S. 1308 — Introduced in Senate

II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1308 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 2, 2019Mr. Heinrich (for himself and Ms. McSally) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To allow Homeland Security Grant Program funds to be used to safeguard faith-based community centers and houses of worship across the United States, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Faith-Based Community Center Protection Act. 2. Amendment to Homeland Security Grant Program Title XX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended— (1) in section 2001 (6 U.S.C. 601)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (14) as paragraphs (12) through (16), respectively; (B) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (9) as paragraphs (7) through (10), respectively; (C) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following: (6) Faith-based community center The term faith-based community center means— (A) a facility operated by a nonprofit faith-based community organization for the provision of recreational, social, or education services; or (B) a house of worship. ; and (D) by inserting after paragraph (10), as so redesignated, the following: (11) Nonprofit The term nonprofit means an organization described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code. ; and (2) in section 2008 (6 U.S.C. 609)— (A) in subsection (a)— (i) in paragraph (13), by striking and at the end; (ii) by redesignating paragraph (14) as paragraph (15); and (iii) by inserting after paragraph (13) the following: (14) protecting a faith-based community center or vulnerable populations, including children or the elderly; and ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (g) Protection of faith-Based community centers and vulnerable populations (1) Allocation of grant funds Of the total amount authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (3) for grants awarded for the purpose described in subsection (a)(14), the Administrator shall award— (A) 50 percent for the protection of faith-based community centers and vulnerable populations in communities with a population of not more than 1,000,000 individuals, as determined by the latest available decennial census; and (B) 50 percent for the protection of faith-based community centers in communities and vulnerable populations with a population of more than 1,000,000 individuals, as determined by the latest available decennial census. (2) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 to the Administrator to make grants for the purpose described in subsection (a)(14). . 3. False information and hoaxes Section 1038(a)(1)(A) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking 5 years and inserting 10 years.