program. The organization emphasized the critical role of workforce compensation and benefits in ensuring stable, high-quality early childhood education services. SRCD represents a membership of approximately 4,000 researchers, practitioners, and human development experts whose  more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Start Early, a Chicago, Illinois-based nonprofit public-private partnership focused on advancing quality early learning, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expressing concern over proposed changes to Head Start program regulations. The organization recommends that HHS maintain existing rules on staff wages and benefits and prioritize increasing compensation and benefits for the Head Start workforce. In its correspondence, Start Early highlights the lack of federal fu more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Nashville, has submitted a public comment letter to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding proposed updates to the Coal Combustion Residuals Rule. TDEC emphasized the importance of site-specific investigations to guide environmentally protective beneficial reuse and closure decisions for CCR units within the state. TDEC oversees the regulation and permitting of CCR landfills and closure of CCR units under an administrative framework known as the Commissione more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Tiny House Alliance USA, Austin, Texas, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development addressing the proposed axle and brake requirements for multistory manufactured homes. The letter emphasizes the need for alignment between HUD's proposed standards and existing federal transportation laws regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. HUD's proposed rule mandates a minimum of two axles equipped with brake assemblies on each transpor more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Toy Association, Alexandria, Virginia, has presented comments to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding concerns over increasing consumer product recall fraud. Their public comment letter addresses the challenges posed by fraudulent claims enabled by artificial intelligence tools and calls for enhanced processes to preserve the integrity of product recalls, emphasizing the necessity of protecting consumers and maintaining trust in the recall system. The Toy Association represents more than 900 entities more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- Trust for Learning, a philanthropic partnership in New York, expressed opposition in a public comment letter to the proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services aiming to rescind the 2024 Head Start Program Performance Standards that improve staff wages and benefits. The Trust emphasized that these changes threaten the program's ability to provide high-quality education and services to low-income children and families. The organization argued that Head Start educators are essential to the program's s more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The United Parent Leaders Action Network has voiced opposition in a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concerning the proposed rule titled Restoring Flexibility To Support Head Start Program Access. UPLAN advocates on behalf of a network representing 700,000 families nationwide and cautions that the proposed rule would undermine the quality and accessibility of Head Start programs by destabilizing the essential workforce they rely upon. UPLAN highlights that child care and early edu more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- United Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expressing opposition to the proposed rule titled Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access. The organization highlights concerns that the proposed rule would weaken the ability of Head Start programs to deliver high-quality education and comprehensive services to low-income children and families. The agency has been urged to recognize the importance of maintaining stable and compet more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- The Woonsocket Head Start Child Development Association Inc., Rhode Island, submitted a public comment letter to the Administration for Children and Families regarding the proposed rule titled "Restoring Flexibility To Support Head Start Program Access." The organization expressed concerns that the proposed elimination of workforce compensation requirements will not improve access to Head Start services. According to the association, access challenges are primarily fueled by insufficient funding and local labor market con more ST

WASHINGTON, June 17 -- ZERO TO THREE has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families opposing a proposed rule to rescind the Head Start wage and compensation standards finalized in 2024. The proposal, intended to restore flexibility in program access under 45 CFR Part 1302, has raised concerns from ZERO TO THREE about the potential negative consequences for early childhood education quality, workforce stability, and access to services, especially for infants and  more ST