1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I urge you to vote against H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. This bill would give the executive branch unchecked and sweeping power to revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations deemed "terrorist-supporting," without due process or transparency about the evidence used to make such determinations. It poses a grave threat to free speech and dissent by allowing the government to punish and silence groups based on their viewpoints or ideological leanings. This misguided legislation could be abused by any administration to target disfavored organizations across the political spectrum, from civil rights groups to labor unions to media outlets. As over 180 nonprofit organizations have warned in a joint letter, H.R. 9495 creates an "open invitation for abuse" that jeopardizes our democratic principles. While the non-controversial tax relief provisions could easily pass as a standalone bill, there is simply no justification for granting such unchecked authority that undermines constitutional rights and due process protections. I strongly urge you to stand against this threat to free expression and civil liberties by voting no on H.R. 9495. Preserving robust civic engagement and dissent is vital for a healthy democracy. This overreaching bill concentrates too much power in the hands of the executive branch at the expense of fundamental rights.