[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 96 (Monday, June 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4365-H4367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SECURING AMERICAN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AGAINST TERRORISM ACT OF 2019

  Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2476) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
provide funding to secure nonprofit facilities from terrorist attacks, 
and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2476

       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 Nonprofit 
     Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. NONPROFIT 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. NONPROFIT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the 
     Department a program to be known as the `Nonprofit 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 2020 through 2024 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 
     $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to 
     carry out this section.
       ``(2) Specification.--Of the amounts authorized to be 
     appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1)--
       ``(A) $50,000,000 is authorized for eligible recipients 
     located in jurisdictions that receive funding under section 
     2003; and
       ``(B) $25,000,000 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. Nonprofit security grant program.''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Miss Rice) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Crenshaw) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 2476, the Securing 
American

[[Page H4366]]

Nonprofit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019.
  H.R. 2476 would authorize the Department of Homeland Security's 
Nonprofit Security Grant Program. This important grant program makes 
funding available to nonprofit organizations that are at risk of a 
terrorist attack.
  Recently, nonprofit and religious organizations throughout the United 
States and abroad have experienced an alarming increase in violence and 
threats of violence. This year alone has been particularly tragic.
  Consider, for example, the April 27 shooting in Poway, California, 
where a gunman opened fire on congregants at a Passover celebration.
  Other such attacks include the April 21 coordinated terrorist attack 
on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that killed nearly 250 people and 
injured more than 500 others. And the March 15 shooting at a mosque in 
New Zealand where 50 people were killed.
  This past April, we also saw the burning of three churches in 
Louisiana, which we later learned were motivated by hate.
  Unfortunately, however, targeting houses of worship is not a new 
phenomenon. There was the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in 
Pittsburgh where 11 people were killed; the 2017 shooting at a church 
in Sutherland Springs, Texas, where 26 people were killed; and the 2012 
shooting at a Sikh temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
  These attacks amplify the dire need that religious institutions and 
other nonprofit organizations have for effective security resources. 
They need these resources to keep themselves safe.
  H.R. 2476 would also allow these grants to be made available to all 
at-risk facilities, regardless of where they are located.
  The bill authorizes the program at $75 million, with $50 million 
reserved for nonprofit institutions located within the UASI areas, the 
Urban Area Security Initiative areas, and $25 million reserved for 
institutions located outside of UASI jurisdictions.
  The goal of DHS is to keep Americans safe across this country. This 
bill is a critical part of that goal. It would help ensure that 
nonprofits and places of worship across the country are protected and 
that congregants have the peace of mind they deserve.
  I think we can all agree that protecting our communities from 
terrorist attacks should never be a partisan issue, and that is why the 
roster of 104 cosponsors for this legislation is large and diverse, 
with strong representation by Democrats and Republicans, myself 
included.
  The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is one of the most sought-after 
grant programs for nonprofit organizations in my district, and I am 
grateful that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have 
demonstrated such strong support for the program.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2476, the Securing 
American Nonprofit Organizations Act of 2019.
  The Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides critical funding to 
harden security at houses of worship, community centers, schools, and 
other cultural institutions located in Urban Area Security Initiative, 
or UASI, regions.
  This legislation expands the grant program so eligible entities not 
within UASI regions can also apply. These grants are used for target-
hardening activities and physical security upgrades as well as for 
necessary security training.
  The unfortunate reality is that threats to religious institutions and 
other soft targets are not going away and, in fact, are increasing at 
an alarming rate.
  There have been a number of attacks, both overseas and in the United 
States, at places of worship. It is a stark reminder of the continued 
threat.
  The Nonprofit Security Grant Program assists the most at-risk 
organizations in hardening their defenses, while allowing them to 
remain focused on providing services and counsel in their communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to 
do so. I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, as the threats to our homeland 
continue to evolve, we must be prepared to face the new and emerging 
challenges they present.
  H.R. 2476 would authorize DHS to continue assisting nonprofit 
organizations across the country with protecting their members and 
their buildings.
  A version of this bill passed the House by a voice vote in the last 
Congress, and I hope my colleagues will do the same again today.
  H.R. 2476 was also endorsed by the Jewish Federations of North 
America. I truly appreciate their partnership and collaboration around 
this critical Homeland Security program, and I include in the Record 
their letter of support.
                                            The Jewish Federations


