[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 9, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H38-H40]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SECURING AMERICAN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AGAINST TERRORISM ACT OF
2017
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1486) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide
funding to secure non-profit facilities from terrorist attacks, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows
H.R. 1486
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Securing American Non-Profit
Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. NON-PROFIT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subtitle A of title XX of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 2009. NON-PROFIT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the
Department a program to be known as the `Non-Profit Security
Grant Program' (in this section referred to as the
`Program'). Under the Program, the Secretary, acting through
the Administrator, shall make grants to eligible nonprofit
organizations described in subsection (b), through the State
in which such organizations are located, for target hardening
and other security enhancements to protect against terrorist
attacks.
``(b) Eligible Recipients.--Eligible nonprofit
organizations described in this subsection (a) are
organizations that are--
``(1) described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a)
of such Code; and
``(2) determined to be at risk of a terrorist attack by the
Administrator.
``(c) Permitted Uses.--The recipient of a grant under this
section may use such grant for any of the following uses:
``(1) Target hardening activities, including physical
security enhancement equipment and inspection and screening
systems.
``(2) Fees for security training relating to physical
security and cybersecurity, target hardening, terrorism
awareness, and employee awareness.
``(3) Any other appropriate activity, including
cybersecurity resilience activities, as determined by the
Administrator.
``(d) Period of Performance.--The Administrator shall make
funds provided under this section available for use by a
recipient of a grant for a period of not less than 36 months.
``(e) Report.--The Administrator shall annually for each of
fiscal years 2018 through 2022 submit to the Committee on
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of
the Senate a report containing information on the expenditure
by each grant recipient of grant funds made under this
section.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to
carry out this section.
``(2) Specification.--Of the amounts authorized to be
appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1)--
``(A) $35,000,000 is authorized for eligible recipients
located in jurisdictions that receive funding under section
2003; and
``(B) $15,000,000 is authorized for eligible recipients in
jurisdictions not receiving funding under section 2003.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (a) of section 2002
of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 603) is
amended by striking ``sections 2003 and 2004'' and inserting
``sections 2003, 2004, and 2009''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 2008 the
following new item:
``Sec. 2009. Non-profit security grant program.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Donovan) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
[[Page H39]]
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
any extraneous material on the bill that is under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1486, the Securing American
Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2017. This bill
authorizes the Nonprofit Security Grant Program within the Department
of Homeland Security.
Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, this program
provides critical support to help protect at-risk nonprofit
institutions, including Jewish community centers, houses of worship,
and other cultural and community institutions, against threats and
attacks.
Security enhancements covered by the program include the installation
of cameras, physical barriers or controlled entry systems, along with
training for active-shooter scenarios.
Nonprofit organizations in my district have told me about the
positive impact this program has had on their security. In fact, the
Jewish Community Center of Staten Island recently received a $75,000
grant through this program for their facility located on Arthur Kill
Road in order to adequately respond to an increase in threats.
I have also led letters to appropriators advocating for $50 million
for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and was so glad to see that
the funding level was included in the Make America Secure and
Prosperous Appropriations Act, which passed the House last September.
The bill we are considering today further demonstrates our commitment
to the program by authorizing it for the first time. I was pleased to
work with the ranking member on this language as part of the DHS
Authorization Act that we approved this summer, and I am pleased to
once again support it today.
Nonprofit organizations provide vital services to our communities
every day. The program authorized by the bill we are considering here
today will help provide peace of mind that they will be secure as they
continue to serve their neighbors.
I urge all of my colleagues to join me in support of this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1486, the Securing American
Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2017.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1486 would authorize the Department of Homeland
Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which awards grants to
nonprofit organizations at risk of a terrorist attack, in statute.
Since early last year, nonprofit organizations throughout the United
States have experienced an uptick in threats, vandalism, and violent
acts. According to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents
jumped 67 percent from 2016 to the first three quarters of 2017. Many
nonprofit organizations, however, do not have the resources to make
their facilities more secure by installing proper surveillance,
hardening their facilities, and undergoing general preparedness
activities.
The need for nonprofit organizations across the country to have
access to the Homeland Security grants to bolster security is
substantial. Given the security challenges associated with the current
terrorist threat environment, it is important that this critical
Homeland Security grant program be codified in law.
This bill goes further than just codifying the existing program. It
expands it to include jurisdictions that are located outside funded
UASIs but are still at risk of terrorism.
H.R. 1486 authorizes the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at $50
million, a $25 million increase over its current funding level.
Language similar to this measure was included in the Department of
Homeland Security Authorization Act of 2017, which passed the House
earlier this Congress.
I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, with the emergence of lone wolves and small terrorist
cells, we have seen that acts of terror are not just limited to urban
areas. As threats to our homeland continue to evolve and as violent
extremists continue to exploit soft targets, the risk to nonprofit
organizations grows. We need to make sure that we do our part to ensure
that places of worship and other nonprofit organizations throughout the
country have access to resources necessary to keep themselves safe and
secure.
{time} 1315
H.R. 1486 was endorsed by The Jewish Federations of North America. I
appreciate its support.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the letter of support.
The Jewish Federations
of North America,
Washington, DC, December 7, 2017.
