Senate passes bill allowing State Department to beef up embassy security

The Senate passed a measure by unanimous consent Monday evening that would allow the Department of State to increase security at U.S. embassies and other overseas posts.

The Senate tried to pass the similar legislation at the end of the last Congress as an amendment to the Hurricane Sandy supplemental bill, but because the House never took up that bill the amendment died with the legislation.

That amendment would have allowed the State Department to transfer appropriated Overseas Contingency Operations funds for operations in Iraq, to other areas where security concerns are greater, such as Beirut, Lebanon and Harare, Zimbabwe.

The legislation came after four Americans were killed at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012. U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, was among those killed. 

After the attack, the State Department conducted an accountability review and found that security at other overseas posts was lacking as well, which is why the funds needed to be used in more dangerous areas.

The Improve Security of Foreign Embassies Act, S. 227, now heads to the House for further action.

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