RALEIGH – Governor Roy Cooper and governors from 10 states have sent a letter urging Congress to quickly enact an increase in the supplemental appropriation for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). This funding ensures resources reach communities who need immediate assistance in the wake of increased threats in the Jewish and Muslim communities.
“Many houses of worship in North Carolina rely on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to protect their congregations, and I encourage Congress to pass more funding for this vital program during this time of increased threats,” said Governor Cooper. “The right to worship freely and without fear is fundamental to our country, and we are doing everything we can to protect that here in North Carolina.”
Read the letter here and in the full text below.
Dear Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and Leader Jeffries:
As Governors across the United States and territories, we are grateful for Congress’s continued support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), including the record $305 million allocated for the program in Fiscal Year 2023. We were also pleased to see a letter of support to the Senate Appropriations Committee from Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, Gary C. Peters, Jacky Rosen, and Christopher S. Murphy urging funding the program at $500 million for FY 2024; President Biden himself requesting an additional $200 million for the program above the $305 million for FY 2023 in his supplemental funding request, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting $1 billion in funding for the program just this week. In light of ongoing concerns within our states and territories, we write today to offer our support for swift consideration of a robust supplemental appropriation for the NSGP to ensure resources reach those in our communities who need immediate assistance.
The Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and escalating conflict have elevated concerns of potential security threats to Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and houses of worship across the United States and territories. As the war escalates, access to clear and consistent humanitarian aid is needed, and here at home, houses of worship and community centers of all faiths, races, and ethnicities will require greater resources to improve their security. As it is a primary funding source for nonprofits at increased risk of terrorist attack, making more resources available as soon as possible through the NSGP will be a critical step to helping ease the concerns of our shared constituents.
Domestic terrorism and hate crimes targeted at vulnerable communities are at historic highs. In August, a man wielding a swastika-emblazoned rifle killed three Black Americans at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida. In October, an Illinois man killed a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy and injured his mother, and the Justice Department is investigating the killing as a hate crime. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago as well, a man in Indiana was indicted for sending violent, antisemitic threats to four offices of the Anti-Defamation League, and a suspect was arrested in Michigan on suspicion of making a threat toward Palestinian Americans. These are not just anecdotes. The Washington Post reported on October 30 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is tracking this trend and ramping up proactive communications with community partners. On October 31, FBI Director Christpher Wray testified before the U.S. Senate that antisemitism in the U.S. is reaching “historic levels,” and urged vigilance.
But that vigilance comes at a cost, and we must ensure our constituencies who are threatened by violence have the robust supports they need to stay safe. We must secure the safety of our homeland, especially at its heart – where people gather to find comfort and identity in their faiths, cultures, and beliefs. We urge you to act swiftly to enact an increase to the NSGP in order to make additional grant funding available as soon as possible.
So the “I want to ban all guns” governor is calling in congress to provide more protection which will be in the form of armed security. Yup makes perfect sense… only supports guns when it’s convenient.
Biden is opening allowing terrorists through the southern border, who then link up with terror cells throughout the country. Right now, they’re just funneling and laundering money back to Hamas and Iran, but there may come a day when they take up arms. Wanna fix the terrorist threat in America? Stop voting for terror-sympathizing Democrats; the same ones that say white people are the real threat…but dont see white people beheading children unless you’re an abortion doctor.
@Brett: Bureua of Prisons reports that 87% of inmates in US are native-born. DOJ reports 72% of court cases involving US vs an individual were against native-born. FBI reports that 91% of mass shootings are by native-born and 81% of terrorists activities are native groups. But the sheeple keep yelling about the border. #hypocrites
What year are those statistics from? Probably before the border was opened.
@Vote: DOJ and BOP from 2022. FBi from 2021. FWIW, those numbers have been trending upwards foe the past 15 years. The vast, overwhelming majority of crimes are committed by navtive-born citizens. But keep baaaing with the rest of thr sheepele! #FactsNotFiction
Explain to me the history of the southern border opening and closing. Who opened it, who closed it, etc.
@tellthetruth Does that mean 13% of prison inmates are illegal immigrants, 28% of federal court cases are against illegal immigrants, 9% of mass shootings are committed by illegal immigrants, and 19% of terrorist activities are committed by illegal immigrants? I’m not so sure those statistics are conveying the message you think they are…
@Saywhat: No, not at all. It means that 13% of prison inmates are not native-born Americans. There’s lots more than just “illegal immigrants” — such as people who came legally on a visa, or asylum seekers, or folks who married a citizen, or were naturalized. The fact that you think anyone who isn’t a native-born citizen is an “illegal immigrant” is very telling (and sad).
The facts show that US-born citizens make up the VAST MAJORITY of crime in this country. But the sheeple would rather build a wall than address the real problem.
@tellthetruth Upon further research, according to the Cato Institute, it looks like legal and illegal immigrants are incarcerated at about the same rate, so those remaining percentages should be cut in half to represent illegal immigrants. It’s concerning that we are spending taxpayer money on imprisoning illegal immigrants, especially while we are running such a high deficit. Thank you for bringing this up!
That’s because the illegals are either sent back or let go. They don’t get the jail time native born citizens do.
In this country, we don’t arrest people for thought crimes yet…so your point is moot. They haven’t carried out their plans yet.
Under 14 months and counting…
…until they fake in ((((Stein)))) into the governor spot.