[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2138-S2139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Army Humvee Safety and Training

  Mr. President, I watched a troubling program on ``60 Minutes'' back 
in February. It detailed military tactical vehicle accidents. The 
report highlighted a terrible problem that has resulted in rollovers 
and other serious accidents involving the Army's most ubiquitous 
vehicle, the humvee.
  Some of the safety upgrades, such as armor kits and other upgrades, 
that are designed to protect our warfighters in humvees during combat 
from IEDs or other threats can, in fact, make the humvees less stable 
and more prone to rollovers. Here is what it boiled down to.
  When we went into Iraq with our humvees, we ran into these IEDs, 
these explosive devices that were set on the side of the road. They 
were triggered when humvees came by. They blew up these humvees and 
killed the occupants--military personnel from the United States--and 
they also maimed many of them as well.
  The first soldier I visited, after our invasion of Iraq, out at 
Walter Reed was a sergeant from the Ohio National Guard who had lost 
half of one leg as a result of one of these IED explosions while he 
drove a humvee. So we decided to do something about it.
  It was a dramatic emergency undertaking to put armored plating on the 
sides of these humvees so as they went down the road when these 
explosive devices went off, it would protect the people sitting inside. 
I know that it was an effort to do this as quickly as possible because 
the Rock Iron Arsenal in the State of Illinois jumped to the challenge 
and really responded in a matter of weeks, putting armored plating on 
the humvees.
  Now, what happened, of course, is when we put that weighted plating 
on the sides to protect the occupants, it changed the camber and the 
balance of these vehicles, and many of them started being involved in 
rollover accidents. So by solving one problem, we introduced 
instability into the vehicle that haunted us and created more problems 
and even deaths.
  In fact, just last year, the GAO reported that more than 3,750 
noncombat accidents as a result of tactical vehicle accidents in the 
Army and Marine Corps occurred between fiscal years 2010 and 2019. At 
least 123 servicemembers died as a result of such accidents during the 
same timeframe.
  Since then, the Army has pursued a number of improvements, including 
training for safety officers and inspections as part of their tactical 
vehicle driver's training. That has helped the situation.
  The Army is also working to incorporate a variety of safe upgrades to

[[Page S2139]]

both brandnew and recently produced humvees, including anti-lock brake 
and electronic stability control safe kits to help prevent rollovers 
and accidents.
  In fact, since 2017, all new Army humvees already have these safety 
kits installed. This includes humvees procured as part of our 
partnership at Rock Island Arsenal, where the safety kits are actually 
part of the integrated chassis system delivered to the arsenal.
  As the Army continues its joint light tactical vehicle procurement 
strategy, the humvee will continue to be the workhorse of the future--
the Army tactical wheeled vehicle fleet is led by these units with over 
50,000 in service--for decades to come. As such, we owe it to the 
fighting forces to give them newer, safer humvees. And we must ensure 
that recently produced humvees currently in the fleet, those used 
across combat and training and other operational capabilities, are 
updated with safety kits.
  The Army is also reviewing additional safety upgrades--such as 
airbags and restraint systems--that can help save lives as well.
  All of these critical investments must be made in parallel. The ``60 
Minutes'' piece has made clear the risks and costs. This is a clear 
call to action for all of us in Congress. The FY22 omnibus included 
$183 million for more safety kits on existing humvees. I look forward 
to continuing to work with the Army on further efforts to make the 
humvee safer and to keep our promise to protect the lives of our men 
and women in uniform.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Padilla). The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.