U.S. President George W. Bush signed a bioterrorism bill into law today to provide $4.6 billion to improve U.S. defenses against biological weapons (see GSN, May 24).

“Terrorist groups seek biological weapons.  We know some rogue states already have them,” Bush said.  “It is important that we confront these real threats to our country and prepare for future emergencies.  Protecting our citizens against bioterrorism is an urgent duty of America.”

The bill provides $640 million to develop a U.S. smallpox vaccine stockpile (see GSN, May 16) and $1.6 billion in grants to states to improve hospital preparedness and to review the vulnerability of local water systems to attack.  The legislation also enhances funding for the National Pharmacy Stockpile and makes potassium iodide more available near nuclear power plants to protect against radiation poisoning (see GSN, May 24; Curt Anderson, Associated Press/Washington Post, June 12).

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