On July 28, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Package of nearly $1.7 trillion. As a direct result of Jewish Federations’ ongoing advocacy, priority programs will be fully funded. Programs include the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program.

"We are very pleased with the FY2023 Appropriations package, especially with the increase in security grant funding and allocations to Iron Dome, the No Hate Act and the Holocaust Survivors Program," said Robin Schatz, Direct of Government Affairs at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. 

According to the Jewish Federations of North America, below is  the list of the funding levels included in the Senate appropriations bills related to these priority areas:

• Nonprofit Security Grant Program - $360 million. Following significant advocacy to raise awareness of the urgent need for these critical funds to protect houses of worship and other nonprofit organizations from rising threats, the Senate Appropriations Committee included the requested $360 million for the program, matching the $360 million appropriated in the House, an increase from the $250 million in FY 2022.
  
• Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program - $10 million. Jewish Federations have advocated for increasing funds for this important program to support the increasing needs of Survivors and their caregivers. The Senate bill includes the requested $10 million in FY 2023, matching the funded level appropriated in the House and an increase over the $6 million level in FY 2022.
  
• Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act - $10 million. Signed into law in 2021, the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act will provide law enforcement with necessary resources to monitor and combat hate crimes. The Senate bill includes $10 million to implement the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, lower than the $15 million appropriated by the House.
  
• Middle East Partnership for Peace Act - $50 million. The Nita Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA) established a fund to promote people-to-people programs between Israelis and Palestinians to help build the cooperation, coexistence, and mutual understanding needed to create an environment conducive to peace in the region. The $50 million for MEPPA included in the Senate bill matches the $50 million appropriated by the House.
  
• Iron Dome - $500 million. Last May, when more than 4,000 rockets were fired into Israel by the Iranian proxy Hamas, the Iron Dome system intercepted 90% of the rockets, saving both Israeli and Palestinian lives, and ensuring the conflict remained small and localized. The Senate bill includes $500 million for the Iron Dome Missile Defense System, matching House-appropriated levels.
  
• Emergency Food and Shelter Program - $330 million. The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) reimburses organizations, including Jewish agencies, for providing shelter and housing to families and individuals in dire need, and supports migrants who have crossed the southern U.S. border. The Senate bill includes $330 million for EFSP, greater than the $280 million appropriated by the House.

"All of these programs will have long-lasting positive impact in our community, providing resources for our institutions to make their facilities more secure, give law enforcement additional tools to address hate crimes and bolster support for our vulnerable Holocaust survivors," Schatz continued. "We are especially grateful to our local Congressional delegation for their support of these initiatives."

In addition to the funding for these priority programs, Jewish community organizations received at least $1.17 million for community-directed spending projects.

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