WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Three organizations have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Department of the Treasury responding to the proposed rule on Excepted Fertility Benefits. The letter offered input on the rule's approach to infertility treatment coverage, emphasizing the promotion of restorative reproductive medicine and raising concerns about assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization. The organizations are the National Catholic Bioethi more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The American Immigration Lawyers Association has submitted a public comment letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Services opposing proposed changes to Form AR-11, the Alien Change of Address form. The association, representing over 18,000 attorneys and law professors specializing in immigration law, asserts that the new information collection initiative unlawfully expands the scope of data requested from noncitizens and bypasses required regulatory procedures. According to AILA, USCI more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The American Small Business Chamber of Commerce issued a public comment letter to the General Services Administration regarding several proposed amendments to the Federal Acquisition Regulation. ASBCC addressed the Regulatory Flexibility Act's mandated review highlighting concerns on how proposed changes could negatively impact small business entities engaged in federal contracting, particularly in the small-dollar acquisition segment. The ASBCC letter provides a detailed critique of multiple components within the propos more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The American Small Business Chamber of Commerce has submitted a public comment letter on the proposed rules comprising the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul, directed by Executive Order 14275. These comments address FAR Cases 2026-002 and 2026-005, reflecting analysis of five years of federal procurement data and expressing concerns about the impact of the overhaul on small business participation in federal contracting. ASBCC emphasizes that the federal marketplace is a constructed market, designed by more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor expressing reservations about the proposed Excepted Fertility Benefits rule. The rule, aimed at expanding access to fertility treatments including in vitro fertilization, has been critiqued by ASRM on multiple fronts, including its failure to guarantee accessible and affordable IVF as initially promised by the Trump Administration. ASRM represents nearly 8,000 professionals in reprodu more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Aon plc, a global professional services firm in London, England, with a significant presence in Schaumburg, Illinois, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the proposed excepted fertility benefits rule. The firm, which advises more than 2,100 U.S. employer clients including over 200 Fortune 500 companies on employee benefits, emphasized t more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Arnold Ventures, Houston, Texas, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the agency's proposed rule on Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments. Arnold Ventures expressed support for CMS's efforts to impose limits on state directed payments, which the organization views as rapidly expanding and lacking transparency. The philanthropy, which focuse more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Aspartes Pharmaceuticals Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, has submitted a public comment to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration regarding the agency's initiative on drug repurposing for unmet medical needs. The company is advancing a potential treatment for Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood, an ultra-rare pediatric neurodevelopmental disorder, using a pediatric formulation of flunarizine designed as an orally disintegrating tablet. The disorder, AHC, is characterized by recurrent h more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Association for Accessible Medicines has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration regarding the agency's efforts to explore drug repurposing for unmet medical needs. Representing manufacturers of generic and biosimilar pharmaceutical products as well as suppliers to the industry, the association emphasizes the importance of preserving existing statutory and regulatory frameworks while enabling scientifically supported drug repurposing. The grou more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services responding to the agency's request for information on the comprehensive review of the Essential Health Benefits framework and typical employer plan standard. The nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by frontotemporal degeneration, emphasized the urgent need for com more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Blood Cancer United, Alexandria, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration regarding the Excepted Fertility Benefits proposed rule. The organization highlights concerns that treating fertility-related care as an excepted benefit could worsen access and affordability for blood cancer patients who face significant risk of treatment-related infertility. Blood Cancer United emphasizes that treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation pose high r more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Breakthrough T1D, New York, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration regarding the agency's request for information on "Drug Repurposing for Unmet Medical Needs." The organization, formerly known as JDRF, advocates for greater focus on type 1 diabetes as a priority disease area for drug repurposing efforts, highlighting the significant unmet medical needs faced by people living with this autoimmune condition. Breakthrough T1D emphasizes that de more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Brubaker Public Relations Inc., a communications firm in Chatham, Illinois, has submitted a public comment letter expressing concerns to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission about the commission's proposed data-reporting framework for certain event contracts. The letter highlights how the commission's investigatory authority may be undermined by the proposal's reporting threshold. The letter explains that while the CFTC has broad investigatory powers, these powers are reactive and require a predicate, often supplied  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Burney Interim Fire Chief Robert May has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services opposing the proposed rule. The proposal seeks to cap Ground Emergency Medical Transportation supplemental payments at Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule rates, a change the District warns would jeopardize their ability to provide emergency medical services. As a fire-based EMS agency serving a rural community in California, the District emphasized its 24/7 more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Business Group on Health has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the proposed rule on Excepted Fertility Benefits. The organization, representing major employer health plan sponsors, expressed support for the rule's overall approach while recommending adjustments to enhance employer flexibility and reduce administrative complexities more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, representing 257 credit unions serving over 14.8 million members across California and Nevada, have submitted a public comment letter expressing support for the National Credit Union Administration's interim final rule clarifying federal credit unions' authority to charge non-interest fees, including interchange fees from credit and debit card transactions. In a letter to the NCUA, Alexandria, Virginia, the Leagues commend the agency for providing regulatory certainty on thi more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Carrier Global Corp., Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the agency's proposed rule to exclude road and intermodal container transport refrigeration units from hydrofluorocarbon leak detection and repair requirements. Carrier supports the EPA's initiative to create an explicit exemption for these mobile refrigeration units under the Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons rule and highlights the substantial cost savings and operational benefits  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Elizabeth R. Kirk, assistant professor of law and co-director of the Center for Law and the Human Person at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The rule, titled "Excepted Fertility Benefit," seeks to create a limited excepted benefit category for fertility-related medical care, including procedures like in vitro fertilization and treatment of c more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- CDKL5 in Color, a patient advocacy organization in Portland, Oregon, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration supporting of the Haystack Project citizen petition. The petition seeks to improve the drug approval framework for rare and