Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
ATA Action Urges State Policymakers to Restore Michigan to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Allowing Physicians to Deliver Needed Care Across State Lines
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 28 -- The American Telemedicine Association issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2026:
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ATA Action Urges State Policymakers to Restore Michigan to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Allowing Physicians to Deliver Needed Care Across State Lines
March 28 Deadline: 30% of Michigan's physician workforce could lose compact-based authority to practice medicine
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WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 26, 2026 - ATA Action, the affiliated policy and legislative advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, is urging state lawmakers to pass legislation allowing
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ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 28 -- The American Telemedicine Association issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2026:
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ATA Action Urges State Policymakers to Restore Michigan to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Allowing Physicians to Deliver Needed Care Across State Lines
March 28 Deadline: 30% of Michigan's physician workforce could lose compact-based authority to practice medicine
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WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 26, 2026 - ATA Action, the affiliated policy and legislative advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, is urging state lawmakers to pass legislation allowingMichigan physicians to continue practicing medicine across state lines under the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). The IMLC allows eligible physicians to apply to practice in multiple states by submitting a single application through the Compact. While licenses are still issued individually by each state, the Compact streamlines the process, allowing physicians to obtain practice authority in multiple states quicker and with fewer administrative burdens. Since Michigan joined the IMLC in 2019, thousands of out-of-state physicians have obtained Michigan licensure while physicians located in Michigan have used the IMLC to help provide care to patients outside the state.
Michigan's statutory language, unlike most IMLC statutes, included a sunset provision, which passed on March 28, 2025, beginning a 12-month withdrawal process - until March 28, 2026 - from the Compact. If Michigan does not pass the required legislation before that date (either House Bill 5455 or Senate Bill 303), patients will suffer from care disruption and physicians will lose practice authority.
"According to data from the IMLC, more than 5,000 physicians, one-third of Michigan's physician workforce, would lose their compact-based authority to practice if lawmakers don't act quickly to pass legislation to rejoin the compact. Bipartisan bills introduced in the House and Senate are currently stalled, putting patients at risk," said Hunter Young, ATA Action's head of state government relations. "We urge leaders in both chambers to set aside differences and expeditiously restore the IMLC to statute. If this stalemate continues, patient access to care in Michigan and in other states will be harmfully disrupted. While the state will not leave the Compact until March 28 of this year, quick action is essential as providers and patients grapple with continuing uncertainty of the looming deadline.
"The IMLC is a proven, state-driven solution to the growing challenges of licensure portability - and it's never been more critical, as telehealth and multistate practice become increasingly central to how care is delivered," Young added. "State policymakers have a responsibility to protect patient access to care, particularly in rural communities, and that means ensuring physicians can practice where they are needed most."
Licensure remains one of the most significant barriers facing telehealth providers, as most states require practitioners to hold a license in the state where the patient is located. Compacts like the IMLC offer a structured, state-driven path forward, cutting through duplicative licensing requirements, easing administrative burdens, strengthening workforce mobility, and ultimately expanding access to care for patients across the country.
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About ATA Action
Founded in 2022, ATA Action is the leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing policy and accelerating the adoption of technology-enabled healthcare. Working collaboratively with federal and state legislators and policymakers, ATA Action drives industry momentum by influencing legislative and regulatory developments in telehealth, virtual care, remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence in health, health data privacy, private sector healthcare investment, and more. Representing a diverse membership - including hospital systems, technology companies, professional associations, direct-to-consumer digital health providers, payers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, digital therapeutics developers, and remote monitoring organizations - ATA Action facilitates member-led coalitions focused on initiatives such as Advancing Digital Health and Prescription Drug Use-Related Software (PDURS), Virtual Foodcare, and Cross State Care.
ATA Action is a registered 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade organization engaged in lobbying efforts to shape industry-related legislation and serves as an affiliated trade association of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). The ATA, a 501(c)(3) entity, is recognized for its leadership in advancing innovation and leading transformation in virtual care, digital health, hybrid care, artificial intelligence, and next generation connected care.
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Original text here: https://www.americantelemed.org/press-releases/ata-action-urges-state-policymakers-to-restore-michigan-to-the-interstate-medical-licensure-compact-imlc-allowing-physicians-to-deliver-needed-care-across-state-lines/
[Category: Medical]
Small Business Reaction to State of the Union
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- The National Small Business Association issued the following statement on Feb. 25, 2026:
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NSBA PRESS | Small Business Reaction to State of the Union
NSBA applauds the benefits won for small business under the current administration, and we look forward to working with our members to further opportunities for the nation's most important economic community following this evening's State of the Union.
