House Passes Bill To Extend Protection To Cheney And Future Ex-Vice Presidents

The House passed a bill Monday that would offer Secret Service protection to Vice President Dick Cheney as well as future vice presidents, for six months after they leave office.

“The upcoming change of administrations, not to mention the current threat level, make permanent statutory authority for the Secret Service to provide such protection even more timely,” Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) told the Associated Press.

Previous former vice presidents had traditionally received protection for six months after their terms ended, but no law required the Secret Service to provide it.

The Senate has yet to take the bill up.

Starting with President Bush, future ex-presidents and their families will get protection for up to 10 years after leaving the White House. Every president before Bush received lifetime protection, a benefit changed by Congress in 1997.