HR 8656
Ballistic Armor Made in America Act of 2026
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Bill overview
This bill, the Ballistic Armor Made in America Act of 2026, requires the Department of Justice to prioritize the purchase of ballistic-resistant body armor manufactured in the United States. It mandates that manufacturers disclose where their armor and ballistic fibers are produced and prohibits the use of ‘Made in America’ designations for products containing materials from outside the U.S. The bill also establishes a process for the National Institute of Justice to maintain a list of compliant armor and provides training for state and local governments purchasing such equipment.
Key provisions
- Requires the Department of Justice to procure ballistic-resistant body armor manufactured domestically.
- Mandates disclosure of the country of origin for armor and ballistic fibers.
- Prohibits the use of ‘Made in America’ labeling for armor containing foreign-sourced materials.
- Establishes a compliant products list maintained by the National Institute of Justice.
- Requires the Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers to provide training on disclosure requirements to government entities.
- Defines ‘ballistic-resistant body armor’ as personal protective equipment designed to protect against ballistic, stabbing, fragmentation, and blunt impact threats.
- Creates a new section in the U.S. Code (509C) prohibiting the DOJ from procuring armor with foreign-sourced ballistic fibers unless specific exceptions apply.
- Outlines exceptions to the procurement restriction based on supply needs or compliance with existing amendments (Berry and Kissel).
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 8656
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To require the Department of Justice to procure ballistic-resistant body armor manufactured using domestic ballistic fibers.
This Act may be cited as the Ballistic Armor Made in America Act of 2026
.
No product listed on the compliant products list that discloses ballistic fibers grown, reprocessed, reused, recycled, or produced outside of the United States of America may use any markings, symbols or other language related to the designation of Made in America
.
Chapter 31 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 509B the following:
The Attorney General may not use funds appropriated or otherwise available to the Department of Justice for the procurement of ballistic-resistant body armor if such armor is manufactured from or contains ballistic fibers that are grown, reprocessed, reused, recycled, or produced outside of the United States.
Berry Amendment) and section 604 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (6 U.S.C. 453b) (commonly known as the
Kissel Amendment).
The term ballistic-resistant body armor means an item of personal protective equipment, consisting of hard armor or soft armor, that is intended to protect the wearer from threats, including ballistic threats, stabbing, fragmentation, and blunt impact.
The table of contents for chapter 31 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 509B the following:
The Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers shall provide an educational training program for any State or local governmental entity that has applied for or has received a grant from the Department of Justice to purchase ballistic-resistant body armor regarding the disclosure requirement under subsection (a)(1).
In this section:
The term ballistic-resistant body armor means an item of personal protective equipment, consisting of hard armor or soft armor, that is intended to protect the wearer from threats, including ballistic threats, stabbing, fragmentation, and blunt impact.
Compliant Products List: Ballistic Resistant Armor(or a subsequent list) on the internet website of the Department of Justice.