Congressional actions providing body armor to troops

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Lewis in the House, included $308 million for armor plating for Humvees and add-on armor kits. The bill also included an additional $318 million for force protection measures.

109th Congress session was about making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year which ends on September 30, 2005. The purpose of this session was: 1) To establish and rapidly implement regulations for States driver's license, identification document security standards, so people who are living illegally in the States will not be able to get driver’s license and ID card. 2) Preventing terrorists from abusing the asylum laws of the US. So no terrorist can apply for asylum in the United States. 3) To ensure expeditious construction of the San Diego border fence to stop the crossing of illegal immigrant from Mexico to the United States.

The bill was passed by both the House and Senate and signed by President Bush on May 11, 2005.

Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Warner, reported out of conference committee with $435 million in appropriations for individual body armor.

Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) SEC. 1092. ACTIONS TO PREVENT THE ABUSE OF DETAINEES. (a) Policies Required- The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that policies are prescribed not later than 150 days after the date of the enactment of this Act regarding procedures for Department of Defense personnel and contractor personnel of the Department of Defense intended to ensure that members of the Armed Forces, and all persons acting on behalf of the Armed Forces or within facilities of the Armed Forces, treat persons detained by the United States Government in a humane manner consistent with the international obligations and laws of the United States and the policies set forth in section 1091(b). (b) Matters to Be Included- In order to achieve the objective stated in subsection (a), the policies under that subsection shall specify, at a minimum, procedures for the following: (1) Ensuring that each commander of a Department of Defense detention facility or interrogation facility— (A) provides all assigned personnel with training, and documented acknowledgment of receiving training, regarding the law of war, including the Geneva Conventions; and (B) establishes standard operating procedures for the treatment of detainees. (2) Ensuring that each Department of Defense contract in which contract personnel in the course of their duties interact with individuals detained by the Department of Defense on behalf of the United States Government include a requirement that such contract personnel have received training, and documented acknowledgment of receiving training, regarding the international obligations and laws of the United States applicable to the detention of personnel. (3) Providing all detainees with information, in their own language, of the applicable protections afforded under the Geneva Conventions. (4) Conducting periodic unannounced and announced inspections of detention facilities in order to provide continued oversight of interrogation and detention operations. (5) Ensuring that, to the maximum extent practicable, detainees and detention facility personnel of a different gender are not alone together. (c) Secretary of Defense Certification- The Secretary of Defense shall certify that all Federal employees and civilian contractors engaged in the handling or interrogation of individuals detained by the Department of Defense on behalf of the United States Government have fulfilled an annual training requirement on the law of war, the Geneva Conventions, and the obligations of the United States under international law.

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Security and Reconstruction Act, 2004
The bill, proposed by Sen. Ted Stevens, includes $300 million in appropriations for the purchase of body armor for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This bill never became law. This bill was proposed in previous sessions of Congress for the past two years. This bill never became a law because it was not passed by congress. Congress members often reintroduce bills that did not come up for debate in previous sessions. They would like to reintroduce it back to the congress with few changes in it, to increase its likelihood of its approval by the congress members.

Dodd Amendment to Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Security and Reconstruction Act, 2004
The amendment, offered by Sen. Chris Dodd, would have added $322 million to the $300 million already appropriated towards the purchase of "high-tech body armor, bullet-proof helmets, special water packs to keep soldiers hydrated, and other survival gear."

Supplemental Appropriations Act to Support Department of Defense Operations in Iraq for Fiscal Year 2003
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ted Stevens, includes an appropriation of $603 million for "force protection gear and combat clothing".

Landrieu Amendment to Supplemental Appropriations Act to Support Department of Defense Operations in Iraq for Fiscal Year 2003
The amendment, proposed by Sen. Mary Landrieu, would have appropriated $1 billion to procurement for the National Guard and Reserves. The amendment was intended to fill a Guard and Reserve shortage of "helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests" and "chemical and biological protective gear". Landrieu based the $1 billion on National Guard and Reserve Unfunded Requirement lists. The amendment would offset the $1 billion appropriation with a $1 billion reduction in President Bush's tax cuts.

External resources

 * Vote Vets.org
 * "False Claims About Body Armor," Factcheck.org, September 20, 2006.
 * "AZ Republic, FactCheck.org lobbed misleading claims in attempt to debunk Vote Vets ad criticizing Allen," Media Matters, September 21, 2006.
 * "Did Kerry Vote "No" on Body Armor for Troops?," Factcheck.org, March 16, 2004.
 * "U.S. Troop Sniped In Iraq Saved By Body Armor," Google Video.

External articles

 * Mark Benjamin, " Under Fire, Army Reserve and National Guard Troops Lack Body Armor," UPI, December 3, 2003.
 * Peter Brownfeld, "U.S. Troops in Iraq Have Limited Body Armor," FOX News, October 24, 2004.
 * Steve Kroft, "GIs Lack Armor, Radios, Bullets," CBS News, October 31, 2004.
 * Michael Moss, "Many Missteps Tied to Delay Of Armor to Protect Soldiers," New York Times, March 7, 2005.
 * Michael Moss, "Extra Armor Could Have Saved Many Lives, Study Shows," New York Times, January 6, 2006.

http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/pgi/policy_docs/Section%201092.pdf