JFNA Praises Congress for Boosting Security for Faith-based Groups

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), which has led advocacy efforts for the Securing American Nonprofit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019, has praised Congress for passing it on January 9, saying, however, that much more needs to be done. HR 2476 strengthens federal support for security and preparedness investments at faith-based and other at-risk nonprofit institutions by ensuring the continuation of a federal grant program. Mark Wilf, chair of the JFNA Board of Trustees, and Eric Fingerhut, JFNA president and CEO said: “We have seen an unprecedented wave of violent anti-Semitic attacks across the country and the sense of threat is universal. We are fortunate to partner with a group of bi-partisan leaders in Congress that have taken decisive action to protect American citizens in their houses of worship and community centers, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-MI), Peter King (R-NY), Senate Minority Leader [Charles] Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI).”