August 5, 2004 | Read Time: 2 minutes
A Senate panel has approved legislation to authorize the federal government to spend up to $100-million a year to improve security at nonprofit-owned buildings that are determined to be at increased risk for a terrorist attack, including churches and synagogues.
The bill, the High Risk Nonprofit Security Enhancement Act of 2004 (S. 2275), would help nonprofit groups build concrete barriers and reinforce windows and doors, among other measures.
“I want to make sure that our communities are protected and the buildings where citizens live, learn, and work are as secure as possible to safeguard American lives from a potential terrorist attack,” said Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland, who introduced the measure.
To qualify for aid, groups would need to show that they had been threatened by an international terrorist organization, that similar groups had been attacked, that their sites are widely recognized as symbols of American history or culture that would make them more likely to be a target of an attack, or that they have a specific role in responding to attacks.
“We firmly believe that there is a compelling public interest in protecting high-risk nonprofit institutions from terrorist attacks that would disrupt the health, social, religious, and educational services they provide to the American people,” said Robert Goldberg, chairman of United Jewish Communities, which is lobbying in support of the measure. Other supporters of the legislation include the American Red Cross, United Way of America, and the American Hospital Association.
Critics of the bill, such as the Anti-Defamation League, say it would open the door to increased government support of religious organizations. While Jewish institutions have a need for security, the government should not be involved in their financing, the league said.
Supporters counter that the bill would not directly support religious groups because it delivers the money to contractors who would install the security measures.
A similar measure (H.R. 4108) has been introduced in the House by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York.
