{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-86-million-to-increase-safety-and-security-in-places-of-worship", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $8.6 Million to Increase Safety and Security in Places of Worship", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski announced $8,627,091 in federal funding to strengthen security at 49 religious institutions and community centers across Maryland.\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander deserves to be able to exercise their right to religious freedom and worship without fear for their safety. Our faith institutions also help build community in many ways, from providing spiritual services to offering youth programs to supporting local families. As that work continues, we have also seen an appalling increase in threats against faith-based organizations across the state, and we know that more federal funding and reforms are necessary to meet the growing security measures needed to keep community members safe. We will continue working to increase funds for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and to see that these investments go where they are needed most, in light of recent changes to this program,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cAll Marylanders deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools, communities \u2013 and especially in places of worship. It was critical that Team Maryland fight to secure over $8 million in federal funding to strengthen security at religious centers in our state. And I won\u2019t stop fighting until all Marylanders feel and are safe,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Nonprofit Security Grant Program has become an essential tool for protecting our houses of worship, schools, community centers, and early-childhood programs. With the alarming rise in antisemitism and other forms of hate, it is critical that everyone feels safe when gathering with their communities and congregations. I\u2019m proud that Team Maryland was able to secure this funding, and I will continue working with our delegation to push for further federal support for nonprofit security,\u201d said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer.\n\n\u201cNo matter what your faith or religion is every American should feel safe and secure in their ability to worship peacefully,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cWith this injection of over $8 million in Federal funding, dozens of faith-based institutions across Maryland will be able to improve their security systems and protocols, ensuring that houses of worship remain sanctuaries for practitioners of all beliefs.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarylanders should be able to practice their faith without worrying about their safety. This funding will improve security at religious institutions across the First District, from Harford County to the Eastern Shore. Thank you to President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security for helping Maryland\u2019s religious organizations improve security and protect our communities,\u201d said Congressman Harris.\n\n\u201cAmidst an alarming increase in antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of toxic hate, Team Maryland is surging more than $8.6 million in federal Nonprofit Security Grants to protect our people,\u201d said Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08). \u201cNo American should become a target of senseless violence and intimidation, especially in their house of worship.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander should be able to worship and gather without fear,\u201d said Congressman Ivey. \u201cTeam Maryland fought together to secure this federal funding so that faith communities across our state have the resources they need to strengthen security and protect the people they serve. I\u2019m proud of our delegation\u2019s work to deliver these investments and help keep Marylanders safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarylanders of all faiths deserve to both be safe and feel safe in their houses of worship. Since coming to Congress, I have continued to prioritize increased security funding for nonprofit and religious institutions \u2013 both in Washington in the budget and through our Interfaith Advisory Council \u2013 which is why it is so great to join Team Maryland in announcing this $8 million in federal funding for 49 houses of worship, religious institutions, and community centers across our state. Especially as religious institutions spend more and more on security and the number of hate crimes continues to rise, Congress has an important responsibility to ensure the safety of all of our neighbors,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth.\n\n\u201cWhether you are walking into a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or community center, you should never have to fear for your safety. Freedom of religion means the freedom to worship without fear. This $8.6 million investment will help 49 institutions across Maryland strengthen security and protect the communities they serve. I\u2019ll keep working with Team Maryland to ensure our faith communities have the resources they need to keep people safe,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cOur faith communities are critical community anchors and bring so many Marylanders together,\u201d said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). \u201cThis funding gives 49 religious institutions and community centers across our state the resources they need to worship, learn, and gather without fear. Team Maryland will keep fighting to make sure our houses of worship have what they need to stay safe.\u201d\n\nA full list of the recipients, selected by the Department of Homeland Security, is below:\n\nWestern Maryland\n\nB'er Chayim Congregation\n\nBeth Sholom Congregation of Frederick, MD\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church DBA Global Vision Christian School Broadfording (Main Campus)\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church DBA Global Vision Christian School Broadfording (West Campus)\n\nCamp Airy\n\nCamp Louise\n\nSaints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church\n\nBaltimore Area\n\nArundel Christian Church\n\nBeth Tfiloh Congregation dba Beth Tfiloh Camps\n\nCecil Memorial United Methodist Church\n\nChabad of Greengate Maryland Inc.\n\nChabad of Harford County, Inc.\n\nCongregation Kneseth Israel\n\nHebrew School of the Performing Arts, Inc.\n\nImmaculate Heart of Mary School\n\nImmaculate Heart of Mary Church\n\nJewels Therapy Clinic\n\nJohn Carroll School Inc.\n\nRedemption City Church Baltimore\n\nSafe Green Transit Corporation\n\nSts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church\n\nSt. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church\n\nTalmudical Academy of Baltimore Inc.\n\nThe Cathedral of Mary Our Queen\n\nThe Greek Orthodox Cemetery\n\nWest Baltimore United Methodist Church\n\nMontgomery & Prince George\u2019s Counties\n\nChabad Lubavitch of Bowie Maryland Inc\n\nChabad Lubavitch of Upper Montgomery County Inc.\n\nCharles E. Smith Jewish Day School (Lower School)\n\nCongregation B'nai Tzedek\n\nCovenant Life Church (7501)\n\nCovenant Life School (7503)\n\nCovenant Life School/Church (7505)\n\nGreater Praise and Deliverance Tabernacle\n\nGreek Orthodox Church of Saint George, Inc.\n\nIsrael on Campus Coalition, Inc.\n\nImadi\n\nKehilat Pardes\n\nKingdom Full Tabernacle International Ministries\n\nLife Changing Christian Center\n\nMcLean Bible Church (Montgomery)\n\nNorth Brentwood AME Zion Church\n\nThe Guru Gobind Singh Foundation Trust Inc\n\nThe Sierra Leone Muslim Jamaat, Inc. (3305)\n\nTikvat Israel Congregation\n\nSouthern Maryland\n\nCamp St. Charles Inc.\n\nCrossroads Christian Center, Inc.\n\nEastern Shore\n\nLighthouse Christian Academy\n\nThe awards are provided through the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps high-risk nonprofits, including faith-based institutions, obtain the resources required to support and integrate preparedness activities with broader state and local efforts. The lawmakers fought to fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at $300 million through the Fiscal Year 2026 annual appropriations package, an increase from $274.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-86-million-to-increase-safety-and-security-in-places-of-worship"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.582436893135309, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}