Bush signs port security measure

President Bush on Friday signed a massive port and cargo security bill and called the legislation's enactment a renewal of the federal government's commitment to "work tirelessly to keep our nation safe and our ports open for business."

With Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, House Homeland Security Chairman Peter King, R-N.Y., and other lawmakers at his side, Bush cast the bill, one of the last passed by Congress before its midterm election recess, as part of an unprecedented Republican-led effort "to safeguard our homeland" against terrorist attacks.

"We're going to protect our ports. We're going to defend this homeland, and we're going to win this war on terror," said Bush, echoing his party's election-year message. He highlighted only the bill's key security features, making no mention of provisions added by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and others to crack down on the $12 billion online gambling industry.

Besides codifying existing programs such as the Container Security Initiative, which allows some screening of U.S.-bound cargo in foreign ports, the bill requires radiation detection technology at 22 of the nation's busiest ports by the end of next year and authorizes development of high-tech equipment to scan cargo containers.