Featured Stories
Ohio State Medical Association: Seeing Surgery From New Perspectives
DUBLIN, Ohio, Oct. 1 -- The Ohio State Medical Association issued the following news:
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09/30/2026
Seeing Surgery from New Perspectives
Summer Scholar, Cynthia Bukirwa, explored pediatric surgical research at Nationwide Children's Hospital and returned to Honduras as a medical student.
This summer, OSMA Foundation Summer Scholar Cynthia Bukirwa conducted clinical research at Nationwide Children's Hospital investigating the use of robotic tele-ultrasound with AI-driven decision support for pediatric surgical patients.
Her work explored how the technology could improve diagnostic imaging
... Show Full Article
DUBLIN, Ohio, Oct. 1 -- The Ohio State Medical Association issued the following news:
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09/30/2026
Seeing Surgery from New Perspectives
Summer Scholar, Cynthia Bukirwa, explored pediatric surgical research at Nationwide Children's Hospital and returned to Honduras as a medical student.
This summer, OSMA Foundation Summer Scholar Cynthia Bukirwa conducted clinical research at Nationwide Children's Hospital investigating the use of robotic tele-ultrasound with AI-driven decision support for pediatric surgical patients.
Her work explored how the technology could improve diagnostic imagingand expand access to care, particularly for patients in underserved communities. Through retrospective chart review and data collection, Cynthia saw firsthand the attention to detail required to turn individual clinical encounters into meaningful research.
"I gained a greater appreciation for the attention to detail required to transform clinical encounters into meaningful data and, more importantly, how research can inform clinical decision-making and improve patient care."
Connecting Research to Patient Care
Cynthia also shadowed her mentor in the operating room and clinic, giving her the chance to connect the questions she was studying with the care patients received.
"Beyond research, I shadowed my mentor in both the operating room and clinic, allowing me to connect our research questions with patient care and gain greater insight into a career in surgery."
Returning to Honduras as a Medical Student
Cynthia ended her summer by returning to Honduras with a surgical mission team she has worked with for four years. This trip was different: for the first time, she returned as a medical student.
With greater clinical knowledge, she was able to take on a more hands-on role in the operating room under the direct supervision of her mentors. Over one week, she observed approximately 50 procedures spanning orthopedic surgery, gynecology and general surgery.
"Given my interest in global health, working alongside Honduran physicians and nurses was invaluable in expanding my clinical perspective and preparing me to serve patients from diverse backgrounds."
Continuing the Work
Cynthia's research will continue beyond the summer. She will remain at Nationwide Children's as a student researcher throughout the academic year and continue working with her mentor. She also submitted an abstract for presentation at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Surgical Research Conference.
"I am deeply grateful to the Summer Scholars donors and supporters whose generosity made this summer of mentorship, research, and growth possible. Their generosity gave me time to learn from patients, mentors, and data, and I will carry what it taught me into every patient encounter ahead."
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The OSMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. We also accept grants from Donor Advised Funds (DAF).
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Original text here: https://osma.org/aws/OSMA/pt/sd/news_article/636278/_PARENT/layout_details-news/false
[Category: Medical]
NSBA Leads Comment Letter From Small Business Groups to FTC on Personalized Pricing Policy Proposal
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSida) -- The National Small Business Association issued the following news:
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NSBA Leads Comment Letter from Small Business Groups to FTC on Personalized Pricing Policy Proposal
SEPT. 30, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. | Ahead of the administrative deadline last week, the National Small Business Association (NSBA) submitted comments to the Federal Trade Commission regarding the agency's proposed policy for personalized pricing.
Increasingly relied upon by small-business owners to offer, for example, discounts to repeat buyers or tokens of customer appreciation on certain
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSida) -- The National Small Business Association issued the following news:
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NSBA Leads Comment Letter from Small Business Groups to FTC on Personalized Pricing Policy Proposal
SEPT. 30, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. | Ahead of the administrative deadline last week, the National Small Business Association (NSBA) submitted comments to the Federal Trade Commission regarding the agency's proposed policy for personalized pricing.
Increasingly relied upon by small-business owners to offer, for example, discounts to repeat buyers or tokens of customer appreciation on certainholidays or birthdays, on Aug. 19, the FTC issued a policy statement outlining plans to formalize its approach of how personal data may be used to set prices for goods and services.
