Sheila Jackson Lee: “Let me thank the gentlewoman for yielding and let me thank the sponsor of the legislation, the 21st Century President…”

“Let me thank the gentlewoman for yielding and let me thank the sponsor of the legislation, the 21st Century President Act. I wanted to affirm Congressman Pocan for the leadership that he has given to an issue that many might not pay attention to, and the term is appropriate, the 21st Century President Act, which deals with criminalizing threats against former Presidents and their families as well as providing security for those individuals who may be impacted. For example, section 879 of title 18, enacted in 1982 after the assassination attempt on then-President Ronald Reagan, makes it unlawful to threaten to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon a former President, President-elect, or Vice President-elect or major candidate for President or Vice President or an immediate family member. In the terminology, as has been indicated, the terms are defined as ``wife,'' ``her,'' and ``widow,'' which presumes that the President of the United States will always be a man and his spouse will always be a woman. We are very fortunate to have any number of wonderful Americans running who will have the opportunity to serve. Many women are running. Certainly, individuals from our LGBTQ community will be in the future mix for President of the United States.…”