Senator Hassan Continues Push to Strengthen Security for Houses of Worship & Address Security Gaps

WASHINGTON – At a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing, Senator Hassan pushed to strengthen security for houses of worship and address security gaps in the aftermath of the Congregation Beth Israel attack in Colleyville, Texas on January 15th, 2022.

To watch Senator Hassan’s questioning, click here.

Supporting Houses of Worship in NH & Across the Country

Senator Hassan began by highlighting her bipartisan legislation that the Committee previously passed to help strengthen security at houses of worship.

“[The Pray Safe Act] directs the federal government to establish a centralized clearinghouse of safety and security best practices, training resources, grant application information, and other assistance – all dedicated to securing houses of worship and faith-based organizations,” said Senator Hassan.

Marcus Coleman, Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, agreed with Senator Hassan that the bill would help houses of worship access federal resources and strengthen security, and he cited the importance of New Hampshire’s current resource page. “Being able to have best practices like that, in addition to the resources that help to promote training and preparedness for faith-based and community-based organizations from a federal perspective, would be very helpful and welcome by many of our faith-based and community-based organizations,” said Coleman.

The bipartisan Pray Safe Act builds on Senator Hassan’s efforts to strengthen security at houses of worship and nonprofits. Former President Trump signed into law bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator Hassan to codify in law that grant funding for houses of worship and nonprofit organizations must be available for small states like New Hampshire, not just major metropolitan areas, and Senator Hassan has successfully worked to increase funding for the program, including in the most recent government funding bill.

Addressing Security Gaps After Congregation Beth Israel Attack

Senator Hassan also spoke about the recent attack on the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue, and how it showed a potential security gap in U.S.-U.K. information sharing.

“Because he was a British Citizen, the attacker in Colleyville was able to travel to the United States without a travel visa,” said Senator Hassan. “That’s because the U.K. participates in the Visa Waiver Program. I am concerned that current information-sharing agreements do not adequately require criminal record information sharing with the United States as a condition of participation in the program.”

Stephanie Dobitsch, Deputy Under Secretary for Intelligence Enterprise Operations at DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, agreed that it is necessary to better coordinate information-sharing.

“I would say that certainly from an intelligence perspective we want to leverage the most robust data that we can have available to help evaluate the extent to which someone may pose a threat if they enter the United States,” said Dobitsch. “In the wake of the attack, we certainly have reengaged with our partners to understand what information they had and to really further find ways to integrate similar and like information into our evaluation of individuals who are seeking travel here to the United States.”  

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