WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA), Congressman Pat Harrigan (R-NC), and Congresswoman Sheri Biggs (R-SC) today introduced the Ballistic Armor Made in America Act, legislation that ensures body armor sold to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies as “Made in America” actually contains domestically produced ballistic fibers.
Under current law, armor containing foreign-made fibers can be marketed and sold to law enforcement as “Made in America” without agencies and police departments knowing the difference. While the Department of War (DOW) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) already prohibit the use of foreign fibers for warfighters and front-line personnel, the bill would extend those same protections to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and state and local law enforcement. Read the text here.
Rep. Higgins said, “Federal law enforcement should wear ballistic armor made in America, not China. This is a national security issue, as well as a matter of integrity in government procurement. As chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, I will continue to stand with the Thin Blue Line.”
Rep. Harrigan said, “Law enforcement officers are buying body armor they believe is made in America, and in too many cases, they are wrong. Chinese fibers are being woven into these products, stamped with a Made in America label, and sold to the men and women who put their lives on the line every day. That is a national security risk, and a betrayal of the people protecting this country. This bill ends it. Full transparency on where these fibers come from, and not a single federal dollar going to armor that does not meet the standard.”
Rep. Biggs said, “I am proud to join Congressman Higgins and Congressman Harrigan on this important effort to make sure the armor protecting our law enforcement officers is American-made. The men and women who put their lives on the line every day deserve gear they can trust. This bill closes a dangerous loophole, strengthens our supply chain, and keeps taxpayer dollars from supporting foreign adversaries like China.”
