WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- A coalition of five consumer, health, and child safety advocacy groups submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission expressing concerns regarding proposals to reduce regulatory burdens potentially impacting consumer safety. The organizations outlined several recommendations in response to the agency's request for information on enhancing regulatory efficiency while ensuring consumer protection. The letter emphasizes the importance of ma  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in response to the National Freight Strategic Plan emphasizing the vital role that short line railroads play in the national freight system and calls for recognition of their unique operational challenges in upcoming policies and initiatives. ASLRRA highlights that short line railroads operate under different economic conditio  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The Conservative Political Action Coalition Foundation Center for Regulatory Freedom, Alexandria, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding its Request for Information on a National Freight Strategy. In the detailed letter, CRF emphasizes the critical role of freight railroads as a vital component of the United States transportation network, moving over 1.5 billion tons of goods every year while relying entirely on p  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration addressing environmental concerns related to the ST LNG Deepwater Port Development Project. The project plan includes the construction and operation of an offshore natural gas export deepwater port located approximately 10.4 nautical miles offshore of Matagorda, Texas. In the letter, the EPA highlights its specific focus   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- GeoDataVision President Leonard F. Suzio Jr. submitted a public comment letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) supporting the proposed repeal of the 2023 CRA Rule while also arguing that reverting to the 1995 rule without changes would be a mistake. The commenter suggests simple improvements at little or no cost that could make analysis of a bank's CRA performance more effective. The writer, who advises banks on their CRA responsibilities, maintains  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The Lawrence Citizen Activists has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expressing strong opposition to a recent policy change that rescinds a longstanding interpretation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). The group, comprised of civic-minded residents of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, argues that the new policy expands the definition of "federal public benefits," severely limitin  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The League of United Latin American Citizens the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opposing its recent decision to rescind the 1998 interpretation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act (PRWORA). LULAC argues that this move expands the list of federal programs inaccessible to various segments of the immigrant community. In the letter   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, California, has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expressing strong opposition to the agency's revised interpretation of "Federal public benefit" under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996. This change could significantly restrict access for millions of immigrants and their families to critical health and social services. LAFLA, a nonpr  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, Dayton, Ohio, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation advocating for improved local governance and funding in transportation planning. The commission expressed its commitment to collaborating on regional challenges that extend beyond political and geographic boundaries. Established in 1964, the commission operates as a regional council, Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Rural Trans  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The National Federation of the Blind, Baltimore, Maryland, has expressed strong opposition to proposed modifications to the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 issued by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. The comments were articulated in a recent public comment letter directed to the U.S. Department of Labor, which oversees the agency. The National Federation of the Blind, the leading advocacy group for blind Americans,   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The Northwest Seaport Alliance, Tacoma, Washington, has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation urging heightened federal investment in freight transportation as part of the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. This call for action is positioned against a backdrop of competitive pressures from Canadian ports, which have benefitted from significantly more federal investment in their freight infrastructure. The NWSA, established   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- Pharmaceutical Health Care business manager Lori A. Wood submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expressing strong opposition to a proposed rule that would expand the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program, stating that it threatens the viability of small providers and patient access to care. The writer states that when their area was previously subject to the program,   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The Pet Advocacy Network, Alexandria, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opposing the proposed listing of the blue tree monitor (Varanus macraei) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The organization highlights that such a listing could lead to economic harm for breeders and enthusiasts of the species in the United States, as well as disrupt a lawful market that supports the breeding and keeping of these reptiles. Acco  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) has voiced strong opposition to a recent interpretation of the term "federal public benefit" by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which it claims poses significant harm to health services in the city. In a public comment letter submitted to HHS, the department criticized the July 14, 2025, announcement that expands the list of "federal public benefits" to include the Health Center Program. PDPH opera  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The Port of Hueneme Oxnard Harbor District, California, submitted a public comment letter to the Office of Multimodal Freight at the U.S. Department of Transportation emphasizing the importance of its inclusion in the 2025 National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP) updates. As California's sole deep-water port located between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the facility is pivotal in supporting both regional and national freight movements. In its correspondence, the port recog  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- Triumph Financial Inc., Dallas, Texas, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) advocating for critical updates to the National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP) in light of a surge in cargo theft incidents. The Texas-based financial and technology company, which supports the trucking industry with payment solutions, reported alarming statistics indicating a continuous rise in freight fraud and cargo theft. The letter emphasizes t  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The United Ostomy Associations of America Inc., Biddeford, Maine, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expressing serious concerns regarding the agency's proposed rule CMS-1828-P. This rule aims to redefine ostomy and urological supplies as "medical equipment items," potentially including them in the expansion of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School Chief and Associate Professor of Surgery Srinivas Joga Ivatury submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expressing strong opposition to the proposed inclusion of ostomy supplies in the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program (CBP), stating that the program could lead to complications and higher healthcare costs for patients. The writer, a medical professional with experience in  more