Lankford Introduces Bill to Bolster Security for Presidential Nominees

WASHINGTON, DC – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Rick Scott (R-FL), in the wake of a second assassination attempt on President Donald Trump in just 65 days, introduced the Protect Our Presidents Act, which would enhance US Secret Service (USSS) protection for presidential nominees to the same level currently provided to a sitting US president.

“After two assassination attempts in two months against former President Donald J. Trump, it is abundantly clear that presidential nominees need the same level of protection as sitting presidents. US Secret Service needs to be held accountable for their failures, and this bill would mandate reports for transparency and accountability during a presidential election year. Political violence is never acceptable in America. Amid these threats, we cannot sit back and ignore the security risks to a presidential nominee,” said Lankford.

“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. It is unthinkable that this could happen in America today, and it demands the immediate action of Congress. Today, I am leading 12 of my Republican colleagues to introduce the Protect Our Presidents Act which mandates that the USSS provide the same level of protective services to presidential nominees that it affords to sitting presidents. President Trump has great officers and agents working around the clock to keep him safe, but it’s clear that the vile rhetoric on the left toward President Trump has made him a target and more resources are required to ensure the safety of him and his family. I urge Senate Democrats to join Republicans to quickly pass this bill that will support the protection of President Trump and all future presidential nominees,” Scott said. 

Lankford serves on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs with jurisdiction and oversight of the US Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Secret Service. This week he joined Newsmax to call for accountability from the US Secret Service. 

Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jim Risch (R-ID), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Ted Budd (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Tim Scott (R-SC), John Barrasso (R-WY), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Mike Braun (R-IN) joined Lankford and Scott in introducing this legislation.

Specifically, the Protect Our Presidents Act would:

• Require the USSS to provide presidential nominees the same level of protection provided to the President, as well as any necessary protective measures.
• The nominee may decline the increased protection if they so choose. 
• Mandate regular reporting:
• The USSS must brief and report on the status of the presidential nominee’s protection to the Speaker of the House, the House Minority Leader, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee every 15 days during a presidential election year.
• This report will include the threat level for each presidential nominee, the security measures being implemented, associated costs, the number of personnel permanently assigned to each protective detail, and any unmet security needs.

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