Torres Small Bill Pushes Congress to Improve Training for Federal Law Enforcement Agencies

February 13, 2020
Press Release
Torres Small introduces bill to improve trainings offered by DHS, passes Homeland Security Committee the same week

Washington, DC – Today, the House Homeland Security Committee moved forward legislation to invest in federal law enforcement training introduced by Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02) and recommended the bill for consideration before the full House of Representatives.  The Federal Law Enforcement Training Research and Reporting Act received support from both sides of the aisle and passed unanimously. This legislation would help ensure Department of Homeland Security training programs reach communities throughout the country and achieve and maintain accreditation while helping to ensure agencies are consistently using the best and most up-to-date techniques and methods.

“I’ve witnessed the challenges facing officers and agents tasked with keeping border communities safe. From my visits to FLETC-Artesia to conversations with border patrol agents, it’s clear those working some of the toughest jobs need more support,” said Torres Small. “Men and women joining DHS’s frontline agencies should receive the highest quality training to keep themselves and the individuals they interact with as safe as possible. My bill meets that need.”

Since Fiscal Year 2014, FLETC has been appropriated $4.5 million annually to conduct active shooter and tactical medical trainings with State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies. This legislation ensures those appropriated funds will be put to effective use to reach the communities that could benefit from these trainings.

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Research and Reporting Act of 2020 would require the Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), in coordination with the Under Secretary for Science and Technology to:

  • Research and develop a technology by which FLETC can better reach State, local, and Tribal communities, with rural or remote communities taking priority.
  • Offer training to state, local and tribal communities enhance their preparedness for and response to terrorism and other homeland security threats.
  • Report to Congress on the accreditation status of each of the Department’s basic training programs until they all achieve accreditation.

 

Among the issues the Federal Law Enforcement Training Research and Reporting Act aims to improve, the bill would address the 2013 lapse in accreditation for the basic training program at the U.S. Border Patrol Academy. Notably, the National Border Patrol Council endorsed the Federal Law Enforcement Training Research and Reporting Act. The legislation passed out of the Homeland Security Committee with a bipartisan vote and is now one step closer to becoming law.

 

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Issues: 
Congress