President Donald Trump delivered his official State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress this evening where he focused on immigration, the economy,
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- The National Small Business Association issued the following statement on Feb. 25, 2026:
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NSBA PRESS | Small Business Reaction to State of the Union
NSBA applauds the benefits won for small business under the current administration, and we look forward to working with our members to further opportunities for the nation's most important economic community following this evening's State of the Union.
President Donald Trump delivered his official State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress this evening where he focused on immigration, the economy,tariffs and various social policies. He also touted past wins, including legislation NSBA supported which extended and made permanent key tax cuts passed by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
Below is a statement from NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken:
"While tonight's State of the Union failed to specifically mention small business, NSBA is pleased that President Trump underscored the broad benefits of the 2025 tax bill which has and will continue to benefit many small businesses with parity, predictability and permanency--something NSBA has been urging for many years.
"President Trump also spent a good deal of time talking about tariffs, vowing to move forward with some version of his tariffs. NSBA's members are extremely diverse with varying opinions on the tariffs. While there's a fairly equal split among small-business owners who say they're impacted and those who are not, two-thirds say they have incurred increased costs in the past year, according to our forthcoming 2026 Economic Report. Among those who have incurred increased costs, three-in-four say those increases are due to the new tariffs.
"The number one challenge small-business owners face today: economic uncertainty, followed by political instability and a decline in customer spending. Unfortunately, volatile policymaking where tariffs are concerned only exacerbates these issues. This economic insecurity and lack of predictability impacts business sustainability and growth, the ability to access financing and a whole host of other factors that disproportionately harm small businesses.
"I urge policymakers on both ends of Pennsylvania Ave. to support policies that truly help America's small businesses: full repeal of the Corporate Transparency Act, rein in the cost of health care, fair and equitable access to capital and federal contracts, and an immigration system that supports business growth and entrepreneurship.
"I look forward to working with policymakers of all stripes to provide insight and perspective from America's small businesses as policymakers move forward on key small-business priorities."
Celebrating nearly 90 years in operation, NSBA is a staunchly nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of America's entrepreneurs. NSBA's 65,000 members represent every state and every industry in the U.S., and we are proud to be the nation's first small-business advocacy organization. Please visit www.NSBAadvocate.org or follow us at @NSBAAdvocate.
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Original text here: https://www.nsbaadvocate.org/post/nsba-press-small-business-reaction-to-state-of-the-union
[Category: Business]
Another NetChoice Victory for Free Speech & Families: Court Halts Virginia's Unconstitutional Attempt to Ration Online Speech
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 [Category: Business] -- NetChoice, a coalition of trade associations that says it makes the internet safe for free enterprise and expression, posted the following news release:
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Another NetChoice Victory for Free Speech & Families: Court Halts Virginia's Unconstitutional Attempt to Ration Online Speech
ALEXANDRIA, Va.- Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted NetChoice's request for a preliminary injunction, halting the enforcement of SB 854. This ruling prevents the state of Virginia from imposing unconstitutional restrictions on how
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 [Category: Business] -- NetChoice, a coalition of trade associations that says it makes the internet safe for free enterprise and expression, posted the following news release:
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Another NetChoice Victory for Free Speech & Families: Court Halts Virginia's Unconstitutional Attempt to Ration Online Speech
ALEXANDRIA, Va.- Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted NetChoice's request for a preliminary injunction, halting the enforcement of SB 854. This ruling prevents the state of Virginia from imposing unconstitutional restrictions on howits citizens access lawful speech online while NetChoice v. Miyares moves through the legal system.
"The First Amendment is alive and well in Virginia. This ruling reaffirms that the government cannot ration access to lawful speech-even if it has noble intentions. Fundamentally, parents must stay in the driver's seat when it comes to decisions about their families," said Paul Taske, Co-Director of the NetChoice Litigation Center.
"Today's decision underscores a core truth: unconstitutional laws do not help anyone. Moreover, laws requiring age-verification and other privacy-invasive measures actually make everyone less safe and more prone to data breaches. We are seeing this in real time as countries around the world have started mandating similar privacy-destroying age-verification regimes. "
The Court's ruling validates NetChoice's core arguments against SB 854:
* Virginians' Free Speech Rights: The government cannot dictate how long citizens engage with protected speech, whether it is reading a book, watching a documentary or using social media.
