Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Gary Peters have announced the passage of their bipartisan bill, the DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act, through the Senate by unanimous consent. The legislation mandates that all agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provide improved ballistic body armor tailored to fit both male and female law enforcement officers.

Senator Britt emphasized the importance of proper equipment for law enforcement personnel: “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. Unfortunately, their current body armor sometimes misses the mark—requiring some officers to wear equipment that does not provide the full protection they deserve.” She expressed gratitude for the unanimous support in passing the bill and anticipation for its progression through Congress.

Senator Peters highlighted the significance of equal access to advanced safety gear: “Law enforcement officers deserve protective body armor that keeps them as safe as they keep us. My bill will ensure that all officers, regardless of gender or body type, will have access to the most advanced and effective safety equipment.”

In 2022, updated ballistic testing by the FBI revealed vulnerabilities in commonly used body armor when tested on female and certain male molds. The tests showed a risk where bullets could ricochet off certain parts of the armor into critical areas like the throat. Despite advancements in ballistic body armor technology since then, these improvements are not yet provided by DHS to its officers.

The proposed legislation aims to address this gap by requiring all DHS agencies to supply appropriately fitting improved ballistic body armor to enhance officer safety.