Joined by eight other organizations representing small-business owners, including the Association of Women's Business Centers, the National LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC), NSBA's comments begin by offering support for the FTC's stated policy goal of stopping businesses from secretly charging some customers more than others based on what a business knows about them.
However, the comment letter continues with concerns on the FTC proposal, specifically citing a need for further details and clarity ahead of final publication and enactment, like clearly distinguishing between a "markup" or "discounts." These are terms small businesses are utilizing more in digital and automated workflow practices to attract new and keep repeat customers in an increasingly competitive economic environment.
"The statement does not say whether these practices are covered, and, if they are, what a compliant disclosure would say," NSBA's comment reads. "A business trying to act in good faith cannot answer that question from the Commission's own document."
NSBA further articulated its concerns with the FTC policy proposal through several examples of state-level policies on personalized pricing, highlighting how implementation of these policies across the nation is not only creating a patchwork network of compliance for small-business owners to navigate, but limiting small business' abilities to offer legitimate discounts or incentives for customers.
Recognizing the policy statement to be just that, and not yet a fully proposed rule published by formal notice in the Federal Register at this time, NSBA and the cosignatory small-business associations are urging the FTC to reconsider its policy for the potential it bears to shape future legislation or provision with enforcement authority:
"We ask the Commission to revise the statement so that it turns on whether a business is concealing a price increase, not on whether a business used any customer data at all, and to withdraw or narrow the disclosure requirement until it can be met with tools that actually exist."
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INFODOC: https://nsbaadvocate.org/members/letters-comments-testimony
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Original text here: https://nsbaadvocate.org/post/nsba-leads-comment-letter-from-small-business-groups-to-ftc-on-personalized-pricing-policy-proposal
[Category: Business]
HFTP Names Inntelo AI as AI Partner, Deploying AI Agents for Members, Media and Events
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 1 -- Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals issued the following news:
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September 30, 2026
HFTP Names Inntelo AI as AI Partner, Deploying AI Agents for Members, Media and Events
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), the global association for hospitality finance and technology professionals, has selected Inntelo AI as its AI partner.
The partnership will see Inntelo AI's AI agents deployed across HFTP's website, news outlets (Hospitality Upgrade, Hotel Online, Clubs Online and HFTP News) and flagship events. The association has 83 chapters
... Show Full Article
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 1 -- Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals issued the following news:
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September 30, 2026
HFTP Names Inntelo AI as AI Partner, Deploying AI Agents for Members, Media and Events
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), the global association for hospitality finance and technology professionals, has selected Inntelo AI as its AI partner.
The partnership will see Inntelo AI's AI agents deployed across HFTP's website, news outlets (Hospitality Upgrade, Hotel Online, Clubs Online and HFTP News) and flagship events. The association has 83 chaptersacross 46 countries, approximately 100,000 opt-in subscribers to its media titles, and hosts HITEC, which drew more than 6,100 attendees and a record 400-plus exhibiting companies to San Antonio in June 2026.
Inntelo AI's AI agents will answer member, attendee and exhibitor enquiries around the clock in more than 50 languages. Any enquiry requiring human input will be passed to the right HFTP team.
For HFTP, the partnership brings AI into how the association serves members and exhibitors every day; for Inntelo AI, it is a partnership with the association behind the world's largest and longest-running hospitality technology event.
Asif Alidina, Co-Founder and CEO of Inntelo AI, said: "At a time of such rapid technological change, HFTP has become an ever-more important hospitality community. Through forums like Hospitality Upgrade and HITEC, it plays a vital role in helping its members learn and adopt new technologies safely and with confidence, knowing that they have been designed and stress-tested for our industry.
"Hospitality will always stay human first, and any AI we adopt must be designed from within the industry. Our partnership with HFTP is a great validation for Inntelo AI as we continue to lead the way in AI-native hospitality technology that serves guests, teams and businesses equally."
Inntelo AI has experienced significant growth since the start of 2024. It launched the UK's first AI agent in a live hotel environment more than two years ago, and the company's agents now run in hotels and resorts across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and now North America, with more than 30,000 rooms in deployment.
Inntelo AI has been deployed in the world's tallest hotel, CIEL Dubai Marina part of IHG's Vignette Collection, operated by The First Group Hospitality; Africa's fastest-growing hotel group, CityBlue Hotels; and The Gate London City, owned and operated by EQ Group, which paired the Inntelo AI rollout with an upskilling programme for the hotel team, a case study in how hospitality can adopt AI responsibly by developing people alongside the technology.
