PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 9, 2024
DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act
This bill requires ballistic resistant body armor issued to agents and officers of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to meet certain requirements related to fit, coverage, and testing on female body shapes. Ballistic resistant body armor means ballistic protection for the torso worn over or under clothing (e.g., bulletproof vests).
(Testing by the Federal Bureau of Investigation found that certain soft body armor, when worn by women, allowed projectiles to skip off the armor panel in the chest area and project into the unprotected throat area. New body armor models that mitigate this issue are now available and in use by some federal agencies.)
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Under the bill, ballistic resistant body armor procured by DHS for agents and officers whose body shapes are most closely associated with female must
be made to conform and provide the best possible coverage to individual wearers, allowing for either flat or shaped front panels;
have enhanced and advanced fit technology that stops bullets from skipping off the chest at an upward angle; and
have passed certain testing by the National Institute of Justice, including testing on female-shaped molds.
Within three years of the bill’s enactment, all DHS agents and officers whose body shapes are most closely associated with female must be issued body armor that meets these requirements.
People & committees
Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] · D–MI
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6759)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6758-6759)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 492.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-214.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-214.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 27, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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