Bush Nominations: EPA, Energy, Labor, INS
President Bush generated a flurry of nominations in the past week to fill high-level posts throughout his administration. Several of these positions are number-two or deputy spots at departments that deal with trucking-related issues.Linda J. Fisher to be deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, where EPA Administrator Christine Whitman has cabinet rank at the president’s discretion. The agency deals with such issues as diesel truck exhaust standards and requirements for a cleaner-burning diesel engine. Francis S. Blake to be deputy secretary of energy. That department, headed by Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, not only will get involved in revising U.S. energy policy in general, but oversees the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. It also takes the lead in talks with energy ministers of oil-exporting countries.
Donald Cameron Findlay as deputy labor secretary. Not only does the Labor Department get involved when large strikes can threaten general commerce, but it will also develop new workplace safety or ergonomics rules. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao has been on Capitol Hill twice in the past two weeks explaining how she will handle the ergonomics issue that is a hot button for business groups as well as labor. James W. Ziglar to be commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The INS is among the various agencies that can play a role in border issues that can affect Mexican trucks entering the United States. This is a major topic, as President Bush meets with Mexico’s President Vicente Fox on Thursday, and plans to open the border to Mexican trucks become clearer.
Some nominations of note are:
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