The bill recently passed by the Senate aims to enhance the level of protection provided by the U.S. Secret Service to presidential and vice presidential candidates. This legislation, known as the Enhanced Presidential Security Act, was previously approved by the House of Representatives and is now awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature to become law.
The Secret Service’s security protocols and funding have come under scrutiny following recent assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump. In response to these incidents, the bill proposes that the Secret Service apply the same protection standards used for the President to major presidential candidates.
Lawmakers, including Rep. Mike Lawler and Rep. Ritchie Torres, emphasized the importance of providing top-notch protection to presidential figures to safeguard national security and prevent potential disruptions to the political system. Sen. Rick Scott, who led the bill through the Senate, highlighted the significance of extending the same level of protective services to presidential and vice presidential nominees as sitting presidents and vice presidents.
While the bill does not allocate additional funding to the Secret Service, a temporary spending package is set to provide $231 million for protective operations if passed this week. This funding will help address any gaps in protection and enhance the security measures for presidential candidates and officials.
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