A group of U.S. Senators recently called upon the leadership of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security to increase funding for nonprofit groups to better secure their facilities from potential attacks.
The Senators are requesting $75 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which breaks down to $50 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) NSGP and $25 million for non-UASI communities. This would constitute a $15 million increase over the current funding levels for the program, which would allow nonprofits in non-UASI designated areas to apply for a larger pot of money. These grants enable nonprofits and faith-based organizations to better protect themselves against attacks.
“I am urging the Senate to increase funding available to synagogues, religious and cultural facilities, and other nonprofits across our country that are vulnerable to acts of terrorism,” Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) said. “As we’ve seen recently, the threats to many houses of worship and other religious community sites are increasing, and we must do everything we can to protect religious and cultural based institutions in Ohio and across our country.”
Portman joined 32 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Jon Tester (D-MT), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
“Funding the NSGP program is critical to protecting communities across our nation from threats. As you craft the Fiscal Year 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, we respectfully ask you to fund NSGP under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) at $50 million and also fund NSGP at $25 million for non-UASI communities, under the State Homeland Security Grant Program,” they wrote. “The NSGP provides critical funding to support physical security enhancements to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack. The program has improved efforts to keep at-risk nonprofit organizations safe by promoting emergency preparedness coordination and collaboration activities between public and private community representatives as well as state and local government agencies. Since today’s threat environment continues to evolve quickly, the NSGP helps nonprofits plan for and ready themselves against a terrorist attack.”