WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced that the FY 2022 bipartisan funding agreement includes $250 million for the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which provides grants to faith-based and other nonprofit organizations to help secure their facilities against a potential terrorist attack, increasing the amount allocated in FY 2021 by $70 million from a previous allocation of $180 million. Of the $250 million total, $125 million will be available for nonprofits located within high-risk urban areas, and the remaining $125 million will be available for organizations that fall outside of those areas.
“I am pleased that the FY 2022 bipartisan funding agreement will include $250 million for nonprofit security grants so that synagogues, religious and cultural facilities, and other nonprofits across our country have the resources they need to better secure their facilities,” said Portman. “FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program is vitally important to ensure nonprofits, particularly faith-based organizations, have the resources necessary to invest in physical security enhancements, training, and contract security personnel to protect against potential attacks. At a time when we have seen a rise in violence against communities of faith, I’m pleased we have increased the funding by $70 million to protect at-risk organizations and communities.”
NOTE: The Nonprofit Security Grant Program supports nonprofit organizations most at risk through the acquisition and installation of physical target hardening measures, related preparedness and prevention planning, training, and exercises, and contracted security personnel so that religious and community-based organizations have the critical resources and tools they need to protect lives and property, and worship without fear. The intent is to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. It is also designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.
In 2020, Senator Portman and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced that President Trump signed their bipartisan Protecting Faith-Based and Nonprofit Organizations From Terrorism Act into law. This legislation authorizes NSGP for five years, from FYs 2020-2024. Under the legislation, funding may be used for target-hardening activities, training for personnel, and any other appropriate activity, as defined by the FEMA Administrator. The FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement included $180 million for the NSGP, double the amount allocated in FY 2020.
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