Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $123 Million in Federal Funding for Emergency Preparedness in Illinois

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release:

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced more than $123 million in federal funding to improve emergency preparedness across Illinois. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded state and local authorities, transportation agencies, and port facility operators in Illinois preparedness grants totaling $123,916,337 to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism and other hazards.

"The federal government plays a critical role in providing states the resources they need to keep citizens safe from threats. Illinois will be better prepared for acts of terrorism, hate, and other kinds of violence because of today's federal funding," Durbin said. "However, while I am pleased to see several Illinois synagogues received crucial security funding, I am disappointed the Trump Administration did not award grants to Illinois institutions representing other vulnerable religious minorities like Muslim and Sikh Americans, and hope that this will be remedied in the future."

"When an emergency situation strikes, it is essential that local communities across our state are adequately prepared to successfully manage the situation," said Duckworth. "I'm proud to support grants like these that make sure these communities have the resources necessary to strengthen their emergency preparation capabilities and keep people safe."

Under this announcement, the State of Illinois was awarded the following grants:

- State Homeland Security Program: $15,712,000 to support the implementation of state homeland security strategies to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events;

- Urban Area Security Initiative Grant: $68,000,000 to improve capacity to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism in Chicago;

- Emergency Management Performance Grant: $10,714,815 to assist in preparing for all hazards;

- Transit Security Grant: $25,637,097 to enhance security measures at critical transit infrastructure within the Chicago Transit Authority.

Under this announcement, the following state and local agencies and facility operators were awarded Port Security Grants to help implement Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and facility security plans:

- Chicago Fire Department: $828,750

- City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication: $611,250

- City of Chicago Police Department: $967,797

- Navy Pier, Inc.: $244,013

- City of Madison Fire Department: $24,470

- Illinois DNR: $38,363

In March, Durbin sent letters to religious institutions and houses of worship across Illinois to make them aware of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The recipients of the FY19 awards from this program include institutions that were part of this outreach effort. The following Illinois institutions were awarded a Nonprofit Security Grant:

Nonprofit Security Grant Program - Urban: $845,000:

- Agudath Israel of West Rogers Park, Inc. (Chicago)

- Am Shalom (Glencoe)

- Bais Chaim Dovid (Lincolnwood)

- Center on Halsted (Chicago)

- Chicago Jewish Day School

- Congregation Adas Bnei Yisroel, Inc. (Chicago)

- Congregation Ezras Israel (Chicago)

- Congregation Sukkat Shalom (Wilmette)

- The Church Street Synagogue (Skokie)

- Young Israel of West Rogers Park (Chicago)

Nonprofit Security Grant Program - Non-Urban: $292,782:

- Chabad of Champaign-Urbana NFP

- Congregation Kneseth Israel (Elgin)

- Jewish Council for Youth Services - Northwest (Buffalo Grove)

- Moriah Congregation (Deerfield)

- North Suburban Synagogue Beth El (Highland Park)