Mikulski Announces $20 Million to Protect High-Risk Non-Profits From Terrorist Attacks
“My promises made to our nation’s high-risk non-profits will be promises kept.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced that the fiscal year 2009 Homeland Security spending bill includes $20 million in federal funding to help protect high-risk non-profit institutions from terrorist attacks.
“This funding is an important victory for the hospitals, schools, community centers, synagogues and churches that need protection from terrorist violence. This is a federal investment in added security to help protect organizations at risk,” said Senator Mikulski. “I have fought for these funds in the past, and I will keep fighting to protect institutions that are vital to our communities and the physical, social, spiritual and educational well-being of all Americans.”
The federal funding goes to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness to distribute to high-risk non-profit organizations. The non-profits have used past federal funds for much-needed security enhancements, such as concrete barriers.
Senator Mikulski fights each year to provide this critical funding, despite a chronic lack of support from the Bush administration. Last year, the Senator secured $15 million in funding for fiscal year 2008 to protect high-risk non-profit institutions from terrorist attacks. This year, for the fourth year in a row, Bush’s budget proposal provides zero funding for high-risk non-profits, which are often soft targets of terrorism.
“While President Bush continues to spend billions of dollars a week in Iraq, his budget leaves our domestic priorities behind,” said Senator Mikulski. “Many of our nation’s non-profit organizations are on the frontlines working hard to develop and nurture communities. They should know that I will continue to work hard for them.”
The spending bill was approved by the full Appropriations Committee this afternoon. In the next step of the appropriations process, the bill will move to the Senate floor for a vote, which has not yet been scheduled.