                                             of North America,

                                                      May 9, 2019.
     Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of 
         Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Michael Dennis Rogers,
     Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Rogers: We 
     commend you for scheduling the mark-up of H.R. 2476, the 
     ``Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against 
     Terrorism Act of 2019'', and respectfully urge Members of the 
     Committee to support the bill.
       On April 27, 2019, white supremacist John Earnest allegedly 
     entered the Chabad of Poway synagogue, near San Diego, CA, 
     during Passover services, and murdered Lori Kaye, 60, and 
     attempted to murder Noya Dahan, 8, Almog Peretz, 34, and 
     Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, 57. On October 27, 2018, white 
     supremacist Robert D. Bowers allegedly entered the Tree of 
     Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA, during Sabbath services, 
     and murdered 11 congregants and wounded six others, including 
     four police officers. In the months between these deadly 
     attacks, the FBI has brought charges against would-be 
     terrorists and violent homegrown extremists for plots and 
     threats against synagogues, Jewish community centers, 
     mosques, Islamic centers, and churches located in Washington, 
     DC, New York, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, 
     Florida, Ohio, Texas, Kansas, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
       Over the past year, the FBI has investigated more than 100 
     threats to religious institutions. As recently as January 
     2019, the Federal Government released a Joint Intelligence 
     Bulletin that assesses that domestic actors will continue to 
     pose a lethal threat to faith-based communities in the 
     Homeland. The JIB advises government counterterrorism and law 
     enforcement officials and private sector security partners 
     responsible for securing faith-based communities to remain 
     vigilant in light of the enduring threat to faith-based 
     communities posed by US-based threat actors and homegrown 
     violent extremists. The JIB also warns of the difficulty in 
     detecting domestic terrorists and extremists because of the 
     individualized nature of their radicalization to violence. 
     (Source: Joint Intelligence Bulletin IA-32337-19, February 
     22, 2019)
       In previous reports, the Department of Homeland Security 
     has found that faith-based organizations are at particular 
     risk of attack because of the significant number of people of 
     like faith that gather together in a single symbolic location 
     at specified times; the organizations typically have 
     unrestricted access to their religious services and 
     peripheral areas such as their parking areas and education 
     facilities; and because these organizations most likely have 
     limited resources for security as nonprofit institutions. As 
     ``soft targets'', DHS has further assessed that these 
     organizations are particularly vulnerable to bombing, arson 
     attack, small arms attack, assassination and kidnapping, and 
     chemical/biological/radiological attack. To counter these 
     threats and vulnerabilities, DHS recommends that faith-based 
     organizations take a number of key protective measures 
     against threats and to mitigate the effects of an attack, 
     including: installation of target hardening equipment, 
     engaging in planning and preparedness activities and the 
     acquisition of security personnel.
       Recognizing that many nonprofits do not have the financial 
     resources to implement extensive security measures, the 
     ``Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against 
     Terrorism Act of 2019'' provides critical support for 
     security related activities to nonprofit organizations at 
     risk of a terrorist attack that are recommended by the 
     Department of Homeland Security. These include support for:
       Physical Security Enhancements, such as access controls, 
     blast proofing, surveillance, fencing and bollards;
       Security Training of employees and organization members and 
     volunteers;
       Exercises, such as those that validate plans and 
     procedures, evaluate capabilities, and assess progress toward 
     meeting capability targets;
       Planning, such as the development and enhancement of 
     security plans and protocols, emergency contingency plans, or 
     evacuation/shelter-in-place plans; and
       Contracting of Security Personnel and off-duty police 
     officers.

