This month marks the 160th anniversary of one of our most revered institutions: the United States Secret Service. Formed after the Civil War, the Secret Service has stood for over a century and a half as a symbol of discipline and patriotism. 

On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation that would form the Secret Service, but on that same night, he was assassinated at Ford’s Theater. Three months later, on July 5, 1865, the Secret Service was officially created to protect currency in the Department of the Treasury. After President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Congress expanded the agency’s operations to include presidential protections. And today, the U.S. Secret Service is one of the most elite law enforcement agencies in the world—with more than 8,000 men and women serving across 150 offices to protect our elected officials, their families, and major party candidates. Their motto—Worthy of trust and confidence—isn’t just words, but a calling.

In May, I had the honor of joining my friend, Director of the Secret Service, Sean Curran, during National Police Week to lay a wreath in solemn remembrance of the agents who have given their lives in the line of duty. It was a moment of quiet reverence and a reminder that behind every protected event, every secured motorcade, every moment of peace, stands a cohort of individuals willing to risk everything for their fellow countrymen. As we recognize 160 years of the United States Secret Service, we honor the sacrifices they have made, and I extend my sincere gratitude for their commitment to stand in front of danger so that America remains free, strong, and secure.