WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Nineteen State Attorneys General submitted a public comment letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supporting its proposed rule on "Air Plan Approval; South Dakota; Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period." The Attorneys General stated that the agency's policy for evaluating state plans respects the Clean Air Act, state sovereignty, and furthers a commonsense approach to energy generation. The Attorneys General affirmed that a state's plan pre  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Five St. Elizabeth Healthcare doctors have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging a stronger recommendation for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) deficiency testing to guide fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy. The community-based cancer center located in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati, Ohio, which has routinely performed preemptive DPYD genetic testing since late 2020, shared its experiences and insights on the feasibility  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Afterschool Alliance submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education. The organization provided feedback on the department's proposed priorities and definitions for discretionary grant programs, urging the inclusion of afterschool and summer learning opportunities in ongoing education efforts. The Afterschool Alliance expressed pleasure at the department's focus on literacy, noting that afterschool and summer providers have long partnered in adva  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Air Line Pilots Association has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation expressing its opposition to Special Conditions No. 25-878-SC concerning Archeion Holdings LLC. ALPA, representing professional airline pilots, voiced concerns that the lack of information regarding the proposed "digital systems architecture" makes it difficult to assess if these Special Conditions ensure an equivalent level of safety to existing airworthiness sta  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Air Line Pilots Association, International and the Allied Pilots Association submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation expressing strong opposition to a petition seeking a two-year exemption from a rule requiring physical secondary barriers on transport category airplanes. The petition, filed by Airlines for America, requests a delay in implementing the Federal Aviation Administration's final rule on Installed Physical Secondary Barrier  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), McLean, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation expressing its opposition to Pyka Inc.'s request to amend an existing exemption for its unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). ALPA, representing over 79,000 pilots, maintains that all national airspace system (NAS) operations must uphold safety levels for all users, including airline operations. ALPA understands that Pyka seeks  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), McLean, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expressing its opposition to Pyka Inc.'s request to amend an existing exemption for its unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). ALPA, representing more than 79,000 pilots, maintains that all operations in the national airspace system (NAS) must uphold safety levels for all users, including a  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Alliance for Connected Care submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) advocating for improvements to the health technology ecosystem. The Alliance, whose members include leading healthcare and technology organizations, is dedicated to reducing policy, legal, and regulatory barriers to telemedicine and remote patient monitoring adoption. The Alliance called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Allied Pilots Association, Fort Worth, Texas, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation expressing opposition to a petition for exemption filed by Airlines for America. The petition seeks a limited exemption from regulations regarding installed physical secondary barriers (IPSB) on aircraft. APA, representing professional airline pilots, stated it has firsthand insight into airline operation requirements and advocates for pilot and   more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- America's Credit Unions submitted a public comment letter to the National Credit Union Administration urging the agency to rescind and re-propose its Succession Planning Final Rule. The organization advocated for a shift from a mandatory requirement to a guidance-based approach for succession planning while supporting the Simplification of Share Insurance Final Rule with requests for transition guidance and an extended compliance time-frame. America's Credit Unions, repre  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The American Association for Cancer Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advocating for mandatory testing for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency in patients receiving fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy drugs. The AACR, a scientific organization dedicated to cancer research, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to provide information from clinical oncology and pharmacology experts  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The American Association of Airport Executives, Alexandria, Virginia, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding a notice of proposed rulemaking on administrative rulemaking, guidance and enforcement procedures. AAAE generally supported the proposed rule, which aims to codify policies governing the internal review and issuance of regulations and guidance documents. AAAE expressed appreciation for the administration's deregulation   more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The American Dental Association (ADA) submitted a public comment letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the exploration of Health Level Seven (HL7(R)) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) for real-world data (RWD) submissions. The ADA expressed encouragement for continued efforts in data standardization. While recognizing RWD's potential for validating research, the ADA highlighted logistical, technological, privacy, and ethical concerns i  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The American National Red Cross