For Immediate Release                                                          Contact:

January 16, 2014                                                                   Roslyn Singer, 212-613-8227

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, welcomes the U.S. Congress’ 2014 omnibus appropriations bill, which includes a $13 million appropriation for the Nonprofit Security Grants Program (NSGP). Religious institutions and other nonprofits will use these grants for target hardening and preparedness training to ensure the safety and security of their buildings and communities. The House of Representatives and the Senate passed the measure Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

The OU spearheaded the creation of the NSGP eight years ago in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America and other coalition partners. In each subsequent year, the OU has worked to ensure Congress’ annual appropriation of these funds. To date, the NSGP has delivered more than $110 million in total to Jewish and other nonprofit entities.

Nathan Diament, the OU’s Executive Director for Public Policy, stated, “We applaud our Congressional champions, foremost among them Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) who has been a champion for the NSGP since its inception. We also express our appreciation to Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL), Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Dan Coats (R-IN), and, in the House of Representatives, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY),  John Carter (R-TX) and David Price (D-NC) for their support this year.”

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The Orthodox Union is the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization; the OU Advocacy Center, formerly the Institute for Public Affairs, is the non-partisan public policy arm of the OU and leads its advocacy efforts in Washington, DC and state capitals.