From the document: "Counterfeiting of U.S. currency after the Civil War and attacks against political leaders provided the impetus for the formation of the U.S. Secret Service, a federal agency established through President Abraham Lincoln's executive action, and later provided annual appropriations by Congress. This report provides information on the historical and legislative evolution of the U.S. Secret Service, including its investigation and protection missions, and includes data concerning selected U.S. Secret Service-related legislation, generally, and the Service's protection mission, specifically. [...] The U.S. Secret Service (USSS), now part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has two missions--criminal investigations and protection. Criminal investigation activities encompass financial crimes, identity theft, counterfeiting, computer fraud, and computer-based attacks on the nation's financial, banking, and telecommunications infrastructure. The protection mission is the more publicly visible mission, and provides personal and property protection to the President, Vice President, their families, former Presidents, and major candidates for those offices, along with the White House and the Vice President's residence. Protective duties of the Service also extend to certain foreign missions in the District of Columbia (such as embassies, consulates, and foreign dignitary residences), as well as to additional presidentially-designated individuals, such as the Homeland Security Secretary and visiting foreign dignitaries. Separate from these mandated assignments, USSS is also responsible for certain security activities including those involving National Special Security Events (NSSEs), such as presidential inaugurations, the major party quadrennial national conventions, and international conferences held in the United States."