The Democratic speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has used her party's weekly radio address to praise a new anti-terrorism bill that was approved this past week.
Pelosi Saturday said the bill is a major accomplishment for the Democratic-controlled Congress.
The new anti-terrorism legislation intends to tighten security on sea and air shipments, and to spend federal money in locations deemed to be at high risk of attack.
It requires screening of all cargo on passenger planes within three years. It also sets a five-year goal for scanning all container ships for nuclear devices before they leave foreign ports for destinations in the United States.
The House of Representatives approved the measure Friday, one day after the Senate approved it. The White House says the president will sign it into law.
The legislation is intended to meet several recommendations of a special commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.