May 4, 2026
Mr. Higgins of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. Harrigan, and Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To require the Department of Justice to procure ballistic-resistant body armor manufactured using domestic ballistic fibers.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Ballistic Armor Made in America Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Rules related to procurement of ballistic-resistant body armor
(a) Required disclosure of source of materials
(1) Disclosure
Beginning not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Justice shall require any entity, including a company or manufacturer, that submits or has submitted ballistic-resistant body armor to the National Institute of Justice’s Compliance Testing Program to disclose each country where such armor is manufactured and where ballistic fibers contained in such armor are grown, reprocessed, reused, recycled, or produced.
(2) Publication
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Justice shall—
(A)
add as a part of the information listed for each ballistic-resistant body armor model on the compliant products list, including any ballistic-resistant armor model on the compliant product list prior to the date of the enactment of this Act, each disclosure required under paragraph (1); and
(B)
update, as soon as reasonably possible and in not more than 30 days, the compliant products list each time ballistic-resistant body armor model has been certified by the National Institute of Justice as meeting the latest standard for such armor.
(3) Made in America
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
.
(4) Emerging technologies
The Director of the National Institute of Justice shall determine if the requirements under paragraphs (1) through (3) shall apply to any advanced materials used to replace ballistic fibers in the manufacturing of ballistic-resistant body armor.
(b) Prohibition on procurement from outside of the united states
(1) In general
Chapter 31 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 509B the following:
509C. Domestic Sourcing Requirement for Department Procurements
(a) Prohibition
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.
(b) Exceptions
The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply if the Attorney General determines that ballistic-resistant body armor manufactured from or containing ballistic fibers that are grown, reprocessed, reused, recycled, or produced in the United States cannot be procured as and when needed at United States market prices or if the ballistic fibers have been found to be in compliance with the section 4862 of title 10, United States Code (commonly known as the
Berry Amendment) and section 604 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (6 U.S.C. 453b) (commonly known as theKissel Amendment).(c) Definition
In this section:
(1) Ballistic-resistant body armor
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.
(2) Hard armor
The term hard armor means an item of personal protective equipment that is constructed of rigid materials and is used in the composition of ballistic-resistant body armor.
(3) Soft armor
The term soft armor means an item of personal protective equipment constructed of pliable or flexible materials and is used in the composition of ballistic-resistant body armor.
(2) Clerical amendment
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:
(c) Know before you buy training
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).
(d) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Ballistic-resistant body armor
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.
(2) Compliant products list
The term compliant products listmeans the official list of ballistic-resistant body armor that have been certified by the National Institute of Justice and is published as the Compliant Products List: Ballistic Resistant Armor
(or a subsequent list) on the internet website of the Department of Justice.
(3) Hard armor
The term hard armor means an item of personal protective equipment that is constructed of rigid materials and is used in the composition of ballistic-resistant body armor.
(4) Soft armor
The term soft armor means an item of personal protective equipment constructed of pliable or flexible materials and is used in the composition of ballistic-resistant body armor.