Notice2023-02620
Faith Based Security Advisory Council
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 8, 2023
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security Department
Abstract
On January 24, 2023, the Secretary of DHS, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, tasked the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (FBSAC) to form three subcommittees further outlined below. This notice is not a solicitation for membership.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8300-8301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02620]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
[Docket No. DHS-2022-0059]
Faith Based Security Advisory Council
AGENCY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of
Partnership and Engagement (OPE).
ACTION: Notice of new taskings for the Faith Based Security Advisory
Council (FBSAC).
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SUMMARY: On January 24, 2023, the Secretary of DHS, Alejandro N.
Mayorkas, tasked the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (FBSAC) to
form three subcommittees further outlined below. This notice is not a
solicitation for membership.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sameer Hossain, Designated Federal
Officer, Faith-Based Security Advisory Council, Office of Partnership
and Engagement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b2d29382a282b031a450f0318450c041d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="86c0c4d5c7c5c6eef7a8e2eef5a8e1e9f0">[email protected]</span></a> or 202-891-2876.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FBSAC provides organizationally
independent, strategic, timely, specific, and actionable advice to the
Secretary through the Assistant Secretary for OPE, who serves as the
DHS Faith-Based Organizations Security Coordinator on security and
preparedness matters related to places of worship, faith communities,
and faith-based organizations. The FBSAC serves strictly as an advisory
body with the purpose of providing advice upon the request of the
Secretary.
The three subcommittees are as follows:
Subcommittee (1): Information Sharing
A subcommittee to provide recommendations on how the Department can
more efficiently and effectively share information to enhance the
security and preparedness of places of worship, faith communities, and
faith-based organizations.
Subcommittee (2): DHS Grants and Resources
A subcommittee to provide recommendation on how the Department can
most effectively and appropriately share resources that meet the needs
of diverse faith-based organizations and communities, including
remedying challenges to applying for DHS grants.
Subcommittee (3): Building Partnerships
A subcommittee to provide recommendations on how the Department can
build trust and resilience with faith community stakeholders.
Tasking (1): Information Sharing
The Department must prioritize timely two-way sharing of threat and
security-related information with faith-based organizations in order
protect faith-based organizations and all members of the public.
This subcommittee is tasked to provide recommendations:
1. Regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department's
information sharing and how the Department can enhance the security and
preparedness of places of worship, faith communities, and faith-based
organizations.
2. For new information-sharing mechanisms, whether via existing
information-sharing platforms or networks, or by creating a new process
that will effectively communicate threat information and other relevant
federal resources to faith communities of diverse backgrounds.
Tasking (2): DHS Grants and Resources
Following the hostage situation at the Congregation Beth Israel
synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, Secretary Mayorkas called for an
increase in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).
This program provides essential resources to help protect nonprofit
organizations at risk of terrorist attacks.
In Fiscal Year 2022, Congress provided $250 million for the NSGP,
an increase of $70 million from the prior year. For Fiscal Year 2023,
Congress increased the NSGP funding to $305 million, a 22% increase on
Fiscal Year 2022. These increases allowed more nonprofit organizations
across the nation to make physical security enhancements to help
protect against attacks. These increases also enable DHS to expand
participation in this critical program and increase our support to
historically marginalized communities and Historically Black Colleges
and Universities in an effort to build capacity and address an evolving
threat environment. One of the Secretary's priorities is to ensure
equity in all DHS grant awards.
This FBSAC subcommittee is tasked to provide recommendations on:
1. How the Department can most effectively and appropriately
address challenges to applying for DHS grants for which faith-based
organizations are eligible, as well as how best these grants can meet
the needs of faith-based organizations.
2. How the Department's existing resources can better meet the
needs of diverse faith-based organizations and communities, in addition
to providing grants.
3. The development and implementation of specific best practices to
prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of targeted
violence or terrorism, major disasters, cyberattacks, or other threats
or emergencies while preserving individual privacy and civil rights and
civil liberties.
Tasking (3): Building Partnerships
DHS is defined by its partnerships--not only with law enforcement,
emergency responders, and our international partners, but also with the
diverse communities we serve. To protect the homeland, we must have
strong relationships with these communities and work in partnership to
build strong, resilient communities.
This subcommittee is tasked to provide recommendations on:
1. How the Department can build trust with faith community
stakeholders to better understand their concerns, including real or
perceived threats from violent actors or groups.
2. How the Department can empower local leaders to mobilize
resources to mitigate and respond to threats.
Schedule: The three subcommittees' findings and recommendations
will be submitted to the FBSAC for its deliberation and vote during a
public meeting. Once the recommendations from the three subcommittees
are voted on by the FBSAC, they will be submitted to the Secretary.
Each subcommittee will submit their findings and recommendations to the
FBSAC in May 2023.
[[Page 8301]]
Dated: February 2, 2023.
Nicole M. Rosich,
Alternate Designated Federal Officer, Faith-Based Security Advisory
Council, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2023-02620 Filed 2-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9112-FN-P
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