Statement by the Press Secretary: President Signs H.R. 5466, H.R. 6143, S. 843, and S. 3678

On Tuesday, December 19, 2006, the President signed into law:

H.R. 5466, the "Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Designation Act," which designates the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail as a component of the National Trail System;

H.R. 6143, the "Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006," which reauthorizes appropriations for and amends programs contained in the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act of 1990, which provides funding for health and support services to people with HIV disease;

S. 843, the "Combating Autism Act of 2006," which authorizes appropriations through FY 2011 for Autism Spectrum Disorder research, screening, intervention, and education; and

S. 3678, the "Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act," which authorizes appropriations through 2011 to improve bioterrorism and other public health emergency planning and preparedness activities, and establishes the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority within the Department of Health and Human Services for the advanced research and development of medical countermeasures.