On June 15, 2022, The House Appropriations Subcommittee for Homeland Security approved an FY 2023 bill for the Department of Homeland Security, providing $370 million each for the AFG and SAFER programs ($740 million total for fire grants). This proposed funding level is $10 million more for each program over current funding levels.

The Subcommittee also created a new program, called the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, taking funds for such purpose from the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Grant Program. The new program is funded at $360 million.

The bill now goes to the full Appropriations Committee for consideration.

It is unclear, in an election year, whether individual appropriations bills will be passed before the end of the FY 2022, September 30, 2022. Until the outcome of the fall election is known, the likely scenario is a Continuing Resolution, which allows agencies to spend at current levels into the next fiscal year.

Given the nature of bi-partisan support for the fire grant programs, it is important for FAMA and FEMSA members to continue to advocate AFG and SAFER program increases even in these early markups of legislation. FAMA and FEMSA support funding levels for AFG and SAFER at their full authorization levels.

Below is a summary of the bill passed by the Subcommittee.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – The bill includes $25.89 billion for FEMA, $1.73 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level and $771.3 million above the request. The total provided includes the following:

• $4.05 billion for grants and training, an increase of $418.9 million above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level and $521.6 million above the request, including:
• $615 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).
• $520 million for the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP).
• $360 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, an increase of $110 million above FY 2022.
• $740 million for firefighter grants, an increase of $20 million above FY 2022.
• $100 million for Port Security Grants.
• $105 million for Transit Security Grants.
• $370 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants, an increase of $15 million above FY 2022.
• $280 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, including $130 million for the base program and $150 million for humanitarian assistance at the border.
• $40 million for the Next Generation Warning System.
• $20 million via transfer from the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management (OSEM) for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention
• $20 million via transfer from OSEM for Alternatives to Detention Case Management Programgrants, an increase of $5 million above fiscal year 2022.
• $19.95 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund for responding to major disasters, $1.15 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level and $205 million above the request.

The recommendation consolidates grant funding for nonprofit security for both state and urban area programs into a new Nonprofit Security Grant program (NSGP). Funding for NSGP had previously been funded as a part of the SHSGP and UASI programs.

If you have any questions, please contact the GAC Co-chairs:
John Granby at [email protected]
Lee Morris at [email protected]
David Durstine at [email protected]
or GAC Sr. Adviser Dave Gatton at [email protected]