President George Bush has signed the “Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act” into law. The bill expands criminal acts involving the use of force, violence or threats against animal operations and boosts penalties for violations.

The bill covers commercial and academic enterprises that use or sell animals or animal products for profit, food, agriculture, education, research and testing.

Sponsors were Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The bill amended the Animal Enterprise Act of 1992.

The National Pork Producers Council was part of a broad coalition of animal agriculture groups that supported the legislation. More than 130 animal-rights groups, led by the Humane Society of the United States, opposed the measure.