In response to recent assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump, the U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed the Enhanced Presidential Security Act, aimed at increasing Secret Service protection for presidential candidates. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), passed with a vote of 405-0 on Friday.
The legislation comes after two assassination attempts targeting Trump, the most recent occurring last Sunday at his West Palm Beach golf course. The first attempt, in July, took place at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, shot at Trump, striking him in the ear and fatally wounding a supporter, Corey Comperatore, while injuring two others.
The new bill mandates the Secret Service to apply the same protection standards used for sitting Presidents and Vice Presidents to major candidates, requiring an evaluation of security protocols. The review will examine existing protections for Presidents, Vice Presidents, former Presidents, and major candidates and will be submitted to Congress with recommendations for improvements within 180 days of the bill’s enactment.
The most recent attempt on Trump’s life involved Ryan Routh, a pro-Ukraine and Democratic activist, who reportedly hid for 12 hours at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course. Routh allegedly attempted to shoot Trump through a fence before being fired upon by Secret Service agents. He fled the scene but was later arrested and reportedly laughed during his court arraignment.
The bipartisan passage of the bill highlights growing concerns over the security of presidential candidates as the 2024 election approaches.
