George W Bush

Statement of Lena Pons, Policy Analyst, Public Citizen

In announcing that it would extend its cross-border trucking pilot project for two more years, the Bush administration continues to flout Congress at the expense of highway safety. This is the latest of many moves by the administration to give Mexico-domiciled carriers operating authority in the United States beyond a limited border zone despite lawmakers’ clear instructions to the contrary.    » read more »

Proposed regulations would gut protections for America’s imperiled wildlife

August 11, 2008 -- The Bush Administration plans to rollback protections for America’s imperiled wildlife by re-writing the regulations of the Endangered Species Act. According to leaked documents obtained by the National Wildlife Federation, the proposed changes would weaken the safety net of habitat protections that have helped protect and recover endangered fish, wildlife and plants for the past 35 years.    » read more »

August 12, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today that an independent advisory panel, the Defense Business Board, will review the overall performance of the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA).

The review follows a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released July 23 that concluded DCAA auditors were improperly hindered in some of their investigations of defense contractors.

The Defense Business Board, an independent federal advisory committee comprised of senior business executives, has agreed to form an independent review panel supported by subject matter experts to review DCAA procedures and make recommendations for improvement as appropriate.    » read more »

August 12, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The following Marines died Aug. 7 while supporting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq:

Cpl. Adam T. McKiski, 21, of Cherry Valley, Illinois.

Cpl. Stewart S. Trejo, 25, of Whitefish, Montana.

The Marines were assigned to the 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Source: DOD

August 11, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pvt. John A. Mattox, 23, of Daingerfield, Texas, died Aug. 10 at Forward Operating Base Bostick, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The incident is under investigation.

Source: DOD

August 11, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Kenneth B. Gibson, 25, of Christiansburg, Virginia, died of wounds suffered Aug. 10 in Tarmiyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position during dismounted operations.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Source: DOD

August 11, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Jose E. Ulloa, 23, of New York, New York, died Aug. 9 in Sadr City, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device Aug. 8 in Sadr City.

He was assigned to the 515th Transportation Company, 28th Transportation Battalion, Mannheim, Germany.

Source: DOD

August 10, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Petty Officer Second Class Anthony M. Carbullido, 25, of Agat, Guam, died Aug. 8, in Sangatesh, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered when his convoy vehicle hit an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the Naval Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, Ill.

Source: DOD

August 09, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Master Sgt. Danny E. Maybin, 47, of Columbia, South Carolina, died Aug. 7 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, as the result of a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Ga.

The incident is under investigation.

Source: DOD

August 07, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Errol M. James, 29, of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, died Aug. 4 at Forward Operating Base Torkham, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to the 527th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, Grafenwoehr, Germany.

The incident is under investigation.

Source: DOD

August 06, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Ronald A. Schmidt, 18, of Newton, Kansas, died Aug. 3 in Balad, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident in Ashraf, Iraq, on Aug. 2. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery, Kansas Army National Guard, Kingman, Kan.

The incident is under investigation.

Source: DOD

August 06, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Timothy J. Hutton, 21, of Dillon, Montana, died Aug. 4 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to the 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, Bamberg, Germany.

The incident is under investigation.

Source: DOD

August 06, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Capt. Garrett T. Lawton, 31, of Charleston, West Virginia, died Aug. 4 while supporting combat operations in Herat province, Afghanistan.

He was assigned to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Source: DOD

August 06, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Aug. 4 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when debris from an improvised explosive device detonation on an overpass fell onto their vehicle.

They were assigned to the 38th Military Police Company, 38th Infantry Division, Indiana Army National Guard, Danville, Ind.

Killed were:

Sgt. Gary M. Henry, 34, of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Spc. Jonathan D. Menke, 22, of Madison, Indiana.

Source: DOD

August 05, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Jaime Gonzalez, Jr., 40, of Austin, Texas, died Aug. 3 in Kabul, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when his vehicle encountered a mine.

He was assigned to the 436th Chemical Company, Texas Army National Guard, Laredo, Texas.

Source: DOD