[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1803-S1807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 1998

  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of calendar No. 315, S. 1605.

[[Page S1804]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1605) to establish a matching grant program to 
     help States, units of local government, and Indian tribes to 
     purchase armor vests for use by law enforcement officers.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary, with an 
amendment, as follows:
  (The part of the bill intended to be stricken is shown in boldface 
brackets, and the part of the bill intended to be inserted is shown in 
italic.)

                                S. 1605

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Bulletproof Vest Partnership 
     Act of 1998''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the number of law enforcement officers who are killed 
     in the line of duty would significantly decrease if every law 
     enforcement officer in the United States had the protection 
     of an armor vest while performing their hazardous duties;
       (2) the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that more 
     than 30 percent of the almost 1,182 law enforcement officers 
     killed by a firearm in the line of duty could have been saved 
     if they had been wearing body armor;
       (3) the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that the 
     risk of fatality to law enforcement officers while not 
     wearing an armor vest is 14 times higher than for officers 
     wearing an armor vest;
       (4) the Department of Justice estimates that approximately 
     150,000 State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers, 
     nearly 25 percent, are not issued body armor;
       (5) the Executive Committee for Indian Country Law 
     Enforcement Improvements reports that violent crime in Indian 
     country has risen sharply, despite decreases in the national 
     crime rate, and has concluded that there is a ``public safety 
     crisis in Indian country''; and
       (6) many State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, 
     especially those in smaller communities and rural 
     jurisdictions, need assistance in order to provide body armor 
     for their officers.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to save lives of 
     law enforcement officers by helping State, local, and tribal 
     law enforcement agencies provide those officers with armor 
     vests.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Armor vest.--The term ``armor vest'' means body armor 
     that has been tested through the voluntary compliance testing 
     program operated by the National Law Enforcement and 
     Corrections Technology Center of the National Institute of 
     Justice (NIJ), and found to comply with the requirements of 
     NIJ Standard 0101.03, or any subsequent revision of that 
     standard.
       (2) Body armor.--The term ``body armor'' means any product 
     sold or offered for sale as personal protective body covering 
     intended to protect against gunfire, stabbing, or other 
     physical harm.
       (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Department of 
     Justice.
       (4) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the same 
     meaning as in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination 
     and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)).
       (5) Law enforcement officer.--The term ``law enforcement 
     officer'' means any officer, agent, or employee of a State, 
     unit of local government, or Indian tribe authorized by law 
     or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the 
     prevention, detection, or investigation of any violation of 
     criminal law, or authorized by law to supervise sentenced 
     criminal offenders.
       (6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
     States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
     American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
     Islands.
       (7) Unit of local government.--The term ``unit of local 
     government'' means a county, municipality, town, township, 
     village, parish, borough, or other unit of general government 
     below the State level.

