House Speaker Mike Johnson introduced a new short-term spending bill that includes $231 million for Secret Service funding.
The move follows Johnson’s previous continuing resolution (CR), which failed in the House.
In a letter sent to colleagues, Johnson said the legislation would be a “clean, three-month CR.” He described it as a”very narrow, bare-bones CR including only the extensions that are absolutely necessary.”
“While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most prudent path forward under the present circumstances,” Johnson wrote. “As history has taught and current polling affirms, shutting the government down less than 40 days from a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice.”
“From now until election day, I will continue with my tireless efforts and singular focus of growing our majority for the 119th Congress,” Johnson continued. “It is my great honor to serve with you all in these historic days. The future of our exceptional nation directly depends upon our success, and I am confident that together we will prevail!”
The CR states that the millions of dollars for bolstering the Secret Service will be used for “operations necessary to carry out protective operations including the 2024 Presidential Campaign and National Special Security Events.” Funding will only be had if the Director of the Secret Service provides Congress with an “expenditure plan that identifies, by program, project, and activity.”
The Department of Homeland Security is also obligated to provide the House of Representatives with the materials pertaining to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
Conservatives have criticized Johnson’s bill, saying he “caved” to Democrats by failing to include the SAVE Act in the CR.
“Speaker Mike Johnson has CAVED, and will bring a Continuing Resolution (CR) to the floor WITHOUT the SAVE Act, per Punchbowl,” conservative personality Nick Sortor wrote on X. “Of course he did. Johnson’s weak, spineless, and owned by the democrats.”
“The Biden Harris regime is DEEPLY opposed to any election integrity bills, so Johnson won’t bother pushing back against them,” he added. CR will continue Pelosi-era spending up until Christmas time, when Johnson will likely pass another CR. House GOP leadership is an absolute joke.”