Across customer sites, Inntelo AI's agents automate 98% of guest interactions, save 17 minutes per guest enquiry and lift in-stay revenue by 32% on average. The company's client base has more than doubled in recent months.
The partnership builds on HFTP's Hospitality AI Collective, which is leading the industry's move to responsible, well-designed AI built for hospitality. The Collective unites more than 30 hospitality AI experts with liaisons from more than ten associations, including the American Hotel & Lodging Association, AAHOA, HSMAI and HTNG, to give hoteliers hands-on education, shared standards and best practice.
Frank Wolfe, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of HFTP, said: "Our members and exhibitors expect HFTP to show what AI can actually do for hospitality, not just talk about it. Through the Hospitality AI Collective, we have brought the industry together around responsible, well-designed AI. We chose Inntelo AI because the team comes from inside the industry and has proven the technology in working hotels. Putting these agents across our website, our media and HITEC lets our community use AI directly and judge it on results."
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Original text here: https://www.hftp.org/news/hftp-names-inntelo-ai-as-ai-partner-deploying-ai-agents-for-members-media-and-events
[Category: Travel]
American Fintech Council Appointed To Conference of State Bank Supervisors Nonbank Industry Advisory Council
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release:
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American Fintech Council (AFC) Appointed To Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) Nonbank Industry Advisory Council
AFC and leading member companies to collaborate in newly established group to advance responsible innovation and state by state regulatory clarity in nonbank financial services
Appointment further solidifies AFC as the leading voice for responsible fintech companies and innovative
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release:
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American Fintech Council (AFC) Appointed To Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) Nonbank Industry Advisory Council
AFC and leading member companies to collaborate in newly established group to advance responsible innovation and state by state regulatory clarity in nonbank financial services
Appointment further solidifies AFC as the leading voice for responsible fintech companies and innovativebanks in state capitals across the country
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Washington, DC (September 30, 2026) - The American Fintech Council (AFC), the largest industry association representing both responsible fintech companies and innovative banks, has been appointed as an observer on the newly launched Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) Nonbank Industry Advisory Council (NIAC), while several of its leading member companies have been selected to serve as industry representatives.
"State regulators play a crucial role in overseeing the modern financial ecosystem, and we commend CSBS for their consistent industry engagement and creating a dedicated forum to collaborate directly with fintech companies and other financial service providers," said Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council. "AFC is honored to serve as an observer on the NIAC alongside our members. We look forward to collaborating with state regulators to foster responsible innovation, ensure robust consumer protections, and modernize the supervisory experience for nonbank financial institutions."
The newly formed NIAC will serve as a vital forum that fosters ongoing dialogue between industry experts and state supervisors. By bringing together diverse voices from across the nonbank sector, the NIAC will create a structured environment where regulators and industry leaders can proactively address pressing regulatory issues, explore the implications of rapid technological advancements, and identify emerging risks before they impact consumers or the broader market.
As an observing member, AFC will focus its participation on practical solutions to streamline state oversight, ensuring that consumer protection frameworks evolve smoothly alongside the modern financial services industry. This collaboration will seek to reduce regulatory friction and enhance supervisory coordination, ultimately supporting a more efficient, consistent, and transparent regulatory landscape that benefits both innovative nonbank entities and the consumers they serve.
"Engagement with state banking regulators is central to AFC's advocacy efforts," said Ian P. Moloney, Chief Policy Officer at the American Fintech Council, who will serve as AFC's representative on the NIAC. "As the named participant on the NIAC, I am eager and excited for this opportunity to continue supporting state regulators and providing our perspective to help build regulatory frameworks that allow affordable and accessible financial technologies to thrive without compromising consumer safety."
A standards-based organization, the American Fintech Council (AFC) is the largest and most diverse trade association representing financial technology (fintech) companies and innovative banks. On behalf of nearly 175 member companies and partners, AFC promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system by supporting responsible innovation in financial services and encouraging sound public policy. AFC members foster competition in consumer finance and pioneer products to better serve underserved consumer segments and geographies.
