June 11, 2019

Correa Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Help Protect Synagogues, Churches, and Mosques From Terrorist Attacks

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Lou Correa’s (D-CA-46) released the following statement following the passage of H.R. 2476, the Securing American Nonprofit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019 which provides necessary Federal support to protect the safety of nonprofits at risk of terrorism, including synagogues, mosques, churches, and other places of worship.

Since the deadly attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, Congressman Correa has advocated for action to curb the spread white supremacist terrorism, America’s most prolific domestic threat. The Congress spoke out following the attack at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburg, and Chabad of Poway in Poway California. Additionally, he has taken numerous steps to address the violence perpetrated by white nationalists, including calling for hearings and Congressional oversight, sending letters to Administration officials empowered to address domestic terror threats, and most recently, joining his constituents in discussing strategies to secure local houses of worship.

Rep. Lou Correa said, “I want to thank my colleague, Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) for introducing this critical legislation. After numerous deadly attacks carried out white supremacists, it is now more important than ever to assist our communities with lifesaving security assistance.

“Across our country, Americans are fearful of walking into their houses of worship. I am proud to support H.R. 2476 and to help bring peace and safety back to our communities. We must do everything we can to ensure our synagogues, mosques, churches, and other places of worship are safe for everyone who enters them.”

BACKGROUND: H.R. 2476, the Securing American Nonprofit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019, would authorize a security grant program within the Department of Homeland Security for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations that are at risk of a terrorist attack.

This grant funding would assist targeted organizations with costs related to:

  • acquiring and installing security equipment;

  • hiring security personnel;

  • and security training for key personnel to prevent or protect against attacks. In recent years, there has been an increase in violence and threats of violence against nonprofit institutions.

On April 27, a gunman opened fire on congregants at a Passover celebration in a California synagogue, killing one person and injuring three others. Other noteworthy attacks against innocent people in houses of worship include the April 21 coordinated terrorist attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that killed more than 250 people and injured more than 500 people; the March 15 deadly New Zealand mosque shootings, where 50 people were killed; the 2018 Pittsburgh “Tree of Life” synagogue shooting, where 11 people were killed; the 2017 Sutherland Springs, Texas church shooting, where 26 people killed; the 2015 Charleston, South Carolina church shooting, where nine people were killed; and the 2012 shooting at a Sikh Temple in Milwaukee, WI.

The bill text of H.R. 2476 can be found here.

The fact sheet for H.R. 2476 can be found here. 

Rep. Lou Correa represents California’s 46th Congressional District. He serves as Chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, and as the Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. Read more here.