Blumenthal Calls for Dramatic Increase in Funding for Comprehensive Hate Crime Prevention

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Chairs and Ranking Members of its Subcommittees on Homeland Security and Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies calling for a dramatic increase in resources for programs that combat hate-based violence through security and prevention.

“Over the weekend, the global Jewish community was devastated by the horrifying terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Australia. This terrible tragedy is sadly not an anomaly and reflects a worldwide rise in antisemitism, extremist ideology, and hate-based violence,” Blumenthal wrote.

“That is why I urge you to show the Senate’s commitment to protecting our religious institutions and minority communities by dramatically increasing resources for programs that combat hate-based violence through security and prevention, including by appropriating no less than $1 billion to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), making significant investments to the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act (NO HATE Act), and reestablishing and fully funding the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Community Relations Service (CRS).”

The full text of today’s letter is copied below.

Dear Chair Collins, Vice Chair Murray, Chair Britt, Ranking Member Murphy, Chair Moran, and Ranking Member Van Hollen,

Over the weekend, the global Jewish community was devastated by the horrifying terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Australia. This terrible tragedy is sadly not an anomaly and reflects a worldwide rise in antisemitism, extremist ideology, and hate-based violence. As you are all aware, hate crimes remain at unconscionable levels here in the United States as well. In August, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released data for 2024 showing that nearly 14,000 people were victims of a hate crime.

That is why I urge you to show the Senate’s commitment to protecting our religious institutions and minority communities by dramatically increasing resources for programs that combat hate-based violence through security and prevention, including by appropriating no less than $1 billion to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), making significant investments to the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act (NO HATE Act), and reestablishing and fully funding the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Community Relations Service (CRS).

Houses of worship and religious and other non-profit institutions are targeted by perpetrators with disturbing frequency, which is why we must do everything in our power – including additional funding for NSGP – to protect these institutions and the members of their communities from violence, harassment, vandalism, and discrimination. Physical security enhancements, training and additional staff are of the utmost importance in that protection. The NSGP, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, provides for physical security enhancements and other activities to non-profit organizations at high risk of terrorist attack. The assistance provided by the NSGP directly helps local institutions in Connecticut and around the country. Earlier this year, I hosted a roundtable with advocates and faith leaders from the state of Connecticut to discuss the NSGP. During this event, Muslim and Jewish faith leaders shared the hate crimes they experienced and how this program has supported physical security investments. I also heard from other organizations within the community at risk of hate crimes about how their organizations or their members have benefited from the security enhancements provided by the NSGP.

But it is not enough to physically fortify houses of worship and other facilities against hate, we must also invest in law enforcement efforts to prevent these crimes from happening and expand assistance and resources for victims. In 2021, the NO HATE Act, a bill I championed with Senator Jerry Moran, was signed into law. The NO HATE Act promotes better hate crimes data collection and a more informed approach to hate crime prevention at the federal, state, and local levels. Critically, the legislation provides support to law enforcement agencies that: establish a policy on identifying, investigating and reporting hate crimes; train officers on how to identify hate crimes; collect hate crimes data; establish a hate crimes unit within their agencies; and engage in community relations to address hate crimes in their jurisdictions.

We also know that local communities are integral in peacebuilding amongst citizens and tampering hate. To best support them, I also urge you to support reconstituting DOJ’s CRS, which was established by law as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For more than sixty years, CRS provided mediation services to help communities heal after attacks on houses of worship and hate crimes, and peacebuilding to prevent future violence. CRS mediators were deployed to Selma after Bloody Sunday; to South Dakota when members of the American Indian Movement occupied the village of Wounded Knee; to Skokie following the Nazi march; and to communities across America experiencing less high-profile, but no less impactful, incidents of conflict or violence.

Thank you for your attention to this letter. I look forward to working with you to ensure Congress continues to robustly support and fund programs that combat hate-based violence.

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