* Parental Rights: Parents, not the state, are the proper authority to decide what is appropriate for their families and how they spend their time online.
* The Right to Privacy & Security: By halting the law's age-verification mandates, the ruling protects Virginians from being forced to hand over sensitive ID information, which would create a honeypot for cybercriminals and predators.
Virginia sought to ban minors from accessing social media for more than one hour per day without parental consent and required widespread age verification on lawful speech. Such restrictions are no different than the government limiting the time a person can spend reading a newspaper or having a conversation.
NetChoice is confident that SB 854 will be struck down permanently as the case moves forward. We stand firm in protecting digital spaces for all Virginians and ensuring the internet remains free from government overreach.
You can read the court's order granting the preliminary injunction here (https://netchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Virginia-PI-Opinion_Granted.pdf).
Find full case resources for NetChoice v. Miyares here (https://netchoice.org/netchoice-v-miyares-virginia/).
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Original text here: https://netchoice.org/another-netchoice-victory-for-free-speech-families-court-halts-virginias-unconstitutional-attempt-to-ration-online-speech/
American Academy of Neurology: Study Finds More Parents Saying 'No' to Vitamin K, Putting Babies' Brains at Risk
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Feb. 27 (TNSrep) -- The American Academy of Neurology issued the following news release on Feb. 26, 2026:
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Study finds more parents saying 'No' to vitamin K, putting babies' brains at risk
Highlights
* A new review of research has found the number of parents refusing vitamin K injections for their newborns is on the rise.
* Vitamin K is an essential vitamin that is naturally low in newborns. Vitamin K at birth is needed to help blood to clot. It is not a vaccine.
* Babies who do not receive vitamin K at birth are at a higher risk of life-threatening brain bleeds
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MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Feb. 27 (TNSrep) -- The American Academy of Neurology issued the following news release on Feb. 26, 2026:
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Study finds more parents saying 'No' to vitamin K, putting babies' brains at risk
Highlights
* A new review of research has found the number of parents refusing vitamin K injections for their newborns is on the rise.
* Vitamin K is an essential vitamin that is naturally low in newborns. Vitamin K at birth is needed to help blood to clot. It is not a vaccine.
* Babies who do not receive vitamin K at birth are at a higher risk of life-threatening brain bleedsand long-term disability.
* While vitamin K refusal remains low, less than 1%, the review found rates of refusal in Minnesota rose from 0.9% in 2015 to 1.6% four years later.
* In California, Connecticut and Iowa, refusal rates ranged from 0.2% to 1.3%, with over half of hospital staff saying they perceived more parents refusing vitamin K.
* Researchers say a rise in vitamin K refusal shows broader health care hesitancy among parents, and a higher likelihood of refusal of vaccines.
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Increasing numbers of parents are refusing vitamin K shots for their newborns, putting infants at greater risk of avoidable brain injuries, according to a preliminary systematic review (https://www.aan.com/hostedfiles/File/Download/6aa6bd51-2be5-4bbc-8d4f-c81713658a82) released February 26, 2026, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 78th Annual Meeting taking place April 18-22, 2026, in Chicago and online.
A vitamin K injection is a supplement that provides babies with an essential vitamin that is naturally low in newborns. It is not a vaccine. Vitamin K is needed to help blood clot. Getting a vitamin K shot right after birth can prevent a rare but serious condition called vitamin K deficiency bleeding. This condition can cause an intracerebral hemorrhage, a type of stroke, when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. It can lead to death or lifelong brain problems.
"Vitamin K at birth is safe and effective, and while refusal is still uncommon with rates in the United States remaining under 1% in most hospitals, our review found in recent years, there have been increases in parents refusing this supplement for their newborns," said study author Kate Semidey, MD, of Florida International University in Miami. "This trend is concerning because our review also found that babies who do not get the vitamin K injection are 81 times more likely to develop vitamin K deficiency bleeding."
For the review, researchers looked at 25 studies with two decades of global data. The studies examined vitamin K refusal, the incidence of vitamin K deficiency bleeding and outcomes, parent reasons for refusal and possible links to vaccine refusal.
