Pascrell Announces $8.7M Security Grant Program Award to New Jersey

Pascrell advocacy helps state secure second highest nonprofit grant in the nation to improve safety and preparedness

PATERSON, NJ – Today, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) celebrated the announcement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that New Jersey had been awarded $8,684,930 through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). The NSGP award is the second largest given to a state this year, and it comes as a direct result of Rep. Pascrell’s nearly decade-long advocacy for this funding in the House Appropriations Committee.

“These awards are important news for nonprofits across New Jersey. Unfortunately, the rise in hate has made these grants necessary. Too many communities in North Jersey remain a target for people who would seek to do harm because of someone’s beliefs. I have pushed my colleagues for nearly a decade to increase funds for this program. Thankfully, our calls are finally getting heeded and New Jerseyans are taking advantage,” said Rep. Pascrell. “I come to work every day to make sure New Jersey gets its fair share of federal funds. When it comes to money for our state’s safety and security our urgency is even greater. This award was necessary and it is very welcome to giving peace of mind to my constituents.”

“We are extremely grateful to Congressman Pascrell for helping to secure this grant for our state,” said Jacob Toporek, Executive Director, N.J. State Association of Jewish Federations. “In New Jersey, we remain vigilant and watchful for community safety. We are thankful for congress’ attention to this very important matter.”

A list of nonprofit recipients of NSGP grants includes:

*Agudas Yisroel of Passaic

*Community Synagogue of Tenafly and Englewood

*Congregation Ahavath Torah of Englewood and Bergen County

*Congregation Bnai Yeshurun of Teaneck

*Congregation Kehillas Beis Sholom of Clifton

*Jewish Family Service & Children’s Center of Clifton-Passaic

*Yeshivat He’Atid Inc of Bergen County

*Saint John’s the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church of Leonia

In April 2017, Rep. Pascrell led a bipartisan letter signed by 111 Congressional Members urging adequate funding for the NPSG program to counter a spate of anti-Semitic threats across the nation. This funding is a direct result of Rep. Pascrell’s championing of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and ceaseless demands for greater funding for New Jersey’s security.

In the 2018 Omnibus, $60,000,000 was allocated to the NSGP, representing an increase $35 million from the FY2017 budget. The NSGP program was designed to provide physical target hardening measures to protect against the threats the Department of Homeland Security has identified as of most concern to at-risk nonprofit institutions. Rep. Pascrell has long been an advocate for the Homeland Security Preparedness Grant programs, specifically the NSPG.

A copy of Pascrell’s letter calling for increased security support for New Jersey is available here.

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