Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,
On Signing Of Legislation To Extend The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program
October 17, 2008

 

On Wednesday, the President signed a bill to reauthorize a life-saving grant program to help law enforcement agencies purchase bulletproof vests for officers.  The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program was first authored by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in 1998.  In May, Leahy chaired a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee about the importance of the program, which has provided over $234 million in federal grants for state and local law enforcement agencies to purchase bulletproof vests.  Vermont law enforcement agencies have purchased more than 2700 vests through the federal matching grant program since 1998.

 

“Law enforcement agencies in Vermont and across the country depend on this life-saving grant program to protect their officers,” said Leahy.  “Our nation’s law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities.  Ensuring they have the necessary equipment to protect themselves is a worthy investment for Congress to make.  I am pleased that the president has echoed the Congress’s overwhelming support for this important, life-saving program.”

 

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