Ripoin Advance: Harrigan introduces GOP-led Ballistic Armor Made in America Act

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Justice would be required to procure ballistic-resistant body armor manufactured using only domestic ballistic fibers under legislation cosponsored on May 4 by U.S. Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC).

The congressman joined two other Republicans to propose the Ballistic Armor Made in America Act, H.R. 8656, which would require body armor manufacturers to disclose the country of origin of the ballistic fibers used in their products, and prohibit the use of federal dollars to purchase body armor containing non-American fibers.

“Law enforcement officers are buying body armor they believe is made in America, and in too many cases, they are wrong,” Rep. Harrigan said. “Chinese fibers are being woven into these products, stamped with a Made in America label, and sold to the men and women who put their lives on the line every day. 

“That is a national security risk and a betrayal of the people protecting this country,” he added. “This bill ends it. Full transparency on where these fibers come from, and not a single federal dollar going to armor that does not meet the standard.”

If enacted, H.R. 8656 would require companies submitting ballistic-resistant body armor to the National Institutes of Justice (NIJ) to disclose the country of origin of the fibers used in their products, with those disclosures published publicly on the NIJ Compliant Products List. Any body armor containing non-American fibers would be prohibited from being marketed or labeled as Made in America. 

Additionally, the measure would prohibit agencies at every level from using federal dollars to procure body armor containing foreign fibers, with narrow exceptions mirroring those already in place at the U.S. Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Harrigan’s staff. 

H.R. 8656 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Judiciary Committee.