According to The Hill, the House has passed a bill aimed at bolstering security for former President Trump following two apparent assassination attempts.
The Enhanced Presidential Security Act was approved with a bipartisan vote of 405-0, marking the first legislative action taken by the chamber in response to these incidents.
The bill, introduced by Representatives Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), requires the Secret Service to apply the same standards for determining the number of agents used to protect the president, vice president, and candidates for those offices. This move comes less than a week after a gunman was spotted at Trump's Florida golf club, and follows a July incident where shots were fired at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania.
The most recent security breach occurred at Trump International Golf Club in Florida, where Secret Service agents identified a gunman hiding among trees. The suspect, later identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was seen aiming a rifle through the fence near where the former president was playing golf.
This incident followed a more serious attempt on July 13, when a gunman opened fire at Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The attack resulted in Trump being wounded and one attendee killed, with others injured.
These events have raised concerns about the adequacy of security measures for high-profile political figures, particularly those running for office.
Despite the proposed legislation, the Secret Service maintains that Trump and Vice President Harris already receive the highest level of protection. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe stated:
President Biden made it clear that he wanted the highest levels of protection for former President Trump and for Vice President Harris. Secret Service moved to sustain increases in assets and the level of protection … and those things were in place yesterday.
Rowe further emphasized that numerous tactical assets and enhanced security measures have been implemented since the July incident.
The passage of this bill occurs amidst ongoing discussions in Congress regarding additional funding for the Secret Service. While some leaders advocate for increased funding, others, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, suggest that the issue may be more related to workforce and resource allocation rather than funding levels.
Johnson expressed his commitment to addressing the security concerns, stating:
We have got to get down to the bottom of this. We got to ensure that this doesn't happen again. If they need additional funding, Congress will supply that. But we're told it's a manpower problem.
With the bill now passed in the House, attention turns to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. However, similar legislation has been proposed by Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), suggesting that there is bipartisan interest in addressing this issue across both chambers of Congress.
The Senate's consideration of this or similar legislation could potentially lead to comprehensive changes in how security is provided for current and former high-ranking officials, as well as presidential candidates.
The House's unanimous passage of the Enhanced Presidential Security Act represents a significant step in addressing recent security threats against political figures. This legislation seeks to standardize protection levels for presidents, vice presidents, and candidates, while ongoing debates continue regarding funding and resource allocation for the Secret Service. The bill's future in the Senate and its potential impact on security measures remain to be seen as the political landscape continues to evolve.
