On July 23rd, Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at reviewing and strengthening U.S. Secret Service standards in response to two attempted assassinations of former President Donald Trump. The Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024, which unanimously passed the House with a vote count of 405-0, will mandate a comprehensive review of protection for all current and former presidents and vice presidents as well as major presidential and vice-presidential candidates. If successful in the Senate, the director of the Secret Service will be required to ensure that the standards for all protectees are uniform, and submit a report with its findings and recommendations for improvement to both the House’s Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
This bill was introduced in light of two failed assassination attempts; one being Ryan Wesley Routh’s plan to kill Trump at his golf course in Palm Beach, Florida, which was thwarted by Secret Service agents on Sunday. The necessity for the Act is evident as Rep. Lawler stated during a debate on Thursday that if the election were to be decided by an assassin’s bullet, it would “shake the conscience of our nation” and require swift action from the federal government.
Despite the unanimous support for the bill in the House, some criticisms were made during its debate. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) expressed that while he supports the legislation to ensure the protection of higher elected officials, the Act will not do anything to keep other people safe or address the issue of gun violence taking 100 American lives every day. In response, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) blasted Nadler’s remark, accusing him of trying to blame Trump for the assassination attempts.
Lawmakers Ritchie Torres and Mike Lawler commended Congress for passing their bill, expressing gratitude to their colleagues in the House for voting overwhelmingly in support of the legislation. They emphasized that protecting presidents and presidential candidates is a matter of national security interest, as history has shown that assassinations can disrupt political systems and embolden further violence. The two recent attempts on former President Trump’s life have demonstrated the need for improvements to fill the gaps in protection and prevent anyone from exploiting these vulnerabilities.