Providing Resources and Oversight for Tactical Equipment to Communities and Troops Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8724
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-11: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-22T08:07:45Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Providing Resources and Oversight for Tactical Equipment to Communities and Troops Act (PROTECT Act) aims to improve coordination, training, oversight, and use of excess Department of Defense (DoD) property transferred to state and local law enforcement agencies. It focuses on enhancing efficiency and accountability in the program that provides surplus military equipment for specific activities like counterdrug operations and border security.
Key Provisions
- Agency-to-State Coordination (New subsection h): Requires the Secretary of Defense to create standardized procedures for getting input from state coordinators (state-level managers of the program) and federal partners on policies and "controlled property" (restricted items like weapons or vehicles). Includes annual meetings to prioritize transfers for counterdrug, counterterrorism, disaster preparedness, and border security needs.
- Training Standards (New subsection i): Mandates minimum annual training for state coordinators on program rules, accountability (tracking items), and property management. Training can be online, written, or in-person, based on available funds.
- Oversight and Reporting (New subsection j):
- Defense Logistics Agency (DLA, the DoD agency handling logistics) must review the program every two years, starting one year after enactment.
- Secretary of Defense submits biennial reports to House and Senate Armed Services Committees, including compliance checks, effectiveness evaluations, and recommendations for changes.
- Reports are posted publicly on the DLA website within 30 days.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends 10 U.S.C. § 2576a, which already allows DoD to transfer excess personal property (like vehicles, gear, or weapons) to law enforcement for free or low cost.
- Adds entirely new subsections (h), (i), and (j) to introduce formal coordination processes, mandatory training, and regular reviews/reports—previously lacking structured requirements.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases administrative workload for DoD, DLA, and state coordinators but improves program management and reduces misuse risks.
- Citizens and Law Enforcement: Enhances access to equipment for prioritized public safety needs (e.g., disasters, borders), potentially improving response capabilities while adding accountability.
- No direct international relations impact, as it focuses on domestic transfers.
Main Stakeholders
- Department of Defense (DoD), including Secretary of Defense and Defense Logistics Agency.
- State coordinators and local/state law enforcement agencies receiving property.
- Federal partners (e.g., other agencies involved in counterdrug or border efforts).
- Congress (House and Senate Armed Services Committees, receiving reports).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens compliance and auditing of the "1033 program" (informal name for these transfers), addressing past concerns about oversight without altering transfer authority.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges; supports federalism by involving states in prioritization.
- Political: Promotes transparency via public reports, potentially reducing controversies over militarization of police while ensuring equipment aids key national priorities like border security.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-11: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2026-05-11: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Providing Resources and Oversight for Tactical Equipment to Communities and Troops Act — issued 2026-05-11 — PDF (3 pages)