ultra-rare diseases, drawing on the experiences of families affected by CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder. The advocacy group emphasizes that the current FDA drug development process poses significant barriers for CDD thera more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Center for Reproductive Rights, New York, has submitted a public comment letter raising concerns to the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Health Plan Standards and Compliance Assistance. The letter addresses the notice of proposed rulemaking on Excepted Fertility Benefits criticizing the proposed rule as inconsistent with the Administrative Procedure Act and insufficient for expanding access to fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization. The Center contends that the proposed rule fails to achieve its stated more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Center for Restorative Reproductive Surgery, a gynecologic surgical practice in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, has provided a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. These agencies are jointly considering the proposed rule titled "Excepted Fertility Benefits," which was published in the Federal Register in May 202 more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The College for Reproductive Biology, St. Louis, Missouri, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding a proposed rule to establish a limited excepted benefit category for fertility and reproductive health benefits. The organization represents professionals who provide laboratory and scientific more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Alan Tall, professor of medicine at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget expressing opposition to the agency's proposed rule revising the Uniform Guidance for federal financial assistance. The letter objects to several provisions within the rule, including political pre-issuance review, discretionary termination authority, restrictions on international collaboration, and the default unallowability of publication and more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Randolph S Marshall, professor of neurology at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget expressing firm opposition to the agency's proposed regulation. The proposed rule, which seeks to elevate the Uniform Guidance from government-wide guidance to binding federal regulation, has raised concerns about its potential impact on the federal research ecosystem, particularly due to provisions involving political pre-issuance review, discreti more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Shweta Dipali, a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University, New York, submitted a public comment letter voicing opposition to the Office of Management and Budget's proposed rule revising federal financial assistance regulations. The letter highlights concerns with the proposed binding federal regulation changes to the Uniform Guidance which currently operates as advisory guidance for institutions receiving federal research funding. The scientist cautions that the rule's transformation into binding regulation more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Community Legal Aid Society Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, has submitted a public comment urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of the Principal Legal Advisor to withdraw a proposed rule that would triple the fee imposed on certain aliens ordered removed in absentia. The letter argues that the proposed fee increase is excessively broad, unjustly punitive, and fails to account for recent changes in immigration enforcement and court procedures. The letter raises concerns th more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Community Legal Aid Society Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, has urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to withdraw its proposed fee increase for application for a stay of deportation or removal. The letter opposes the nearly 400 percent increase in the filing fee, arguing that the proposed change is arbitrary, relies on incomplete data, and would create financial barriers for vulnerable immigrant populations. The fee adjustment proposed by DHS would raise the filing cost for Form I-246 from $155 to approximately $755 more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Competitive Carriers Association submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency offering input on the agency's proposed rules to implement the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022, as amended. The association advocates for a narrower, less burdensome regulatory approach that aligns closely with Congressional intent and minimizes the impact on small and rural telecommunications providers. The Competitive Carrier more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Confluence Health, Wenatchee, Washington state, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the agency's proposed rule on Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments. The letter discusses the potential impacts and challenges the rule may present to hospitals and healthcare providers, especially in rural areas served by Medicaid. Confluence Health operate more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Cooperative Credit Union Association Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts, has submitted a public comment letter expressing its support for the National Credit Union Administration's interim final rule preempting state laws that regulate federal credit union non-interest charges and fees. The Association, representing nearly 200 state and federally-chartered credit unions in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, which serve over 5 million consumers, also urges the agency to extend the rule's applicatio more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Chevelle Newsome, president of the Council of Graduate Schools, has submitted a public comment letter expressing concerns over the Office of Management and Budget's proposed revisions to the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance, urging the agency to withdraw the rule. The proposed changes impact the administration of over $60 billion in federal research programs and federal assistance programs widely used by Americans, and CGS emphasized the potential detrimental effects on graduate education and federally funded res more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration addressing drug repurposing for unmet medical needs. The institute highlights challenges preventing the clinical development and routine care adoption of new uses for existing drugs, particularly in rare and uncommon cancers. The letter emphasizes that while scientific opportunities are abundant, systemic obstacles within patent law enforcement and medi more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Edible Oil Producers Association provided a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration addressing the agency's request for information on butylated hydroxytoluene. EOPA represents refiners of edible fats and oils across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and underscores their commitment to safety and regulatory adherence in producing oils used nationwide. EOPA outlined the function of BHT as a fat-soluble antioxidant that protects oils and fats from oxidative dama more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Edison Electric Institute, representing U.S. investor-owned electric companies, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency regarding the agency's proposed rule for implementing the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act. The letter builds on feedback provided during an industry town hall and earlier comments submitted in 2024. The Institute highlights that electric companies already comply with numerous cybersecu more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Elysium Health Inc., a consumer health and biotechnology company in New York, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee regarding the nomination of additional bulk drug substances, specifically peptides, to the Bulk Drug Substances List. The company emphasized the importance of patient access to emerging therapies while raising concerns about the risks posed by unregulated peptide products currently circulating more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Six organizations have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management expressing opposition to a proposal by BP Exploration and Production Inc., Houston, Texas, for the Tiber Project in the Gulf of Mexico. The letter outlines significant concerns regarding the project's safety, environmental impact, and regulatory compliance. The organizations are the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice, Habitat Recovery Project, Healthy Gulf, Sierra Club Environmental  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Erie County Medical Center Corp., Buffalo, New York, has expressed concerns regarding a proposed regulation in a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that impacts Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Practitioner Payments. ECMC emphasized that the rule may significantly threaten patient access and quality of care at its extensive Western New York medical center, the region's only Level I Adult Tra more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- FACTS about Fertility, a secular nonprofit medical education organization in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor regarding the proposed Excepted Fertility Benefits rule. The organization, which focuses on educating medical professionals about Fertility Awareness-Based Methods and their application to reproductive health, emphasized the need for a medically grounded definition of infertility and comprehensive approaches to its treatment in the forthcoming regulation.  