Chris Dodd: “Very briefly, the amendment is designed to provide reimbursement dollars for expenditures incurred by people in the…”

“Very briefly, the amendment is designed to provide reimbursement dollars for expenditures incurred by people in the military, their family members, or nonprofit organizations that have purchased body armor, additional protection for our men and women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. There are limitations. There is a time-definite period during which those acquisitions had to occur. The acquisitions must be approved by field commanders rather than just the individuals. There is a dollar-amount limitation of $1,100 on any purchase. I do not know how widespread this is. I have commended the Armed Services Committee for substantially increasing the President's request of some $57 million to $262 million in this area, which I believe is going to tremendously assist in seeing to it that our men and women in uniform have whatever they need to allow them to perform their very difficult functions in two very different and difficult theaters. Certainly, having loved ones acquire this equipment is unacceptable to all of us. This amendment is designed to make whole those who have incurred the costs.”