The U.S. senator who pushed for funds for nonprofits’ security slammed the Bush administration for excluding the item from the budget.
In a statement released hours after President Bush released his proposed $3 trillion budget for 2009 on Monday, Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) denounced his “continued failure to provide federal funding to help protect high-risk nonprofit institutions from terrorist attacks.”
Mikulski has led efforts to funnel funds to at-risk non-profits; most of the money budgeted so far has gone to Jewish groups. Congress has budgeted $65 million through the Homeland Security Department for protections since 2005.
Separately, United Jewish Communities announced on Feb. 1 that the Department of Homeland Security had opened up applications for the $15 million allocated for 2008.
“Non-profit organizations located in DHS-designated high threat areas are eligible to apply for grants to acquire and install physical security enhancements intended to deter and detect terrorists and extremists, such as blast proof windows, bollards, reinforced doors, locks, gates, and fences, video surveillance, and other equipment and enhancements approved by DHS,” said the statement from UJC, one of several Jewish groups that lobbied for the funds.
