CRF Weekly Update: Advancing Autonomous Vehicle Innovation, Digital Security, Education Reform, Domestic Manufacturing, Opioid Crisis Response, and Labor Clarity

This week, the Center for Regulatory Freedom (CRF) submitted targeted comments to key federal agencies, advocating for reforms that promote autonomous vehicle innovation, secure digital finance, streamline education funding, bolster domestic manufacturing, combat the opioid crisis, and ensure precise labor regulations. Through these engagements, CRF champions policies that reduce bureaucratic barriers, foster innovation, and address critical threats to America’s safety and prosperity, all while upholding individual liberties and constitutional principles.

CRF’s response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Autonomous Vehicle Research Request for Information endorsed a national framework to accelerate safe and innovative autonomous vehicle deployment. The comments called for research prioritizing performance-based standards over rigid mandates, harmonizing state and federal rules to prevent a patchwork of regulations, and updating outdated trucking laws to unlock economic potential. By advocating protections against regulatory overreach, CRF ensures that emerging technologies thrive in a competitive, market-driven environment, aligning with its vision of innovation as a cornerstone of American progress.

In its submission to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s inquiry on Illicit Activity in Digital Assets, CRF praised efforts to curb illegal cryptocurrency transactions while emphasizing the need to protect privacy and foster innovation. The filing proposed a forward-thinking pilot program rooted in voluntary collaboration between government and industry, leveraging AI with human oversight for compliance and introducing privacy-preserving identity verification methods. By grounding these recommendations in constitutional principles, CRF seeks to balance security with individual freedoms, ensuring digital finance remains a vibrant sector of the economy.

CRF took a firm stand against the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program Information Collection Request, arguing that it perpetuates a flawed system that burdens borrowers and taxpayers. The comments urged the Department to halt the data collection, reassess income-driven repayment plans in light of recent court rulings, and eliminate incentives for prolonged loan repayment that trap students in debt. This push for reform reflects CRF’s commitment to dismantling regulations that hinder economic mobility and fiscal responsibility.

CRF challenged the Department of Education’s Non-Title IV Revenue (90/10 Rule) Information Collection Request, highlighting how ambiguous definitions enable proprietary institutions to exploit loopholes. The submission called for clearer rules, particularly around “student-performed services,” and alignment with Executive Order 14235 to ensure educational funds serve legitimate purposes. By advocating for transparency and accountability, CRF protects students from predatory practices and promotes a fairer education system.

CRF’s comments on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Section 232 Investigation into medical personal protective equipment (PPE) and equipment underscored the national security risks of relying on foreign suppliers, particularly China. The filing urged bold steps to rebuild America’s manufacturing capacity for critical healthcare supplies, reducing vulnerabilities and strengthening the domestic industrial base.

CRF strongly supported the U.S. Department of Transportation’s proposal to include fentanyl and norfentanyl in federal transportation drug-testing panels, calling it a critical step in combating the opioid crisis. The comments endorsed alignment with the HALT Fentanyl Act, supported definitional updates for clarity, and highlighted China’s role in illicit fentanyl production. This submission underscores CRF’s commitment to enhancing public safety through targeted, evidence-based regulations.

CRF opposed the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service’s Health-Care Strike Notification Information Collection Request, arguing that the agency failed to clarify which facilities qualify as healthcare institutions under the National Labor Relations Act. The comments urged regulators to exclude abortion and gender-affirming clinics from NLRA protections and align rules with congressional and Medicare definitions of legitimate hospitals. This reflects CRF’s dedication to ensuring regulatory precision and protecting economic and individual freedoms from progressive ideological labor policies.

Through these efforts, CRF advances regulatory frameworks that prioritize innovation, security, and constitutional principles. From driving autonomous vehicle innovation and securing digital finance to reforming student lending, strengthening domestic manufacturing, combating the opioid crisis, and ensuring precise labor regulations, CRF’s work promotes policies that empower Americans with opportunity, safety, and prosperity.