     SEC. 4. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

       (a) Grant Authorization.--The Director may make grants to 
     States, units of local government, and Indian tribes in 
     accordance with this Act to purchase armor vests for use by 
     State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.
       (b) Applications.--Each State, unit of local government, or 
     Indian tribe seeking to receive a grant under this section 
     shall submit to the Director an application, in such form and 
     containing such information as the Director may reasonably 
     require.
       (c) Uses of Funds.--Grant awards under this section shall 
     be--
       (1) distributed directly to the State, unit of local 
     government, or Indian tribe; and
       (2) used for the purchase of armor vests for law 
     enforcement officers in the jurisdiction of the grantee.
       (d) Preferential Consideration.--In awarding grants under 
     this section, the Director may give preferential 
     consideration, where feasible, to applications from 
     jurisdictions that--
       (1) have a violent crime rate at or above the national 
     average, as determined by the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation; and
       (2) have not been providing each law enforcement officer 
     assigned to patrol or other hazardous duties with body armor.
       (e) Minimum Amount.--Unless all applications submitted by 
     any State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe for a 
     grant under this section have been funded, each State, 
     together with grantees within the State (other than Indian 
     tribes), shall be allocated in each fiscal year under this 
     section not less than 0.75 percent of the total amount 
     appropriated in the fiscal year for grants pursuant to this 
     section, except that the United States Virgin Islands, 
     American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands shall 
     each be allocated 0.25 percent.
       [(f) Maximum Amount.--A State, together with grantees 
     within the State (other than Indian tribes), may not receive 
     more than 5 percent of the total amount appropriated in each 
     fiscal year for grants under this section.]
       (f) Maximum Amount.--A qualifying State, unit of local 
     government, or Indian tribe may not receive more than 5 
     percent of the total amount appropriated in each fiscal year 
     for grants under this section, except that a State, together 
     with the grantees within the State may not receive more than 
     20 percent of the total amount appropriated in each fiscal 
     year for grants under this section.
       (g) Matching Funds.--The portion of the costs of a program 
     provided by a grant under this section may not exceed 50 
     percent, unless the Director determines a case of fiscal 
     hardship and waives, wholly or in part, the requirement under 
     this subsection of a non-Federal contribution to the costs of 
     a program.
       (h) Allocation of Funds.--Not less than 50 percent of the 
     funds awarded under this section in each fiscal year shall be 
     allocated to units of local government, or Indian tribes, 
     having jurisdiction over areas with populations of 100,000 or 
     less.
       (i) Reimbursement.--Grants under this section may be used 
     to reimburse law enforcement officers who have previously 
     purchased body armor with personal funds during a period in 
     which body armor was not provided by the State, unit of local 
     government, or Indian tribe.

     SEC. 5. APPLICATIONS.

       Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Director shall promulgate regulations to carry out 
     this Act, which shall set forth the information that must be 
     included in each application under section 4(b) and the 
     requirements that States, units of local government, and 
     Indian tribes must meet in order to receive a grant under 
     section 4.

     SEC. 6. PROHIBITION OF PRISON INMATE LABOR.

       Any State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe that 
     receives financial assistance provided using funds 
     appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may not 
     purchase equipment or products manufactured using prison 
     inmate labor.

     SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       In the case of any equipment or product authorized to be 
     purchased with financial assistance provided using funds 
     appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act, it 
     is the sense of Congress that entities receiving the 
     assistance should, in expending the assistance, purchase only 
     American-made equipment and products.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each 
     of fiscal years 1999 through 2003 to carry out this Act.

  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee amendment be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendment was agreed to.
  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
considered read a third time and passed, as amended; that the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table; and that any statements relating to 
the bill appear at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1605) was considered read the third time and passed, as 
amended, as follows:

                                S. 1605

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Bulletproof Vest Partnership 
     Act of 1998''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the number of law enforcement officers who are killed 
     in the line of duty would significantly decrease if every law 
     enforcement officer in the United States had the protection 
     of an armor vest while performing their hazardous duties;
       (2) the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that more 
     than 30 percent of the almost 1,182 law enforcement officers 
     killed by

[[Page S1805]]

