Statement on Signing the Biological Weapons
Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989
May 22, 1990
I am
pleased today to sign S. 993, the “Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of
1989.” This Act will impose new criminal
penalties against those who would employ or contribute to the dangerous
proliferation of biological weapons, and it will add teeth to our efforts to
eradicate such horrible weapons. I
salute the bipartisan consensus in the Congress that has demonstrated its
support for this humanitarian objective and the leadership’s commitment to our
shared goal of destroying forever the evil shadow these weapons have cast
around the world.
The
United States has renounced these weapons, as have all civilized countries, by
joining the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. Scrupulous compliance with the obligations of
that Convention and similar prohibitions against the use of chemical weapons
are essential to the security of all mankind.
I call upon the leaders of all nations to join us in our drive to rid
the world of biological and chemical weapons and to do everything in their
power to stop the proliferation of these weapons of mass destruction. We must halt and reverse the threat that
comes from such weapons and their proliferation. This Act that I sign today is a measured but
important step in that direction.
George Bush
The White House,
May 22, 1990.
Note: S.
993, approved May 22, was assigned Public Law No. 101-298.