Enhanced budget set aside for lawmakers' security following rising safety concerns after the Kirk assassination incident
House Increases Funding for Lawmaker Personal Security
The House of Representatives has extended and doubled a pilot program for lawmaker personal security, providing additional funds to help protect members amidst heightened threat levels. The new funding will be available from September 30 until November 21.
The pilot program, initially launched in July in response to a June attack on Minnesota state lawmakers, has received positive feedback from lawmakers using it. The House Administration Chairman, Bryan Steil, has expressed that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
The extended pilot program will double the amount lawmakers can use for personal security, increasing it from $5,000 to $10,000 a month. This increase in funding comes from currently available funds in this fiscal year.
The extension of the pilot program and the additional funding were approved by the House Committee on Administration on September 30. However, the new funding for the pilot program will expire the day a stopgap funding bill passes both chambers of Congress.
The House has not specified where the additional funding for lawmaker security, beyond the $30 million in the government funding bill, is coming from. Some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had expressed that the initial $30 million proposal for increased security funding was not sufficient given the current political climate's heightened threat level.
The new personal security funding for lawmakers is not specified as coming from the $30 million included in the government funding bill. The article does not specify if the new personal security funding for lawmakers is a permanent or temporary measure.
The extension of the pilot program and the increase in funding come amidst concerns about the threat level in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination. The House has given lawmakers more money for personal security due to these concerns.
The pilot program for lawmaker personal security was initiated in response to the June attack on Minnesota state lawmakers. Lawmakers using the pilot program have expressed a desire for more resources, and the extension and increase in funding aim to provide them with the necessary protection.
The new funding for the pilot program will be used to provide additional security measures for lawmakers, such as bodyguards, security systems, and other protective measures. The specific details of how the funding will be used have not been disclosed.
The extension and increase in funding for the pilot program are a significant step towards ensuring the safety of lawmakers amidst the current political climate's heightened threat level. The House Committee on Administration will continue to monitor the situation and assess the need for further funding or measures to protect lawmakers.
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