     a firearm in the line of duty could have been saved if they 
     had been wearing body armor;
       (3) the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that the 
     risk of fatality to law enforcement officers while not 
     wearing an armor vest is 14 times higher than for officers 
     wearing an armor vest;
       (4) the Department of Justice estimates that approximately 
     150,000 State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers, 
     nearly 25 percent, are not issued body armor;
       (5) the Executive Committee for Indian Country Law 
     Enforcement Improvements reports that violent crime in Indian 
     country has risen sharply, despite decreases in the national 
     crime rate, and has concluded that there is a ``public safety 
     crisis in Indian country''; and
       (6) many State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, 
     especially those in smaller communities and rural 
     jurisdictions, need assistance in order to provide body armor 
     for their officers.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to save lives of 
     law enforcement officers by helping State, local, and tribal 
     law enforcement agencies provide those officers with armor 
     vests.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Armor vest.--The term ``armor vest'' means body armor 
     that has been tested through the voluntary compliance testing 
     program operated by the National Law Enforcement and 
     Corrections Technology Center of the National Institute of 
     Justice (NIJ), and found to comply with the requirements of 
     NIJ Standard 0101.03, or any subsequent revision of that 
     standard.
       (2) Body armor.--The term ``body armor'' means any product 
     sold or offered for sale as personal protective body covering 
     intended to protect against gunfire, stabbing, or other 
     physical harm.
       (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Department of 
     Justice.
       (4) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the same 
     meaning as in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination 
     and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)).
       (5) Law enforcement officer.--The term ``law enforcement 
     officer'' means any officer, agent, or employee of a State, 
     unit of local government, or Indian tribe authorized by law 
     or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the 
     prevention, detection, or investigation of any violation of 
     criminal law, or authorized by law to supervise sentenced 
     criminal offenders.
       (6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
     States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
     American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
     Islands.
       (7) Unit of local government.--The term ``unit of local 
     government'' means a county, municipality, town, township, 
     village, parish, borough, or other unit of general government 
     below the State level.

     SEC. 4. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

       (a) Grant Authorization.--The Director may make grants to 
     States, units of local government, and Indian tribes in 
     accordance with this Act to purchase armor vests for use by 
     State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.
       (b) Applications.--Each State, unit of local government, or 
     Indian tribe seeking to receive a grant under this section 
     shall submit to the Director an application, in such form and 
     containing such information as the Director may reasonably 
     require.
       (c) Uses of Funds.--Grant awards under this section shall 
     be--
       (1) distributed directly to the State, unit of local 
     government, or Indian tribe; and
       (2) used for the purchase of armor vests for law 
     enforcement officers in the jurisdiction of the grantee.
       (d) Preferential Consideration.--In awarding grants under 
     this section, the Director may give preferential 
     consideration, where feasible, to applications from 
     jurisdictions that--
       (1) have a violent crime rate at or above the national 
     average, as determined by the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation; and
       (2) have not been providing each law enforcement officer 
     assigned to patrol or other hazardous duties with body armor.
       (e) Minimum Amount.--Unless all applications submitted by 
     any State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe for a 
     grant under this section have been funded, each State, 
     together with grantees within the State (other than Indian 
     tribes), shall be allocated in each fiscal year under this 
     section not less than 0.75 percent of the total amount 
     appropriated in the fiscal year for grants pursuant to this 
     section, except that the United States Virgin Islands, 
     American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands shall 
     each be allocated 0.25 percent.
       (f) Maximum Amount.--A qualifying State, unit of local 
     government, or Indian tribe may not receive more than 5 
     percent of the total amount appropriated in each fiscal year 
     for grants under this section, except that a State, together 
     with the grantees within the State may not receive more than 
     20 percent of the total amount appropriated in each fiscal 
     year for grants under this section.
       (g) Matching Funds.--The portion of the costs of a program 
     provided by a grant under this section may not exceed 50 
     percent, unless the Director determines a case of fiscal 
     hardship and waives, wholly or in part, the requirement under 
     this subsection of a non-Federal contribution to the costs of 
     a program.
       (h) Allocation of Funds.--Not less than 50 percent of the 
     funds awarded under this section in each fiscal year shall be 
     allocated to units of local government, or Indian tribes, 
     having jurisdiction over areas with populations of 100,000 or 
     less.
       (i) Reimbursement.--Grants under this section may be used 
     to reimburse law enforcement officers who have previously 
     purchased body armor with personal funds during a period in 
     which body armor was not provided by the State, unit of local 
     government, or Indian tribe.

     SEC. 5. APPLICATIONS.

       Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Director shall promulgate regulations to carry out 
     this Act, which shall set forth the information that must be 
     included in each application under section 4(b) and the 
     requirements that States, units of local government, and 
     Indian tribes must meet in order to receive a grant under 
     section 4.

