U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), New York’s senior appropriator on the House Appropriations Committee which funds the programs and projects of the federal government, announced last Friday that she helped secure funding for several initiatives crucial to Israel and the Jewish community.
This funding is money that was included in the new government spending package, which was recently approved by Congress and signed into law by President Biden. They include:
An unprecedented $250 million for the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, an increase over the record-breaking $180 million that Meng helped obtain last year.
This $70 million boost in funding will ensure that more facilities are awarded money from this crucial initiative, which provides houses of worship and nonprofit organizations with federal grants to improve the safety and security of their properties. The money, which helps guard against threats and attacks, can be spent on target-hardening and other physical security enhancements such as barriers, gates, safety gear, surveillance equipment, and other safety measures.
$3.3 billion in security assistance to Israel, as expected under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the U.S. and Israel in 2016.
$500 million for U.S.-Israel missile defense programs.
Under the funding, $200 million will be used for:
Continued co-production and procurement of Iron Dome system components;
Continued co-production and procurement of David’s Sling system components; and
Continued co-production and procurement of Arrow-3 system components.
$300 million will be used for:
Development of block upgrades for David’s Sling, which includes extending the system’s range, improving its seeker capabilities, and addressing cruise missile threats.
The Arrow System Improvement Program (ASIP) to support completion of upgrades and related enhancements to ensure system survivability, Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 launcher integration, and interoperability with U.S. systems.
An additional $1 billion in funding for Iron Dome, to replenish missile interceptors that were used to protect Israeli civilians from Hamas rockets during heavy fighting in May of last year.
$6 million for the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program, which provides care and services to Holocaust survivors in the United States.
$50 million for the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace, which seeks to advance peaceful co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians to enable a sustainable two-state solution.
Enactment of the Israel Relations Normalization Act, of which Congresswoman Meng was a co-sponsor. This bill seeks to support and expand the normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
“From continuing to ensure the safety and security of Israel to protecting Jewish facilities amid the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States and around the world, I remain committed to fighting for issues and initiatives important to the Jewish community,” said Meng, Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. “I am proud to lead on many of these critical priorities and will continue to do so. I thank all who supported these crucial programs and initiatives, and look forward to obtaining more funding in the years ahead.”
All of the above funding is for fiscal year 2022.
