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Bush Signs Health Security, Bioterrorism Act
Thursday, June 13, 2002
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service

"We'll have the authority to track biological materials anywhere in the United States," Bush noted.

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
President Bush signed The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Act of 2002 Wednesday to enhance the nation's ability to prevent, identify and respond to bioterrorism.

As the world learned last Sept. 11, terrorists' weapons of choice are unconventional, Bush said. On that day, U.S. airplanes became "weapons of terror." In the days following the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the U.S. mail carried deadly microscopic spores.

"Bioterrorism is a real threat to our country," the president said. Terrorist groups seek biological weapons and some rogue states already have them, he said. Such weapons are potentially the most dangerous in the world.

"Last fall's anthrax attacks were an incredible tragedy to a lot of people in America," Bush said. The attacks sent "a warning we needed and have heeded."
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Dan