has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning its draft guidance on reducing the risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) transmission via human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps). The organization emphasized its perspective on HCT/Ps collected as cellular starting material from healthy donors, noting the importance of distinguishing requirements for these materia  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The American National Red Cross submitted a public comment letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning its draft guidance titled "Recommendations to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Disease Agents Associated with Sepsis by Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps)." The Red Cross's comments focused on HCT/Ps collected as cellular starting material from healthy donors, such as mononuclear cells or leukocytes, emphasizing the nee  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Psychological Association Services Inc. (APA Services) have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) offering feedback on the agency's proposed supplemental grant priorities for evidence-based literacy, education choice, and returning education to the states. The APA, representing the field of psychology, emphasized the importance of psychological science in effective learning a  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education providing feedback on the department's proposed priorities and definitions concerning evidence-based literacy, education choice, and returning education to the states. ASHA, representing 241,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and related professionals, underscored the vital role its members play in supporting student communicatio  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The American Waterways Operators (AWO), Arlington, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan expressing support for a proposed regulated navigation area (RNA) in Ludington Harbor Channel and Pere Marquette Lake, Michigan. AWO represents the tugboat, towboat, and barge industry advocating for safe, sustainable, and efficient transportation across American waterways. AWO, on behalf of its more than 300 member companies, sta  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Arizona State University Assistant Professor John F. Cavallaro has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urging the agency to ensure a four-week public comment period before upcoming committee meetings and to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines. The comment, directed to members of the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, emphasizes the continued harm of COVID infections and the critical role of vaccines in p  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Attorneys General of Arizona and the District of Columbia submitted a public comment letter to the Food and Drug Administration voicing strong support for a petition requesting agency action on toxic heavy metals in food intended for babies and young children. The attorneys general urged the agency to issue guidance on finished product testing for lead and other toxic heavy metals without further delay. The letter supports a multistate petition for reconsideration dat  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Associated General Contractors of America has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requesting a 30-day extension on the comment period for the proposed amendments to the Medical Evaluation Requirements in the Respiratory Protection Standard. The proposed rulemaking aims to address safety measures concerning certain types of respirators used by construction professionals. AGC, the nation's leading construct  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) submitted a public comment letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) deficiency and the use of fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy drugs. The association represents physicians, scientists, and medical technologists involved in molecular testing that drives patient care. AMP's Pharmacogenomics (PGx) Working Group provided recommendations for DPYD variants that should be tested c  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation expressing its opposition to a petition filed by CSX Transportation. CSXT is seeking approval to discontinue or modify a signal system in Scarborough, Maine. The railroad's request involves retiring the Rigby West signal location at milepost PLD-15.10 and removing track control to extend other than main track limits from milepost PLD-15.10 to Control Point C  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Center for Biological Diversity, Tucson, Arizona, submitted a public comment letter in strong opposition to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Direct Final Rule rescinding key oversight regulations of the Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. The rule would eliminate requirements for emissions reporting, certification, independent verification, and agency review under 10 C.F.R. Part 300. The Center asserted that this regulatory rollback is arbitrary and capri  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Center for Biological Diversity submitted a public comment letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concerning the Draft 2024 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SARs). The organization urged the agency to finalize the reports promptly and to enhance their content to better reflect threats to marine mammal populations. The Center for Biological Diversity emphasized that lost and derelict fishing gear represents the largest at-sea source of plastic po  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Center for Biological Diversity, Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness and Wilderness Society have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior opposing any revocation or modification of Public Land Order (PLO) 7917. This order withdraws approximately 225,504 acres of Superior National Forest lands from mineral leasing for 20 years, protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness watershed from sulfide ore copper mining. The organiza  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Center for Food Safety (CFS) submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the agency's proposed decision to register the active ingredient isocycloseram. CFS, representing 970,000 members and supporters, raised concerns about the insecticide's potential human health