US Senator Rick Scott’s (R-FL) Enhanced Presidential Security Act, led by Representatives Mike Lawler and Ritchie Torres in the House of Representatives, unanimously passed the Senate after passing with a bipartisan and unanimous 405-0 vote in the House.
The bill would provide presidential and vice presidential nominees the same level of Secret Service protections as sitting presidents and vice presidents.
The legislation follows concerns former President Donald Trump was not receiving sufficient Secret Service protection after suffering two assassination attempts.
Senator Scott praised the passage of the bill and urged President Joe Biden to approve it.
“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,” said Scott. “It is unthinkable that this could happen in America today, and it demands the immediate action of Congress.”
Scott was joined by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) in a letter anteceding the recently passed legislation requesting President Biden unilaterally grant Trump sitting-president secret service protection.
The senators sent a letter to Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe requesting increased protection for President Trump.
In their letter, the senators thank Director Rowe for the protection currently being afforded to Trump by the Secret Service yet added that more personnel is needed.
Scott explained via press release the request responds to the Secret Service’s inability “to address the security failures” that preceded both attempts against Trump’s life.
Similarly, Senator Rubio claimed the second assassination attempt reveals the Secret Service’s inability to effectively preempt similar future attacks.
“After two assassination attempts on former President Trump's life, it's obvious the Secret Service needs to increase protections around him,” said Rubio.
Neither Biden nor Harris have commented on the request for increased security, with the latter recently expressing her full faith in the Secret Service.