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Fertility Providers Alliance, a non-profit association representing fertility care providers and private clinics across the U.S., has submitted a public comment letter addressing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury regarding proposed regulations on Excepted Fertility Benefits. The letter underscores the importance of designing rules that align closely with clinical realities to ensure meaningful access  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Fertilizer Institute submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration regarding the agency's notice of proposed rulemaking on restricting unmanned aircraft system operations near fixed site facilities. The comments support the FAA's efforts to implement Section 2209 of federal law, aiming to mitigate risks posed by unauthorized drone operations close to critical infrastructure such as fertilizer manufacturing and storage sites. TFI represents fertilizer compan more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Flexible Packaging Association, Annapolis, Maryland, has submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration responding to its request for information concerning the safety of butylated hydroxytoluene in food and food-contact applications. The association, which represents manufacturers of flexible packaging and their suppliers, emphasized the fundamental distinction between the safety profiles of BHT used as a direct food additive and BHT employed in food contact materi more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Four organizations have submitted a public comment letter expressing support for a rule issued by the National Credit Union Administration. The interim final rule clarifies that the Federal Credit Union Act preempts state laws that attempt to limit federal credit unions' authority to charge non-interest fees, such as interchange fees associated with credit and debit card transactions. The organizations are American Bankers Association, America's Credit Unions, Austin, Texas, Illinois Bankers Association, Springfield, and  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Lydia Chambers, chair of the National Affairs and Legislation Committee, and Nancy Ylvisaker, chair of the Conservation Committee at the Garden Club of America, New York, have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management opposing the agency's proposed revision of regulations for grazing administration, excluding Alaska. Representing 18,000 members nationwide dedicated to conservation and environmental stewardship, GCA challenges fundamental aspects of the proposal, cit more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Genetic Alliance, a national nonprofit organization in Damascus, Maryland, focused on genetic disease and genomic medicine, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget opposing provisions in the draft rule OMB-2026-0034. The organization expressed concerns that the proposed changes could destabilize federally supported biomedical research, restrict scientific dissemination, and obstruct critical international collaboration. The alliance emphasized the foundational role that molecular diag more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Christine Reavis, a registered nurse and master of public health candidate at George Washington University Milken Institute of Public Health, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget urging the withdrawal of the proposed rule titled "Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance." The letter outlines concerns about specific provisions that threaten the integrity and effectiveness of federal research funding and programs, particularly those related to violence and trauma nursing. The lett more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Jeffrey S. Urbach, professor of physics at the Georgetown University, has submitted a public comment letter raising concerns about the Office of Management and Budget's proposed rule titled "Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance." The professor's public comment letter highlights potential negative impacts of the proposed rule on federally funded research projects and scientific training. The letter focuses on how section 200.205's requirement that federal awards demonstrably advance presidential policy priorities c more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Grindr, West Hollywood, California, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding a proposed rule on excepted fertility benefits. The company advocates for broadening the scope of these benefits to better reflect contemporary medical standards and the diverse needs of individuals seeking assisted reproduction. Grindr emphasizes its own exten more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- HackerOne, a cybersecurity firm in San Francisco, California, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency addressing aspects of the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act rulemaking. The company emphasized the need for a refined definition of "substantial cyber incident," more explicit protections for independent good-faith security research, and a harmonized reporting approach. HackerOne expressed concern that the curren more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- May Rico, executive director of Healthy Alternatives to Violent Environments, a victim service provider in Stanislaus County, California, has submitted a public comment letter expressing concerns regarding proposed revisions to the Office of Management and Budget's guidance for Federal Financial Assistance. The nonprofit, which operates the county's only state-identified domestic violence emergency shelter and provides services for sexual assault and human trafficking survivors, emphasized the potential negative effects o more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Idaho Family Policy Legal Center, Washington, Utah, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration regarding the agency's proposed Excepted Fertility Benefits rule. The organization advocates prioritizing restorative reproductive medicine over in vitro fertilization and surrogacy, emphasizing protection of human life and authentic treatment of infertility. According to IFPC Legal Center, infertility should be accurately defined as a medical condition impair more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Pranav Danthi, professor of biology at Indiana University, Bloomington, submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget opposing the agency's proposed rule which governs federal financial assistance. The letter raises concerns about multiple provisions in the proposed regulation. The professor objects to the transformation of the Uniform Guidance from flexible policy into binding regulation, emphasizing that this change would impose disproportionate costs on small colleges and underrepresented re more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Tuli Mukhopadhyay, professor of biology at Indiana University, Bloomington, has submitted a public comment letter expressing opposition to the proposed rule issued by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget aiming to convert the Uniform Guidance for federal financial assistance into binding regulations. The letter highlights multiple provisions that could adversely affect federal research funding and administration. The letter critiques the proposed political pre-issuance review, cautioning that it could undermine the i more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, California, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regarding the agency's request for information on modified organisms subject to the Plant Protection Act. The IGI, a prominent academic research institute associated with multiple University of California campuses, provided extensive input emphasizing an evidence-based and trait-focused regulatory framework in response to USDA-APHIS's efforts to rea more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Institut du Cerveau, Paris, France, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration regarding a docket which concerns drug repurposing aimed at addressing unmet medical needs. The neuroscience research institute emphasized the increasing role of academic institutions in advancing drug repurposing efforts and urged the FDA to adapt regulatory policies accordingly. The organization highlighted how drug repurposing is a central component of its translati more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The International Center for Law and Economics, a nonprofit