and environmental impacts. CFS noted that isocycloseram, an isoxazoline insecticide, breaks down into a multitude of compounds in biological systems and the  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Chickasaw Community Bank has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury outlining the challenges community banks face in digitalization. The bank, which provides support to Native Americans nationwide as a top originator of the HUD's 184 guaranteed home loan program, emphasized that smaller institutions lack the resources to keep pace with larger regional and national banks. The bank stated that a primary obstacle to pursuing digitalization s  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) advocating for the inclusion of adult education programs as a priority in discretionary grant competitions. COABE, representing adult educators and leaders, emphasized the importance of strengthening adult literacy in conjunction with efforts to promote literacy among K-12 students. COABE expressed encouragement that the agency is highlighting the   more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Cognizant Technology Solutions U.S. Corporation has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services specifically addressing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The company expressed its full support for transforming the healthcare technology ecosystem, emphasizing the need for seamless, real-time clinical and patient data exchange, and alignment with  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Commonwealth of Dominica has submitted a public comment letter to the United States Trade Representative outlining its commitments to various international trade obligations and its ongoing economic initiatives. The letter emphasizes Dominica's efforts to fulfill its World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations and its aim to enhance trade partnerships, particularly with the United States. In its communication, Dominica reaffirmed its dedication to compliance with WTO a  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Connecticut Association for Adult and Continuing Education Executive Director Lawrence Covino has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) asking the agency to include a priority for adult education programs in its discretionary grant competitions. CAACE, a member of COABE, an organization representing adult educators, emphasized the importance of strengthening adult literacy alongside efforts to promote literacy among K-12 students.   more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) offering its perspective on the agency's proposed priorities regarding evidence-based literacy, education choice, and returning education to the states. COPAA, an organization of over 3,700 parents, attorneys, advocates, and related professionals, works to protect the civil rights and secure educational excellence for children with disabiliti  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) offering its perspective on the agency's proposed priorities regarding evidence-based literacy, education choice, and returning education to the states. COPAA, an organization of over 3,700 parents, attorneys, advocates, and related professionals, works to protect the civil rights and secure educational excellence for children with disabiliti  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Daikin Comfort Technologies North America Inc., Waller, Texas, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in response to a request for information concerning energy conservation standards for consumer furnace fans. Daikin recommended that the agency not amend the existing standard, asserting that doing so would not economically benefit consumers and would increase manufacturer burden. Daikin, a member of the Daikin Group, the largest HVAC man  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Datavant submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The company's comments responded to a request for information on the Health Technology Ecosystem. Datavant commended the agencies for initiating a dialogue to improve data interoperability and foster digital health innovation. The company stated that its recommendations directly support the Administration's agenda by   more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Delta Air Lines Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding proposed airworthiness directive pertaining to Boeing 757 series airplanes. The airline offered several suggestions for revisions to the proposed rule to enhance clarity and ensure compliance instructions are practical for aircraft maintenance. The airline also requested revisions to paragraph (h) to provide clearer instructions for surface high fre  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The East Harris County Manufacturers Association, a coalition representing over 120 petrochemical and manufacturing sites, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The association expressed strong support for granting Class VI primacy to the State of Texas, emphasizing that this action would empower local oversight, accelerate the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, and ensure Texas maintains its leadership  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Essentia Health submitted a public comment letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advocating for preemptive DPYD pharmacogenomic testing for all patients before beginning fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy. The organization's oncology clinical pharmacy specialists stressed that this measure would enhance patient safety and standardize oncology care. Essentia Health stated its position is based on a growing body of clinical evidence, the availability of validated test  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Finnish Seafarers' Union has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) strongly supporting the agency's investigation into flags of convenience (FOC). The union, representing maritime workers, highlighted the impacts of FOC practices on seafarer welfare, maritime safety, environmental protection, and fair competition in global shipping. The union stated that FOC registries intentionally maintain mini  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Fort Worth Chamber, Texas, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expressing strong support for the State of Texas' application for Class VI well primacy. The Chamber believes granting Texas this authority is a critical step for advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, which