Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007
SCIENCE, STATE, JUSTICE, COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (House of Representatives - June 28, 2006)
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Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
First of all, I would like to thank Chairman Wolf and also Ranking Member Mollohan for accepting this amendment.
This amendment is being offered by myself and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella). It basically restores $12 million to the Bulletproof
Vest Partnership Program and also reduces contributions to the International Organization funds within this bill by a corresponding amount.
Since the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program's inception, over 11,500 jurisdictions have participated in purchasing over 450,000 bulletproof vests nationwide. Almost every congressional district across this Nation has benefited from this program. I know in Massachusetts alone law enforcement agencies have purchased over 34,000 vests since its inception.
Mr. Chairman, there is some urgency here on this matter because, unfortunately, it is estimated now that over 200,000 vests may need to be replaced that were previously issued due to the results of tests showing that a substance called Zylon has been used in previous vests and those have been shown to fail. So there is the need to get out and replace those vests that are now in service.
Mr. Chairman, the bottom line is that, according to President Tom Nee of the National Association of Police Organizations, almost 3,000 law enforcement officers have survived shootings thanks to bulletproof vests. We know that body armor can save lives. The problem is that many towns and cities in our districts and across the Nation are struggling with the costs. With budgetary constraints at the State and local levels, many communities are simply unable to purchase this life-saving equipment on their own.
With this program, by sharing that cost with the Federal Government, communities do have the opportunity to buy bulletproof vests for their law enforcement officers and thereby provide some protection for those in dangerous professions.
Mr. Chairman, Members on both sides of the aisle understand that our State and local law enforcement professionals should be fully equipped, and that is why I ask my colleagues in the House to support this amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella).
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