Sergeant-at-Arms William Walker recently developed a new program in which each House legislator receives up to $10,000 to bolster their security systems at their personal residence.
The funds will cover the cost of purchasing and installing security equipment, including motion sensors, door locks and cameras. They will also cover up to $150 for monthly maintenance and monitoring costs.
Walker’s office confirmed the schedule to TPM on Tuesday.
The officer announced the initiative in a letter to lawmakers on Monday, according to the Hill.
“The Sergeant-at-Arms (SAA) will assume the cost and oversee certain future residential security upgrades, maintenance and monthly monitoring fees,” Walker wrote, according to a copy of the notice obtained by the Hill. and the Washington Examiner. “This program will enhance the safety of members of the House of Representatives and their families.”
The program will begin on August 15, according to the Hill and the Washington Examiner.
Walker’s initiative comes as lawmakers face a disturbing surge in threats. In fact, there have been several incidents this month.
On July 10, a man was stopped outside the home of Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), where he allegedly shouted death threats and racist rants against the Indian-born MP.
A man allegedly carrying a sharp weapon attacked Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) on stage as the GOP lawmaker hosted a campaign event for his bid for governor of New York last Friday. The man was charged with attempted second-degree assault (Zeldin was not injured).
Several days before the incident at Jayapal’s home, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) — one of only two Republicans on the House Jan. 6 Committee — released audio recordings of graphic threats against the congressman and his family that his office received recently.
Comments are closed.