The bill, which the White House says George Bush will sign, allocates a greater share of funding to cities at higher risk of terrorist attack. It also requires the authorities to screen all cargo on passenger planes and container ships within five years.

Democrats made the bill a priority when they won control of Congress this year.

The anti-terrorism legislation will authorise significant increases in grants for homeland security, providing $4bn over four years for transit security, $750m a year for airport security and $1.8bn next year for states and high-risk cities.

As recommended by the 9/11 Commission, those states not considered to be at high risk of a terrorist attack will have their homeland security grants halved.

Once it is signed by President Bush, it will help the Democratic party fulfil the third of its six major campaign promises made before the elections last November.

THE BILL'S KEY POINTS
>> Greater share of funding to cities at higher risk of attack
>> Increased funding for transport security
>> Screening of all cargo on passenger planes within three years
>> Scanning of all container ships for nuclear devices before they leave foreign ports within five years
>> Grants to ensure the interoperability of radios between emergency services