     SEC. 6. PROHIBITION OF PRISON INMATE LABOR.

       Any State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe that 
     receives financial assistance provided using funds 
     appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may not 
     purchase equipment or products manufactured using prison 
     inmate labor.

     SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       In the case of any equipment or product authorized to be 
     purchased with financial assistance provided using funds 
     appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act, it 
     is the sense of Congress that entities receiving the 
     assistance should, in expending the assistance, purchase only 
     American-made equipment and products.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each 
     of fiscal years 1999 through 2003 to carry out this Act.

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I am delighted that the Senate has passed 
the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Act of 1998, S. 1605. I thank Senator 
Campbell for his leadership on our bipartisan legislation which is 
intended to save the lives of law enforcement officers across the 
country by helping state and local law enforcement agencies provide 
their officers with body armor, this issue. It has been a pleasure 
working with the senior Senator from Colorado to pass this vital 
legislation in the Senate. I also want to thank the Chairman of the 
Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Hatch, for his strong support of S. 
1605.
  Far too many police officers are needlessly killed each year while 
serving to protect our citizens. According to the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, more than 30 percent of the 1,182 officers killed by a 
firearm in the line of duty since 1980 could have been saved if they 
had been wearing body armor. Indeed, the FBI estimates that the risk of 
fatality to officers while not wearing body armor is 14 times higher 
than for officers wearing it.
  Unfortunately, far too many state and local law enforcement agencies 
cannot afford to provide every officer in their jurisdictions with the 
protection of body armor. In fact, the Department of Justice estimates 
that approximately 150,000 State and local law enforcement officers, 
nearly 25 percent, are not issued body armor.
  In countless incidents across the country everyday officers sworn to 
protect the public and enforce the law are in danger. Last year, an 
horrific incident along the Vermont and New Hampshire border 
underscores the need for the quick passage of this legislation to 
provide maximum protection to those who protect us. On August 19, 1997, 
Federal, State and local law enforcement authorities in Vermont and New 
Hampshire had cornered Carl Drega, after hours of hot pursuit. He had 
shot to death two New Hampshire state troopers and two other victims 
earlier in the day. In a massive exchange of gunfire with the 
authorities, Drega was killed.
  During that shootout, all federal law enforcement officers wore 
bulletproof vests, while some state and local officers did not. For 
example, Federal Border Patrol Officer John Pfeifer, a Vermonter, was 
seriously wounded in the incident. I am glad that Officer Pfeifer is 
back on the job after being hospitalized in serious condition. Had it 
not been for his bulletproof vest, I fear that he and his family might 
well have paid the ultimate price.
  The two New Hampshire state troopers who were killed by Carl Drega 
were not so lucky. We all grieve for them and our hearts go out to 
their families. They were not wearing bulletproof vests. Protective 
vests might not have been able to save the lives of those courageous 
officers because of the high-powered assault weapons, but the tragedy 
underscore the point that all of our

[[Page S1806]]

