Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act of 2022

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6825) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance the funding and administration of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6825, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act.

More than 20 years after the September 11 attacks, the terrorism threat landscape has grown significantly more complex, and houses of worship and other nonprofits have become targets for domestic and foreign terrorists.

Earlier this year, four Americans were held at gunpoint by a terrorist at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. During the Colleyville attack, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker used security training to help bring the standoff to an end without injury to his congregants.

The training that proved so crucial that Sabbath was funded by the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The NSGP, as it has come to be known, is a competitive grant program that provides funding to nonprofit organizations, such as religious institutions, at high risk of a terrorist attack to help bolster their security.

Grant funding is primarily used to pay for active shooter training, fencing, barriers, and surveillance cameras.

In recent years, demand for the program has grown exponentially, given the heightened threat environment that we face. Over the past 3 years, to meet this demand, Congress has increased funding almost threefold to $250 million in fiscal year 2022.

Even with significant new resources, FEMA reported that, in fiscal year 2021, there was a $200 million gap between applications and funding. To provide FEMA with more resources to help bolster the security of more at-risk nonprofits, H.R. 6825 authorizes $500 million in grant funding for fiscal years 2023 to 2028.

This bipartisan bill, which was introduced by the leaders of the Committee on Homeland Security, Chairman Bennie Thompson and Ranking Member John Katko, also includes a range of enhancements to the program's operations.

H.R. 6825 would establish a dedicated program office to carry out education, outreach, and engagement to provide technical assistance and support. Among other things, it includes technical changes to eliminate or prevent administrative or operational obstacles that may impact access by eligible applicants; sets baseline requirements for States that administer the program; and requires audits to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

The legislation, which was developed in close coordination with FEMA, was unanimously supported by the committee in March.

Before I conclude, I would like to address an article that appeared in the Jewish Link, a prominent news outlet for the Jewish community in New Jersey and New York, in which questions were raised about the grant guidance for the program for the current fiscal year.

On behalf of Chairman Thompson, let me express my appreciation to Representatives Pascrell and Gottheimer, in particular, for alerting the committee to these concerns and the chairman's commitment to engage FEMA about the questions that were raised.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, back home in New Jersey, I make a point of checking in on faith communities as often as I can. We gather together, we talk about the issues of the day, we talk about how their members can help the community at large. And in every one of these conversations, I am sad to say, the issue of security comes up. We talk about this grant program and how it can help them protect themselves.

It saddens me because I know that bulletproof glass is not the solution to hatred. Security guards and security cameras are not the solution to the violence that is plaguing our society. Security at the point of the religious institution is not the solution, it is the last resort. And yet, it is something that we have to do. Until we defeat the hatred, until we deal with how it spreads through our society, we have to harden our institutions so people can worship and gather peacefully in safety.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in support of a bill that addresses this need, H.R. 6825, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act. It is a timely measure that is responsive to the current threat picture.

Instances of anti-Semitic crime, for example, hit an all-time high in 2021 in America. My home State of New Jersey and the neighboring State of New York, accounted for nearly 30 percent of the reported total.

The bill is endorsed by The Jewish Federations of North America, the Anti-Defamation League, the Sikh Coalition, the Secure Community Network, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, and The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

Just today, ahead of consideration of the bill, The Jewish Federations of North America reached out to say: ``The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is critically important to the safety and security of faith communities and others who are at risk. The Jewish Federations would like to thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Katko for advancing an

authorization bill that will strengthen the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and increase much-needed funding for at-risk institutions.''

Mr. Speaker, for all these reasons, while it is not enough, I do strongly believe that enactment of H.R. 6825 will position this program to be effective in the future. It will enable us to provide these essential grants to every faith institution that needs them.

None of us want to communicate to folks in our district that we were able to help this synagogue, this mosque, this church, but the one across the street, the one in a different neighborhood, we are sorry, we can't help you because we ran out of money. That is absolutely unacceptable, and we are going to solve this program.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6825, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are closing out the Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support for 23 important measures to make our communities more secure and improve Department of Homeland Security operations in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.

