In continuing his fight to protect nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist attack, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) joined U.S. Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY-02) in leading a letter signed by 39 of their bipartisan House colleagues urging the co-chairs of the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security to fund the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program at $25 million in the FY2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.  Recent reports involving a local man accused of throwing lit firecrackers outside a Passaic synagogue underscore the need for additional security funding.

“Credible threats against non-profit institutions across the country continue to be a problem,” Pascrell wrote in the letter. “These incidents highlight the continuing need for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which was designed precisely so that at-risk nonprofit organizations that serve as community centers can acquire and install equipment to secure themselves against a potential terrorist attack.  These capital improvements include upgraded security measures, such as installing cameras, physical barriers, or controlled entry systems. ”

“The NJ State Association of Jewish Federations gratefully acknowledges Rep. Pascrell’s leadership in urging Congress to increase funding for the NSGP,” stated President Mark S. Levenson and Executive Director Jacob Toporek, both of the N.J. State Association of Jewish Federations. “At a time when the vulnerability our community is great due to increased threats and the rise in anti-Semitic incidents, the congressman’s initiative is a “mitzvah,” a good deed, on behalf of our security and so many other similarly concerned community institutions. The congressman has been there for us on so many issues over the years of his tenure in the House and at the State House and we are thankful.”

The members’ request would almost double the current level of funding, as the grant program is funded at a level of $13 Million in fiscal year 2015. Non-profit groups in New Jersey may apply to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness for up to $70,000 for security improvements during the application period, which closes on May 1st.

The full text of the letter follows:

March 20, 2015

The Honorable John Carter                        The Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard
Chairman                                                    Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Homeland Security        Subcommittee on Homeland Security
House Appropriations Committee              House Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC  20515                              Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Carter and Ranking Member Roybal-Allard:

Thank you for your service in ensuring that adequate resources are available to protect our communities from threats and disasters. As you consider programs that deserve additional funding, we respectfully ask you to fund the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP) at $25 million in the FY2016 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. This program is vital to the security of vulnerable non-profit facilities.

As you know, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, provides critical support for physical security enhancements to nonprofit organization at high risk of a terrorist attack.

Several recent events illustrate the vulnerability of non-profits such as houses of worship to terrorism and hate crimes. In April of last year, a pair of shootings committed by a lone gunman occurred at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City and Village Shalom, a Jewish retirement community, killing three people. Less than three years ago, a gunman killed six people and wounded four others in a tragic mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. In 2011, a string of anti-Semitic hate crimes targeting synagogues in Northern New Jersey culminated in arson when an incendiary device was thrown through the window of an Orthodox temple, that was the home of a Rabbi, his wife, five children and father. Six years ago, two synagogues in New York City were targeted by domestic terrorists, and a security guard was killed at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC in 2009.  During a 2006 incident, an attacker shot six women at a Jewish community center in Seattle, killing one of them. In addition, preparation for high profile gatherings, like those that will take place during Pope Francis’ visit to the United States later this year, illustrate the need for this funding.

Credible threats against non-profit institutions across the country continue to be a problem. These incidents highlight the continuing need for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which was designed precisely so that at-risk nonprofit organizations that serve as community centers can acquire and install equipment to secure themselves against a potential terrorist attack.  These capital improvements include upgraded security measures, such as installing cameras, physical barriers, or controlled entry systems.

We strongly urge you to provide $25 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program in the FY2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.  Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

(Signatories include Reps. Joyce Beatty, Susan Brooks, Andre Carson, Matt Cartwright, David N. Cicilline , Yvete Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, Danny K. Davis, Tammy Duckworth, Donna F. Edwards, Eliot Engel, Elizabeth H. Esty, Chaka Fattah , Stephen Fincher, Mike Fitzpatrick, Marcia Fudge, Joe Heck, Chris Van Hollen, William Keating, Peter King, Barbara Lee, Carolyn B. Maloney, Sean Patrick Maloney, Grace Meng, Gwen Moore, Jerrold Nadler, Donald Norcross, Bill Pascrell, Jr., Donald M. Payne, Jr., Scott Peters, Charles Rangel, Loretta Sanchez, John Sarbanes, Jan Schakowsky, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, David Scott, Albio Sires, Dina Titus, Marc Veasey and Lee Zeldin.)

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