![]() The Capitol Police, the force that protects Capitol Hill, said that Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said the measure would set a “very dangerous precedent to exempt a class of people from security processes that are essential for our national security.” “It’s important that we take reasonable measures to keep everyone safe.”īut after Thursday’s markup before the Senate Commerce Committee concluded, Sen. There are “serious security threats facing public officials,” Cruz said last week. But previously, Cruz told POLITICO that his amendment seeks to ensure that political VIPs who have received threats in the past or are under an active threat aren’t endangered as they pass through public spaces in airports. Instead, Murphy said, any escort duties for political VIPs should be the job of federal law enforcement.Ĭruz did not address the amendment during the markup. ![]() It would also divert police from “crime suppression and security functions at airports, which is our fundamental duty,” said Kevin Murphy, executive director of the Airport Law Enforcement Agencies Network. Last week the head of a nonprofit representing airport police said Cruz’s earlier proposal would be “a burden to airport police agencies,” especially because federal budgets already do not adequately fund airport police units. ![]() The amendment endorsed by the committee on Thursday had been modified from an earlierĭraft obtained by POLITICO, though the contours of what it seeks to do are largely the same. The amendment would place most of the onus of doing this on the Transportation Security Administration, though it gives the agency a big out by saying it can simply arrange for an escort through other law enforcement bodies - including airport police. Cruz’s language would give political VIPs including lawmakers, federal judges, Cabinet members and some of their family and staff a dedicated security escort at airports, along with expedited screening outside of public view.
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