The bill signing at the White House was a victory for Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, who championed the bill in the House.

"Security against terrorism will be part and parcel of the trade world now," Lungren said in an interview. Lungren made a quick trip back to Washington to attend the bill signing.

Lungren introduced the bill, called the SAFE Port Act, with Rep. Jane Harman, D-Venice, in March. It passed by a 409-2 vote in the House and by voice vote in the Senate last month.

But before the measure's final passage, another bill was attached to end Internet gambling by barring the settlement of bets with credit cards, checks or electronic fund transfers.

Bush made no mention of the gambling provision, which gambling advocates blamed on a "backroom deal" between House and Senate leaders aimed at stifling debate.

"Our seaports are a gateway to commerce, a source of opportunity, and a provider of jobs," Bush said. "Our ports could also be a target of a terrorist attack, and we are determined to protect them."

The legislation authorizes $2 billion over five years to increase security at U.S. ports. It requires tightened access at ports, and requires the 22 largest ports to install radiation-detection equipment by next year, a provision the White House earlier said may not be feasible.

The measure focuses much attention on detection of potentially dangerous cargo before it is loaded on ships at foreign ports by authorizing U.S. inspectors at the ports of trading partners.

In addition, the bill encourages the development of systems that will be able to monitor for nuclear or chemical weapons without opening the containers in which they are being carried.

"America has the best technology in the world, and this bill will apply that technology to make our ports the safest in the world," Bush said.

Lungren chairs the House Homeland Security Committee's panel on economic security, infrastructure protection and cybersecurity. Lungren said the legislation is not only the most significant accomplishment of his term as subcommittee chairman, but is the first bill signed into law that carries his name as the lead sponsor. Lungren was elected to his 3rd District House seat in 2004. He represented Long Beach, home of one of the largest cargo ports in the country, until 1988.