Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after the announcement that NYPD arrested two men who were plotting an attack on a synagogue in New York City.
“As they do time and time again, our NYPD remained one step ahead of those who want to do us harm, saving countless lives, and I applaud them for their action. But these terrorist plots remind us of our need to remain constantly vigilant.
“No New Yorker, or any American, should ever have to live or worship in fear of being targeted because of who they are or what they believe. But as we have repeatedly seen, New York City’s places of faith, worship and community gatherings continue to be targeted by hatred.
“We need to arm our law enforcement, our non-profit and religious institutions with the tools and resources they need to keep New Yorkers safe. I will keep fighting to secure these resources, and ensure this funding remains our top priority.”
Senator Gillibrand has long fought for anti-terror funding to protect New York’s non-profit and religious institutions. In 2009, Senator Gillibrand secured an additional $4 million in federal anti-terror funding to help safeguard civil, religious and community institutions from terrorist attacks in the FY2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, for a total of $19 million in federal resources, funding that was continued in FY2011.