[[Page H4367]]

       In consideration of the substantial threats and attacks to 
     nonprofit institutions by domestic and foreign terrorists and 
     violent homegrown extremists, the vulnerability of nonprofits 
     to destruction, incapacitation, or exploitation from a 
     terrorist attack, and the challenges nonprofits face in 
     providing for needed investments in target hardening and 
     related preparedness activities, The Jewish Federations 
     respectfully urges the Members of the Committee to support 
     the ``Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against 
     Terrorism Act of 2019'' at markup.
           Sincerely,
                                               Robert B. Goldberg,
                             Senior Director, Legislative Affairs.

  Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my 
colleagues to support H.R. 2476, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2476 would, for the 
first time, formally authorize the Department of Homeland Security's 
Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
  This important grant program makes funding available to nonprofit 
organizations that are at risk of a terrorist attack.
  Increasingly, nonprofit organizations throughout the United States 
and abroad have experienced an alarming increase in violence and 
threats of violence.
  In just the first six months of 2019, the level of bloodshed in 
places of worship have shocked the world.
  In addition to the April 27th shooting, where a gunman opened fire on 
congregants at a Passover celebration at a California synagogue, there 
was the April 21st coordinated terrorist attack on churches and hotels 
in Sri Lanka that killed nearly 250 people and the March 15th live-
streamed mass shooting at a mosque in New Zealand, where 50 people were 
killed.
  The horror of these attacks was compounded by the three church 
burnings in Louisiana in April.
  Prior to this year, there were the 2018 ``Tree of Life'' synagogue 
shooting in Pittsburgh, where 11 people were killed; the 2017 
Sutherland Springs, Texas church shooting, where 26 people were killed; 
and the 2012 shooting at a Sikh Temple in Milwaukee.
  These attacks amplify the need for religious and other nonprofit 
organizations to have access to resources to keep themselves safe from 
bad actors.
  Enactment of H.R. 2476 will help non-profits and places of worship 
take steps to be safer.
  I introduced this legislation to authorize $75 million in grants with 
Representatives Peter King (R-NY), Max Rose (D-NY), Steve Stivers (R-
OH), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), and Troy Balderson (R-OH) in early May and, 
to date, it has over 100 Democrats and Republicans.
  H.R. 2476 was endorsed by The Jewish Federations of North America.
  I truly appreciate their support and commitment to this vital 
homeland security program.
  Prospects for enactment of this legislation are good, as a bipartisan 
companion bill has been introduced.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 2476.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2476, 
the ``Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism Act 
of 2019.''
  H.R. 2476 reauthorizes the Department of Homeland Security's 
Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).
  The bill would fund the NSGP at $75 million through fiscal year 2024; 
where $50 million would be reserved for nonprofit institutions located 
within UASI jurisdictions, and $25 million would be reserved for 
nonprofit institutions located outside of UASI jurisdictions.
  This bill is caused by the recent increase in violence and threats of 
violence against nonprofit institutions.
  Examples of such violence against nonprofit organizations include:
  April 27--attack on the Poway synagogue that killed 11 April 21--a 
coordinated terrorist attack on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that 
killed nearly 250 people and injured more than 500 people.
  March 15--the deadly New Zealand mosque shootings, where 5o people 
were killed.
  It is critical that we better understand the seriousness of such 
violent crimes as they impact not only the victims, but also their 
families, communities, and the generations of people to come.
  This bill will allow the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to--Target 
activities, including physical security enhancement equipment, 
inspection and the screening systems.
  Pay for security training relating to physical security and 
cybersecurity, target hardening, terrorism awareness, and employee 
awareness.
  Along with, any other appropriate activity, including cybersecurity 
resilience activities, as determined by the Administrator.
  When enacted, H.R. 2476 will create a better understanding on how we 
can manage and prevent terrorist acts towards non-profit organizations 
by targeting activities and increasing security training.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2476 
to confront such violence against nonprofit institutions, which pose as 
a strong threat to the citizens of the United States.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2476.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________