Asa Hutchinson: “H.R. 3048, the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000 passed the House by voice vote on June 26 of this year. The…”

“H.R. 3048, the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000 passed the House by voice vote on June 26 of this year. The bill was introduced by the chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum), to clarify the authority of the Secret Service to protect the President, former Presidents and their families, and candidates for the Office of President and Vice President and their families. When this bill was considered in the other body, provisions were added that would have authorized the Attorney General to issue administrative subpoenas, principally through the U.S. Marshal Service in connection with investigations of fugitives from justice. These provisions have caused considerable concern in the House, and in response to those concerns the unanimous consent request that I am making today will strike all of the provisions dealing with the administrative subpoenas in fugitive cases. The unanimous request retains a provision from the Senate amendment to the underlying bill that requires the Attorney General to establish and fund fugitive apprehension task forces which are comprised of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies who work together to catch Federal and State fugitives.”