1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Please vote (and lobby your colleagues to vote) against H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. This bill poses a direct threat to nonprofits by granting the Treasury Secretary unchecked power to label organizations as “terrorist supporting” and strip their tax-exempt status. Even worse, this can happen without evidence, intentional links, or any requirement to disclose the reasons for the designation, and no recourse. The lack of due process and accountability leaves nonprofits defenseless against vague and potentially politically motivated accusations. While the bill includes provisions for tax relief for American hostages—a noble cause—this should not come at the expense of jeopardizing nonprofit operations and democratic values. These provisions should be separated into their own bill that doesn’t include the unchecked harm to nonprofits. Please oppose H.R. 9495 to protect nonprofits and the communities they serve. Thank you for your time and consideration.