The House has given lawmakers more money to make use of for personal security after members raised concerns {that a} new plan put ahead to extend security funding didn’t meet the menace stage in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
The House Committee on Administration is extending a pilot program that members can use for personal security that was set to run out on September 30 and is doubling the quantity for members to make use of.
From September 30 till November 21, members could have $10,000 a month for personal security. They beforehand had $5,000 a month. The new funding will expire the day {that a} stopgap funding invoice Republicans hope to quickly see move each chambers of Congress would expire. The pilot program was launched in July.
This funding is in addition to $30 million to increase security funding for lawmakers included in the federal government funding invoice. A quantity of lawmakers on each side of the aisle had mentioned that $30 million proposal was not sufficient given the heightened menace stage going through lawmakers in the present political local weather.
House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil instructed reporters on Wednesday, “I’ve spoken to an overwhelming number of members who’ve utilized the pilot program. It is overwhelmingly positive feedback that I’m receiving. The negative feedback is they’d like more resources.”
Referring to the funding used for the rise to the pilot program, Steil mentioned, “they’re at the moment obtainable funds in this fiscal 12 months that we reallocated.
The pilot program got here after a June assault on Minnesota state lawmakers reignited the long-standing query of the right way to greatest maintain members and their households protected.
NCS’s Alison Main contributed to this report.