Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - 3/24/2025… This week, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) joined Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), and Max Miller (OH-07) to lead a group of 78 other colleagues in a letter urging the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to reverse its decision to pause the drawdown of federal grant funding that includes the vital Nonprofit Security Grant Program. 

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides critical funding to nonprofits at high risk of a terrorist attack, specifically faith-based institutions, and houses of worship, to enhance their physical security and provide access to training to protect communities from the growing threat of hate and violence.

“The Administration has made clear its goal to protect Americans from terrorist threats both foreign and domestic, as well as to respond to the rise in hate crimes. Supporting the NSGP is critical to fulfilling that goal. The program has long enjoyed bipartisan support, with lawmakers across the political spectrum recognizing that protecting places of worship and community institutions is not a partisan issue,” wrote the lawmakers.

“At a time when hate and violence against faith-based communities across this country are at historic levels, the NSGP has provided life-saving funding to protect faith-based communities and institutions,” the lawmakers wrote to FEMA Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton. “From bollards to prevent vehicular attacks, reinforced doors to keep intruders out, CCTV cameras to monitor threats, and emergency alert systems that allow rapid response, the NSGP has ensured faith-based institutions are equipped with vital tools to prevent loss of life in the case of an attack. It is critical that those institutions that have already been awarded an NSGP grant are allocated the expected funding.”

“The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is a lifeline for vulnerable institutions, and ensuring the swift and efficient disbursement of these funds is essential to safeguarding communities in the face of growing threats,” said Lauren Wolman, Anti-Defamation League (ADL)’s Director of Federal Policy and Strategy. “We thank Representatives Gottheimer and Lawler for leading this bipartisan effort to ensure that as the Administration enhances oversight of FEMA grants, they remain acutely aware of the unprecedented levels of antisemitism and heightened security needs of at-risk communities."

Other Members who signed the letter include: Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Don Bacon (NE-02), Becca Balint (VT-At large), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), André Carson (IN-07), Sean Casten (IL-06), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Lou Correa (CA-46), Donald Davis (NC-01), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Laura Gillen (NY-04), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Jennifer Kiggans (VA-02), Greg Landsman (OH-01), John Larson (CT-01), Susie Lee (NV-03), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Grace Meng (NY-6), Joseph Morelle (NY-25),  Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Norton Holmes (DC-At large), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Scott Peters (CA-50), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), George Whitesides (CA-27), Nikema Williams (GA-5), Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.

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The full letter can be found HERE.