With Hate Crimes on the Rise, Senators Push for Additional Funding to Protect Religious Institutions and Non-Profits from Threats

Statement

With hate crimes on the rise throughout the New York area and across the country, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand along with Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and faith leaders announced a new push today for additional federal anti-terror funding to help safeguard civil, religious and community institutions. The Senators are urging a $5 million increase for a total funding level of at least $25 million in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Homeland Security appropriations bill for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP). This additional funding would help ensure the protection of non-profit facilities and places of worship from potential threats.

"No New Yorker should ever live or worship in fear," said Senator Gillibrand. "With hate crimes on the rise throughout New York and across the country we can't stand idly by and let these incidents go unanswered. We must make sure our places of worship, our community centers and non-profits have every resource necessary to be protected and safe from threats. I'm fighting for this additional Homeland Security funding because we must stand strong against threats, hatred and attacks against our community institutions."

"As we witness an alarming rise in hate crimes across our country, not only should we condemn them whenever and wherever they may arise but also take concrete steps to protect those exposed to potential attacks," said Sen. Menendez. "I am proud to join my colleagues in this effort to boost federal investments for the Nonprofit Security Grant program which provides critical funding to enhance security for some of our most vulnerable religious, community and nonprofit organizations."

"It's unacceptable that some of our most vulnerable non-profits and places of worship in New Jersey and our nation continue to face the threat of hate crimes," said Sen. Booker, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. "I've made strengthening Homeland Security funding one of my top priorities, and was proud to fight to improve New Jersey's ‎competitiveness for DHS preparedness grants. We must remain committed to all levels of government working together to protect New Jersey's most critical assets."

"We need to do everything we can to protect every community, individual and place of worship in New York. This would be a wise investment, providing more protection and security for all our citizens," said U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer.

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