Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would protect the Department of Defense 1033 Program.
The Lifesaving Gear for Police Act would allow the program to continue to transfer equipment to local law enforcement.
U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Pete Stauber (R-MN) introduced the bill which has the support of numerous law enforcement agencies.
“We must equip our law enforcement officers with the best tools available to protect our communities,” Bacon said. “I’m pleased to co-lead the Lifesaving Gear for Police Act, which removes unnecessary restrictions for our officers, allowing them to take advantage of already paid-for equipment that would otherwise go to waste. Supporting our communities takes people who are equipped to do the job, and this legislation will give our officers the means to protect the people we love.”
“As a former law enforcement officer, I will do everything in my power to ensure my brothers and sisters in the blue and brown receive the equipment they need to keep themselves and communities they serve safe,” Stauber said. “During my time as a police officer, I personally benefited from the 1033 program. I’m proud to introduce legislation to ensure our law enforcement officers can continue to benefit from a program that helped me for so many years on the job.”