H.R. 8656: Ballistic Armor Made in America Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Ballistic Armor Made in America Act of 2026, seeks to establish new regulations regarding the procurement of ballistic-resistant body armor by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Here are the main points of what the bill would do:

1. Short Title

The Act may be referred to as the "Ballistic Armor Made in America Act of 2026."

2. Procurement Rules for Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor

a. Required Disclosure of Source of Materials

Starting 60 days after the bill's enactment, the Director of the National Institute of Justice will require manufacturers of ballistic-resistant body armor to disclose:

• Each country where the armor is made.
• Where the ballistic fibers in the armor are grown, reprocessed, reused, recycled, or produced.

By 90 days after enactment, this information must be included in the compliant products list, which lists armor models that have passed testing. The list must be updated regularly as new models are certified.

b. "Made in America" Designation

No body armor on the compliant products list can claim to be "Made in America" if it contains ballistic fibers sourced from outside the United States.

c. Prohibition on Foreign Sourcing

The bill prohibits the Attorney General from using DOJ funds to procure body armor that is made from materials produced outside the U.S. This includes any ballistic fibers not sourced domestically unless certain conditions are met:

• The Attorney General determines that the armor cannot be procured domestically at U.S. market prices, or
• The fibers meet specific statutory compliance requirements, referring to the Berry Amendment and the Kissel Amendment.

d. Definition of Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor

The bill defines ballistic-resistant body armor as protective equipment that can safeguard against ballistic threats, stabbing, fragmentation, and blunt impact. It includes both hard armor (made from rigid materials) and soft armor (made from flexible materials).

e. Training on Disclosure Requirements

The Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers will create educational programs for state and local governments that have applied for DOJ grants to purchase ballistic-resistant body armor, focusing on compliance with the new disclosure requirements.

3. Definitions

Several terms related to the bill are defined, including:

• Ballistic-resistant body armor: Personal protective equipment designed to protect against various threats.
• Compliant products list: An official list of armor certified as compliant by the National Institute of Justice.
• Hard armor: Protection made from rigid materials.
• Soft armor: Protection made from pliable materials.

Relevant Companies

• BA (Boeing) - Potential impact due to defense contracts involving ballistic armor procurement.
• RGR (Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.) - Possible implications for their law enforcement-related armor products.
• GLW (Corning Incorporated) - May be involved in the production of ballistic glass components in body armor.