Congresswoman Louise Slaughter

When Louise found out that 80 percent of the Marines killed in the Iraq War could have survived with adequate body armor, she decided to do something about it. That’s when Louise began her years-long effort, working with the Pentagon to change the testing procedures for body armor resulting in 16,000 pieces of faulty armor being recalled from combat zones from Iraq. Louise’s work led to improved testing protocols for body armor and helped ensure our troops have the protection they need on the battlefield.

“In my many years of public service, I cannot recall any Member of Congress who has exhibited more grit and determination than Louise Slaughter has in her work to keep our war fighters safe. She has been relentless in her determination to get servicemen and women the life-saving body armor they need and deserve. She is truly one of this country’s heroes.”
THE HONORABLE GORDON HEDDELL
Former Inspector General, U.S. Department. of Defense

TIMELINE

April 2006 – Louise requested that the Department of Defense Acting Inspector General Thomas F. Gimble review the DoD’s procurement policies for body armor and armored vehicles. This followed The New York Times’s publishing of an internal Pentagon memo which found that 80 percent of Marines killed in Iraq due to upper body wounds could have survived if they had the proper body armor.

March 2008 – Department of Defense Inspector General released a report concluding that there were deficiencies in testing of body armor contracts awarded between January 2004 and December 2006.

April 2008 – The Armed Services Air and Land Forces Subcommittee held a hearing on Army acquisition programs in response to the Inspector General’s report. Lieutenant General N. Ross Thompson stated that all armor is tested to the fullest extent.

June 2008 – Louise met with Inspector General Claude Kicklighter and requested that he review records from the testing facilities and contractors to verify that testing was conducted properly for all armor contracts.

January 2009 – Department of Defense Inspector General Gordon S. Heddell delivered a report to Louise that found body armor testing had not been conducted in accordance with contract terms, conditions, and specifications. Thanks to Louise’s work, the US Marine Corps recalled more than 16,000 sets of faulty body armor from the front lines, helping keep the men and women of our military safe.

SLAUGHTER FORCES REPLACEMENT OF 16,000 PIECES OF BODY ARMOR FOR TROOPS

TIMELINE

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