[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 13, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4108-S4109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Mr. Specter, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Shelby, 
        Mr. Hatch, and Mr. Obama):
  S. 3012. A bill to amend title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend the authorization of the Bulletproof 
Vest Partnership Grant Program through fiscal year 2012; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am proud to introduce a bill today to 
reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act for 3 years, 
through 2012. This legislation has enjoyed strong bipartisan support in 
Congress since it was enacted in 1998, and I thank Senators Specter, 
Mikulski, Shelby and Hatch for joining me in today's introduction. I am 
also glad to be joined by Congressmen Visclosky who will introduce this 
bill in the House of Representatives today as well.
  Since 1999, the Bureau of Justice Assistance at the Department of 
Justice has distributed $234 million to State and local jurisdictions. 
Those grants have resulted in the purchase of an estimated 818,000 
vests. Since its enactment, over 11,900 State and local jurisdictions 
have participated in this program. Congress can be proud of the fact 
that this legislation has directly provided life-saving equipment to so 
many law enforcement officers. I know that when State and local 
jurisdictions receive the matching grants through this program, their 
budgets can go farther in fighting crime in their communities.
  Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the 
importance of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program. We heard from a 
law enforcement officer who was shot in the

[[Page S4109]]

chest at pointblank range during an auto theft investigation. He lived 
to tell the committee and others his story, thanks to the bulletproof 
vest he was wearing. In my home state of Vermont, the program has 
allowed the Vermont police to purchase over 350 sets of armor in the 
last 10 years. The program has had a tremendous impact on the ability 
of States and localities to give our law enforcement officers the 
protection they deserve while serving the needs of our communities.
  As a Nation, we ask much of our law enforcement officers. Men and 
women who serve face constant and unknown risks, and too often make the 
ultimate sacrifice. During this week in Washington, law enforcement 
officers from around the country will remember those officers who died 
in the line of duty while protecting their fellow citizens. 
Unfortunately, an ongoing trend of rising violent crime in the U.S. 
underscores the continuing need of this program that has had such a 
positive impact on the safety of law enforcement officers. 
Reauthorizing and funding this program is the right thing to do, and it 
is something I hope all Senators will support. Every additional officer 
who is able to put on a vest today as a result of this grant program 
means that one more officer may survive a violent attack. Protecting 
the men and women who protect all Americans should be a priority for 
Congress and we have a chance to advance that priority with the 
continuation of this important program.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3012

       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 
     Grant Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION.

       Section 1001(a)(23) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control 
     and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3793(a)(23)) is 
     amended by striking ``2009'' and inserting ``2012''.
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