Letter to the Hon. Matt Cartwright, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and Robert Aderholt, Ranking Member - Fitzpatrick, Pascrell Lead 26 Members of Congress Demanding Funding for Bulletproof Vests

Letter

Dear Chairman Cartwright and Ranking Member Aderholt,

As you consider the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we urge you to fully fund the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Grant Program at the authorized level of $30 million.

The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program is critical for law enforcement agencies to appropriately equip and protect their officers in the field. Since 1999, the BVP program has awarded more than 13,000 jurisdictions a total of $522 million in federal funds for the purchase of over one million vests. According to the Government Accountability Office, over 3,000 law enforcement lives have been saved by armored vests since 1987.

We urge you to consider the safety of our brave first responders as you formulate the FY22 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. By fully funding this critical program, we can continue to ensure that law enforcement officers have access to these lifesaving resources.

Thank you for your attention to and consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

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