Sept. 20 (UPI) — In a rare unanimous bipartisan vote in the House, the body passed legislation that would increase Secret Service protection for the two presidential nominees and their running mates.
The bill, which originated from the House floor under an expedited process, comes less than a week after an apparent second assassination attempt against, former President Donald Trump, passed 405-0.
The House bill was brought to the floor by Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., following the first assassination attempt against Trump during a rally in Butler, Pa., which left him with a wounded ear.
If signed into law, it would require the Secret Service to “apply the same standards” for determining how many agents are required to protect President Joe Biden to both the Republican candidate, Trump, and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate.
It would, however, give the Secret Service discretion on applying staffing levels amid calls to increase funding to the agency or guide it to allocate resources more efficiently.
“We as a federal government have a responsibility to ensure the safety and the well-being of these candidates,” Lawler said. “One of them is going to be president, and the election should be decided by voters at the ballot box — not by an assassin’s bullet.”
A companion piece was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. It is not clear if the Senate will take up the House or craft a new one under Scott’s legislation.
The Secret Service has also maintained that both Trump and Harris already receive the highest levels of security.
“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,” acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe told reporters on Monday.
Wesley Routh, 58, remains in custody after he was accused of hiding among the trees with a rifle sticking out from a fence at Trump’s West Palm Beach, Fla. Golf course.
