For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today delivered remarks at the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) National Leadership Conference—underscoring the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) partnerships with faith-based communities and organizations to address threats and help keep communities safe. Secretary Napolitano was also presented with the William & Naomi Gorowitz Institute Service Award by the ADL, which recognizes outstanding achievements in combating terrorism, extremism and injustice.
“Local communities and organizations are an important part of our efforts to counter violent extremism and keep communities safe,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Nonprofit organizations, such as the ADL, help in this effort by providing invaluable training to thousands of local law enforcement officers on how to identify early signs of violent extremism.”
During her remarks, Secretary Napolitano underscored the Department’s efforts to collaborate on security efforts with Israel, through initiatives such as the Container Security Initiative, which identifies and screens high-risk cargo before it enters the U.S. in more than 50 seaports throughout the world, and other collaborative efforts to combat illicit finance and bulk cash smuggling, and transnational crimes.
In FY 2012, DHS sustained funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program in order to support target hardening and physical security enhancements at nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack. For the first time, FEMA also made nonprofit organizations eligible for Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA) funding in the FY 2012 grant guidance. Through this funding, DHS encourages states, urban areas, and regions to work closely with the nonprofit community to address terrorism prevention concerns and the needs of the nonprofit sector.
Last week, Secretary Napolitano met with New York Jewish community leaders from the UJA-Federation at the White House, where she highlighted the Department’s efforts to support faith-based communities through DHS grants and information sharing, including collaboration through the Faith Based Task Force under the Homeland Security Advisory Council.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.
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