Researchers found in Minnesota, refusal rates rose from 0.9% in 2015 to 1.6% in 2019. In California, Connecticut, and Iowa, refusal ranged from 0.2% to 1.3% in 2018 and 2019, with over half of hospital staff perceiving increases.
Internationally, refusal rates ranged from 1% to 3% in Canada, New Zealand and Scotland, and more than 30% in some birthing centers.
Researchers found among case series reports of the babies who had vitamin K deficiency bleeding, approximately 14% of the babies died, about 40% had long-term neurological disabilities such as cognitive impairment, seizures or motor deficits and about 63% of babies had brain bleeds.
They also found that parents who refused vitamin K for their babies were more likely to skip other recommended health protections. In the U.S., parents who refused vitamin K were 90 times more likely to refuse both the hepatitis B vaccine and eye medicine meant to protect newborns from potentially blinding infections. In Canada, those who refused vitamin K were 15 times more likely to not have their child vaccinated by 15 months old. In New Zealand, they were 14 times more likely.
Parental concerns included pain, preservatives and belief in inaccurate information.
"Our findings point to an urgent need for health care professionals to provide prenatal counseling to parents to ensure they understand that vitamin K can dramatically reduce preventable brain injury and its lifelong impact," said Semidey.
A limitation of the study was that it reviewed previously published research rather than following infants over time, so it did not determine the exact risk for any individual baby.
Discover more about brain health at Brain & Life (R), from the American Academy of Neurology. This resource offers a website, podcast, and books that connect patients, caregivers and anyone interested in brain health with the most trusted information, straight from the world's leading experts in brain health. Follow Brain & Life(R) on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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The American Academy of Neurology is the leading voice in brain health. As the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 44,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN's mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine. Explore the latest in neurological disease and brain health, from the minds at the AAN at AAN.com or find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. When posting to social media channels about this research, we encourage you to use the American Academy of Neurology's Annual Meeting hashtag #AANAM.
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Original text here: https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/5317
[Category: Medical]
AMCP Comment Letter on Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model to HHS
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Feb. 27 -- The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy issued the following letter:
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AMCP Comment Letter on Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model to HHS
AMCP appreciates CMS's efforts to explore alternative payment approaches to address rising Medicare Part B drug spending and recognizes the importance of testing innovative models through CMMI. At the same time, effective model testing requires designs that are operationally feasible, analytically sound, and aligned with beneficiary protection objectives. As proposed, the GLOBE Model raises concerns regarding
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Feb. 27 -- The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy issued the following letter:
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AMCP Comment Letter on Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model to HHS
AMCP appreciates CMS's efforts to explore alternative payment approaches to address rising Medicare Part B drug spending and recognizes the importance of testing innovative models through CMMI. At the same time, effective model testing requires designs that are operationally feasible, analytically sound, and aligned with beneficiary protection objectives. As proposed, the GLOBE Model raises concerns regardingadministrative complexity, benchmark reliability, beneficiary affordability, and cross-program impacts that warrant further refinement prior to finalization.
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February 23, 2025
Dr. Mehmet Oz
Administrator
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Department of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 8016
Baltimore, MD 21244-8016
Submitted electronically via regulations.gov
Re: Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model [CMS-5545-P]
Dear Administrator Oz:
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) thanks the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the opportunity to provide comments in response to the "Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model [CMS-5545-P]" (Proposed Rule).
AMCP is the nation's leading professional association dedicated to increasing patient access to affordable medicines, improving health outcomes, and ensuring the wise use of healthcare dollars. Through evidence and value-based strategies and practices, AMCP's nearly 8,000 pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and other practitioners manage medication therapies for the 270 million Americans served by health plans, pharmacy benefit management firms, emerging care models, and government health programs.
AMCP appreciates CMS's efforts to explore alternative payment approaches to address rising Medicare Part B drug spending and recognizes the importance of testing innovative models through CMMI. At the same time, effective model testing requires designs that are operationally feasible, analytically sound, and aligned with beneficiary protection objectives. As proposed, the GLOBE Model raises concerns regarding administrative complexity, benchmark reliability, beneficiary affordability, and cross-program impacts that warrant further refinement prior to finalization.
