Bush signs bill to boost port security

U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday signed a bill to boost port security, which he said would make the country "more prepared, more prosperous and more secure."

The Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006, or SAFE Port Act, would help protect U.S. ports in three key ways, Bush said at the signing ceremony.

The act would strengthen physical security measures at American ports by utilizing 21st century inspection equipment, with radiation detection technology to be installed at 22 busiest ports by the end of next year, he said.

The bill would also provide legislative authority for key elements of port security strategy, such as by codifying into law the Container Security Initiative launched in 2002 and the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, a joint effort between the public and private sectors to improve cargo security; and require the Homeland Security Department to establish a plan to speed the resumption of trade in the event of a terrorist attack on the ports or waterways.

Bush said since he took office in 2001, the government had more than doubled funding for border security, from 4.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2001 to 9.5 billion dollars in 2006; increased the number of Border Patrol agents, from around 9,000 to a little more than 12,000; and upgraded technology and infrastructure along the border.

In addition, authorities had apprehended and sent home more than 6 million people entering America illegally, he said.

However, "protecting our homeland requires protecting our borders," he said.

As seaports could also be a target of a terrorist attack, "we' re determined to protect them," Bush pledged.

The legislation, approved two weeks ago, was one of the last bills passed by lawmakers before they left to campaign for next month's congressional elections.

Included in the bill was an unrelated provision that would bar most online gambling.

Source: Xinhua