are seen as essential for expanding domestic energy production, strengthening the industrial economy, and meeting rising energy demands wh  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Government of Canada has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) voicing its concerns over a petition to reclassify Canadian molasses and liquid sugar products. The petition seeks to alter the tariff classification of these products, which were previously subject to advance rulings by the CBP. According to the Canadian government, the petitioner contends that cane sugar molasses and liquid sugar are currently misclassified und  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Graco Children's Products Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opposing a proposed delay in the effective date for Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213a. Graco, a child restraint system manufacturer, based its comments on its practical experience with implementing the FMVSS 213a requirements since the final rule's publication in June 2022.  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA), Alexandria, Virginia, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commending the agency for extending reporting deadlines for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The association urged the agency to incorporate longstanding burden reduction mechanisms for small businesses. ILMA stated that the current approach t  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offering its perspectives on the use of Health Level Seven Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (HL7 FHIR) for studies utilizing real-world data (RWD) submitted to the agency. The ISPE, an international society focused on the study of medicines and health interventions, highlighted both the opportunities and challenges in generating  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Journey Center for Safety and Healing (Journey Center), Cleveland, Ohio, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding its interim final rule withdrawing the Attorney General's delegation of authority. The organization, which provides services for survivors of domestic violence and child abuse in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, emphasized the dangers of firearms in domestic violence situations and advocated for a more thorough, individualized r  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Just Solutions, an organization providing strategic support on issues including domestic violence and criminal justice reform, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the agency's interim final rule concerning the withdrawal of the Attorney General's delegation of authority. Just Solutions emphasized the need for a rigorous, individualized review process for firearms access restoration, especially for those with a history of dome  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- LaCAR MDx Technologies SA, a Belgian company specializing in molecular diagnostic kits, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company's comments address the agency's request for information on dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency and the use of fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy drugs. LaCAR MDx, which develops and manufactures pharmacogenetic assays, shared its experience supporting DPYD testing implementation across Eu  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Lackawanna (New York) Director of Development, Marketing and Public Information Charles D. Clark, on behalf of the Mayor and City Council, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) expressing collective support for Sucro Sourcing LLC. The city is urging the agency to reject a 1516 Petition that challenges the tariff classification of cane sugar molasses and liquid sugar. The city stated that Sucro's Lackawanna operation has had   more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Learning Policy Institute (LPI) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) offering recommendations on proposed priorities for discretionary grant programs. LPI, which conducts research to improve education policy, focused its comments on promoting evidence-based literacy and expanding education choice. For literacy, LPI recommends that the agency adopt a comprehensive definition of "evidence-based literacy instruction" that include  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Machinify Inc. submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) providing insights into the health technology ecosystem. The company, which specializes in payer operating systems and automation platforms, stated its alignment with efforts to reduce administrative burden through AI-powered products and to increase clinical data collection for claims processing and real-time dat  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Marine Mammal Commission submitted a public comment letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service offering feedback on the agency's draft 2024 stock assessment reports for marine mammals in U.S. waters. The commission's comments provided recommendations for improving the reports, which are crucial for managing marine mammal populations and informing permits for various activities. The commission commended the agency's progress in integrating technologies and approac  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- McKinsey & Company Inc. submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offering feedback on improving technology to empower Medicare beneficiaries. The company's comments covered questions related to technology vendors, data providers, networks, and the Nationwide Provider Directory. To stimulate developer interest in building digital health products, McKinsey & Company recommended a three-phase approach focusing on attraction, dev  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy (NCIIP) at the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) offering recommendations on proposed priorities for discretionary grant programs. NCIIP focused its comments on how evidence-based literacy practices affect English learners and on ensuring equitable access in education choice initiatives. For the proposed priority on promoting evidence-based lit  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Morrison Products Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) responding to a request for information on reducing regulatory burden. The company, which supplies blowers and fan products to heating and air-conditioning equipment