DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act

The DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to procure ballistic resistant body armor specifically designed to fully protect the diverse body shapes of all agents and officers, with an emphasis on female wearers. This armor must conform to individual wearers, provide optimal fit and coverage, and incorporate advanced technology to prevent bullet redirection into critical areas like the throat or spinal cord. It also mandates certification by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and adherence to enhanced testing criteria, including ballistic testing on female-shaped molds and angled shots to address specific vulnerabilities. The legislation further requires DHS component agencies to submit annual reports for three years detailing the issuance of compliant body armor to female agents and officers, including the number of units discontinued due to non-compliance and the percentage of female personnel equipped with the new armor. The Secretary of Homeland Security must then aggregate these reports and submit them to Congress. Ultimately, within three years of enactment, all DHS agents and officers whose duties require body armor must be issued equipment meeting these new, improved standards.