Letters
He’s for the grant too!
I am writing in regards to the April 27 article “Beefing up security,” and would like to also express my strong support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA), Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).
Unfortunately, terrorist threats have been all too real for many community centers, synagogues, schools, and other community organizations across the country. Our nation was built on the foundation of religious tolerance, and although the perpetrator of recent anti-Semitic threats was apprehended, all manifestation of anti-Semitism and bigotry must end.
As chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations I have been a key advocate for this critical program which provides “target hardening” and other physical security enhancements to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack. Your article seems to imply a lack of support on my part for this important program when the only reason I did not sign the “Dear Colleague” letter alongside my New Jersey colleagues was because the letter was addressed to me!
I would add that Congress recently passed, and the President signed into law, my legislation, H.R. 244, the Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 which included a significant additional funding for the NSGP, in order to provide much-needed dollars to respond to rising incidents and threats of violence that have gripped New Jersey and the nation.
As a member of Congress who represents a synagogue and the JCC in West Orange that has been targeted, I contacted personally the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to urge him to expedite the release of this year’s Non-Profit Security Grant funding.
In the months ahead, I look forward to the working with the entire New Jersey delegation to ensure our communities and houses of worship have access to critical funds provided by the NSGP. In a larger sense, I hope we will be able to strive in a bipartisan way to eliminate all shameful episodes of anti-Semitism.
Rodney Frelinghuysen
Member of Congress (R-11th Dist.)
Whoops! More info on meeting
Thank you so much for your excellent coverage of our LGBTQ study group on May 23 (“Special challenges in aging,” May 12). The only thing is, the article doesn’t give details of when and where the talk is. Would it be possible to put it in next week’s calendar?
Elizabeth Halverstam
Vice president
Bergen County section,
National Council of Jewish Women
Editor’s note: We’re sorry! The study group is set for 1 p.m. on May 23 in Hackensack at the Shops at Riverside’s conference center lower level. For information, call (201) 385-4847 or go to www.ncjwbcs.org.
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