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Original text here: https://www.fintechcouncil.org/press-releases/american-fintech-council-afc-appointed-to-conference-of-state-bank-supervisors-csbs-nonbank-industry-advisory-council
[Category: Financial Services]
American Dental Association: Dental Examinations Crucial in Early Oral Cancer Detection
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 1 -- The American Dental Association posted the following news release:
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Dental Examinations Crucial in Early Oral Cancer Detection
First ADA living guideline reaffirms clinical oral examinations and biopsy as most effective methods to identify and confirm early-stage oral cancer
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CHICAGO, Sept. 29, 2026 -- The American Cancer Society projects 38,720 new oral cancer cases and 8,390 deaths this year in the United States--roughly one life lost every hour. An updated clinical practice guideline from the American Dental Association (ADA) reinforces that dental visits
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 1 -- The American Dental Association posted the following news release:
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Dental Examinations Crucial in Early Oral Cancer Detection
First ADA living guideline reaffirms clinical oral examinations and biopsy as most effective methods to identify and confirm early-stage oral cancer
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CHICAGO, Sept. 29, 2026 -- The American Cancer Society projects 38,720 new oral cancer cases and 8,390 deaths this year in the United States--roughly one life lost every hour. An updated clinical practice guideline from the American Dental Association (ADA) reinforces that dental visitscan be the first line of defense against oral cancer.
The guideline, available online ahead of print in The Journal of the American Dental Association, finds that comprehensive clinical exams remain the most critical first step in detecting early signs of oral and lip cancers. If a lesion is detected, biopsy remains the best next course of action and the only definitive method to confirm the diagnosis of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral and lip squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).
"Dental visits can save lives," said Dr. Mark Lingen, D.D.S., Ph.D., guideline panel chair and professor of pathology at the University of Chicago Medicine. "Oral cancer can be serious, but early detection often leads to better patient outcomes."
Findings in the guideline generally recommend against the routine use of commercially available cytology, light-based, vital staining, or salivary adjuncts to inform whether a biopsy or specialist referral is needed for adults with visible lesions or to screen adults without visible lesions. Cytology (the examination of loose cells) may be offered in limited circumstances when biopsy (the examination of a larger piece of tissue) is not possible, advisable, or indicated, particularly for lesions that could be cause for concern. Salivary adjunct tests are recommended only for use in research settings.
"A careful look at and feel of your mouth, head, and neck is a routine and important part of every dental visit, so keep up with your regular dental checkups," said Dr. Alessandro Villa, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.P.H.; ADA Council on Scientific Affairs guideline panel representative; chief of oral medicine, oral oncology and dentistry at Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute; and professor in the department of surgical sciences at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. "Do not ignore a sore or lump in your mouth that hasn't healed in 2-3 weeks. Let your dentist or physician know, especially if you also notice bleeding, pain, difficulty swallowing, or hoarseness. If something looks concerning, your dentist may obtain a biopsy."
The guideline is an update of a 2017 clinical practice guideline on the evaluation of potentially malignant disorders, including oral cancer. It is also the first fully developed under the ADA Living Guideline Program, established in 2025. Living evidence-informed guidelines uphold the methodological rigor of traditional guidelines but are updated as soon as new evidence emerges. This enhancement of the traditional guideline process, which usually updates every 3-5 years, allows information to be evaluated and shared more quickly with dentists, other health care professionals and patients.
Guideline development was led by the ADA in collaboration with a team of methodologists from the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and a multidisciplinary guideline panel. The ADA Council on Scientific Affairs (CSA) provided oversight through topic approval, panel representation, and review and approval of the final guideline.
"At the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health at Penn Dental Medicine, we are committed to using cutting edge, transparent, and rigorous methodology to keep guideline recommendations up-to-date on a continual basis," said Olivia Urquhart, Associate Director of Health Care Guidelines at the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. "Getting emerging evidence into the hands of clinicians quickly can be the difference between early detection of oral cancer and a late-stage diagnosis."
To read the full guideline online and access related interactive resources, visit ADA.org/OralCancerGuideline. Additional information about oral cancer is available at MouthHealthy.org/OralCancer.
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About the American Dental Association
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing 152,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance has long been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), published monthly, is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit ADA.org. For more information on oral health, including prevention, care and treatment of dental disease, visit the ADA's consumer website MouthHealthy.org.
