[JURIST] President Bush on Friday signed a bill designed to strengthen US port security [JURIST news archive] by authorizing $3.4 billion to install radiation detectors, increase random searches of cargo and experiment with checking cargo before it reaches the United States. Speaking at the White House signing ceremony [official transcript], Bush said the Safe Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 [HR 4954 summary; PDF text], which reconciled the Senate and House versions of the legislation [JURIST report], will make the US "more prepared, more prosperous and more secure."

Port security has been a critical issue in Congress [JURIST report] since an Arab state-owned company, Dubai Ports World [corporate website], purchased control of several major US port operations. After much controversy [JURIST news archive], the company decided to transfer control of the ports to a US entity [JURIST report]. Reuters has more.