Congress passes reauthorization act for Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers

The reauthorization of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) Reform and Improvement Act of 2015 recently passed both houses of Congress and has been sent to the President’s desk for signature. The reauthorization bill ensures that federal law enforcement officials and first responders are adequately trained for national security events, domestic threats and counterterrorism.  

The original bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Earl L. Carter (R-GA) in the House, while U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), David Purdue (R-GA), Tom Udall (D-NM) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate in April. As part of the act’s bipartisan reauthorization, the House agreed to Senate amendments to the earlier version of the bill.

“We are fortunate FLETC is headquartered in Georgia,” Purdue said. “Every year, FLETC’s facilities deliver a range of training to 96 federal partner organizations and thousands of state, local, and international law enforcement officers. As training needs evolve to combat the growing global security crisis we face today, so do FLETC’s unique capabilities which is why it remains a top training center for many agencies.”

FLETC was developed as a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (DoT) in the 1970’s and was created to provide cost-effective basic and advanced training for federal law enforcement officers. When the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was developed in 2003, the program was formally transferred from DoT to DHS to serve as the law enforcement training hub for a variety of national and international law enforcement officials.

“While FLETC has provided topnotch training since its creation, Congress has failed to provide FLETC with a reauthorization,” Carter said. “This legislation is critical to ensure authorities are codified into law so FLETC can continue to provide the highest quality and most cost effective training possible. I am thrilled this legislation passed today and I look forward to it becoming law.”