The Senate has unanimously passed a bill to increase the level of U.S. Secret Service protection for presidential and vice presidential candidates. After passing the House of Representatives on Sept. 20, the Enhanced Presidential Security Act passed the Senate on Tuesday and will proceed to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
The Secret Service’s protocols and funding have received significant scrutiny following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was injured by a bullet grazing his ear.
After a second assassination attempt was foiled in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sept. 15, the House unanimously passed the bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), which would apply the same standards for determining the number of Secret Service personnel to major presidential candidates as those used for the protection of the President of the United States, who is the agency’s principal protectee….