Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
NEWARK, N.J. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-N.J.) announced $44.9 million in Homeland Security grants as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ongoing efforts to support state, local, tribal, and territorial partners. These grants assist states, urban areas, tribal and territorial governments, non-profit agencies, and the private sector with their preparedness efforts. Preparedness grants strengthen our nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies.
Of the $44.9 million, New Jersey faith-based and nonprofit organizations received $18.9 million in Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). Through the NSGP, faith institutions throughout the community will receive support to prevent, protect against, and recover from terrorist attacks, including by installing physical security improvements, implementing emergency readiness programs, and improving community safety.
Senator Booker joined Representative Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.-07), New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, and faith leaders last week for a roundtable at Temple Sinai in Summit, N.J., to discuss the rise in threats facing the Jewish community, and the actions Congress is taking to fight antisemitism and hate crimes throughout the state.
“We cannot ignore the disturbing rise in bias incidents and hate crimes, nor can we tolerate threats to any religious or cultural community,” said Senator Booker. “These security grants will help protect communities across New Jersey against dangerous hate-filled attacks and support our state’s vital infrastructure.”
“Because of our state’s proximity to large metro areas, airports, seaports and transit hubs, New Jersey must remain vigilant and prepared to respond to any type of attack,” said Senator Menendez. “This critical funding will provide our first responders and nonprofit organizations added resources to safeguard our communities and protect New Jersey residents.”
“No person should fear violence because of who they are or who they worship,” said Representative Malinowski. “This crucial funding will bring peace of mind for thousands of residents in my district and help preserve the religious freedoms we hold dear.”
“Hate and bias have no place in our State, and we will always stand up against anti-Semitism and other forms of religious hatred. I’m proud to work with Governor Murphy, Senator Booker, Senator Menendez, Congressman Malinowski, and our federal partners to ensure that our faith communities have the resources they need to remain safe. For more information on available grant funds please visit: https://bit.ly/3fRsLiR,” said Attorney General Platkin.
“We are very honored to host this event and be able to receive this grant. This grant helps push more opportunities to protect our members and our children. The support will go a long way towards the safety of our institution,” said Cindy Homer, President of Temple Sinai.
There were 131 nonprofit and religious institutions from across the state which received a total of $18.9 million in NSGP funds.
In addition to the NSGP funding, New Jersey agencies and other institutions received millions of dollars in federal funding through three other DHS grant programs:
Three New Jersey recipients—Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), New Jersey Transit, and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ)—received a total of $22.2 million from the DHS’s Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP). The TSGP funding protects critical surface transportation and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure.
Nine New Jersey institutions—including the DRPA, the New Jersey State Police, and the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, among others—received a total of $3 million from the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). This funding helps protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve port-wide maritime security risk management, and maintain or reestablish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency capabilities.
Seven New Jersey bus operators—including Academy Express, LLC and Coach USA, Inc.—received a total of $717,000 under the Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) to protect surface transportation infrastructure from acts of terrorism.