"Armored and up-armored vehicles are critical in protecting our men and women in uniform, particularly when they are serving in such a hostile environment," Senator Collins said. "Given that so many American soldiers have died or been seriously injured in Iraq as a result of improvised explosive devices or in ambushes from rocket-propelled grenades, the urgent requirement for armor protection remains. This provision will ensure that our troops have the equipment they need to perform their mission as safely as possible."
Senator Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee has been a leader in advocating for the Pentagon's swift action to armor and up-armor the thousands of Humvees being used by our military personnel in Iraq. Senator Collins initially raised the issue of shortages of body armor and fortified Humvees for military personnel in Iraq during a Senate Armed Services hearing on March 2, 2004 and again in a February 3, 2005 hearing.
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