Hon. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman,
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member,
Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Daniel M. Donovan, Chairman,
Hon. Donald M. Payne, Jr., Ranking Member,
Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and
Communications, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairmen McCaul and Donovan and Ranking Members
Thompson and Payne: We commend you for scheduling the mark-up
of H.R. 1486, the Securing American Non-Profit Organizations
Against Terrorism Act of 2017. The Jewish Federations
strongly endorse this bill, and respectfully urge Members of
the Committee to adopt Ranking Member Thompson's amendment of
the bill in the nature of a substitute, in order to align it
with Sec. 2011 of House-passed H.R. 2825, the Department of
Homeland Security Authorization Act of 2017.
The vulnerability of places of worship to violent homegrown
extremists (HVEs) is a growing threat in the United States.
According to a joint assessment by the National
Counterterrorism Center, Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, HVEs are
increasingly favoring softer civilian targets, such as houses
of worship, having judged them to have lower levels of
security (and, for some, as a result of encouragement from
overseas violent extremists, such as ISIL).
Last month, the FBI released its annual hate crimes report
for 2016, which found that Muslim bias crimes increased ,
and, for the 20th consecutive year, anti-Jewish hate crimes
amounted to the majority of all religious bias crimes
reported. This year, synagogues, churches, mosques, religious
centers, cemeteries, and other nonprofits have been subjected
to arson/fire-bombing, shooting/mass shooting, attempted
bombing, death threats, robbery, vandalism/destruction of
property, hate-based/anti-Semitic graffiti, assault,
intimidation, and the targets of incitement to violence.
According to DHS, religious facilities share a number of
common vulnerabilities that make them ready targets of
attack, including unrestricted access to facilities and
contiguous and peripheral areas, easy identification,
predictable schedules, and large congregations of people. To
minimize these vulnerabilities, DHS recommends protective
measures that include, access controls, barriers, monitoring,
surveillance, and other physical target hardening and
preparedness investments, such as planning and training.
Unfortunately, DHS acknowledges that common vulnerabilities
also include the limited resources nonprofit institutions
have for security.
Passage of the amendment in the nature of a substitute to
H.R. 1486 would address the vulnerabilities of at-risk
nonprofit institutions, by authorizing a nonprofit security
grant program for the acquisition and installation of
physical target hardening, including fencing, bollards, and
other barriers; lighting, surveillance, and metal detection
equipment; blast proofing doors and windows; cyber-security;
and related employee training and awareness exercises.
For these reasons, JFNA strongly endorses H.R. 1486, and
respectfully urges Members of the Committee to adopt the bill
as amended.
Sincerely,
Robert B. Goldberg,
Senior Director, Legislative Affairs,
The Jewish Federations of North America.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support
H.R. 1486, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I, once again, urge my colleagues to
support H.R. 1486, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McCaul. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the cost estimate
from the Congressional Budget Office regarding H.R. 1486. The cost
estimate was not available at the time of the filing of the Committee
report.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
January 9, 2018, on page H39, the following copy was typeset in
Ionic font: Mr. MCCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I include . . . Committee
report.
The online version has been corrected to show the copy typeset
in Helvetica font.
========================= END NOTE =========================
[[Page H40]]
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, January 8, 2018.
Hon. Michael McCaul,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1486, the
Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism
Act of 2017.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Robert
Reese.
Sincerely,
Keith Hall.
Enclosure.
____
H.R. 1486--Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism
Act of 2017
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Homeland
Security on December 13, 2017
SUMMARY
H.R. 1486 would authorize the appropriation of $50 million
annually for fiscal years 2018 through 2022 for the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide grants to
certain nonprofit organizations to enhance security measures
aimed at guarding against terrorist attacks.
Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO
estimates implementing H.R. 1486 would cost $112 million over
the 2018-2022 period. Enacting the bill would not affect
direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1486 would not increase
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
H.R. 1486 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(UMRA).
ESTIMATED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
The estimated budgetary effect of H.R. 1486 is shown in the
following table. The costs of this legislation fall within
budget function 450 (community and regional development).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
------------------------------------------------------------
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2018-2022
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Authorization Level................................ 50 50 50 50 50 250
Estimated Outlays.................................. 4 11 21 33 43 112
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BASIS OF ESTIMATE
CBO assumes the bill will be enacted near the beginning of
calendar year 2018 and that the authorized amounts will be
appropriated each year. H.R. 1486 would authorize the
appropriation of $50 million in each of fiscal years 2018
through 2022 for FEMA to provide grants to nonprofit
organizations for improvements to physical security and
cybersecurity. (In 2017, FEMA allocated $25 million for such
grants.) Based on historical spending patterns for such
grants, CBO estimates implementing the bill would cost $112
million over the five year period and $138 million after
2022.
PAY-AS-YOU-GO CONSIDERATIONS
None.
INCREASE IN LONG-TERM DIRECT SPENDING AND DEFICITS
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1486 would not increase
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
MANDATES
H.R. 1486 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in UMRA.
ESTIMATE PREPARED BY
Federal Costs: Robert Reese; Mandates: Andrew Laughlin.
estimate approved by
H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget
Analysis.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Donovan) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1486, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________