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About the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health at Penn Dental Medicine
The Center for Integrative Global Oral Health (CIGOH) at Penn Dental Medicine is the school's first policy center, focused on seeking creative evidence-informed solutions to address unmet oral health needs by providing critical infrastructure to develop and test effective interventions and policy. Within CIGOH, the Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center at Penn Dental Medicine engages researchers from around the globe in systematic reviews and meta-analysis of research to develop the best available evidence on oral health topics to help clinicians, policymakers, patients, and caregivers make well-informed care decisions. For more information about CIGOH, visit www.dental.upenn.edu/CIGOH and for more information on Penn Dental Medicine, visit www.dental.upenn.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.ada.org/about/press-releases/dental-examinations-crucial-in-early-oral-cancer-detection
[Category: Dentistry]
American College of Cardiology: Overall Diet Quality Key to Heart Health
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSjou) -- The American College of Cardiology posted the following news release:
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Overall Diet Quality Key to Heart Health
New American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement emphasizes plant-forward eating, limiting highly processed foods and integrating nutrition into health care to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease
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WASHINGTON (Sep 30, 2026) - A healthy, balanced dietary pattern, rather than one focused on individual nutrients or foods is key to maintaining heart health, according to a Scientific Statement issued by the American College of Cardiology
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSjou) -- The American College of Cardiology posted the following news release:
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Overall Diet Quality Key to Heart Health
New American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement emphasizes plant-forward eating, limiting highly processed foods and integrating nutrition into health care to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease
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WASHINGTON (Sep 30, 2026) - A healthy, balanced dietary pattern, rather than one focused on individual nutrients or foods is key to maintaining heart health, according to a Scientific Statement issued by the American College of Cardiologyand published in JACC, its flagship journal. Diets should include minimally processed plant-based foods and healthy fats and proteins, while limiting foods high in refined starches, added sugars, sodium or unhealthy fats, as well as highly processed foods of poor nutritional quality.
"Suboptimal diet is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and diet and lifestyle modification is widely considered essential for both primary and secondary prevention," said Frank B. Hu, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Chair of the Scientific Statement. "However, the concept of a 'heart-healthy' diet has evolved over time from nutrient-centric approaches to more holistic, food- and pattern-based strategies that better reflect advances in the understanding of the complex relationship between diet and cardiometabolic health."
Recently, guideline recommendations have shifted from individual nutrients to overall dietary patterns, with strong evidence supporting a variety of healthy dietary patterns, including the Mediterranean diet and dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet. These patterns generally emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, legumes, healthy protein sources, and unsaturated fats for lowering risk of CVD.
This Scientific Statement reviews current evidence on nutrition and cardiovascular health, including macronutrients, micronutrients, dietary patterns, ultra-processed foods and emerging nutrition-based interventions, and offers consensus recommendations on incorporating food and health into clinician/patient discussions on preventing and managing heart disease.
The consensus recommendations include:
* Diet and nutrition play a central role in preventing and managing cardiovascular kidney metabolic syndrome, which includes interconnected conditions such as CVD, diabetes, obesity and chronic kidney disease, with emphasis on plant-forward eating patterns, lower sodium intake and limiting highly processed foods of poor nutritional quality.
* Access to healthy foods, affordability and other social drivers of health significantly affect diet quality. Food security should be considered across four domains: availability, affordability, accessibility and utilization of nutritious foods.
* Cardiovascular risk is driven less by the percentage of carbohydrates, fats or protein consumed and more by overall nutrition quality, food sources and degree of processing.
* Current evidence supports replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats, particularly from sources like liquid plant oils, nuts, seeds and fish, and prioritizing whole grains and other high-fiber food. Foods high in saturated fat, refined starches and added sugars should be limited.
* Make beverage choices that support cardiovascular health by prioritizing water and other unsweetened beverages and limiting sugar-sweetened beverages. Moderate consumption of coffee or tea can be part of a healthy dietary pattern. Alcohol consumption should generally be limited or avoided.
* GLP-1 receptor agonists can produce significant weight loss and cardiovascular benefits, but a nutrient-rich, high-quality diet remains important during treatment. Adequate intakes of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals are essential for maintaining overall health and preventing nutritional deficiencies.
* "Food Is Medicine" programs that provide nutritious food as clinical interventions can improve diet quality, with growing evidence of benefits for clinical outcomes. Successful implementation will require integrating these programs into health care systems and developing sustainable approaches across diverse settings.
