President Bush has signed into law a compromise Iraqi war appropriations supplemental bill that includes $110 million in additional fiscal 2007 funding for the federal Port Security Grant program, which the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) hailed as "a giant leap forward" to help US ports secure their facilities against terrorism.
AAPA said in a news release that an earlier, vetoed supplemental bill contained $190 million for port security grants, while the latest, enacted version provides $110 million. When added to the already appropriated $210 million, that means $320 million will be made available for port security grants in fiscal 2007.