Politiparty
Politiparty
LeaderboardCongressBills

118th Congress Government Operations and Politics

S. 4305: DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act

Passed SenateDec 2, 2024

  1. Introduced (completed)May 9, 2024
  2. Passed Senate (completed)Dec 2, 2024
  3. Passed House (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Passed Senate, Dec 2, 2024

This bill requires ballistic resistant body armor issued to agents and officers of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to meet certain requirements related to fit, coverage, and testing on female body shapes. Ballistic resistant body armor means ballistic protection for the torso worn over or under clothing (e.g., bulletproof vests).

(Testing by the Federal Bureau of Investigation found that certain soft body armor, when worn by women, allowed projectiles to skip off the armor panel in the chest area and project into the unprotected throat area. New body armor models that mitigate this issue are now available and in use by some federal agencies.)

Under the bill, ballistic resistant body armor procured by DHS for its agents and officers must

Read the full summary
  • be made to conform and provide the best possible coverage to individual wearers, allowing for either flat or shaped front panels;
  • have enhanced and advanced fit technology that stops bullets from redirecting off the chest at an upward angle; and
  • have passed certain testing by the National Institute of Justice, including testing on female-shaped molds.

Within three years of the bill’s enactment, all DHS agents and officers whose duties require body armor must be issued body armor that meets these requirements.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

1 offered

Showing 1 of 1 amendments

  • S.Amdt. 3307Gary Peters D-MIAgreedDec 2, 2024Dec 2, 2024: Amendment SA 3307 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Cosponsors

3

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

90 points earned
  1. 1Gary Peters D-MI SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, reported, passed Senate; 1 amendment offered, 1 agreed6 events+78
  2. 2Katie Britt R-ALCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
  3. 2Jon Ossoff D-GACosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
  4. 2Mike Rounds R-SDCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Gary Peters

History

  1. Dec 2, 2024Passed the Senate with an amendment by unanimous consent.
  2. May 9, 2024Introduced in the Senate by Gary Peters.
Show the full action history (12 actions)
  1. Dec 3, 2024Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  2. Dec 3, 2024Received in the House.
  3. Dec 3, 2024Held at the desk.
  4. Dec 2, 2024Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6758-6759)
  5. Dec 2, 2024The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
  6. Dec 2, 2024Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  7. Dec 2, 2024Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6759)
  8. Sep 9, 2024Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-214.
  9. Sep 9, 2024Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 492.
  10. May 15, 2024Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  11. May 9, 2024Introduced in Senate
  12. May 9, 2024Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.