research center, submitted a public comment letter to the National Credit Union Administration concerning the agency's interim final rule clarifying federal credit unions' authority to charge noninterest fees, including interchange fees on credit- and debit-card transactions. The rule affirms federal preemption over the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, which restricts interchange fees on taxes and gratuities and regulates payment-card data use. ICLE's l more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association, West Des Moines, Iowa, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the agency's proposed rule to limit medicaid supplemental payments for Ground Emergency Medical Transportation. The association argues that reducing these payments will weaken emergency medical capacity and reduce access to care for Medicaid beneficiaries and communities statewide. According to the organizatio more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Isidore Ventures Inc., San Francisco, California submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of the Treasury, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the proposed "Excepted Fertility Benefits" rule. The company, poised to become a plan sponsor, expressed support for expanding affordable fertility care access and emphasized the need for flexibility to design benefits tailored to employees' needs. Isidore Ventures highlighted that infertility affects the workforce a more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- IVI RMA North America, Fairfax, Virginia, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury regarding the Excepted Fertility Benefits proposed rule. The fertility care provider emphasized the importance of the rule as a step toward expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments but called for several clarifications and expansions to be more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- A coalition of five retail organizations, collectively known as the Joint Retail Associations, has submitted a public comment letter voicing support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed exemption that excludes road and intermodal container Transport Refrigeration Units from hydrofluorocarbon leak repair requirements. The organizations encouraged the EPA to finalize the exemption quickly to avoid significant operational and economic disruptions for the food retail supply chain. The organizations are FMI more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Kindbody, a Chicago, Illinois-based fertility and family-building company, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor regarding the proposed rule on Excepted Fertility Benefits. The company emphasized the importance of reducing regulatory burdens to encourage more employers to offer comprehensive fertility benefits. Kindbody highlighted that infertility affects one in six people and that the cost of treatment is a major barrier. The firm supports access to evidence-based reproductive care for all i more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Laguna Beach Fire Chief Niko King has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing opposition to the proposed rule which seeks to cap Medicaid supplemental payments for Ground Emergency Medical Transportation providers at Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule rates. The fire-based emergency medical transport service in California warns the proposal would jeopardize its financial stability and adversely affect emergency patient care.  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Louisiana Rural Hospital Coalition, Baton Rouge, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing concerns over the agency's proposed rule on Medicaid managed care State Directed Payments and targeted Medicaid fee-for-service practitioner payments. The Coalition represents Louisiana's 49 rural hospitals, which serve as healthcare providers and economic anchors in rural communities by delivering essential services including e more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Mastercard International Inc., Purchase, New York, submitted a public comment letter to the National Credit Union Administration regarding the agency's interim final rule addressing federal credit union non-interest charges and fees, including interchange fees. Mastercard expressed support for the NCUA's move to clarify the regulatory framework governing how federal credit unions set interchange fees in light of the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. The payment technology company underscored that the interim fina more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Maven Clinic, New York, has submitted a public comment letter expressing support for proposed rules issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The company provided a letter advocating for the prompt finalization of rules that establish a new category of excepted benefits for fertility care, aiming to close the coverage gap affecting mi more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Merchants Payments Coalition, an organization representing a diverse group of Main Street businesses and trade associations, submitted a public comment letter to the National Credit Union Administration urging the agency to withdraw its interim final rule concerning preemption and federal credit union fees. MPC argues that the rule raises serious legal and policy issues that necessitate reconsideration. MPC asserts that the rule exceeds the authority granted to NCUA under the Federal Credit Union Act (FCUA), improper more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Kathleen Berchelmann, president of the MyCatholicDoctor Foundation Board of Directors, New Canaan, Connecticut, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the "Excepted Fertility Benefits" rule. The nationwide organization, which supports over 300 clinicians promoting fertility care integrating Catholic spirituality, urged the federal agency to define infertility using standard clinical criteria and to explicitly include Restorative Reproductive Medicine within the scop more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The New Mexico Academy of Family Physicians, Albuquerque, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing concerns about proposed changes to State Directed Payments under Medicaid managed care. The organization, representing 835 family physicians and medical students across New Mexico, urged the federal agency to modify its rulemaking on Medicaid provider reimbursement caps to better preserve access to care, particularly in underse more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Albany, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget expressing opposition to proposed changes in federal financial assistance regulations. The coalition warned that the proposed rule would grant the executive branch broad discretion over the distribution of federal grants, raising concerns about legal authority, political favoritism, and the stability of funding for nonprofit organizations serving domestic violence victims. The coali more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The National Corn Growers Association, Chesterfield, Missouri, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture addressing regulatory considerations for modified organisms under the Plant Protection Act. The organization, representing over 36,000 corn growers across 48 states, emphasized the economic importance of corn, which supports more than 500 industries nationwide and contributed $15.6 billion in direct economic activity in 2024. NCGA highlighted the extensive use of biotechnology in corn pro more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The National Health Law Program has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expressing opposition to the department's proposed amendments regarding excepted fertility benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Internal Revenue Code, and the Public Health Service Act. The organization contends that the proposed rule, designed to designate certain fertility benefits as a new category of limited excepted benefits, falls short in expanding meaningful a more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The National Infusion Center Association has provided a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the agency's request for information on the comprehensive review of the Essential Health Benefits Framework and Typical Employer Plan Standard. NICA's input focuses on affordability, cost, coverage scope, and proposed updates within the EHB framework, particularly emphasizing access to specialty medications administered in non-hospital infusi more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation, Fort Union, Utah, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration advocating for regulatory modernization to improve scientific relevance in rare disease clinical trials. The foundation emphasizes the need for standards adapted specifically to rare diseases, including leiomyosarcoma, to better reflect patient-centered outcomes and biological diversity. NLMSF expressed concern that existing clinical trial designs more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association has voiced substantial concerns in a public comment