Today, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) introduced the Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024, in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Trump on July 13th. The bill’s original cosponsors include Reps. Marc Molinaro (NY-19), Brandon Williams (NY-22), and Tom Kean (NJ-07).
The Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024 establishes uniform standards for Secret Service protection of Presidents, Vice Presidents, and major Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates and forces a comprehensive review of the provision of protection by the Secret Service that must be submitted to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. The legislation would also appropriate necessary funds in order to protect these individuals in the future.
“The country watched on in horror on July 13th as former President Trump was nearly assassinated at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17). “Immediately after it happened, I reached out to Congressman Torres, trying to find a bipartisan solution that could prevent something like this from happening again.”
“Together, we crafted the Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024, which will provide additional Secret Service protections to candidates for President and Vice President, and to the sitting President and Vice President,” continued Rep. Lawler. “We cannot allow violence to undercut our very democracy, and this bill will ensure it never does.”
“I will continue to work in a bipartisan fashion with Rep. Torres and others in both parties to tackle the pressing issues of the day and protect our democracy,” concluded Rep. Lawler.
“The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was an attack on the country’s fundamental electoral system, and our response to this threat must transcend traditional party politics,” said Rep. Torres (NY-15). “I’m proud to join Congressman Lawler in introducing bipartisan legislation to provide enhanced Secret Service protection to all major presidential candidates — from former President Trump to Vice President Harris to RFK Jr.”
“This bill will help ensure the safety of our presidential candidates and, in turn, help protect our democracy,” concluded Rep. Torres.