law enforcement officers, whether federal, state or local, deserve the 
best protection we can provide, including bulletproof vests.
  With that and lesser-known incidents as constant reminders, I will 
continue to do all I can to help prevent loss of life among our law 
enforcement officers.
  The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Act of 1998 will help by creating a 
new partnership between the federal government and state and local law 
enforcement agencies to help save the lives of police officers by 
providing the resources for each and every law enforcement officer in 
harm's way to have a bulletproof vest. Our bipartisan bill would create 
a $25 million matching grant program within the Department of Justice 
dedicated to helping State and local law enforcement agencies purchase 
body armor.
  In my home State of Vermont, our bill enjoys the strong support of 
the Vermont State Police, the Vermont Police Chiefs Association and 
many Vermont sheriffs, troopers, game wardens and other local and state 
law enforcement officials. In January, I was honored to be joined by 
Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell, Vermont Commissioner of 
Public Safety James Walton, Vermont State Police Director John 
Sinclair, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Lieutenant Robert Rooks, South 
Burlington Police Chief Lee Graham, South Burlington Vermont Officer 
Diane Reynolds as we spoke about state and local law enforcement 
officers' need for body armor.
  Since my time as a State prosecutor, I have always taken a keen 
interest in law enforcement in Vermont and around the country. Vermont 
has the reputation of being one of the safest states in which to live, 
work and visit, and rightly so. In no small part, this is due to the 
hard work of those who have sworn to serve and protect us. And we 
should do what we can to protect them, when a need like this one comes 
to our attention.
  Our Nation's law enforcement officers put their lives at risk in the 
line of duty everyday. No one knows when danger will appear. 
Unfortunately, in today's violent world, even a traffic stop may not 
necessarily be ``routine.'' In fact, the National Association of Chiefs 
of Police just reported that 21 police officers were killed in the line 
of duty last month, nearly double the toll for the month of January in 
both 1997 and 1996. More than ever, each and every law enforcement 
officer across the nation deserves the protection of a bulletproof 
vest.
  Our bipartisan legislation enjoys the strong support of numerous 
nation law enforcement organizations including the Fraternal Order of 
Police, Police Executive Research Forum, International Union of Police 
Associations, National Association of Police Organizations and 
International Brotherhood of Police Officers. The bill also enjoys the 
support of 38 attorneys general from across the country. Mr. President, 
I ask for unaminous consent to have printed in the Record letters of 
support for S. 1605 from all these national law enforcement 
organizations and the attorneys general.
                                        Fraternal Order of Police,


                                 National Legislative Program,

                                 Washington, DC, January 14, 1998.
     Hon. Patrick J. Leahy,
     Ranking Member, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Leahy, I am writing to you on behalf of the 
     more than 270,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police to 
     offer our strong support of legislation you plan to introduce 
     in order to establish a grant program to assist local law 
     enforcement agencies in purchasing body armor for their 
     officers.
       This legislation will greatly increase the number of 
     officers wearing body armor--and it will save more lives. At 
     the May 15, 1997 Peace Officers' Memorial Day, the F.O.P. 
     honored the memories of one hundred and seventeen officers 
     who were killed in the line of duty in 1996. This year we 
     have already lost one hundred and sixty from our ranks.
       While we know that there is no way to end the deadly risks 
     inherent to a career in law enforcement, we must do 
     everything possible to ensure that officers who put their 
     lives on the line every day also put on a vest. Body armor is 
     one of the most important pieces of equipment an officer can 
     have and often means the difference between life and death. 
     Hopefully, the bill you plan to introduce will increase the 
     quality and number of armored vests available to America's 
     law enforcement officers.
       On behalf of the Fraternal Officer of Police, I commend you 
     for your leadership on this important issue and forward to 
     working with you once it has been introduced. If I can be of 
     assistance, please contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco 
     in my Washington office, (202) 547-8189.
           Sincerely,
                                              Gilbert G. Gallegos,
     National President.
                                                                    ____

                                            International Union of


                                          Police Associations,

                                                February 13, 1998.
     Hon. Patrick J. Leahy,
     Russell Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Leahy: On behalf of the Executive Committee 
     and the 80,000 rank and file law enforcement officers of the 
     International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO, we are 
     proud to endorse and support the ``Bulletproof Vest 
     Partnership Grant Act of 1998'' as introduced in the Senate 
     by yourself and Senator Campbell.
       Law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line 
     everyday deserve state of the art body armor and because of 
     your commitment to law enforcement, officers will have the 
     protection that could mean the difference between life and 
     death.
       We commend you for your support and legislation and we 
     pledge our continued assistance toward the enactment of the 
     ``Bulletproof Vest Partnership Act of 1998.'' Thank you.
           Sincerely,