letter submitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regarding the National Credit Union Administration's interim final rule on Preemption for Federal Credit Union Non-Interest Charges and Fees. The NLBMDA cautions that the rule, which clarifies federal credit unions' ability to assess interchange fees even when set or influenced by third parties, could have wide-re more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The National Patient Advocate Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the agency's request for information on the comprehensive review of the Essential Health Benefits Framework and Typical Employer Plan Standard. The organization emphasized the need to address the financial hardships faced by patients and caregivers managing complex and chronic conditions, even when insured. The foundation more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The National Psoriasis Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia, provided a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the agency's request for information on the Essential Health Benefits framework. The foundation advocates for people living with psoriatic disease and seeks improvements in coverage and affordability under the current health benefits system. The foundation emphasized that the Essential Health Benefits framework must ensure high-q more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The National Rifle Association of America, Fairfax, Virginia, expressed support in a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the agency's proposed rulemaking clarifying exceptions to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act background check requirements. The NRA asserted that the rule appropriately defines which state-issued firearm permits can exempt holders from the federal background check system, providing clarity and consistency to firearms law  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The National Rifle Association of America, Fairfax, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regarding the agency's proposed rule defining the term "willfully" for firearms violations. The NRA emphasizes the importance of clarifying this standard in a manner consistent with Congressional intent, federal law, and Supreme Court precedent. The organization supports the ATF's initiative to codify that "willfully" requires actual knowl more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The National Rifle Association of America, Fairfax, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regarding the proposed revisions to the definitions of "adjudicated as a mental defective" and "committed to a mental institution" under federal firearms regulations. The NRA emphasized that these definitions have significant implications for the exercise of Second Amendment rights and must comply with constitutional standards and statutor more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, has voiced concerns in a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the agency's proposed rule to exclude road and intermodal container transport refrigeration units from hydrofluorocarbon leak repair requirements. The EPA's proposed rule seeks to exempt these refrigerated transport units from the leak repair provisions under the Emissions Reduction and Reclamation program, part of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act aimed at phasi more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- NeoFertility LLC, Austin, Texas, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the notice of proposed rulemaking on Excepted Fertility Benefits. The letter highlights the advantages of incorporating restorative reproductive medicine into federal fertility care policies to enhance patient access and broaden the clinical workforce capable of delivering comprehensive fertility treatments. NeoFertility's appro more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Houda Khaled, a neuroscience Ph.D. candidate at the New York University, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget expressing opposition to its proposed rule. The proposed rule introduces changes that the researcher argues would jeopardize the integrity and progress of federally funded scientific research. The letter raises concerns about political pre-issuance review, discretionary termination authority, restrictions on training grants, prohibitions related to "gender ideology," and th more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Richard R. Renner, an attorney at the Noble Law Firm PLLC, Raleigh, North Carolina, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Personnel Management opposing a proposed government-wide nondisclosure agreement form intended for federal employees. The letter argues that the NDA would hinder legitimate whistleblowing, is unnecessary to enforce disclosure rules, and ultimately undermines federal government transparency and accountability. The letter contends that the draft NDA is overly broad, threatening federal  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Lawrence P. Reynolds, professor of animal sciences and co-director of the Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy at the North Dakota State University, Fargo, submitted a public comment letter expressing opposition to the Office of Management and Budget's proposed rule revising federal financial assistance regulations. Reynolds criticized the proposed political pre-issuance review, which would require political appointee approval before discretionary award issuance, arguing it substitutes scientific judgment with partisan con more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Akshaya S. Bhagavathula, professor of epidemiology at the North Dakota State University, Fargo, submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget regarding the proposed regulation for federal financial assistance. The letter addresses potential unintended consequences of specific provisions in the proposed rule on public health research, particularly epidemiology. The professor expressed support for the rule's goals of transparency and reducing administrative burdens but identified two provisions a more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Brandon L Jutras, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget expressing concerns about proposed regulations affecting federal research funding. The letter contends that the proposals fundamentally undermine evidence-based science by transferring critical funding decisions from scientific experts to political appointees. The professor asserts that provisions requiring pre-issuance review more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Oppedahl Patent Law Firm LLC, Alexandria, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office highlighting concerns about the reliability of the agency's DOCX filing software and criticizing the $430 surcharge imposed on patent applications not filed in DOCX format. The letter contends that the USPTO's DOCX software fails to function reliably, especially when DOCX files are generated by non-Microsoft word processors like Libre Office, and calls for the elimination of the surcharge o more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Steven H. Strauss, professor of forest biotechnology in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society at the Oregon State University, Corvallis, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regarding the regulation of genetically modified organisms under the Plant Protection Act. Strauss, who specializes in forest biotechnology and has over 30 years of experience with transgenic trees and related USDA permits, emphasized the need for regulatory change more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Organon, a global healthcare company in Jersey City, New Jersey, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responding to the proposed rule on Excepted Fertility Benefits. Organon expressed support for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury's proposal to create a new category of limited excepted benefits for fertility treatments, including In Vitro Fertilization and Assisted Reproductive Technology. The company highlighted the challenges many A more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Peppies, an independent consumer-education resource in Madison, Wisconsin, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research regarding bulk drug substances nominated for inclusion on the Bulk Drug Substances List. Peppies expresses concerns about the growing demand for peptides since 2023 and the dangers posed by the largely unregulated grey market supplying these substances. The organization points out that U.S more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Petan Co. of Nevada Inc., Tuscarora, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management regarding the department's proposed revisions to its Grazing Administration Regulations, exclusive of Alaska. The company, operating yearlong livestock operations dependent on public lands under authorized BLM Grazing Permits spanning Idaho and Nevada, expressed support for the rulemaking while providing comprehensive recommendations for further refinements. As a key stakeholder that more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of the Treasury regarding the Excepted