Washington D.C. – The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed the DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.). The legislation mandates that all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies provide law enforcement officers with improved ballistic body armor designed to fit both male and female officers appropriately.
Senator Britt, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, emphasized the importance of equipping officers with protective gear that ensures their safety. “The brave law enforcement personnel at the Department of Homeland Security need equipment that keeps them safe and ensures they can return home to their families every night,” Britt stated. She noted that some current equipment fails to provide the necessary protection. “With the passage of the DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act, we are ensuring every man and woman in the line of duty has the best equipment necessary to protect them.”
Senator Peters, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, echoed these sentiments. “Law enforcement officers deserve protective body armor that keeps them as safe as they keep us,” he said, underscoring the need for advanced and effective safety equipment that accommodates diverse body types.
The bill addresses gaps in officer safety highlighted by ballistic testing conducted by the FBI in 2022. The tests used updated procedures and body molds reflecting various body types. Results revealed that commonly used body armor left certain vulnerabilities, particularly in female officers and some male officers, where a bullet could ricochet off the top center of the armor’s front panel and into the throat. This flaw posed a significant risk to officers in the line of duty.
Since these findings, improved ballistic body armor has been developed. However, DHS has yet to adopt this upgraded equipment across its agencies. The DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act seeks to rectify this by requiring that all DHS law enforcement personnel be equipped with properly fitting, advanced protective gear.
The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Both senators expressed optimism about its passage, with Britt stating her eagerness to see the bill become law.
This bipartisan effort reflects a shared commitment to enhancing the safety and well-being of DHS law enforcement personnel, ensuring they have the tools needed to perform their duties effectively and return home safely.