                                              Arthur J. Reddy,

                                              Legislative Liaison,
     International Vice President.
                                                                    ____

                                    National Association of Police


                                          Organizations, Inc.,

                                Washington, DC, February 25, 1998.
     Hon. Patrick J. Leahy,
     Ranking Minority Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Leahy: Please be advised that the National 
     Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), representing more 
     than 4,000 police unions and associations and more than 
     220,000 rank and file law enforcement officers 
     enthusiastically and wholeheartedly supports S. 1605, the 
     ``Bulletproof Vest Partnership Act of 1998.'' I would like to 
     take this opportunity to thank you for your efforts in 
     scheduling the markup of S. 1605, for Thursday, February 26, 
     1998 at 10:30 am.
       As you know, far too many law enforcement officers patrol 
     our streets and neighborhoods without proper protective gear 
     against violent criminals. Today, more than ever, violent 
     criminals have bulletproof vests and deadly weapons at their 
     disposal. We cannot allow criminals to have the upper hand. 
     This legislation is a necessary step in adequately protecting 
     law enforcement officers, who put their lives on the line 
     every day to serve our communities. This is why NAPO supports 
     your effort to help state and local law enforcement 
     departments provide officers with bulletproof vests.
       Again, thank you for addressing S. 1605, which is a 
     legislative priority for NAPO. I appreciate your hard work 
     and commitment to the law enforcement community and if we can 
     be of any assistance please contact my office at (202) 842-
     4420.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Robert Scully,
     Executive Director.
                                                                    ____



                              Police Executive Research Forum,

                                Washington, DC, February 20, 1998.
     Hon. Patrick Leahy,
     Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Leahy: I am writing to you on behalf of the 
     Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to offer our strong 
     support for S. 1605, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant 
     Act of 1997. This important piece of legislation would 
     establish a grant program to assist local law enforcement 
     agencies in purchasing body armor for their officers.
       PERF, a nonprofit organization of progressive police 
     professionals who serve more than 40 percent of the nation's 
     population, is firmly committed to helping police obtain 
     equipment necessary to ensure their safety as they protect 
     the community. Between 1985 and 1994, more than 2000 police 
     officers had their lives saved by bulletproof vests. This 
     bill would greatly increase the numbers of officers wearing 
     bulletproof vests and will ultimately save more lives.
       PERF commends you for your commitment to officer safety and 
     your leadership on this important issue. If we can be of any 
     assistance in the future, please feel free to contact me or 
     Martha Plotkin at (202) 466-7820.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Chuck Wexler,
     Executive Director.
                                                                    ____

                                      International Brotherhood of


                                              Police Officers,

                                Alexandria, VA, February 10, 1998.
     Hon. Patrick Leahy,
     United States Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Leahy: The International Brotherhood of Police 
     Officers (IBPO) is an affiliate of the Service Employees 
     International Union. The IBPO represents over 50,000 police 
     officers at the federal, state, and local level, including 
     IBPO Local 506, Brattleboro, Vermont.
       On behalf of the entire membership of the IBPO I wish to 
     thank you for your sponsorship of S. 1605, ``The Bulletproof 
     Vest Partnership Act of 1998.'' This life saving legislation 
     will provide protection to police officers across the 
     country.
       In the past few months alone, the IBPO family has dealt 
     with the tragic deaths of police officers in Boise, Idaho and 
     Atlanta, who

[[Page S1807]]

     lost their lives in the line of duty. Every police officer 
     who takes a call knows the dangers facing them. That is why 
     this legislation is so crucial.
       The number of police officers who do not have access to 
     bulletproof vests is astounding. Almost 150,000 law 
     enforcement officers do not have the ability to fully protect 
     themselves. Simply put, passage of this legislation will save 
     lives.
       The entire membership of the IBPO looks forward to working 
     with you on this important issue. If you have any questions, 
     please feel free to contact me.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Kenneth T. Lyons,
     National President.
                                                                    ____



