I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2473 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 19, 2009 Ms. Tsongas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To improve Department of Defense policies relating to body armor.

1.

Improvement of Department of Defense policies relating to body armor

(a)

Dedicated program element for body armor

Effective for the budget of the President submitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that within the research, development, test, and evaluation account for each of the military services a separate, dedicated program element is assigned to the research, development, test, and evaluation of body armor. (b)

Dedicated program element for procurement of body armor

Effective for the budget of the President submitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that within the procurement account for each of the military services a separate, a dedicated program element is assigned to the procurement of body armor. (c)

Research and development of lighter body armor

Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for research, development, test, and evaluation, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that such sums as may be necessary are available for— (1)the research and development of lighter body armor while maintaining equivalent level of threat protection to the improved outer tactical vest and enhanced small arms protective inserts; and (2)the creation of a task force to carry out the research, development, test, and evaluation of lighter body armor.