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Following a bipartisan push by Congressman Max Rose, Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence & Counterterrorism, Congress passed legislation to increase funding for critical counterterrorism programs of which New York City relies upon by $90 million over current funding levels, including a $30 million increase for Nonprofit Security Grant Program which provides critical support and protection for nonprofit and religious institutions like churches, synagogues, mosques, and community centers which have increasingly been targets of terrorism.

“Now more than ever, as we face terrorist attacks and mass shootings based on xenophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism, we need to be redoubling our efforts to ensure the brave men and women in uniform have the necessary tools and resources to keep us safe, and that nonprofit and religious institutions are properly protected,” Rose said. “Despite shocking cuts proposed by this Administration, I’m proud to have built strong, bipartisan support to not only push back, but to increase funding for critical programs.”

In the bipartisan funding legislation that Congress passed this week which the President is expected to sign into law today to prevent a government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security funding included:

• $665 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative, a $15 million increase from current funding, and $239 million more than the Administration’s budget proposal;
• $100 million for the Port Security and $100 million for Transit Security Programs, which is equal to current funding levels, but an increase of $64 million from the Administration’s budget proposal for each program;
• $560 million for the State Homeland Security Grant, a $35 million increase from current funding, and $229 million more than the Administration’s budget proposal;
• $10 million for the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant, which is equal to current funding levels, despite the Administration’s budget request for zero funding;
• $41 million for the Presidential Residence Protection Grant, which is equal to current funding levels, despite the Administration’s budget request for zero funding;
• $90 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, a $30 million increase from current funding, and was not mentioned in the Administration’s budget proposal.

Rose helped lead the bipartisan effort to reauthorize the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides funding for security enhancements to nonprofit organizations and religions institutions that are at high risk of a terrorist attack. Earlier this year, Rose hosted a grant workshop for nonprofit and religious institutions with government officials to assist religious and nonprofit institutions on security grant programs.

Following the Administration’s budget proposal, which called for drastic and dangerous cuts to critical counterterrorism programs, Rose led a bipartisan push with Congressman Pete King and the entire New York City delegation, to fully fund the Homeland Security programs that support New York City. In a hearing earlier this year, Rose pressed the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security on the Administration’s proposed budget cuts to counterterrorism programs and asked if that means the Administration is not prioritizing these threats. The Acting Secretary responded, “Especially in major cities we need to continue to work on it, continue to partner, and hopefully we can manage through the cuts.”

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