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April 1, 2004
Union
of Orthodox Jewish Congregations
of America
Calls on Congress to
Help Secure America’s At-Risk Non-Profits Against Terrorist
Attacks
This morning, at a Capitol
Hill press conference, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations
of America – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella
organization representing nearly 1,000 synagogues – joined with a
coalition of America’s leading non-profit organizations and
members of the U.S. Congress in support of new legislation which
would provide financial aid to non-profit institutions at risk of
terrorist attack. The risk to such institutions since 9/11 is
clear. CIA Director George Tenet and FBI Director Robert Mueller
have publicly stated that al Qaeda has turned its focus to “soft
targets” such as schools, universities and houses of worship. Al
Qaeda’s willingness to assault targets of all types has been made
clear with attacks around the globe. Of particular concern to the
UOJCA, are the deadly attacks upon synagogues which have been
perpetrated in Istanbul and Tunisia.
In the wake of these threats, synagogues, along with other
important non-profit institutions in America, have sought to
upgrade their physical security. Some non-profits have already
undertaken steps in this direction, but for many non-profits the
cost of security upgrades has deferred action. Thus, over the last
several months, the UOJCA has worked very closely with a coalition
of non-profit groups, led by United Jewish Communities, to develop
this legislative proposal.
The proposed “High-Risk
Non-Profit Security Enhancement Act of 2004” – introduced today by
legislators including Senators Arlen Specter (R-Pa) and Barbara
Mikulski (D-Md) and Representatives George Nethercutt (R-Wa),
Chris Shays (R-Ct), Elliot Engel (D-NY) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
-- will create a $100 million fund within the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (“DHS”) from which DHS will pay for physical
security upgrades for non-profit institutions determined, by
objective criteria, to be at risk from terrorist threat. The
proposal would also create a system of loan guarantees for such
projects, for when the initial funds are spent, as well as
allocate $50 million for grants to local police agencies toward
their efforts to secure at-risk non-profits.
In connection with the legislation’s introduction, UOJCA President
Harvey Blitz stated:
There is great concern in
the American synagogue community that the heinous attacks we have
witnessed overseas could, God forbid, be perpetrated here. We very
much appreciate the willingness of senators and representatives to
help us improve the security of our community institutions and, we
pray, prevent such attacks.
Noting that some voices
have raised concerns about the legislation’s making public funds
available to religious institutions such as synagogues and
parochial schools if deemed at-risk, UOJCA director of public
policy, Nathan Diament, stated:
Concerns about ‘separation
of church and state’ in this context are misguided as this
legislation is structured in a manner which goes far beyond what
is legally necessary to permit the government to fund the physical
protection of its citizens.
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