GovernmentExecutive.com

On the one-year anniversary of the creation of the Homeland Security Department, President Bush Tuesday praised the department's efforts in preventing another terrorist attack against the United States.

In a brief speech in Washington, Bush outlined the department's efforts over the past year to increase U.S. security, such as increased border and cargo inspections, the expansion of the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile of treatments and vaccines against biological weapons agents and the installation of biological detectors in major U.S. cities.

Bush also said the department has made progress in working with state and local officials to improve the defenses of key infrastructure components such as power grids and transportation networks, and in working with chemical facility operators to improve security at chemical plants.

"In just 12 months, under the leadership here present, you have made air travel safer, you've strengthened the security of our borders and infrastructure, you've taken steps to protect the American people from dangerous weapons and you help prepare our first responders for any emergency," Bush said. "You faced a challenge in standing up this new department, and you get ... a gold star for a job well done," he added.

Bush also reiterated his call to Congress to renew the USA PATRIOT Act, which he called "essential" in combating terrorism.

"Key provisions of the PATRIOT Act are set to expire next year. The terrorist threat will not expire on that schedule. You and others in law enforcement need this vital legislation to protect our citizens. We cannot afford to let down our guard. Congress must renew the PATRIOT Act," he said.

In his remarks, Bush also praised the progress being made in combating terrorism and the threat of weapons of mass destruction around the world, such as the dismantling of the al-Qaeda terrorist network, the overthrow of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and the decision made late last year by Libya to dismantle its WMD efforts.

"America will not [allow] outlaw terrorists and outlaw regimes to threaten our nation and the world with the world's most dangerous technologies," Bush said. "We have said we will deal with weapons of mass destruction. We have shown the world we mean what we say," he added.