Rep. Demings Announces New Security Grant Funding for Florida

Orlando, FL: Today Rep. Val Demings (FL-10) announced $61.6 million in new Homeland Security grant funding for Florida. Funding will help to secure Florida's ports, airports, transit, borders, communities, and community centers, places of worship, and other nonprofits that have faced violent threats. As Chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, Rep. Demings oversees FEMA, which administers the grant programs.

Rep. Demings has championed these programs in Congress, leading efforts to restoreOrlando to the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), strengthen the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and secure our borders and ports of entry (ports, airports, and border crossings).

Said Rep. Demings, "I am proud to announce this new funding to protect our communities, secure our ports and borders, and keep our families safe. The safety and security of every American is my top priority. My bill to support the Urban Area Security Initiative and Nonprofit Security Grant Program is critical for Florida's synagogues, community centers, and first responders and will help ensure stable funding levels for anti-terror programs.

"As a former law enforcement officer who used UASI funding, this program has been one of my top priorities since arriving in Congress and I am proud of the work we have done to restoreOrlando to the list and ensure that our first responders have what they need to do their jobs.

"Throughout my time in Congress, I have consistently advocated for increased funding for this critical program. With ongoing threats and violence against faith-based communities, we must continue to invest in their security."

Rep. Demings is leading new legislation to support the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and its parent grant program, the Urban Area Security Initiative. Her legislation previously passedthe House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote and has passedcommittee in the Senate. In February, she chaireda Homeland Security joint subcommittee hearingon the program following the antisemitic terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.

Major Grant Announcements:

• State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP): $9.34 million for Florida
  • This program supports state, local, tribal, and territorial terrorism prevention programs, programs to counter domestic violent extremism and cyberattacks, and support for local law enforcement.
• Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI): $22.35 for Florida
  • $3.8 million for Orlando
  • This program supports major urban areas with terrorism prevention programs, including support for local law enforcement.
• Operation Stonegarden (OPSG): $2.75 million for Florida
  • This program supports law enforcement coordination to secure the United States' borders, including coasts.
• Port Security Grant Program: $12.17 million for Florida.
  • $1,941,285 for Port Canaveral
  • This program protects critical port infrastructure from terrorism and other threats.
• Emergency Operations Center Grant Program: $1.75 million for two projects in Florida
  • This program supports emergency operations facilities at the state and local levels, which are critical to coordinate responses during emergencies.
• Nonprofit Security Grant Program: $12.97 million for Florida
  • This program protects community centers, places of worship, and other nonprofits that have faced violent threats. Two synagogues in Orlando were funded this year, along with 82 other organizations in Florida.

Wrote Rep. Demings in a January op-ed for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "During my 27 years as a law enforcement officer, nothing was more important to me than stopping violent crimes…After yet another recent terrorist attack on a Jewish community in Texas, it is critical for federal leaders to step up and defend the safety of our fellow Americans…We can reject antisemitism and hate. We can give Jewish organizations, and all Americans, the security and safety that they need to be free from fear and from violence. And we can continue to build America into a land of justice for all, where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are never harmed by who you are, where you come from or how you worship."

Rabbi Yosef Konikov of Chabad of South Orlandotestifiedduring Rep. Demings' February hearing on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. He called for strengthening the program, saying, "The NSGP grant is an amazing program, but it is a very competitive grant."The Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act is bipartisan legislation introduced with Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02). This legislation would direct the Department of Homeland Security to review past disbursements under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), then to create a plan to continue federal anti-terrorism support for UASI-funded homeland security capabilities that keep people safe in these communities. Rep. Demings is a former 27-year law enforcement officer and Orlando, Florida Chief of Police. BILL TEXT// FACT SHEET

Said Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, "This important program assists high-threat, high-density urban areas in efforts to build and sustain the capabilities necessary to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism…By directing DHS to submit a plan on how to make Federal assistance available to former UASI jurisdictions, which your legislation does, will undoubtedly save lives and prevent future acts of terrorism. On behalf of the more than 364,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I am proud to offer our support for this legislation."Said Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian, President of the Major County Sheriffs of America, "Major County Sheriffs of America is proud to support the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act. Protecting our communities is a fundamental responsibility shared among local, state, federal, and tribal governments and the private sector. The FEMA preparedness grant programs, including the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), are cornerstones of the DHS mission to help build capacity among those partners. Our citizens and our partners cannot afford for us to develop preparedness and prevention capabilities and then let them wither for lack of resources. This legislation will help ensure sustainment of critical capabilities and enable DHS to further its capacity building mission in partnership with Sheriffs and other stakeholders around the country."

The Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act is endorsed by the Major Cities Chiefs Association, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, The United States Conference of Mayors, The National Fusion Center Association, Major County Sheriffs Association, and the Fraternal Order of Police.

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