I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5063 

To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a joint task force to improve 

the research and development of lighter weight body armor. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 15, 2010 

Ms. TSONGAS (for herself and Mr. KISSELL) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a joint task 

force to improve the research and development of lighter 

weight body armor. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Light Weight Armor 

5 Research Requirements for Individual Operational Readi6 ness Act’’ or the ‘‘LT WARRIOR Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT TASK FORCE ON LIGHT8 WEIGHT BODY ARMOR. 

9 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 

10 shall establish a joint task force, to be known as ‘‘Joint 


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1 Task Force Light Weight Armor Research Requirements 

2 for Individual Operational Readiness’’ or ‘‘JTF–LT WAR3 RIOR’’, to— 

4 (1) synchronize efforts among the military de5 partments to identify and examine the requirements 

6 for lighter weight body armor; and 

7 (2) serve as the centralized body for deter8 mining and coordinating issues regarding lightweight 

9 body armor and other personal protective equipment, 

10 including the required attributes of such armor and 

11 the development and procurement of such armor and 

12 equipment. 

13 (b) COMPOSITION.— 

14 (1) MEMBERSHIP.—The task force shall consist 

15 of not more than 20 members, to be appointed by 

16 the Secretary as follows: 

17 (A) At least one member shall be ap18 pointed from each of the Army, Navy, Air 

19 Force, and Marine Corps. 

20 (B) At least one member shall represent 

21 the Natick Soldier Research, Development and 

22 Engineering Center of the Army. 

23 (C) At least one member shall represent 

24 the Defense Logistics Agency. 


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1 (D) At least one member shall represent 

2 the United States Special Operations Com3 mand. 

4 (E) At least one member shall represent 

5 the Program Executive Office Soldier. 

6 (F) At least one member shall represent 

7 the Test and Evaluation Command of the 

8 Army. 

9 (G) At least one member shall represent 

10 the Defense Standardization Program Office. 

11 (H) Other members representing other en12 tities considered appropriate by the Secretary. 

13 (2) PRIVATE ENTITIES.—In appointing mem14 bers to the task force, the Secretary may consider 

15 including representatives from industry, including 

16 developers, manufacturers, and testing personnel. 

17 (3) DEADLINE.—The members of the task force 

18 shall be appointed not later than 30 days after the 

19 date of the enactment of this Act. 

20 (4) CHAIR.—Of a member appointed under 

21 paragraph (1) who is a member of the Armed 

22 Forces, the Secretary shall designate a chair of the 

23 task force. 

24 (c) RECOMMENDATIONS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than six months 

2 after the date on which all members of the task 

3 force have been appointed, and each six month pe4 riod thereafter for a period of 18 months, the task 

5 force shall submit to the Secretary a report recom6 mending ways in which the Secretary and each Sec7 retary of a military department may more effectively 

8 address the research, development, and procurement 

9 requirements regarding reducing the weight of body 

10 armor. 

11 (2) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The reports re12 quired under paragraph (1) shall include an assess13 ment of the following: 

14 (A) The requirement for lighter weight 

15 body armor and personal protective equipment. 

16 (B) Innovative design ideas for more mod17 ular body armor that allow for scalable protec18 tion levels for various missions and threats. 

19 (C) Research, development, acquisition, 

20 and funding objectives specifically dedicated to 

21 reducing the weight of body armor and other 

22 personal protective equipment items. 

23 (D) The efficiency and effectiveness of cur24 rent body armor funding procedures and proc25 esses. 


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1 (E) Industry concerns, capabilities, and 

2 willingness to invest in the development and 

3 production of lightweight body armor initiatives. 

4 (3) METHODOLOGY.—In submitting the reports 

5 under paragraph (1), the task force shall consider as 

6 bases for making assessments— 

7 (A) the findings and recommendations of 

8 previous reviews and the efforts of similar co9 ordination boards; 

10 (B) the views of operations, combat, and 

11 materiel developers; and 

12 (C) other factors the task force considers 

13 appropriate. 

14 (d) FINAL REPORT.— 

15 (1) REQUIREMENT.—The task force shall sub16 mit to the Secretary of Defense and each Secretary 

17 of a military department a final report on the activi18 ties of the task force. 

19 (2) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The report shall in20 clude the following: 

21 (A) An assessment of the ability of the De22 partment of Defense to support the requirement 

23 for lightweight body armor. 

24 (B) An assessment of any barriers pre25 venting the development of lighter weight body 


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1 armor (including such barriers with respect to 

2 technical, institutional, or financial problems). 

3 (C) The need for dedicated research and 

4 development funding specifically for reducing 

5 the weight of body armor. 

6 (D) Other areas of concern not previously 

7 mentioned or addressed by equipping boards, 

8 body armor producers, or program managers. 

9 (E) The final findings and conclusions of 

10 the task force. 

11 (F) Any recommendations for changes to 

12 procedures and policy the task force considers 

13 appropriate. 

14 (3) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 

15 60 days after the receipt of the report under para16 graph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 

17 the congressional defense committees the report, to18 gether with an evaluation of the report from the 

19 Secretary of Defense and each Secretary of a mili20 tary department. 

21 (e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.— 

22 (1) COMPENSATION.— 

23 (A) Each member of the task force who is 

24 a member of the Armed Forces or a civilian of25 ficer or employee of the United States shall 


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1 serve without compensation (other than com2 pensation to which entitled as a member of the 

3 Armed Forces or an officer or employee of the 

4 United States, as the case may be). 

5 (B) Other members of the task force shall 

6 be appointed in accordance with, and subject to, 

7 section 3161 of title 5, United States Code. 

8 (2) OVERSIGHT.—The Under Secretary of De9 fense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, 

10 shall provide oversight of the task force. 

11 (3) LOGISTICS.—The Washington Headquarters 

12 Services of the Department of Defense shall provide 

13 the task force with personnel, facilities, and other 

14 administrative support as necessary for the perform15 ance of the duties of the task force. 

16 (f) TERMINATION.—The task force shall terminate 

17 90 days after the date on which the final report is sub18 mitted under subsection (d). 

Æ 


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