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Protect Nonprofit Organizations from Terrorism
Letter of Support for the UASI Nonprofit Security Grant Program
Concerns for Jewish communal security at home came in to stark focus, again, last April 13th, when a violent homegrown extremist attacked on two Jewish community institutions in Overland Park, Kansas. Since that time, we have seen a rise in global anti-Semitism, the emergence of ISIL, and the reemergence of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula -- among other violent terrorist groups and extremists -- who have placed a premium on attacking Jewish targets in the West.
Now is the time for Congress to return funding to the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program, to ensure that adequate resources are available to at-risk nonprofit institutions located in designated high-threat urban areas. The funds are used to acquire and/or install needed technology, equipment, and training to improve the physical security and readiness of institutions in order to deter, detect, prevent, minimize and recover from attacks carried out by terrorists or violent homegrown extremists.
The program’s original allocation was $25 million in FY 2005. Over the years the funding level has been significantly cut, although the threats have not diminished. For example, in FY 2014-FY2015, Congress allocated $13 million for the program, annually, and in FY2012-FY2013, Congress allocated $10 million for the program, annually. With these cuts, the reach of the program has greatly diminished. Within the current risk environment, the funding should be returned to $25 million.
Please urge your Members of Congress to support this request. To sign the letter, congressional offices should contact either Dylan Sodaro in Representative Pascrell’s office at Dylan.Sodaro@mail.house.gov or Jamie Tricarico in Representative King’s office at Jamie.Tricarico@mail.house.gov.
The deadline for signing the letter is Thursday, March 19th.
Sincerely,
Rob Goldberg
Senior Director, Legislative Affairs
202-736-5881