US Congress okays ports security bill

30 September 2006, 18:00 PM

By Ap, Washington

Congress approved a major ports security bill early yesterday, providing new steps to prevent terrorists from slipping a nuclear, chemical or biological device into one of the 11 million shipping containers entering the nation every year.

Passage of the bill was the last act of the House as lawmakers left for a five-week election campaign during which candidates will be trying to prove to voters their commitment to keeping America safe in the war on terrorism. The Senate passed it by a voice vote, sending it to the president for his signature.

Containers, now largely uninspected, "have the potential to be the Trojan Horse of the 21st century," said Sen Susan Collins, R-Maine, chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. She said the legislation would be a "major leap ahead" in strengthening national security.