() A new House proposal would provide additional security to lawmakers when they return to their home districts on recess or during weekends.
The measure comes as Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar joins the growing number of lawmakers advocating for more protection as threats of political violence start to surge.
“I personally think we need one: More security for members, I’ve been a longtime advocate for this and have worked with the police in the Capitol,” Klobuchar said at the Hill Nation Summit. “But we have to do more in the local areas.”
The shootings of the two Democratic Minnesota state lawmakers are still fresh on many lawmakers’ minds. Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband died as a result of the shooting, and Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were seriously injured.
House lawmakers believe that at this moment, given the threat level, something more is needed to keep them safe in their home districts and during events there.
The plan would increase what could be considered as Congress’s individual allowance. Each member gets a certain amount of discretionary money that they can use however they wish. That funding would increase to $20,000 per year just for security, and $10,000 of it can be used for physical security improvements in their homes, according to the U.S. Committee on House Administration.
It would also call for greater collaboration with local law enforcement.
The U.S. Capitol Police said the threat level against politicians has increased in the last couple of years. In 2017, there were nearly 4,000 credible threats and in 2024, that number rose to 9,474. Authorities said the credible threat level could likely reach 10,000 this year.
“I think the rules already allow for any type of hardening for security to happen,” Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said. “I think members just need to use discretion. $20,000 frankly sounds a little ritz to me, but there are people getting active threats, and there are two people serving prison sentences for death threats against me, and I promise I’ll prosecute anybody who threatens my safety and my family’s safety.”
