Collins supports Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program

"This program makes it more likely that these heroes will see their families again, and that’s why I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 2379. As the son of a Georgia state trooper, I know firsthand how important this program is."

WASHINGTON — During National Police Week, Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, made the following statement on the House floor in support of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program. Below are the remarks as prepared. Ranking Member Collins: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2379, a bill “to reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program.” The Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP), created by the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998, is a unique U.S. Department of Justice initiative designed to provide a critical resource to state and local law enforcement. The goal of the BVP is to support the purchase of body armor that has been tested and found to comply with applicable ballistic and stab standards promulgated by the National Institute of Justice. For the past 20 years, the BVP program has awarded more than 13,000 jurisdictions a total of $467 million in federal funds for the purchase of over 1.3 million vests. From FY 2015 through 2017, protective vests were directly attributable to saving the lives of at least 129 law enforcement and corrections officers. BVP funds helped purchase twenty-one of those vests. In short, body armor saves lives. For 30 years, bullet-resistant body armor has protected law enforcement officers from ballistic and non-ballistic incidents. As recorded by the IACP/DuPont Kevlar Survivors’ Club, more than 3,100 officers have survived potentially fatal or disabling injuries because they were wearing body armor. The bill before us today permanently reauthorizes this vitally important program. It will ensure our local heroes are protected from those who try to do them harm. When a law enforcement officer leaves home in the morning, there is no guarantee he or she will return home safely that evening. This program makes it more likely that these heroes will see their families again, and that’s why I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 2379. As the son of a Georgia state trooper, I know firsthand how important this program is. I would also like to note how appropriate it is that we are considering this bill during National Police Week. It would have also been appropriate to consider many other bipartisan bills to support law enforcement. One of those is H.R. 816, which would ensure certain law enforcement officers on college campuses, and their families, are eligible for death or disability benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program. H.R. 816 is named in honor of Sean Collier, a police officer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was murdered by the Tsarnaev brothers following their attack at the Boston Marathon. Another bill introduced by our committee colleague, Mr. Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania, would have provided resources to prevent law enforcement suicides. Other bills helped law enforcement by providing resources to combat the opioid crisis or curb sex trafficking. In years past, we’ve considered numerous law enforcement bills during Police Week. This year, we are considering one. Perhaps the majority’s concern is we did not consider any of these bills in committee. I would point out that, during our last two committee business meetings, we considered a change to committee rules and a contempt motion against the attorney general because he is following the law when Democrats wish he would disregard it. In their zeal to tarnish the president, Democrats have neglected the duties they were sent to this body to accomplish, and, along the way, have failed to support the selfless men and women who protect our communities.