On Wednesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott made an announcement stating that the Public Safety Office will take charge of distributing more than $500 million in grants for a range of safety programs and services throughout Texas.
Enhanced Public Safety in Texas
In his announcement, Gov. Abbott emphasized that the public safety grants would play a crucial role in bolstering Texas agencies and organizations in their efforts to secure the border, combat human trafficking, deliver justice to victims, and safeguard Texans from perilous criminals and violence.
According to the Texas Tribune, the Public Safety Office, under the office of the Texas Governor, is responsible for distributing the proposed funds. These funds are derived from numerous individual grants. The recipients of these grants vary and include local police departments, nonprofit organizations dedicated to crime prevention, district attorney offices, and state agencies, among others.
Here are some of the largest grants that will be awarded:
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- $194.9 million dedicated for victims of crime and violence against women. This will help speed victim’s recoveries while addressing improvements to the criminal justice system.
- $56.5 million for Homeland Security in preventing terrorism on U.S. soil. This also is meant to fund equipment and training for state-level agencies.
- $55.7 million for Operation Lone Star meant to enhance border security and eliminate criminal activity.
- $30.4 million for non-profit security enhancement that will support the physical security of nonprofits like synagogues, churches or other religious buildings against terrorist attacks.
According to Abbott, the top priority is ensuring the safety of all Texans, and this is made possible through a combination of federal and state funding.