[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8300-8301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02620]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2022-0059]


Faith Based Security Advisory Council

AGENCY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of 
Partnership and Engagement (OPE).

ACTION: Notice of new taskings for the Faith Based Security Advisory 
Council (FBSAC).

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SUMMARY: On January 24, 2023, the Secretary of DHS, Alejandro N. 
Mayorkas, tasked the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (FBSAC) to 
form three subcommittees further outlined below. This notice is not a 
solicitation for membership.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sameer Hossain, Designated Federal 
Officer, Faith-Based Security Advisory Council, Office of Partnership 
and Engagement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security at 
[email protected] or 202-891-2876.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FBSAC provides organizationally 
independent, strategic, timely, specific, and actionable advice to the 
Secretary through the Assistant Secretary for OPE, who serves as the 
DHS Faith-Based Organizations Security Coordinator on security and 
preparedness matters related to places of worship, faith communities, 
and faith-based organizations. The FBSAC serves strictly as an advisory 
body with the purpose of providing advice upon the request of the 
Secretary.
    The three subcommittees are as follows:

Subcommittee (1): Information Sharing

    A subcommittee to provide recommendations on how the Department can 
more efficiently and effectively share information to enhance the 
security and preparedness of places of worship, faith communities, and 
faith-based organizations.

Subcommittee (2): DHS Grants and Resources

    A subcommittee to provide recommendation on how the Department can 
most effectively and appropriately share resources that meet the needs 
of diverse faith-based organizations and communities, including 
remedying challenges to applying for DHS grants.

Subcommittee (3): Building Partnerships

    A subcommittee to provide recommendations on how the Department can 
build trust and resilience with faith community stakeholders.

Tasking (1): Information Sharing

    The Department must prioritize timely two-way sharing of threat and 
security-related information with faith-based organizations in order 
protect faith-based organizations and all members of the public.
    This subcommittee is tasked to provide recommendations:
    1. Regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department's 
information sharing and how the Department can enhance the security and 
preparedness of places of worship, faith communities, and faith-based 
organizations.
    2. For new information-sharing mechanisms, whether via existing 
information-sharing platforms or networks, or by creating a new process 
that will effectively communicate threat information and other relevant 
federal resources to faith communities of diverse backgrounds.

Tasking (2): DHS Grants and Resources

    Following the hostage situation at the Congregation Beth Israel 
synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, Secretary Mayorkas called for an 
increase in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). 
This program provides essential resources to help protect nonprofit 
organizations at risk of terrorist attacks.
    In Fiscal Year 2022, Congress provided $250 million for the NSGP, 
an increase of $70 million from the prior year. For Fiscal Year 2023, 
Congress increased the NSGP funding to $305 million, a 22% increase on 
Fiscal Year 2022. These increases allowed more nonprofit organizations 
across the nation to make physical security enhancements to help 
protect against attacks. These increases also enable DHS to expand 
participation in this critical program and increase our support to 
historically marginalized communities and Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities in an effort to build capacity and address an evolving 
threat environment. One of the Secretary's priorities is to ensure 
equity in all DHS grant awards.
    This FBSAC subcommittee is tasked to provide recommendations on:
    1. How the Department can most effectively and appropriately 
address challenges to applying for DHS grants for which faith-based 
organizations are eligible, as well as how best these grants can meet 
the needs of faith-based organizations.
    2. How the Department's existing resources can better meet the 
needs of diverse faith-based organizations and communities, in addition 
to providing grants.
    3. The development and implementation of specific best practices to 
prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of targeted 
violence or terrorism, major disasters, cyberattacks, or other threats 
or emergencies while preserving individual privacy and civil rights and 
civil liberties.

Tasking (3): Building Partnerships

    DHS is defined by its partnerships--not only with law enforcement, 
emergency responders, and our international partners, but also with the 
diverse communities we serve. To protect the homeland, we must have 
strong relationships with these communities and work in partnership to 
build strong, resilient communities.
    This subcommittee is tasked to provide recommendations on:
    1. How the Department can build trust with faith community 
stakeholders to better understand their concerns, including real or 
perceived threats from violent actors or groups.
    2. How the Department can empower local leaders to mobilize 
resources to mitigate and respond to threats.
    Schedule: The three subcommittees' findings and recommendations 
will be submitted to the FBSAC for its deliberation and vote during a 
public meeting. Once the recommendations from the three subcommittees 
are voted on by the FBSAC, they will be submitted to the Secretary. 
Each subcommittee will submit their findings and recommendations to the 
FBSAC in May 2023.


[[Page 8301]]


    Dated: February 2, 2023.
Nicole M. Rosich,
Alternate Designated Federal Officer, Faith-Based Security Advisory 
Council, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2023-02620 Filed 2-7-23; 8:45 am]
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