Bill Summary
The "United States Secret Service Reserve Fund Act of 2026" establishes a dedicated reserve fund to ensure the ongoing financial support for the United States Secret Service (USSS) during periods when its appropriations are temporarily unavailable. The key components of the legislation include:
1. **Fund Creation**: A reserve fund, named the "United States Secret Service Reserve Fund," is created to cover essential expenses related to the protection of designated individuals, including the salaries of personnel directly involved in providing this protection.
2. **Usage Regulations**: The Director of the USSS is authorized to access the fund only during lapses in appropriations, specifically for a period starting from the lapse until either the appropriations are restored or up to 30 days after the lapse.
3. **Financial Allocation**: The act appropriates $106 million to this reserve fund from the U.S. Treasury, which will be deposited by the Secretary of the Treasury.
4. **Fund Management**: Any unused funds remaining in the reserve as of December 31, 2026, must be returned to the Treasury by January 31, 2027, and those amounts will be rescinded.
5. **Reporting Requirements**: The Director of the USSS must report to specific congressional committees on the fund's usage and transactions within 30 days after returning any unused amounts.
Overall, this legislation aims to ensure that the USSS can maintain its crucial protective functions without interruption due to funding issues.
Possible Impacts
The "United States Secret Service Reserve Fund Act of 2026" could affect people in various ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Enhanced Security for Public Figures**: By ensuring that the Secret Service has access to a reserve fund during lapses in appropriations, the legislation helps maintain continuous protection for individuals at risk, such as the President, Vice President, and other designated officials. This consistent security reduces the potential risk of harm to these individuals and can help reassure the public about their safety.
2. **Job Security for Secret Service Employees**: The fund is designated to cover the salaries of employees who provide protective services. By guaranteeing salaries during funding gaps, the legislation helps protect the livelihoods of Secret Service personnel, contributing to job stability and morale within the agency. This ultimately allows them to perform their duties effectively, knowing their financial security is safeguarded.
3. **Fiscal Accountability and Oversight**: The requirement for the Secret Service to report on the use of the reserve fund to Congress ensures that there is transparency and accountability regarding the funds' use. This oversight can help prevent misuse of funds and ensure taxpayers that their money is being spent appropriately, fostering trust in government operations that directly affect national security.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8058 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8058
To establish a reserve fund for the United States Secret Service, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 24, 2026
Mr. Mills introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a reserve fund for the United States Secret Service, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States Secret Service Reserve
Fund Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE RESERVE FUND.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a fund, to be known as the
``United States Secret Service Reserve Fund'', for the necessary
expenses of the United States Secret Service related to the protection
of individuals identified in section 3056 of title 18, United States
Code (including the payment of the salaries of employees who directly
provide such protection), during a lapse of appropriations for the
United States Secret Service.
(b) Use of the Fund.--The Director of the United States Secret
Service may use amounts from the United States Secret Service Reserve
Fund only for the purposes described in subsection (a) during the
period--
(1) beginning on the date of a lapse in appropriations with
respect to the United States Secret Service; and
(2) ending on the earlier of--
(A) the date on which the lapse in appropriations
described in paragraph (1) ends; or
(B) the date that is 30 days after the date
described in paragraph (1).
(c) Appropriation.--There is hereby appropriated, out of money in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $106,000,000 for the United
States Secret Service Reserve Fund.
(d) Deposit of Appropriated Funds Into the Fund.--The Secretary of
the Treasury shall deposit amounts appropriated under this section to
the United States Secret Service Reserve Fund.
(e) Release of Funds to the Treasury.--Not later than January 31,
2027, the Director of the United States Secret Service shall transfer
any amounts not used for the purposes described in subsection (b)
remaining in the United States Secret Service Reserve Fund as of
December 31, 2026, to the Secretary of the Treasury, and such amounts
shall be rescinded.
(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 30 calendar days after the
date of compliance with subsection (e), the Director of the United
States Secret Service shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report on the uses of, and the transactions relating to,
the United States Secret Service Reserve Fund.
(g) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the following:
(1) The Committee on House Administration of the House of
Representatives.
(2) The Committee on Rules and Administration of the
Senate.
(3) The Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives.
(4) The Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.
(5) The Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(6) The Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
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