manufacturers, expressed its support for efficiency but raised concerns about the current regulation of consumer furnace fans. Morrison Products argued that treating the fan as a separate applianc  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- New York State Sen. April N.M. Baskin has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly supporting Sucro LLC and urging the agency to reject a petition by the American Sugar Coalition (ASC). The petition challenges Sucro's classification of molasses imports under HTS 1703.10.30, a classification the senator stated has been verified by CBP. The senator asserted that the ASC petition is unfounded, noting that CBP has already conf  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), representing state agriculture commissioners, secretaries, and directors across all 50 states and four U.S. territories, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The organization expressed strong support for the agency's proposal to register the active ingredient Vadescana for use in honeybee hives. NASDA highlighted the critical role bees play in plant reprod  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The National Association of State Directors of Adult Education (NASDAE), Baltimore, Maryland, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education advocating for the inclusion of adult education programs in the Secretary's proposed priorities for discretionary grant programs. NASDAE emphasized adult education's role as an investment in the current and future workforce, helping individuals overcome educational and earnings gaps. NASDAE highlighted that  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) proposing changes to existing regulations under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The committee's recommendations aim to prevent future confusion in repatriation processes, citing a specific situation involving Kaua'i Community College. The Review Committee, a statutorily authorized ad  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The North East Biosolids & Residuals Association (NEBRA), Hope, Rhode Island, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing concerns about the agency's Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for PFOA and PFOS. The association, whose members include Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs), stated that the draft assessment does not accurately characterize the risks associated with current biosolids management practices. NEBRA hig  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Ohio Credit Union League, Columbus, submitted a public comment letter to the National Credit Union Administration expressing its opposition to the agency's final rule requiring all federally insured credit union boards to establish a succession planning process for key positions. The league, which represents Ohio's credit unions, argued that the rule is an unnecessary regulatory burden and encroaches on the autonomy of credit union boards. The league stated that while  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Ohio State University assistant professor of law Bridget C.E. Dooling submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy challenging the agency's use of a direct final rule for an application regarding electric energy transmission facilities at international boundaries. The comment argued that the agency's approach contravenes the Administrative Procedure Act and undermines public participation in government rule making. The law professor's comment draws u  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Pakistan Seamen's Union has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) strongly supporting the agency's investigation into flags of convenience (FOC). The union stated that FOC practices create unfavorable conditions in international shipping, impacting seafarer welfare, maritime safety, environmental protection, and fair competition. The union explained that FOC registries maintain minimal regulatory  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Partners for Rural Impact (PRI) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) offering feedback on the agency's proposed supplemental grant priorities. PRI is dedicated to the success of rural students and communities, and emphasized the need for specific attention to rural areas within the department's grant priorities. PRI commended the department's focus on evidence-based literacy, education choice, and state flexibility. However, the o  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Partnership to Empower Physician-Led Care (PEPC) submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) responding to a request for information on the health technology ecosystem. PEPC is a membership organization that supports value-based care among independent physicians and practices to reduce costs, improve quality, and increase access to care. PEPC stated that health techn  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advocating for a more definitive recommendation regarding dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency testing before administering fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy drugs. The organization, comprising researchers, pharmacists, physicians, and laboratory professionals, highlighted the progress made in addressing barriers to this testing but stresse  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Phreesia, Wilmington, Delaware, submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) responding to a request for information on the Health Technology Ecosystem. Phreesia stated it shares the agency's vision to maximize digital health technology with a focus on a patient-centric ecosystem and the transition to value-based care. The organization, founded in 2005, provides digital solutions for patient intake, outreach, and education, suppo  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a national health non-profit organization, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The organization called attention to the adverse health effects of alcohol and advocated for moving forward with a proposed alcohol labeling rule to better inform consumers. The organization stated that while alcohol's health risks have been documented   more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- SAS has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expressing its support for the agency's exploration of Health Level Seven (HL7) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standards for study data submissions, especially those derived from real-world data (RWD). SAS, a data and analytics company, highlighted its long-standing partnership with the agency and its extensive use of SAS technology across the regulated industry. SAS sees  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the Attorney General's (AG) interim final rule which withdraws the AG's delegation of authority. Both organizations, dedicated to safeguarding Second Amendment rights, urged the agency to finalize the rescission of authority and reintroduce the federal firearms relief determination program. SAF, a non  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- SiskiyouWorks, Yreka, California, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) providing feedback on the department's proposed supplemental grant priorities. The organization urged the department to explicitly include a priority focusing on supporting and improving educational outcomes in rural areas and investing in locally driven community partnerships. SiskiyouWorks commended the department for its focus on issues like evidence-based l  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sucro Can Sourcing LLC through Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg PA submitted a public comment letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection responding to a petition that challenges the tariff classification of certain cane sugar, molasses, and liquid sugar imports. The company argued that the agency's current classification decisions for refiner's molasses are accurate and that the petitioner's claims lack merit. The letter addresses a July 15, 2024, petition from the American   more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Sustainable PFAS Action Network (SPAN) submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing support for the agency's proposed extension of the data submission period for the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 8(a)(7) PFAS Reporting Rule. SPAN also supported the agency's willingness to consider other potential changes to the current regulations. SPAN, a coalition of PFAS users and producers, advocates for risk-based PF  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Teach For America (TFA) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education providing feedback on the agency's proposed supplemental grant priorities for evidence-based literacy, education choice, and returning education to the states. TFA, a nationally recognized program, recruits, selects, and trains teachers for high-need schools. TFA operates in 50 regions across 38 states and D.C., with a focus on addressing teacher shortages and supporting unde  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, Columbia, Tennessee, submitted a public comment letter to the Environmental Protection Agency expressing support for the proposed registration of the active ingredient diflufenican. The letter, sent by the organization representing its member producers, advocated for the approval of the herbicide, citing its potential to combat broadleaf weeds in corn and soybeans. The federation highlighted diflufenican's utility as a broad-spectrum   more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Texas Association of Business President and CEO Glenn Hamer has submitted a public comment letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advocating for Texas to be granted Class VI primacy for carbon capture and storage (CCS) development. The TAB, serving as the state Chamber of Commerce, underscored its commitment to policies fostering economic growth and innovation, and views CCS as crucial for Texas' energy future, national energy security, job creation, and econo  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing strong support for the proposed registration of vadescana, a pesticide designed to control the Varroa mite in honey bee hives. Vadescana is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) insecticide, and if registered, would be the first dsRNA pesticide tool for bee hives in the United States and only the second dsRNA product for agricultural use. The US  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Volunteer Legal Advocates, an organization providing pro bono legal assistance to survivors of domestic violence, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the agency's interim final rule. The organization stressed the importance of a thorough, individualized review process for restoring firearms access, particularly for individuals with a history of domestic violence. Volunteer Legal Advocates highlighted the widespread issue of   more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Waste Management Inc. has submitted a public comment letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urging an update to Treasury Regulation Sec. 48.4041-7. The company is seeking to modernize excise tax rules on fuel used in power take-off (PTO) equipment on commercial vehicles, aiming to incentivize technology advancements and promote more efficient fuel use. WM noted that the U.S. Department of Treasury and the IRS previously recognized the issue's importance, including g  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Charleston, West Virginia, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The letter expressed appreciation for the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the agency's data submission period for the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) PFAS reporting rule and supported upholding all regulatory actions addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in waterways and the environment. The c  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Whooshh Innovations Inc. submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offering recommendations for improving Section 10(a) permitting under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The company proposed establishing a blanket approval mechanism for certain conservation technologies to streamline deployment and reduce regulatory burdens. Whooshh Innovations commended the Service's efforts in balancing conservation needs with developmental aspirations throu  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Wildlife Society Western Section, a professional society representing wildlife biologists, managers, and educators, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The organization responded to the agency's request for information to identify existing regulations for potential modification or repeal, strongly recommending that any regulatory review adhere to the department's core mission, follow "do no harm" principles, and be scientifically i  more