WASHINGTON – The Obama administration announced today that it backs an effort by U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, and Representative Harry Teague, that will allow the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) to expand its outdoor training facilities in Artesia.

The bill (S. 3616) reserves about 2,700 acres of Bureau of Land Management land for use by FLETC.  FLETC currently has multiple agreements with BLM to use 1,500 acres of the land, but those agreements each have their own stipulations and expire at different times.  The legislation not only expands FLETC's reservation by an additional 1,200 acres, it also extends and consolidates all the existing land use agreements for a period of 20 years.  This will facilitate existing operations by increasing safety in the operation of the firearm ranges and providing certainty in proceeding with long-term development plans of the driver training ranges and other future training facilities.

At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands hearing today, the Bureau of Land Management said it supports S. 3616, with minor changes.

"FLETC is critical to ensuring we have adequately trained Border Patrol agents, U.S. Marshals and other federal law enforcement officers.  This bill will make it easier for FLETC to expand its training facilities to accommodate its needs," Bingaman said.  "Knowing that the president will sign this bill when it arrives on his desk should help us gain the support we need to pass this important legislation through Congress."

"FLETC plays a critical role in training the men and women who secure our borders, patrol our skies, and keep Americans safe and secure in a variety of roles," Udall said. "I am pleased our legislation to ensure FLETC has the resources it needs to meet increasing demands as one of the nation's premier law enforcement training facilities has cleared this important hurdle."

A committee hearing is the first step toward getting S. 3616 passed in the Senate.  The next step is to have committee members approve the bill – a move that could happen later this fall.