[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 73 (Tuesday, May 10, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2184-H2186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1730
 BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2015

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 125) 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 2020, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 125

       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 Program Reauthorization Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
                   BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM.

       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 to read as follows:
       ``(23) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
     part Y, $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 
     2020.''.

     SEC. 3. EXPIRATION OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS.

       Section 2501 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
     Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796ll) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(h) Expiration of Appropriated Funds.--
       ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term 
     `appropriated funds' means any amounts that are appropriated 
     for any of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 to carry out this 
     part.
       ``(2) Expiration.--All appropriated funds that are not 
     obligated on or before December 31, 2022 shall be transferred 
     to the General Fund of the Treasury not later than January 
     31, 2023.''.

     SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON 2-YEAR LIMITATION ON FUNDS.

       It is the sense of Congress that amounts made available to 
     carry out part Y of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
     Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796ll et seq.) should be 
     made available through the end of the first fiscal year 
     following the fiscal year for which the amounts are 
     appropriated and should not be made available until expended.

     SEC. 5. MATCHING FUNDS LIMITATION.

       Section 2501(f) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
     Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796ll(f)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
       ``(3) Limitation on matching funds.--A State, unit of local 
     government, or Indian tribe may not use funding received 
     under any other Federal grant program to pay or defer the 
     cost, in whole or in part, of the matching requirement under 
     paragraph (1).''.

     SEC. 6. APPLICATION OF BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP GRANT 
                   PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS TO ANY ARMOR VEST OR BODY 
                   ARMOR PURCHASED WITH FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS.

       Section 521 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
     Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3766a) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(c)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 
     grantee that uses funds made

[[Page H2185]]

     available under this part to purchase an armor vest or body 
     armor shall--
       ``(A) comply with any requirements established for the use 
     of grants made under part Y;
       ``(B) have a written policy requiring uniformed patrol 
     officers to wear an armor vest or body armor; and
       ``(C) use the funds to purchase armor vests or body armor 
     that meet any performance standards established by the 
     Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
       ``(2) In this subsection, the terms `armor vest' and `body 
     armor' have the meanings given such terms in section 2503.''.

     SEC. 7. UNIQUELY FITTED ARMOR VESTS.

       Section 2501(c) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
     Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796ll(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``; or'' and inserting 
     ``; and'';
       (3) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
       (4) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
       ``(4) provides armor vests to law enforcement officers that 
     are uniquely fitted for such officers, including vests 
     uniquely fitted to individual female law enforcement 
     officers; or''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on S. 125, currently under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Since 1999, the Bulletproof Vest Program, or BVP, has awarded more 
than 13,000 jurisdictions a total of $393 million in Federal funds for 
the purchase of over 1 million bulletproof vests. The Bulletproof Vest 
Grant Program is a critical resource for State and local jurisdictions 
that has proven to save lives.
  We must be sure that our law enforcement officers are protected from 
the risks inherent in the job. In 2016 alone, there have been 17 police 
officers killed by gunfire. In March, a bulletproof vest saved the life 
of Officer Andy Harris, who was shot when he responded to a shots fired 
call. He is but one of many officers saved by a bulletproof vest.
  Based on data collected and recorded by the Department of Justice, 
protective vests were directly attributable to saving the lives of at 
least 33 law enforcement and corrections officers in 20 different 
States in a single year. At least 14 of those lifesaving vests had been 
purchased, in part, with BVP funds.
  This bill reauthorizes BVP grants at $25 million per year and extends 
the authorization through 2020. The bill has the support of all major 
law enforcement organizations, and has been approved by the Senate. 
With this authorization, we will immediately be impacting the safety of 
our law enforcement officers.
  Law enforcement officers across the United States put their lives on 
the line every day to protect their communities and fellow citizens. As 
they continually make sacrifices for us, we must ensure that we provide 
them with resources to protect their lives as they protect ours.
  Today's approval of legislation reauthorizing a critical bulletproof 
vest grant program for State and local law enforcement officers will 
save lives. I thank Representative LoBiondo and Senate Judiciary 
Committee Ranking Member Leahy for their work on this issue and 
dedication to our Nation's law enforcement officers.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Members of the House, I rise in strong support of S. 125, the 
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program.
  This bill, which would provide matching grants to State, local, and 
tribal law enforcement agencies so that they can purchase bullet-
resistant vests for their officers, is important for several reasons.
  To begin with, S. 125 will facilitate the provision of critical 
protection to law enforcement officers, who often risk their lives 
while serving our communities. While some of the approximately 800,000 
law enforcement officers throughout the United States do have some form 
of bullet-resistant armor, far too many of these brave men and women 
are not afforded the same protection due to State and local budget 
constraints.
  Since its inception, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program 
has assisted State and local law enforcement agencies in obtaining the 
necessary protection equipment to safeguard the lives of their 
officers. To date, this program has provided more than 1 million 
officers with lifesaving vests. During the past 30 years, bullet-
resistant vests have saved the lives of more than 3,000 law enforcement 
officers.
  The timeliness of this bill provides a perfect opportunity to 
acknowledge National Police Week. Right now, thousands of law 
enforcement officers are in Washington, D.C., to honor their fellow 
officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
  Each year, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial holds a 
vigil to recognize the newly engraved names of officers who died while 
serving and protecting the people in our communities.
  We must do everything in our power to protect those who protect us. 
The Bulletproof Vest Program will help prevent the deaths of officers, 
and we hope that even fewer names will have to be added to the National 
Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
  The bill is critical because it provides up to 50 percent of the 
costs for an officer's new armor vest. The officer's department, in 
turn, pays the remaining costs. Importantly, small police departments 
that service areas with less than 100,000 residents receive priority 
funding under this measure.
  Finally, S. 125 responds to the critical concern that bullet-
resistant vests--to achieve their intended goals of protecting an 
officer from life-threatening gunshots--must meet certain standards. To 
this end, the bill requires a law enforcement agency to purchase body 
armor that meets strict performance standards set by the National 
Institute of Justice.
  Additionally, the agency must have a policy that encourages officers 
to wear their vests while on duty. And, the agency must ensure that 
these vests properly fit female officers as well.
  For all of these reasons, I strongly support S. 125.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, we are prepared to close, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).
  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of S. 
125, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization 
Act.
  Our brave law enforcement officers put their lives in harm's way 
every day to protect our communities. The least we can do is provide 
them with the proper safety gear.

