Thompson Bill to Protect Churches, Synagogues, and Mosques from Terrorism Becomes Law
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced that legislation he sponsored, the Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019 (H.R. 2476), has been signed by the President and has become law.
This bipartisan legislation authorizes $375 million over the next five years for the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which provides grants to nonprofits and faith-based organizations to help secure their facilities against a targeted violence, including domestic terrorism. Grant funds can be used for security equipment, physical security and cybersecurity training, target hardening, terrorism awareness, or employee training.
Chairman Thompson released the following statement on the new law:
“Enactment of this legislation is a major milestone in our nation’s efforts to bolster homeland security. The need for this legislation is sad but clear. In recent years, churches, synagogues, and mosques throughout the country have experienced a disturbing increase in violence and threats of violence, yet they lack the resources to protect themselves from these growing threats—threats that are only becoming more deadly as we’ve seen a rise in domestic white supremacist terrorism.
“This bipartisan bill is a key step in improving our nation’s homeland security. I am thankful to my House and Senate colleagues for their support of this bill. I was proud to author the Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism Act, and I am even more proud to see it become law.”
# # #
Press Contact
202-225-9978
Next Article Previous Article