Administrative and Operational Burden
The GLOBE Model introduces significant operational complexity by establishing rebate and coinsurance methodologies that diverge from existing Medicare Part B inflation rebate processes and rely on international pricing benchmarks. These changes would require substantial updates to rebate reporting, invoicing, reconciliation workflows, claims systems, and data exchange protocols. Managed care organizations, providers, and vendors that administer or support Part B drug benefits would face increased administrative costs and coordination challenges, potentially diverting resources from patient care and benefit management.
CMS should consider leveraging established reporting and reconciliation infrastructure. Phased or voluntary participation with clearly defined transition flexibilities would reduce implementation burden, promote consistent stakeholder participation, and enhance the scalability and policy relevance of evaluation findings.
International Price Benchmarking
The Model's reliance on international pricing data raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the benchmarks used to calculate rebates and payment adjustments. Publicly available international prices often do not reflect confidential discounts, managed entry agreements, or other market-specific factors. Misaligned benchmarks could result in over- or under-estimated rebates, undermining plan financial modeling, actuarial forecasting, and budgeting for Part B drug spending.
To improve the reliability of international price benchmarks, CMS could consider incorporating validation or sensitivity-testing mechanisms and providing greater transparency around data sources and assumptions. Allowing for periodic recalibration would help ensure that payment adjustments better reflect real-world pricing conditions and support more interpretable, policy-relevant evaluation findings.
Access and Affordability
CMS acknowledges that CMMI models frequently include beneficiary protections, such as optout mechanisms, to mitigate access and affordability risks. Despite recognizing that the GLOBE Model may affect beneficiary access to drugs, CMS proposes no beneficiary opt-out, citing concerns about test integrity. This design choice prioritizes evaluation considerations over beneficiary choice and leaves patients exposed to potential adverse effects without a meaningful mechanism to avoid them. Retrospective monitoring does not function as a protection once access disruptions or cost increases have occurred.
Although the GLOBE Model is intended to reduce Medicare spending and beneficiary coinsurance, it does not establish a clear or reliable mechanism to reduce patients' costs. Because beneficiaries experience affordability holistically--through premiums, benefits, coverage stability, and access--reductions in coinsurance alone do not ensure improved affordability when offsetting costs or benefit reductions are plausible.
To address uncertainty in beneficiary affordability outcomes, CMS should more clearly specify how model generated savings are expected to translate into beneficiary level affordability improvements, consistent with CMMI's beneficiary protection objectives. Establishing prospective monitoring and CMS directed mitigation mechanisms would help ensure that affordability gains are realized at the beneficiary level while preserving plans' flexibility to manage overall financial risk.
Medicaid and Dual-Eligible Implications
Although the Model applies to Medicare, it may have meaningful spillover effects on Medicaid programs and dual-eligible beneficiaries. Changes in Part B allowed amounts and manufacturer pricing behavior could affect Medicaid rebate dynamics, wraparound payments, provider participation, and utilization patterns for drugs disproportionately used by duals. Given the heightened access sensitivity of this population, reductions in provider participation or service availability could have disproportionate equity impacts absent explicit safeguards or reinvestment in care coordination and pharmacy services.
To address potential spillover effects on Medicaid and dual-eligible beneficiaries, CMS should incorporate explicit assessment of cross-program interactions and access impacts into the model's monitoring and evaluation framework. Proactively accounting for these dynamics would help mitigate unintended effects on provider participation and beneficiary access while strengthening the policy relevance of evaluation findings.
Conclusion
While AMCP supports CMS's goal of improving prescription drug affordability for Medicare beneficiaries, the GLOBE Model, as proposed, introduces significant uncertainty and risk without clearly demonstrating how model design will produce predictable, beneficiary-centered outcomes. Addressing these concerns through greater alignment with existing infrastructure, clearer affordability pathways, and explicit consideration of cross-program impacts would strengthen model fidelity and evaluation validity. Absent such modifications, the Model risks imposing substantial burden and unintended consequences that may undermine its policy relevance and scalability.
AMCP appreciates your consideration of AMCP's concerns and looks forward to continuing work on these issues with CMS. If you have any questions regarding AMCP's comments or would like further information, please contact Vicky Jucelin, AMCP's Manager of Regulatory Affairs, at vjucelin@amcp.org or (571) 858-5320.
