UPDATE: Bush Signs Legislation Creating Red Cross Ombuds

On Friday, President Bush signed a bill into law Friday that reforms governance and leadership at the American Red Cross. The bill also creates a new position of ombudsman, who will have unfettered access to all Red Cross operations and will provide annual reports to Congress. The reforms were proposed last year by independent experts and are intended to ease recurring clashes between board members and Red Cross management, and to address complaints that the organization was at times too bureaucratic and unaccountable. (Washington Post.)