  That is why we must authorize the highly successful Bulletproof Vest 
Partnership Grant Program to ensure that all of America's law 
enforcement officers have access to the lifesaving protection they 
need. My friend, Mr. Reichert, from the coast, and myself, pledged when 
we became cochairs of public safety in the Congress many, many years 
ago that not only do we need more police on the beat, but we need to 
protect them. There is no question in my mind we have allowed the bad 
guys to outarm the good guys, and we have to take a look at that.
  Since it was established in 1999, this program has provided grantees 
with approximately $247 million for more than 1 million lifesaving 
vests in over 13,000 State and local law enforcement agencies 
throughout the country. I did not hear any of those communities turn 
back the money. You are talking about 13,000 State and local law 
enforcement agencies.
  There is a place for the Federal Government. There are 
responsibilities we cannot circumvent. While many officers are 
protected by bullet-resistant armor, there are an alarming number of 
officers in departments across our country that cannot afford this same

[[Page H2186]]

protection due to local budget constraints.
  As long as I am in Congress, I will continue to do all that I can to 
work closely with law enforcement officials, not just talking with them 
and patting them on the back, so they have adequate resources to 
protect themselves while patrolling our streets.
  I urge my colleagues to support swift passage of this bipartisan 
legislation that will help improve the protection of our law 
enforcement officials.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
for my closing remarks.
  First, I would like to recognize the distinguished Senator from 
Vermont, Patrick Leahy, as being very, very influential in developing 
the measure before us under discussion now.
  In closing, I note that we expect our law enforcement officers to 
protect those who are unable to protect themselves. But to do so, 
however, we must ensure that these brave men and women are themselves 
protected.
  In 2012, for example, armor-resistant vests were credited with saving 
the lives of 33 law enforcement officers in 20 different States. 
Fourteen of those vests were purchased with the help of Bulletproof 
Vest Partnership Program funds.
  In my home district in Michigan, the police departments for Highland 
Park, Melvindale, Romulus City, Wayne County, and others have received 
funds through this important program.
  While some of the approximately 800,000 law enforcement officers 
throughout our country do have some form of bullet-resistant armor, far 
too many of these brave men and women are not afforded the same 
protection due to State and local budget constraints.
  It is with great pleasure and privilege that I assure every Member of 
the House that S. 125 will ensure that this program continues to 
provide such vitally needed assistance.
  I urge support for this measure.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), a member of the Judiciary 
Committee, and he will close debate on our side.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia 
for yielding time.
  Mr. Speaker, last month, a few weeks ago, Alden Clopton was on patrol 
after midnight. He is a deputy constable in Houston, Texas. He works 
for the constable's office at Precinct 7.
  Constables are just like deputy sheriffs and police officers. They 
have all the power under the State of Texas laws as any other police 
officer.
  He was on routine patrol with his rookie partner trainee, Ann 
Glasgow, and they made a traffic stop in a tough part of town in 
Houston, Texas. As the investigation is taking place, Mr. Speaker, some 
outlaw snuck up behind Alden Clopton and pulled out a pistol and shot 
at him six times in the back.
  Some of those bullets made their mark and some of those bullets 
missed. He owes his life, he says, to the bulletproof vest that he was 
wearing. Constable May Walker, a constable at Precinct 7, said he 
survived because he was wearing a vest.

                              {time}  1745

  You may have never heard of Alden Clopton, but he is a peace officer 
who comes from a peace officer family. His wife is a deputy sheriff; 
his three brothers are all in law enforcement; and his son is a cop in 
Mississippi, I believe. He lives today because he had a bulletproof 
vest on. As the ranking member has said and as the chairman has said, 
we owe it to peace officers to protect them when they go out in society 
and do society's dirty work for us--to protect and serve us.
  This week is National Police Week. We honor our police officers--
those who protect us, those who work the thin blue line to protect us 
from those who would do us harm. This is an appropriate piece of 
legislation to show peace officers like Alden Clopton and all of those 
throughout the country that we have their backs--that we support them--
and that Congress is going to do what is necessary to protect them 
while they protect us.
  And that is just the way it is.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, the Senate counterpart to my legislation, 
H.R. 228, that will reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Act, 
comes during a momentous week in law enforcement--National Police Week, 
starting this Sunday.
  Thank you, as well, to the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Visclosky, for 
working with me on this legislation since its original passage in 1999.
  Recent tragic events highlight the threats our men and women in 
uniform face each day.
  However, these all-important vests cannot protect the lives of those 
who do not have access to them.
  Now more than ever, it is imperative that we give law enforcement the 
tools they need so they may do their jobs and carry out their duties 
safely and effectively.
  The Bulletproof Vest Partnership program is one of those critical 
tools.
  In fact, we know from some of the most recent statistics, that 14 of 
33 officers saved by bulletproof vests, were purchased using funds from 
the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program.
  Since 1999, over 13,000 jurisdictions across the country have 
participated in the BVP program.
  I encourage those law enforcement officials and concerned citizens 
listening, especially those in South Jersey, to apply for this vital 
program.
  The deadline to do so, May 16th, is quickly approaching.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 125.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________