Sincerely,
Susan A. Cantrell, MHL, RPh, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
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Original text here: https://www.amcp.org/letters-statements-analysis/amcp-comment-letter-global-benchmark-efficient-drug-pricing-globe-model-hhs
[Category: Pharmaceuticals]
ALTA Good Deeds Foundation Announces New Board Member and Leadership Officers, Honoring Mary O'Donnell's Legacy
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- The American Land Title Association Good Deeds Foundation, a charitable organization founded by the American Land Title Association, issued the following news release:
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ALTA Good Deeds Foundation Announces New Board Member and Leadership Officers, Honoring Mary O'Donnell's Legacy
The ALTA Good Deeds Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded by ALTA, the national trade association of the land title insurance industry, today announced a series of appointments to its board of directors. The changes honor the legacy of ALTA Past President Mary
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- The American Land Title Association Good Deeds Foundation, a charitable organization founded by the American Land Title Association, issued the following news release:
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ALTA Good Deeds Foundation Announces New Board Member and Leadership Officers, Honoring Mary O'Donnell's Legacy
The ALTA Good Deeds Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded by ALTA, the national trade association of the land title insurance industry, today announced a series of appointments to its board of directors. The changes honor the legacy of ALTA Past President MaryO'Donnell, who served as Foundation chair until her passing in 2025 and whose passion for service helped shape the Foundation's mission of charitable giving and community impact.
Board Appointments
Steve Day NTP, executive vice president at Fidelity National Title Group headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., an ALTA past president and founding board member of the Foundation, was appointed chair. Day succeeds O'Donnell and will lead the Foundation's strategic direction and charitable fundraising initiatives.
"Mary's leadership was foundational to this Board and to the larger spirit of giving in our industry," Day said. "I am honored to step into the role of chair and continue the Foundation's mission in her memory."
Scott Chandler CTIS, NTP, VP & senior advisor at Ardan, based in Maitland, Fla. and an ALTA board governor, was appointed vice chair. This new officer role reflects the Foundation's expanding work and governance. Chandler was a close colleague of O'Donnell during her leadership as president and CEO of Westcor Land Title Insurance Co.
"Mary's dedication to service shaped the culture of this Foundation and so many of us personally," Chandler said. "I'm inspired to serve as vice chair and help advance the Foundation's work as we carry forward her legacy."
Jeffrey Bates, CEO of D. Bello in Newport Beach, Calif., was newly appointed to the Foundation's board of directors. With more than 20 years of operational leadership at D. Bello, a remote workforce services provider for the title industry, Bates has overseen significant growth and national recognition for the company since becoming CEO in 2013.
"Title professionals are deeply rooted in the communities we serve, and the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation helps us turn that commitment into real impact," Bates said. "I'm honored to join the board and support the Foundation's work to strengthen local nonprofits and the people who rely on them."
About the Foundation
Since its founding in 2020, the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation has awarded more than $1.36 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in 46 states and the District of Columbia, supporting causes that strengthen families, promote housing stability, and enrich communities.
For more information on the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation, including grant programs and how to support its mission, visit www.altagooddeeds.org.
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About ALTA
The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907, represents an industry comprised of more than 17,000 title insurance companies operating across the nation, with over 90% being small businesses.
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Original text here: https://www.alta.org/news-and-publications/press-release/ALTA-Good-Deeds-Foundation-Announces-New-Board-Member-and-Leadership-Officers-Honoring-Mary-ODonnells-Legacy
[Category: Real Estate]
3 Soldiers to Receive Medal of Honor
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 27 [Category: National Defense] -- The Association of the U.S. Army posted the following news:
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3 Soldiers to Receive Medal of Honor
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Three soldiers, whose collective service spanned World War II, Vietnam and Afghanistan, will be awarded the Medal of Honor on March 2, the White House announced Feb. 26.
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terry Richardson will receive the nation's highest award for valor from President Donald Trump during the ceremony. Master Sgt. Roderick Edmonds and Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Command
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 27 [Category: National Defense] -- The Association of the U.S. Army posted the following news:
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3 Soldiers to Receive Medal of Honor
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Three soldiers, whose collective service spanned World War II, Vietnam and Afghanistan, will be awarded the Medal of Honor on March 2, the White House announced Feb. 26.
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terry Richardson will receive the nation's highest award for valor from President Donald Trump during the ceremony. Master Sgt. Roderick Edmonds and Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
CommandSgt. Maj. Terry Richardson
On Sept. 14, 1968, then-Staff Sgt. Richardson was a platoon leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, near Loc Ninh, Vietnam. During a reconnaissance mission, Richardson came under intense automatic weapons and small-arms fire from a well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army battalion, according to the White House.
