Cornyn, Whitehouse Bill to Enhance Commander-Level Law Enforcement Training Programs Passes Senate

Cornyn, Whitehouse Bill to Enhance Commander-Level Law Enforcement Training Programs Passes Senate News Cornyn, Whitehouse Bill to Enhance Commander-Level Law Enforcement Training Programs Passes Senate June 11, 2026 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statements after their Promoting Police Leadership Act, which would improve the quality of and increase access to commander-level training curriculum across law enforcement agencies, passed the Senate unanimously: “Law enforcement is a challenging and dynamic profession that requires continuous training and education,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Our bill would ensure all levels of law enforcement across all departments and communities are prepared to protect and defend in today’s rapidly evolving threat environment, and I urge the House to pass it as soon as possible.” “State and local police commanders oversee many of the day-to-day policing decisions that ripple through police departments and the communities they serve,” said Sen. Whitehouse. “Investing in targeted training curriculum will help police leaders better serve the officers they lead and promote public safety.  I’m grateful to Senator Cornyn for his longtime partnership on law enforcement issues, and I urge the House to take up and pass this timely bipartisan bill.” Background: The Promoting Police Leadership Act would: Task the U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with developing a broad training curricula framework for commander-level personnel in consultation with state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, academic institutions, and other relevant partners; And establish a voluntary certification process for the U.S. Attorney General to identify high-quality training programs that align with the broader DOJ framework and provide instruction to police departments. The Promoting Police Leadership Act is endorsed by the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), and National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition (NNOAC).