Homeland Democrats Request Additional Funding to Protect Nonprofits Amid Increasing Threats, Including Houses of Worship and HBCUs
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Homeland Security Committee Democrats, led by Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), sent a letter to House Appropriators urging them to provide significant new funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) in the FY2022 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, given the current complex, diffused, and dynamic terrorism landscape which is heavily motivated by elements of white supremacy. Recently, there has been a spate of bomb threats to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), predominantly Black churches, and synagogues across the country.
“The NSGP provides support to at-risk institutions to bolster security, allowing congregants and the public to access them securely and safely,” the Members wrote. “The importance of this vital program was underscored during the January 15 attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Texas, when the rabbi and congregants were able to escape, in part due to security trainings funded by NSGP.”
Earlier this week, a Department of Homeland Security National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin stated that “threats directed at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other colleges and universities, Jewish facilities, and churches cause concern and may inspire extremist threat actors to mobilize to violence.”
“We heralded the doubling of program funding in FY 2021, but even with this significant increase the demand has never been greater,” the Members added. “In FY 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports it received applications from 3,361 institutions that, in total, sought roughly $400 million, or more than double the available funding. In addition to urging significant new funding for the NSGP, we would encourage the Appropriations Committee to support enhancing administration of the program within FEMA and by the States.”
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