Fertility Benefits proposed rule. The proposal aims to establish excepted fertility benefits as a new category of limited excepted benefits within group health plans, enabling coverage of fertility-related items and services separate from major medical coverage. PCMA emphasized the integral role of pharmacy more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Radiant Clinic, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based restorative reproductive medicine clinic with telehealth licenses in 22 states, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the proposed federal rule on Excepted Fertility Benefits. The clinic advocates for a broader scope of covered fertility benefits that incorporate diagnostic and treatment services characteristic of restorative reproductive medicine. Radiant more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Reply Ob/Gyn and Fertility, a reproductive medicine clinic in Durham, North Carolina, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration regarding the proposed rule on Excepted Fertility Benefits. The clinic advocates for the explicit recognition of restorative reproductive medicine in the final rule and guidance, emphasizing its role in addressing underlying reproductive pathology. Reply, which transitioned in 2023 to focus on couples experiencing infertilit more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The organization expressed endorsement of the departments' efforts to expand fertility benefits under the proposed Excepted Fertility Benefits Rule, issued May 13, 2026, while raising significant concerns about the proposed $120,000 lifetime dollar cap as a limitation on fertility benefits. RESOLVE urges a more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Robert E. Kopp, professor of earth and planerary sciences at the Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget regarding its proposed regulation for federal financial assistance. The public comment letter addresses multiple sections of the proposed rule, highlighting concerns about administrative burdens and potential impacts on scientific rigor and collaboration. The comments stress that the requirement for pre-issuance award reviews by politi more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Ryder System Inc., a logistics and transportation service provider in Miami, Florida, has submitted a public comment letter expressing support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed rule to exclude road and intermodal container transport refrigeration units from hydrofluorocarbon leak repair requirements under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act. Ryder endorses the EPA's effort to exempt these mobile refrigeration units, which are critical in transporting temperature-sensitive goods such as food more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- S1 Biopharma Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration regarding drug repurposing efforts aimed at addressing unmet medical needs. The company endorses the FDA's focus on metabolic disease, emphasizing obesity as a subpriority within this category. These views were articulated in a letter submitted in response to the agency's request for information on this topic. The  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Science Alliance for Life and Technology has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding proposed rules to establish fertility benefits as a new category of limited excepted benefits. SALT emphasizes both the need for fertility care that addresses underlying causes of infertility and the protection of nascent human life in these benefits. SALT highlights that infertility, the inability to conceive natura more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Society for Social Work and Research, Cary, North Carolina, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget expressing concerns about the agency's proposed "Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance." The letter outlines how the proposed rule, published in the May 29, 2026, Federal Register, could adversely affect federally funded social work education and research. The Society for Social Work and Research is a leading professional association representing over 2,000 scholars, researche more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- SOFR Academy Inc., a financial market infrastructure company in New York, has submitted a public comment letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission addressing regulatory challenges related to transaction-based credit-spread benchmark indices used alongside the Secured Overnight Financing Rate in derivatives markets. The letter calls on the agency to provide interpretive guidance clarifying the classification and reporting requirements of swaps referencing these credit-sensitive benchmarks, which are designed to su more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Solutions Group Services LLC, Dallas, Texas, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services concerning the Essential Health Benefits framework under the Affordable Care Act. The letter, signed by Managing Partner Asbel Montes, focuses on the need for clear inclusion of Ground Ambulance Emergency Medical Services in the "emergency services" category of the EHB. Solutions Group, a technology vendor supporting ground ambulance and Emergency more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Nashville, Tennessee, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services responding to proposed rules on excepted fertility benefits. The commission, representing the nation's largest Protestant denomination with nearly 13 million members, ou more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Joshua L. McGaughey, assistant chief at the St. Charles County Ambulance District, St. Peters, Missouri, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing opposition to proposed rule the would limit Ground Emergency Medical Transportation supplemental payments to Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule rates. The District warned that this change could result in a loss of approximately $1.5 million in critical funding. The Missouri EMS provi more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Amanda Everitt, a computational biologist and program manager in genomics at Stanford University, California, has submitted a public comment letter expressing opposition to the Office of Management and Budget's proposed revision of a key regulation governing federal research funding. Everitt argues that the rule would undermine scientific integrity and damage the U.S. research enterprise across academia and the biotechnology industry. Everitt's letter cautions that the proposal would shift grant award decisions to politi more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The State Employees' Credit Union, Raleigh, North Carolina, has submitted a public comment letter to the National Credit Union Administration addressing the agency's interim final rule on federal credit unions' ability to charge non-interest fees, including interchange fees. SECU, the largest state-chartered credit union in the U.S. with over 3 million members, commended the NCUA for clarifying federal credit unions' authority and for protecting them from the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. However, the credit u more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Stone Cabin Ranch LLC, Tonopah, Nevada, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management responding to the proposed revisions to the Regulations for Grazing Administration, exclusive of Alaska. The ranch, which operates yearlong cow-calf livestock operations dependent on public land grazing permits managed by the BLM, presented meticulous recommendations for modification to enhance clarity, consistency, and lawful administration of the new grazing rules. The submission sp more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Ivet Bahar, professor of biochemistry and cell biology at the Stony Brook University, New York, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget expressing concerns about the proposed rule titled "Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance." The letter highlights multiple provisions in the draft regulation that could impact federally funded scientific research, particularly in the biomedical and computational biology fields. The commenter objects to a provision requiring pre-issuance politica more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Surfrider Foundation Washington Chapters, Seattle, submitted a public comment letter expressing support for the draft management plan developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The Surfrider Foundation Washington submitted a public comment letter encouraging continued investment in collaborative governance, scientific research, community engagement, and long-term stewardship to ens more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Svast Healthcare Technologies LLC, Brentwood, Tennessee, has submitted a public comment letter addressing the U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with extensive recommendations on the proposed rule for excepted fertility benefits. The company, specializing in revenue-cycle management and medical billing services for healthcare providers, emphasized