I am particularly pleased that we were able to reach agreement on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act to expand and strengthen this vital program so that more nonprofits and houses of worship can access security assistance at this time of heightened threats of violent extremism and terrorism. With antisemitic and other violent threats on the rise, it is clear this legislation is needed now more than ever.

I also want to thank Ranking Member John Katko, as he retires from Congress, for his contributions to the Homeland Security Committee and his critical support throughout this process for the Committee's bipartisan package found in Division G of the NDAA.

While the package reflects the contributions of so many of my colleagues, l would like to give special acknowledgment to Congresswoman Val Demings who championed the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act. This legislation directs DHS to explore ways to provide needed bridge funding to cities to preserve homeland security capability gains accomplished through the Urban Area Security Initiative grant program when they no longer receive such funding.

With respect to cybersecurity, I am pleased that we were able to reach agreement on bipartisan provisions that originated in the Committee on Homeland Security. They include Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin's legislation to reauthorize the Secret Service's National Computer Forensics Institute, Congresswoman Elaine Luria's bill to authorize DHS's President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition, and legislation authored by Congressman Eric Swalwell aimed at improving DHS's cybersecurity training to protect industrial control systems.

While I am enormously proud of the bipartisan homeland security provisions that were included, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my disappointment that we were not able to reach agreement with the Senate on amending the law to treat TSA's workforce like most other Federal employees or authorize the vital work of DHS's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. We will continue to seek an agreement on these critical measures.

Lastly, I am particularly proud that the NDAA honors my late friend, Congressman A. Donald McEachin, by including his bill, the DHS Mentor- Protege Program Act, to help small businesses better compete for DHS contracts. It is a fitting tribute to my friend that we came together to pass a bill to open doors of opportunity to small businesses-- something that he was passionate about doing.

Mr. Speaker, the full list of Homeland Security Committee measures that will be enacted by this year's NOAA is as follows:

H.R. 6825, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS).

H.R. 5615, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act, sponsored by Rep. Val Butler Demings (D-FL).

H.R. 6387, the School and Daycare Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ).

H.R. 8801, the DHS Joint Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA) and S. 4656, the DHS Joint Task Forces Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Sen. Gary C. Peters (D-MI).

H.R. 2915, the Homeland Procurement Reform Act, sponsored by Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA) and S. 1009, the Homeland Procurement Reform Act, sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

H.R. 6824, the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act, sponsored by Rep. Elaine G. Luria (D-VA).

H.R. 7777, the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Training Act, sponsored by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA).

H.R. 7174, the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and S. 4673, the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

H.R. 5574, the TSA Reaching Across Nationalities, Societies, and Languages to Advance Traveler Education Act (``TRANSLATE Act''), sponsored by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) and S. 3296, the TSA Reaching Across Nationalities, Societies, and Languages to Advance Traveler Education Act (``TRANSLATE Act''), sponsored by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-

Mr. Speaker, violence shattered communities across the country this weekend, making it a very sad one for this Nation.

First, on Friday night in Milwaukee, 21 people were injured in a mass shooting as the city hosted the NBA playoffs. Then, on Saturday, a gunman who posted a manifesto online espousing violent white supremacist viewpoints drove 2 hours to a grocery store in a predominantly Black area of Buffalo and opened fire on customers, killing 10 innocent people. Finally, yesterday, in Laguna Woods, California, an armed intruder burst into a predominantly Taiwanese Christian congregation meeting in a Presbyterian church, killing one congregant and critically wounding four others.

Today, we mourn with these communities and families who were rocked by this violence, but we also must continue asking tough questions about what is fueling such racially motivated violent extremism.

Just months ago, FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress domestic terrorism is metastasizing through this country and was not going away any time soon. The intelligence community has recently warned that racially motivated violent extremism poses the most lethal domestic terrorism threat.

While Americans may not see eye-to-eye on what factors contribute to the current threat landscape, there seems to be general agreement that public spaces, in general, and houses of worship, in particular, need to be more secure.

That is where the Nonprofit Security Grant Program comes in. This grant program is incredibly important to at-risk nonprofits that need to bolster their security against mass shootings and terrorism threats.

