Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, welcomes the Senate Appropriations Committee’s approval of $35 million for fiscal year 2019 to fund a federal grant program that helps shuls, schools and other nonprofit entities improve the security of their buildings.

The proposed allocation for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is the second highest in its history and, for the second consecutive year, includes $10 million for nonprofits located in areas outside major metropolitan areas. The Orthodox Union Advocacy Center and other Jewish organizations helped create the program in 2005 in the wake of 9/11.

To date, the Department of Homeland Security, which administers the NSGP, has delivered $269 million to eligible nonprofits so they can acquire and install items such as fences, lighting, video surveillance and metal detectors. The appropriation will next be considered by the full Senate.

Said Orthodox Union President Mark (Moishe) Bane:

“We welcome this important step forward as our elected leaders continue to work to provide this much-needed support for our schools, shuls and other communal institutions to fortify themselves against anti-Semitic and terrorist acts. As these threats continue, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program remains essential for our community’s protection.”

Said Nathan Diament, executive director for public policy for the Orthodox Union:

“We greatly appreciate the efforts of the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and their staff and look forward to working with them to increase this funding so that even more people can be protected from attacks against our community as well as others that are targets of hateful assaults.”