on operational clarity to ensure that fertility benefits function as meaningful coverage. Svast Healthc more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing opposition to proposed changes in Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments. The letter, signed by President and CEO Abhinav Rastogi, highlights potential adverse consequences of the proposed rule to cap payment rates at 100% of Medicare levels acros more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Triage Cancer, a national nonprofit in Chicago, Illinois, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the agency's comprehensive review of the Essential Health Benefits Framework and Typical Employer Plan Standard. The organization, which provides free education on the legal and financial challenges faced by people with cancer and their caregivers, emphasized the necessity of maintaining robust benefit coverage for individua more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- C. Jake Jacoby, President and CEO of the Truck Renting and Leasing Association, Arlington, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter expressing support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed rule to exclude road and intermodal container transport refrigeration units from hydrofluorocarbon leak repair requirements. TRALA represents around 475 truck renting and leasing companies and nearly 100 suppliers, focusing on short-term rental and lease of commercial vehicles, including refrigerated trucks and more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Turtle Island Restoration Network, Forest Knolls, California, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management opposing BP's proposed Tiber Project in the Gulf of Mexico. The environmental non-profit organization urged the agency to reject the project or, at minimum, require a full Environmental Impact Statement and complete Endangered Species Act consultations before proceeding. The Tiber Project involves drilling multiple oil and gas wells in water depths ex more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services concerning the proposed rule titled "Excepted Fertility Benefits". The USCCB expressed appreciation for the Departments' recognition of infertility as a serious health concern but urged a cautious approach regarding which fer more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- United Stateless, New York, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding its proposed rule titled "Clarification of Discretionary Employment Authorization for Certain Aliens." The rule aims to amend regulations concerning work authorization for individuals subject to long-term orders of supervision, but the letter asserts that the proposal fails to consider or address the unique circumstances of stateless individuals who are disproportionately affected. United Stateless high more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Heather Love, associate professor of human development and family studies at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget registering opposition to the proposed revisions concerning federal financial assistance regulations. The letter highlighted that the transformation of the Uniform Guidance from flexible policy into binding federal regulation would impose disproportionate costs on smaller and historically underrepresented research institutions. This ma more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The University of California Berkeley Library submitted a public comment letter submitted to the Office of Management and Budget regarding a proposed rule that seeks to revise federal policies on allowable costs under federal financial assistance awards. The UC Berkeley Library letter, written by three library officials, contends that these provisions would severely harm the dissemination and accessibility of federally funded research, undermine federal public access policies, and shift financial burdens onto research i more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Sofie Salama, professor of molecular, cell and developmental biology at the University of California Santa Cruz campus, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget opposing the agency's proposed regulation concerning federal financial assistance. The letter articulates concerns about numerous provisions that the researcher argues would fundamentally disrupt the landscape of federally supported research institutions, especially those with limited administrative resources and minority-servin more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Assistant Vice Chancellor Maria Rocha-Ruiz has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget expressing opposition to proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance regulating federal financial assistance. The letter raises concerns over several proposed changes, including the allowance for federal agencies to make noncompetitive awards with broad discretion, which the center argues could undermine merit-based grantmaking and contravene Congressional directives. In addition, the center objects to p more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Jeremy D Marks, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Chicago, Illinois, has submitted a public comment letter expressing opposition to a proposed regulation from the Office of Management and Budget concerning the administration of federal financial assistance for research. The letter raises concerns about provisions that would transform the Uniform Guidance into binding federal regulation, potentially reshaping federal research grant programs with political considerations. The letter highlighted objecti more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Nicholas Timme, assistant professor of pharmacology, physiology, and neurobiology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio, has expressed opposition to proposed revisions by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget aimed at the Uniform Guidance governing federal research grants. Timme articulates deep concerns that the changes could undermine the integrity, transparency, and effectiveness of federal science funding, especially for federally supported biomedical research seeking cures and treatments. Timm more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Hannes Baumann, associate professor of marine sciences at the University of Connecticut, Groton, has submitted a public comment letter expressing opposition to the Office of Management and Budget's proposed rule which governs federal financial assistance. The letter raising concerns about provisions related to political pre-issuance review, discretionary termination authority, international collaboration restrictions, and limits on publication and conference costs. Specific objections include the rule's requirement for p more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Hans G Dam, professor of marine sciences at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, has submitted a public comment letter expressing opposition to a proposed rule issued by the Office of Management and Budget regarding federal financial assistance regulations. The letter urges the agency to withdraw the rule, citing worries about impacts on scientific research and collaboration. The professor contends that converting the Uniform Guidance from flexible policy guidance into binding federal regulation will impose burdensome  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Betty Eipper, professor of molecular biology and biophysics at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, has submitted a public comment letter raising objections to the Office of Management and Budget's proposed revision to the Uniform Guidance for federal financial assistance. The letter highlights concerns about political pre-issuance review, discretionary termination authority, restrictions on international collaborations, and changes to training grants. The letter argues that the proposed transformatio more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Bruce R. Troen, professor of internal medicine and chief of the Division of Geriatrics at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, has expressed opposition in a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget regarding its proposed rule revising federal financial assistance regulations. The letter criticizes key provisions in the rule that would alter how federal research grants are awarded, managed, and terminated, warning of adverse impacts on biomedical research and workforce development.  