Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) recently introduced a measure designed to reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program permanently.
S. 1231 is a federal grant program that helps state and local law enforcement agencies purchase lifesaving bulletproof vests for officers working in the field.
“Law enforcement officers in Colorado and across our nation are the foundation of safe communities, and it’s our responsibility to ensure they have the best possible equipment to protect themselves while serving in the line of duty,” Gardner said. “This bipartisan legislation will provide lifesaving vests for officers, and I’ll continue to fight for measures like these to support our men and women in uniform.”
Authorities said the fact remains across the country law enforcement agencies struggle to maintain necessary protective equipment for all of their officers, with vests being costly and lacking longevity.
The grant program has played a key role in ensuring the nation’s police officers are equipped with the latest protective technology to keep them safe. The program has awarded more than 13,000 jurisdictions a total of $467 million in matching federal funds for the purchase of more than 1.3 million vests.
“This is a partnership that makes a lifesaving difference,” Leahy said. “I hear about its importance all the time, across the country, from officers who have this protection because of this program. That’s why I’ve fought for this program for more than two decades. Protective vests are perhaps the most tangible support Congress can provide for our nation’s law enforcement officers. This legislation will outfit hundreds of thousands of police officers with protective vests. It will save lives.”