Congressional actions providing body armor to troops

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Lewis in the House, included $308 million for armor plating for Humvees and add-on armor kits. The bill also included an additional $318 million for force protection measures.

The bill was passed by both the House and Senate and signed by President Bush on May 11, 2005.

Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Warner, reported out of conference committee with $435 million in appropriations for individual body armor.

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Security and Reconstruction Act, 2004
The bill, proposed by Sen. Ted Stevens, includes $300 million in appropriations for the purchase of body armor for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dodd Amendment to Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Security and Reconstruction Act, 2004
The amendment, offered by Sen. Chris Dodd, would have added $322 million to the $300 million already appropriated towards the purchase of "high-tech body armor, bullet-proof helmets, special water packs to keep soldiers hydrated, and other survival gear."

Supplemental Appropriations Act to Support Department of Defense Operations in Iraq for Fiscal Year 2003
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ted Stevens, includes an appropriation of $603 million for "force protection gear and combat clothing".

Landrieu Amendment to Supplemental Appropriations Act to Support Department of Defense Operations in Iraq for Fiscal Year 2003
The amendment, proposed by Sen. Mary Landrieu, would have appropriated $1 billion to procurement for the National Guard and Reserves. The amendment was intended to fill a Guard and Reserve shortage of "helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests" and "chemical and biological protective gear". Landrieu based the $1 billion on National Guard and Reserve Unfunded Requirement lists. The amendment would offset the $1 billion appropriation with a $1 billion reduction in President Bush's tax cuts.

External resources

 * Vote Vets.org
 * "False Claims About Body Armor," Factcheck.org, September 20, 2006.
 * "AZ Republic, FactCheck.org lobbed misleading claims in attempt to debunk Vote Vets ad criticizing Allen," Media Matters, September 21, 2006.
 * "Did Kerry Vote "No" on Body Armor for Troops?," Factcheck.org, March 16, 2004.
 * "U.S. Troop Sniped In Iraq Saved By Body Armor," Google Video.

External articles

 * Mark Benjamin, " Under Fire, Army Reserve and National Guard Troops Lack Body Armor," UPI, December 3, 2003.
 * Peter Brownfeld, "U.S. Troops in Iraq Have Limited Body Armor," FOX News, October 24, 2004.
 * Steve Kroft, "GIs Lack Armor, Radios, Bullets," CBS News, October 31, 2004.
 * Michael Moss, "Many Missteps Tied to Delay Of Armor to Protect Soldiers," New York Times, March 7, 2005.
 * Michael Moss, "Extra Armor Could Have Saved Many Lives, Study Shows," New York Times, January 6, 2006.