Meng Applauds Homeland Security Committee for Passing Legislation Increasing Funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program

March 7, 2022
Press Release

Congresswoman has been helping to increase funding for the initiative to further protect houses of worship, day schools, and other non-profits as hate crime concerns have increased

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), New York's senior appropriator on the House Appropriations Committee, applauded the House Homeland Security Committee for passing legislation that increases funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program from $180 to $500 million annually. This increase in funding will allow houses of worship, day schools, and other nonprofits to better protect themselves and their congregations as religious and ethnically based hate crimes have continued to increase.
Meng has been a key champion in the program's funding increase, by helping grow funding from $90 million, to $180 million, now to $500 million in just a three-year span.
"This program helps to ensure our communities remain safe and resilient in light of recent events," said Meng. "Unfortunately, the last few years we have seen horrible and violent acts directed at places of worship and their congregations, as we recently saw in Colleyville, Texas. This has been a major issue that I have fought to address, both in my role on the House Appropriations Committee and with the passage into law of my COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. People need to feel safe when they are going to worship, and this program will help provide that safety."
The grants, which are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), cover target-hardening and other physical security enhancements such as barriers, gates, safety gear, surveillance equipment and other safety measures.
Over the last few years, Meng has also organized workshops that have provided information and assistance on applying for these grants. In combination with letters of support for organizations who choose to apply for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, Meng has helped numerous facilities in her congressional district in Queens receive funding from the initiative.