"Ultimately, heart-healthy eating is not about focusing on a single nutrient or food or following the latest dietary trend," Hu said. "What matters most is the overall quality of the diet--a consistent pattern of healthy food choices that supports cardiometabolic health and is sustainable over time."
For an embargoed copy of "Food and Health: Nutrition for Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease: 2026 ACC Scientific Statement (https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.08.025)," contact Olivia Walther, owalther@acc.org.
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The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is a global leader dedicated to transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. For more than 75 years, the ACC has empowered a community of over 60,000 cardiovascular professionals across more than 140 countries with cutting-edge education and advocacy, rigorous professional credentials, and trusted clinical guidance. From its world-class JACC Journals and NCDR registries to its Accreditation Services, global network of Chapters and Sections, and CardioSmart patient initiatives, the College is committed to creating a world where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes. Learn more at www.ACC.org or connect on social media at @ACCinTouch.
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Original text here: https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2026/09/30/16/28/Overall-Diet-Quality-Key-to-Heart-Health
[Category: Medical]
API Welcomes Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act to Modernize Permitting
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- The American Petroleum Institute posted the following news release:
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API Welcomes Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act to Modernize Permitting
WASHINGTON, September 30, 2026 -- The American Petroleum Institute (API) today welcomed the introduction of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, a comprehensive permitting reform package aimed at cutting project delays, strengthening investment certainty and helping address affordability challenges facing American consumers.
"Washington has a generational opportunity to fundamentally transform
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- The American Petroleum Institute posted the following news release:
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API Welcomes Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act to Modernize Permitting
WASHINGTON, September 30, 2026 -- The American Petroleum Institute (API) today welcomed the introduction of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, a comprehensive permitting reform package aimed at cutting project delays, strengthening investment certainty and helping address affordability challenges facing American consumers.
"Washington has a generational opportunity to fundamentally transforma broken permitting system and help address the affordability challenges facing American consumers," API President and CEO Mike Sommers said. "President Trump and Senators Capito, Lee, Whitehouse and Heinrich deserve credit for working across party lines to bring durable reform within reach. The bipartisan package would modernize NEPA, reduce duplicative reviews and unnecessary litigation, and provide greater certainty for critical projects. Congress should seize this moment and finish the job--making it easier to build the infrastructure America needs and helping keep costs down for consumers."
The legislation advances key reforms outlined in API's permitting plan and American Energy Security Framework, including enforceable timelines, more focused environmental reviews and stronger protections against litigation-driven delays.
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, API urged the Senate to bring the legislation to the floor when lawmakers return in November, calling permitting reform an economic and affordability imperative and urging Congress to complete its work this year.
The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 would:
* Clarify the scope of environmental reviews so agencies focus on impacts directly associated with a project, while keeping Clean Water Act Section 401 reviews focused only on water-quality impacts associated with a discharge.
* Strengthen protections for projects that have completed the permitting process and limit the ability of litigation to halt construction while agencies correct legal deficiencies.
* Establish clearer rules for legal challenges, including a 150-day filing deadline and requirements that challengers demonstrate direct harm.
* Reinforce statutory permitting deadlines and provide covered energy projects a path to judicial relief when agencies fail to meet them.
Why Permitting Reform Matters for Affordability
Lengthy permitting delays add costs, discourage investment and slow the infrastructure needed to deliver reliable energy. A more predictable system can help projects move faster and reduce those costs.
* An ICF analysis commissioned by API found that comprehensive permitting reform could reduce residential electricity bills by a combined $55.6 billion from 2026 through 2035, as well as support 705,000 jobs and nearly $24 billion in tax revenue by 2030.
* McKinsey estimates that construction costs can increase 24% to 30% over project permitting timelines, driven largely by rising material and labor costs and added overhead.
* More than 650 major infrastructure projects are currently awaiting federal approval, representing an estimated $1.1 trillion to $1.5 trillion in investment.
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The American Petroleum Institute (API) represents all segments of America's oil and natural gas industry, supporting nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. With approximately 600 members, API companies produce, process, and distribute the majority of the nation's energy. Founded in 1919, API has developed over 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
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Original text here: https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/news/2026/09/30/api-welcomes-bipartisan-american-affordability-and-jobs-act-to-modernize-permitt
[Category: Energy]
