Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Queens) blasted Congress for slashing security grants for religious non-profit institutions at a time when Jewish organizations in particular are increasingly vulnerable to attack, and inflammatory rhetoric against Israel has reached a fever pitch.

The Non-Profit Security Grant Program, which provides security funding for institutions that are classified as �high risk� by the Department of Homeland Security, saw its funding cut from $19 million to $10 million as part of a $1 billion cut to the Department of Homeland Security in last year�s budget. This year, funding will only support approximately 150 institutions, as opposed to last year, when 270 institutions received grants. According to an article in The Forward, 74% of the grant money went to protecting Jewish institutions.

�Jewish communities and institutions in New York live under a constant threat of terrorist attack � a threat that now looms even larger due to Congress� irresponsible decision to slash funding for the Non-Profit Security Grant Program,� Assemblyman Lancman said.

Assemblyman Lancman has made protecting non-profit organizations from terrorist attack a signature priority of his in the Assembly. Assemblyman Lancman�s �Non-Profit Homeland Security Preparedness Act� commissioned the New York State Office of Homeland Security to study and report on the security needs of non-profit institutions facing an increased threat of terrorist attacks. Assemblyman Lancman also was instrumental in secured grants for three synagogues in his Queens district: the Young Israel of Hillcrest, the Israel Center for Conservative Judaism, and Kehilat Sephardim of Kew Gardens Hills. Assemblyman Lancman also authored the �Freedom to Report Terrorism Act,� which insulates citizens who report reasonably suspicious behavior to the police from harassing lawsuits, and recently introduced a bill that would increase penalties on those convicted of vandalizing or stealing from a house of worship.

(YWN Desk – NYC)