Richardson braved heavy fire three times to rescue three severely wounded soldiers, the White House said. Upon returning to his unit, he realized that his company was surrounded, and he again braved enemy fire to advance to the top of Hill 222, his company's objective for the day, to secure a vantage point for directing tactical air strikes, according to the White House.
Once on Hill 222, Richardson realized that it was an enemy regiment's base camp. There, he "skillfully directed air strikes before being wounded by an enemy sniper," the White House said. Ignoring his wounds, Richardson continued to direct air strikes near his position for seven more hours.
Richardson's actions saved the lives of 85 fellow soldiers, the White House said.
Master Sgt. Roderick Edmonds
Edmonds, who went by Roddie, is being honored for his actions from Jan. 27, 1945, to March 30, 1945, while he was a prisoner of war in Germany.
Assigned to the 106th Infantry Division's 442nd Infantry Regiment, Edmonds arrived in Belgium with his unit in December 1944, five days before the Battle of the Bulge, according to a narrative on the website Jewish Virtual Library.
After much of the division was overrun, Edmonds was one of thousands of U.S. soldiers captured by the Germans and detained eventually at Stalag IX-A, a prisoner of war camp in Ziegenhain, Germany.
As the highest-ranking NCO at the camp, Edmonds was placed in command of the camp's 1,292 American POWs. On the evening of Jan. 26, 1945, the Germans announced that only Jewish-American prisoners would fall out for roll call the following morning, at the threat of execution, according to the White House.
"Edmonds quickly understood that segregating more than 200 Jewish-American POWs would likely result in their persecution and possible death, so he directed his senior leaders to have all 1,200 American prisoners present themselves for roll call," according to the White House.
The following morning, the Nazi commandant became incredulous after realizing that so many Americans were standing in formation.
Pointing his gun at Edmonds' head, the German officer demanded that Edmonds identify the Jewish soldiers, to which Edmonds replied, "We are all Jews here." Edmonds then reminded the officer of the Geneva Conventions, which stipulate that prisoners need only provide their name, rank and serial number. He suggested that if the officer killed him, he would have to kill all the soldiers and face war crimes charges and, according to the narrative, the officer backed down.
Several weeks later, in March 1945, as Allied forces were rapidly advancing toward the area, the Germans ordered all prisoners to assemble outside the barracks for evacuation farther east to another camp, the White House said. Fully intending to undermine his enemy captors, Edmonds ordered all American prisoners to form in front of the barracks, and when the enemy transports arrived, they would break ranks and rush back to their barracks.
"Without regard for his own life, Master Sergeant Edmonds gallantly led these prisoners in a relentless pursuit of opposition and resistance, forcing the Germans to abandon the camp leaving the 1,200 American prisoners behind," the White House said.
On March 30, 1945, the camp was liberated by the advancing U.S. 6th Armored Division.
Edmonds died in 1985.
Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis
Ollis, an infantryman assigned to the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan, is being honored for his actions on Aug. 28, 2013.
On that day, a complex enemy attack involving vehicle-borne IEDs, suicide vests, indirect fire and small arms fire was launched against the forward operating base, according to the White House.
After accounting for his soldiers, Ollis moved to check for casualties and toward the enemy force that had breached the base perimeter. Ollis found Lt. Karol Cierpica, a Polish officer and a member of the coalition forces also stationed at the base, and together they moved toward the point of attack, without body armor and armed only with rifles.
While under continuous small-arms, indirect and rocket-propelled grenade fires, Ollis and Cierpica reached the attack point and linked up with other friendly forces to begin a coordinated effort to repulse the enemy from the airfield and adjacent buildings. They moved under fire from position to position, engaging the enemy with accurate and effective fire.
During the fight, an enemy combatant came around a corner and immediately began firing on Ollis and Cierpica. Ollis positioned himself between the insurgent and Cierpica, who had been wounded in both legs and was unable to walk. Ollis fired on the enemy fighter, incapacitating him, but as he approached the wounded fighter, the fighter's suicide vest detonated, mortally wounding Ollis, the White House said.
Ollis was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for valor in combat. In 2019, the medal was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross, according to a 2024 10th Mountain Division news release.
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Original text here: https://www.ausa.org/news/3-soldiers-receive-medal-honor