In 2020, I was proud to author legislation that was enacted into law to authorize this program. Today, I am here in support of H.R. 6825, legislation I introduced in the wake of a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, to expand the availability of crucial funding to more at-risk nonprofits and improve the program's operations.

My legislation, Mr. Speaker, does so by increasing the authorization for funding to $500 million annually through fiscal year 2028 and by establishing a dedicated program office.

This past February, the National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin stated: ``Threats directed at historically Black colleges and universities and other colleges and universities, Jewish facilities, and churches cause concern and may inspire extremist threat actors to mobilize to violence.''

With each passing day, the list of potential targets for mass violence seems to expand, and FEMA has already told us that even with funding for the program increasing roughly three-fold in just a few short years, the demand for funding is still outpacing available funding. The additional resources provided under my bill will help FEMA do more to help more at-risk nonprofits.

Importantly, H.R. 6825 requires FEMA to provide outreach, engagement, and technical support to nonprofits, with particular attention to eligible at-risk nonprofits in underserved communities.

As was mentioned before, in recent days, questions have arisen about how FEMA plans to bring new at-risk nonprofits into the program, a goal that many of us support.

I strongly believe that with the enhanced funding that Congress provides in this year's appropriations, FEMA can expand the program's reach while preserving funding to existing grantees that continue to be at risk.

To that end, together with my colleague, Mr. Pascrell, I am engaging FEMA about its approach, and I look forward to resolving it.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to my colleagues' support in passing this critical legislation.

Mr. Speaker, as an original member of the Homeland Security Committee, I had the pleasure of serving with Chairman Thompson. It has only been lately that we understand what he means to this country. Together, we worked to establish and grow the Nonprofit Security Grant Program into what it is now.

I associate myself with the words of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Malinowski) and our associates from Arkansas and Kansas. I hope people listened to what they had to say on the previous bill because knowledge is power in trying to keep the American people safe.

From Jersey City, to Colleyville, to Pittsburgh, our faith-based communities have become targets. Our churches, synagogues, and mosques are facing increased volatility, unpredictability, and threats. Now, that is either a fact or it is not a fact.

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is a vital tool to help keep people safe from this dire threat. H.R. 6825 recognizes this growing threat by increasing the program's authorization, as you just heard. It is money that will be well spent.

We must ensure that every community can get these resources. Too many communities do not have the historic ability to even write a grant, believe it or not.

But revising the formula should not create obstacles for high-threat communities or regions, like my home State of New Jersey. I am closely monitoring the new formula FEMA has offered. It will give preference to applications with a higher Social Vulnerability Index.

It is one of the pillars of America that our neighbors are secure in their houses of worship. I will fight hard for fairness in distributing these funds.

I applaud Chairman Thompson for bringing this bill to the floor. Domestic terrorism threatens every community in our Nation, and we blew it 12 years ago. It is something I have warned about over a decade, and it is not abating but growing.

This funding will save lives and secure houses of worship. I urge swift passage of H.R. 6825.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H.R. 6825, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act of 2022.

FEMA's Nonprofit Security Grant Program is an important resource available to nonprofit organizations, especially our houses of worship. As we all know, faith-based communities across the country face varying levels of discrimination, and it is vital that we strengthen our Nation's emergency preparedness posture to prevent violence against all religious groups.

H.R. 6825 expands the use of Nonprofit Security Grant Program funds to include alteration or remodeling of existing buildings or physical facilities and facility security personnel costs, including costs associated with contracted security.

This bill requires more accountability on the part of FEMA to Congress by requiring the Administrator of FEMA to include information on the number of applications submitted by eligible nonprofit organizations to each State, the number of applications submitted by each State, and specific operations of the grant office in FEMA's annual report to Congress.

Finally, this legislation also establishes an office within FEMA to provide outreach, engagement, education, and technical assistance to support eligible nonprofit organizations. This will better ensure that eligible organizations, including houses of worship, know the resources available to them.

I urge Members to support H.R. 6825, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.