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Rosemary Kozar, professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, has submitted a public comment letter voicing objections to a proposed rule by the Office of Management and Budget intended to revise federal financial assistance regulations. The letter highlights concerns about provisions that could undermine the integrity and effectiveness of federally funded research. The letter criticizes the rule's introduction of a political pre-issuance review process, warning it could shift grant aw more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Marla Eisenberg, professor of pediatrics in the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, has submitted a public comment letter expressing objections to a proposed rule by the Office of Management and Budget that would revise federal regulations governing financial assistance for research. The letter calls on the OMB to withdraw the rule, citing significant negative impacts on federally funded research programs nationwide. The main criticisms center on provisions th more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Thomas M. Laue, professor of biochemistry at the University of New Hampshire, Durham, has submitted a public comment letter expressing opposition to the Office of Management and Budget's proposed rule which governs federal financial assistance. The letter highlights several provisions within the proposed regulation that the university fears could undermine scientific research and the distribution of federal grants. The letter warns that converting longstanding government-wide guidance into binding regulation could impose more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Benjamin D. Singer, vice chair of the Department of Medicine at the Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, has expressed opposition to proposed revisions to the regulation governing Federal Financial Assistance, as outlined in public comments submitted to the Office of Management and Budget. The letter warned that the proposed rule would jeopardize hundreds of active research grants supported by agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the National Science Foundation. The c more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Alice Barkan, professor of biology at the University of Oregon, Eugene, has submitted a public comment letter voicing opposition to a proposed rule by the Office of Management and Budget that would revise federal financial assistance regulations. The letter criticized the conversion of uniform guidance from advisory to binding regulation, warning that it could impose disproportionate costs on smaller institutions and constrain scientific research participation. The letter highlights concern that political pre-issuance re more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Bradley J. Nolen, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Oregon, Eugene, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget addressing proposed revisions to the federal regulation governing financial assistance, also known as the Uniform Guidance. The letter expresses concern about discretionary award-termination provisions included in the updates. According to the letter, these provisions would grant federal agencies the authority to terminate active research awards based  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Douglas J. Epstein, professor of genetics at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget opposing a proposed rule revising federal financial assistance regulations. The letter highlights potential risks to federally funded biomedical research programs, particularly those supported by the National Institutes of Health. The professor emphasizes that the proposed requirement for pre-issuance review of discretionary awards  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Paula Fomby, professor of sociology and demography at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, has voiced opposition in a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget regarding proposed changes to regulations governing federal financial assistance. The letter outlines numerous concerns about how the proposed rules could compromise the integrity of federally funded scientific research. The correspondent cautions against a provision allowing senior political appointees to conduct reviews of individual  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Nicole Horan, a graduate student in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, expressed concerns in a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget about proposed changes affecting federally funded research. The letter highlights potential negative effects on scientific discovery, workforce stability, and dissemination of research findings supported by the National Institutes of Health. Horan points out that restrictions on research topics could create uncertainty for grad more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Ryan S. Gray, associate professor of nutritional sciences and pediatrics at the University of Texas Dell Pediatrics Research Institute, Austin, has submitted a public comment letter voicing concerns regarding the Office of Management and Budget's proposed revisions which governs federal research grant management across various agencies. The letter emphasizes that the proposal threatens the established merit-based, peer-reviewed grant system that has underpinned America's scientific dominance since World War II. Gray outl more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Todd A Clason, director of Customized Physiology and Imaging Core at the University of Vermont, Burlington, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget voicing opposition to the proposed rule revision. The letter expressed concerns in a public comment letter about how the changes would affect federal financial assistance regulation for research grants supported by NIH and NSF. The letter highlights key objections including mandates for political pre-issuance review of funding decisions an more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Briana B. Morrison, professor of computer science at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, has submitted a public comment letter raising opposition to the Office of Management and Budget's proposed revisions to federal financial assistance regulations. The proposed rule aims to transform long-standing government-wide guidance for research grants into binding regulations, potentially altering the compliance environment for all federally funded research institutions. The letter highlights worries that smaller, rural more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Utah Credit Union Association, Salt Lake City, has submitted a public comment letter expressing support for the National Credit Union Administration's interim final rule clarifying federal credit unions' authority to charge non-interest fees, including interchange fees from payment card operations. The comments were submitted in response to the NCUA's rulemaking on this topic. The Association emphasized that the IFR provides regulatory certainty by affirming that these fees are authorized under the Federal Credit Uni more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Leanne Boehm, associate professor of nursing at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, Tennessee, has raised concerns in a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget regarding proposed changes to federal financial assistance regulations. The letter warns that the revisions could damage the integrity and stability of federally supported research by weakening peer review and allowing grant termination without cause. The letter emphasizes that peer review is essential for ensuring federal  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Wilsonville (Oregon) Mayor Shawn O'Neil has submitted a public comment letter expressing opposition to the Office of Management and Budget's proposed revisions on the regulation governing federal financial assistance. The Mayor warned that the proposed changes would add unpredictability, increase administrative burdens, and threaten the reliability of federal awards essential for community services and infrastructure projects. Wilsonville, which serves approximately 27,600 residents and is a significant economic hub with more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Win-Tech Inc., a precision machining small business in Kennesaw, Georgia, has submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council concerning the proposed changes under FAR case which seeks to overhaul various parts of the Federal Acquisition Regulation related to acquisition efficiency and burden reduction. As a subcontractor primarily serving Department of War prime contractors in aerospace and defense, Win-Tech raises concerns about the potential for increased regulatory compliance burdens on more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Wisconsin Credit Union League, Madison, has expressed support for the National Credit Union Administration's interim final rule clarifying federal credit unions' authority to assess non-interest charges and fees, including interchange fees from credit and debit card operations. The letter praises the agency's action to preempt conflicting state laws such as Illinois' Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, which the League says unfairly restricts federal credit unions' fee-setting abilities. The League applauds the NCUA's r more ST

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison, has submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget regarding proposed revisions to the Uniform Grant Guidance. The department expressed concerns that the changes are unclear, resulting in increased administrative burdens and costs for states, local educational agencies, cooperative educational service agencies, public libraries, and their systems. It also fears that the revisions reduce local decision-making authority. The department highl more ST