              State of Vermont Office of the Attorney General,

                                                February 26, 1998.
     Hon. Orrin G. Hatch,
     Hon. Patrick J. Leahy,
     Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
     Hon. Ben Nighthorse Campbell,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
     Re: Bulletproof Vest Partnership Act of 1998 (S. 1605)
       Dear Senators Campbell, Hatch and Leahy: As state attorneys 
     general, we are writing to express our wholehearted support 
     for Senate Bill No. 1605, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership 
     Act of 1998. In our view, this bill will be an invaluable 
     tool in helping to protect law enforcement officers 
     throughout the country who risk their lives daily while 
     serving their communities. This bill would provide much 
     needed matching grants to state, local and tribal law 
     enforcement agencies to be used to purchase armor vests for 
     their officers. We were particularly pleased to note the 
     provision for waivers of the grantee's matching contribution 
     in the event of a fiscal hardship by a particular law 
     enforcement agency.
       As you are all too aware, state, local and tribal law 
     enforcement officers often find themselves in deadly 
     confrontations with highly armed and dangerous criminals. The 
     statistics cited in your bill make it imperative that every 
     officer in the country have ready access to body armor when 
     it is needed. Your bill will assure that all police 
     departments will have the resources to equip officers with 
     body armor as standard equipment. The bill will also allow 
     reimbursement to those officers who have had to purchase body 
     armor at their own personal expense.
       This bill will enable more officers to wear armor when they 
     need it. It will definitely save lives. We appreciate your 
     support for this bill and urge passage of this important 
     legislation.
           Sincerely,
       William H. Sorrell, Attorney General of Vermont.
       Gale Norton, Attorney General of Colorado.
       Bill Pryor, Attorney General of Alabama.
       Bruce M. Botelho, Attorney General of Alaska.
       Grant Woods, Attorney General of Arizona.
       Daniel E. Lungren, Attorney General of California.
       M. Jane Brady, Attorney General of Delaware.
       Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General of Florida.
       Gus S. Diaz, Attorney General of Guam.
       Margery S. Bronster, Attorney General of Hawaii.
       Alan G. Lance, Attorney General of Idaho.
       James E. Ryan, Attorney General of Illinois.
       Jeffrey A. Modisett, Attorney General of Indiana.
       Albert B. Chandler III, Attorney General of Kentucky.
       Richard P. Ieyoub, Attorney General of Louisiana.
       Andrew Ketterer, Attorney General of Maine.
       J. Joseph Curran, Jr., Attorney General of Maryland.
       Scott Harshbarger, Attorney General of Massachusetts.
       Hubert H. Humphrey III, Attorney General of Minnesota.
       Mike Moore, Attorney General of Mississippi.
       Joseph P. Mazurek, Attorney General of Montana.
       Frankie Sue Del Papa, Attorney General of Nevada.
       Philip McLaughlin, Attorney General of New Hampshire.
       Peter Vemlero, Attorney General of New Jersey.
       Dennis C. Vacco, Attorney General of New York.
       Heidi Heitkamp, Attorney General of North Dakota.
       Betty D. Montgomery, Attorney General of Ohio.
       Drew Edmondson, Attorney General of Oklahoma.
       Hardy Myers, Attorney General of Oregon.
       Mike Fisher, Attorney General of Pennsylvania.
       Jose A. Fuentes, Attorney General of Puerto Rico.
       Jeffrey B. Pine, Attorney General of Rhode Island.
       Charles Molony Condon, Attorney General of South Carolina.
       Mark Barnett, Attorney General of South Dakota.
       Jan Graham, Attorney General of Utah.
       Mark L. Earley, Attorney General of Virginia.
       Christine O. Gregoire, Attorney General of Washington.
       Darrell V. McGraw, Jr., Attorney General of West Virginia.

  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

  Mr. LEAHY. I urge the House of Representatives to support this 
bipartisan legislation and urge its quick passage into law.

                          ____________________