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JFNA Statement on Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) would like to thank members of the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee for their continued support of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).


NSGP provides federal support for security and preparedness investments at faith-based and other at-risk nonprofit institutions. Since the program’s inception in 2004, the Jewish Federations have worked closely with Congress to secure funding for it.


The Federations appreciate the subcommittee’s initial recommended appropriation of $180 million to the program, on par with 2021 levels, and will continue monitoring the bill’s progress in both the House and Senate.


“At a time when three-quarters of American Jews believe that anti-Semitism is on the rise, Jewish Federations are working hard to secure our communities,” said JFNA CEO Eric Fingerhut.


“We thank Congress for its continued funding of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which has been an important tool to help secure the Jewish community in the face of rising anti-Semitism, and continue to urge further funding.”


In testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 12th, both Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made clear that racially- and ethnically-motivated domestic violent extremists are considered the greatest terrorist threat to the homeland.
 

Given the current environment, Federations respectfully but strenuously urge support for further substantial increases in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program in fiscal year 2022.


In addition, the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) allows nonprofits to maintain their role as the front-line responders in supporting individuals, families and communities impacted by emergency economic disasters. It ensures that the charitable sector has the capacity to provide mass shelter and stable living conditions, and mass feeding and food distribution, among other critical supports to those most in need.


Federations have led efforts to steadily increase the program funding in recent years on a bipartisan basis, and applaud the recommendation of a $140 million funding level for 2022, a $10 million increase over current levels.