Congress bolsters its own security in $1.7 trillion spending bill to avert government shutdown

Washington — The newly released $1.7 trillion spending bill to avert a government shutdown and continue funding the government through late 2023 includes several provisions to bolster security and prevent attacks against members of Congress. The bill also tucks away money to help respond to the crushing caseload of more than 930 Jan. 6 prosecutions.

The legislation, which spans 4,155 pages, includes direction to the Senate Sergeant at Arms to create a "residential security system program" to protect senators in their home states and towns. According to the legislation, "The program is focused on assisting in mitigating increased risks to the physical security of senators' residences both in the District of Columbia and in their home states. The agreement provides a total of $2,500,000 to be available until expended for the development and administration of a residential security system program." There's been growing concern about the well-being of senators and House members when they're outside the dome of security of U.S. Capitol Police on the Capitol grounds.

The spending bill also includes million of dollars to bolster House member security, including what appears to be a response to the attack against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi in California.