US President George W. Bush on Wednesday signed into law a legislation to develop and stockpile vaccines and other antidotes to prepare for potential chemical and biological attacks in the future.

The legislation, dubbed "Project BioShield," provides the drug industry with incentives to research on and develop bioterrorism countermeasures, and speeds up the approval process of antidotes.

"Every American can be certain that their government will continue doing everything in our power to prevent a terrorist attack and, if the terrorists do strike, we'll be better prepared to defend our people because of the good law I sign today," Bush said at a signing ceremony at the White House.

The law authorizes the Congress to spend 5.6 billion US dollarsover 10 years to purchase and stockpile vaccines and drugs to fight anthrax, smallpox, and other potential biological weapons.

The government is working on acquiring a safer, up-to-date smallpox vaccine, antidote to botulinum toxin, and better treatments for exposure to chemical and radiological weapons, Bushsaid.

The legislation, which received bipartisan support in the Congress, was approved by the House 414-2 on July 15 and by the Senate 99-0 in May.

Source: Xinhua

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