NYC Gazette

Congresswoman visits school to see improvements

QUEENS, NY – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she visited Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy in Bayside for the unveiling of a lockdown system and new fortified infrastructure that the school installed with funds the Congresswoman helped secure to better protect those in the building.

This $57,000 in federal money is allocated through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, the initiative providing houses of worship and nonprofit entities with grants to enhance the safety and security of their properties so that they can guard against threats and attacks.

“Keeping our communities safe from acts of religious-based violence has to continue to be a top priority and these security enhancements for Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy will provide greater protections for those who work and attend school in the building,” said Congresswoman Meng. “I thank the academy and the Diocese of Brooklyn for working to keep people out of harm’s way, and I’m pleased to have helped obtain this crucial funding.”

 “The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff is of the highest priority,” said Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy Principal Joan Kane. “We are grateful for Congresswoman Meng's assistance and support in obtaining this grant. We were delighted to have her visit our academy.”

“The caring work of Rep. Meng continues to make a difference in her district and most specifically for the children at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy,” said Deacon Kevin McCormack, the Catholic Schools Superintendent at the Diocese of Brooklyn which includes Catholic schools in Queens. “Our school was able to better fortify its infrastructure and add a lockdown system, and in turn create a safer environment for the whole school. When our public officials, like Rep. Meng, focus on their constituents and the common good – great things happen. Thank you, Congresswoman Meng, for your support and concern.”

As New York’s senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Meng helped secure an unprecedented $305 million this fiscal year for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, a $55 million increase over therecord breaking $250 million that she helped obtain the previous fiscal year. It followed her success in helping to secure funding increases for the program in prior years as well.

The grants are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the money for which can be used to cover target-hardening and other physical security enhancements that include barriers, gates, safety gear, surveillance equipment and other safety measures.

In February, and in previous years, Meng held a workshop for Queens houses of worship and nonprofits to learn more about the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and how they can successfully apply for funding.

Opened in 1951, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy includes students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It also provides after-school programs as well as 3K and Pre-K. 

Original source can be found here.