The Senate unanimously passed legislation Tuesday enhancing Secret Service protection for presidential and vice presidential nominees in the wake of two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump.
The Enhanced Presidential Security Act boosts Secret Service protection for presidential and vice presidential nominees to the same level currently provided to a sitting US president and vice president.
The measure, which cleared the House of Representatives in a 405-0 vote last week, now heads to President Biden’s desk for his signature.
“Over the course of just 65 days, two deranged individuals have tried to kill President Donald Trump, and one was able to shoot him in the head,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who introduced the measure in the Senate, said in a statement. “It is unthinkable that this could happen in America today, and it demands the immediate action of Congress.
“Today, I am proud to have the full support of the Senate to pass the Enhanced Presidential Security Act,” he added.
Scott argued that the “vile rhetoric toward President Trump has made him a target and more resources are required to ensure the safety of him and his family.”
“I am grateful to my colleagues for passing this bill that will support the protection of President Trump and all future presidential nominees,” the senator said.
Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) introduced the House version of the bill the day after the July 13 attempt on Trump’s life, when would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, shot the former president in the ear at a Butler Pa., campaign rally.
Just over two months later, on Sept. 15, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, set up a sniper’s nest off the sixth hole at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach in Florida but was spotted by a Secret Service agent as the GOP nominee was putting a few holes back.
Routh, who was arrested later that day, was charged with attempted assassination on Tuesday. He was previously hit with federal gun charges.
The Senate bill additionally requires the Secret Service to regularly report on the status of candidates’ protection to leaders of the House and Senate, including every 15 days during a presidential election year.
The reports would detail threat levels, security measures, costs, amount of personnel assigned and any needs that are unmet.
