    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [June 12, 2002]
    [Pages 972-973]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Signing the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism
    Preparedness and Response Act of 2002
    June 12, 2002

        The President. Good afternoon, and thank you all for coming.
        On September the 11th, the world learned how evil men can use
    airplanes as weapons of terror. Shortly thereafter, we learned how evil
    people can use microscopic spores as weapons of terror. Bioterrorism is
    a real threat to our country. It's a threat to every nation that loves
    freedom. Terrorist groups seek biological weapons. We know some rogue
    states already have them.
        It's 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 American--American governments. We
    must develop the learning, the technology, and the health care delivery
    systems that will allow us to respond to attacks with state-of-the-art
    medical care throughout our entire country.
        I want to thank the Members of the United States Congress who are
    here today, members of both parties who have worked together on this
    bill. I appreciate Governor Tom Ridge's hard work,
    Tommy Thompson and your staff's hard work
    on this bill. I want to thank Tony Principi and Christie Todd Whitman from the Veterans Department as well as the EPA for
    being here and working on this bill.
        I appreciate very much Senator Ted Kennedy, the Chairman of the Senate Health and Education, Labor,
    and Pensions Committee, for working with Bill Frist. I want to thank the other cosponsors from the committee
    who are here. I appreciate Members of the House Billy Tauzin and John Dingell
    for combining their talents and experience and energy to get the bill
    done. I want to thank Mike Bilirakis, Judd
    Gregg, who isn't here, and all the other Members
    of the Congress, to show the American people that when people of both
    parties work together they can do good work on behalf of our country.
        I want to thank Elias Zerhouni, who is
    the Director of the National Institution of Health, who is here with us
    today--I appreciate you being here, Elias; Dr. Les Crawford, who is the Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug
    Administration; as well as Dr. David Fleming,
    who is the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
    Prevention. I want to thank you all for being here as well.
        Biological weapons are potentially the most dangerous weapons in the
    world. 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. 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.
        First, the bill will enhance our ability to prevent and detect
    bioterrorist attacks.

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    We must and we will improve inspections of food entering our ports and
    give officials better tools to contain attacks on our food supply. We'll
    have new authority to track biological materials anywhere in the United
    States.
        Second, the bill will strengthen the communications networks that
    link our health care providers with public health authorities.
    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.
        Thirdly, the bill will strengthen the ability of our health care
    system to expedite treatments across our country. It will provide our
    State and local health authorities with resources and tools needed to do
    their job. And this bill will further develop our stockpiles of smallpox
    vaccines.
        Finally, the bill will help us develop better medicines for the
    future. It reauthorizes and improves the Prescription Drug User Fee
    Act.* This will make new lifesaving drugs and therapies available more
    quickly and will help ensure the safety and effectiveness of the
    treatments. We'll also be able to use the combined research expertise of
    the Government and the private sector to improve our vaccines, our
    medicines, and our diagnostic tests.
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        *White House correction.
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        Strengthening our protections against bioterror is part of a larger
    effort to deal with the new threats of the 21st century. If we're going
    to succeed, we need to reorganize our Government. And that's why I look
    forward to working with Congress to create the Department of Homeland
    Security, to make sure we align authority and responsibility, to make
    sure that we have an effective response to the enemy that still wants to
    hit America.
        This bill today I sign is a part of the process of doing our duty to
    protect innocent Americans from an enemy that hates America. I'm proud
    to sign the bill, and I'm proud to welcome the bill's sponsors here to
    the Rose Garden.
        Thank you all very much.

    [At this point, the President signed the bill.]

        The President. Thank you all very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:50 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. H.R. 3448, approved June 12, was assigned Public Law No. 107-188.