WASHINGTON — The Senate unanimously passed legislation Tuesday to improve Secret Service protection for presidential candidates, sending the bill to the White House for President Joe Biden’s signature.
The strong bipartisan support came days after the House of Representatives passed the measure, known as the Enhanced Presidential Security Act, unopposed by a vote of 405-0.
The bill would give former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris the same level of protection as Biden. At just three pages long, the bill gives the Secret Service broad latitude to implement measures to achieve that level.
It comes the same month as an apparent second attempt to assassinate Trump. Biden last week called on Congress to take action, saying the Secret Service “needs more help.”
The Trump campaign, Harris’ campaign and the Secret Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Senate’s passage of the bill.
The Enhanced Presidential Security Act was introduced in the House of Representatives by Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., brought the legislation to the Senate floor.
After the House vote on Friday, acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe said at a press conference that Trump already receives “the highest level of protection from the Secret Service.” He added that Trump receives everything Biden receives “with respect to the Secret Service.”
Rowe said at the same time that the agency needs a “paradigm shift” in its approach to protecting presidents.
The bill’s passage comes as the House of Representatives is considering a broader spending measure, including a plan to provide an additional $231 million for the Secret Service.
It also comes a day after Trump accused the Justice Department of “downplaying” the alleged assassination plot against him in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump was previously shot in the ear during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
