Bipartisan Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program Expansion Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5391
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-16: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-03T09:05:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill aims to enhance the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program by increasing the federal government's financial contribution. The program provides grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to purchase bulletproof vests, helping protect officers from gunfire.
Key Provisions
- Increased Federal Matching Share: The federal government will cover 60% of the cost of bulletproof vests (up from 50%), while the grantee agency must cover the remaining 40%.
- Authorization of Funding: Allocates up to $60 million annually from fiscal year 2026 through 2030 to support the program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill amends Section 2501 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (a key federal law on crime prevention and law enforcement funding):
- Raises the federal reimbursement rate for grants from 50% to 60% for eligible purchases.
- Replaces the previous funding authorization with a new, higher amount of $60 million per year for five fiscal years (2026–2030), providing more predictable and increased support compared to prior levels.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Justice (which administers the program) will distribute more federal funds, potentially increasing grant awards and reducing the financial burden on state, local, and tribal agencies.
- On Citizens: Improves officer safety during law enforcement duties, which could indirectly enhance public safety by reducing risks to police in high-crime areas.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic law enforcement funding.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Law Enforcement Agencies: State, local, and tribal police departments benefit from higher federal matching funds, making it easier to afford protective gear.
- Federal Government: Congress and the Department of Justice handle funding and oversight, with increased appropriations requiring budgetary commitments.
- Law Enforcement Officers: Direct beneficiaries through access to more bulletproof vests, improving personal safety on the job.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens an existing grant program under federal crime control laws without creating new mandates, ensuring compliance with established reimbursement rules (e.g., agencies must still meet eligibility criteria like serving populations under 1 million).
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, to fund public safety initiatives; no apparent challenges to federalism, as it partners with state and local entities voluntarily.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Representatives Deluzio and Garbarino) highlights cross-party support for police safety; the five-year funding authorization promotes long-term planning but depends on annual congressional appropriations for actual spending.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
Cosponsors (18)
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-16: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-09-16: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-16: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Bipartisan Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program Expansion Act — issued 2025-09-16 — PDF (2 pages)