Bush Signs Bioterror Attack Bill Into Law

WASHINGTON -- President Bush signed into law Wednesday a measure designed to enhance America’s ability to prevent and respond to bioterrorist attacks, even as he warned of “quite a number of [terrorists] still out there.”

Bush said the law will “allow us to respond ... with state-of-the-art medical care” in the event of a biological attack. He described such attacks as “a real threat to our country” and “potentially the most dangerous weapons in the world.”

The bill-signing ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House came as federal investigators continued their probe into the alleged Al Qaeda plot to detonate a radioactive bomb in the United States, a case that heightened concerns about domestic security. But Bush did not mention the case in his public remarks.

The new law seeks to bolster the preparedness of the public health system, improve protections for the nation’s food supplies, expedite the development and production of vaccines and encourage better government coordination.

Specific provisions include expanding the nation’s stockpile of smallpox vaccines and providing grants to states to modernize equipment. Nearly 25% of local public health departments still have no e-mail capability, and fewer than half have high-speed Internet access.

The law also will allow the hiring of more food inspectors.

The legislation, which was approved by Congress with only a single dissenting vote, cast by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), also would strengthen communication between front-line medical providers and public health officials.

“Biological attacks can be carried out quietly. Our health-care professionals are likely to be the first to recognize that there has been an attack. The speed with which they detect and respond to a threat to public health could be the difference between containment and catastrophe,” Bush said.

The law, when combined with funds already approved, raises total authorized spending to fight bioterrorism to more than $4.6 billion, with the precise amount to be set this year by Congress.

In his Rose Garden remarks, Bush recalled last year’s anthrax mail attacks, which remain unsolved but are believed to be of domestic origin.

“Last fall’s anthrax attacks were an incredible tragedy to a lot of people in America, and it sent a warning that we needed and have heeded,” he said. “We must be better prepared to prevent, identify and respond. And this bill I’m signing today will help a lot in this essential effort.”

Bush later convened his new Homeland Security Advisory Council, charged with advising the administration on the creation of a Homeland Security Department.

At the council’s first session, Bush warned anew of the continuing threats of terrorist attacks.

Saying that worldwide the counter-terrorism coalition has “hauled in” about 2,400 terrorists, Bush added: “Problem is, there’s still quite a number of them still out there.”