Isakson, Perdue, Carter Praise Passage Of Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers Reauthorization

Featured

                      ice

federal-law

                                                                                                                                Contacts

Caroline Vanvick, 202-224-6594
Megan Whittemore, 202-228-1023

image001

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 13TH, 2016


Isakson, Perdue, Carter Praise Passage Of Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers Reauthorization

Bill reauthorizes critical training programs headquartered in Georgia 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) and U.S. Representative Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA-01) today praised the bicameral passage of their legislation to reauthorize Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC). The bipartisan FLETC reauthorization bill will now to go President Obama’s desk for his signature.

Reauthorizing our Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers is key to ensuring that our federal law enforcement officials and first responders are adequately trained for national security events, domestic threats, and combating terrorism. The legislation was originally introduced by Congressman Carter and then amended in the Senate by Senator Perdue in order to obtain additional bipartisan support.

“The training our law enforcement officers receive each year at Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers is key to ensuring our national security,” said Senator Isakson. “I am proud to fight for FLETC so that its facilities can continue to deliver preeminent training to our federal law enforcement officials.  I’m thankful for what FLETC achieves in Glynco, Ga., and this reauthorization is important news.”

“We are fortunate FLETC is headquartered in Georgia,” said Senator Perdue. “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. I applaud the passage of this bill and look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

“FLETC is the preeminent facility for law enforcement training in the United States,” said Congressman Carter. “While FLETC has provided topnotch training since its creation, Congress has failed to provide FLETC with a reauthorization. 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.” 

Background:

Established in the 1970s as a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, FLETC was created to provide cost-effective basic and advanced training for federal law enforcement officers. With the formation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003, FLETC was formally transferred from the Treasury Department to DHS to serve as the law enforcement training hub for a variety of national and international law enforcement personnel and partner organizations. Since its establishment and the department transfer, FLETC has not been reauthorized by Congress.

The FLETC main campus is headquartered in Glynco, GA, and has grown over the years to include facilities in Artesia, NM, Charleston, SC, Cheltenham, MD, and Gabarone, Botswana. Today, FLETC supports 96 agencies, trains more than 70,000 students annually, and employs more than 3,000 Georgians and almost 600 New Mexicans.

U.S. Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) introduced the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers Reform and Improvement Act of 2015 in the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed overwhelmingly in December 2015. Senators Isakson and Perdue, along with Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate on April 13, 2016. Both versions of the legislation were amended and passed the Senate by voice vote on Saturday, December 10, 2016. The House agreed to the Senate amendments to the House version today, December 13, 2016.

View the full text of the legislation here.

Leave a comment

Back to Top