1. United States
2. Ala.
3. Letter

H.R. 9495 poses a grave threat to the ability of nonprofits to carry out their vital missions without undue government interference. The broad discretion given to the Treasury Secretary to unilaterally designate organizations as "terrorist-supporting" and revoke their tax-exempt status, with minimal due process, enables the potential for abuse and overreach. This could severely undermine the constitutional rights of nonprofits to freely advocate on issues, including those that may be politically contentious. Nonprofits play a crucial role in our society by giving voice to diverse perspectives and serving communities in need. Empowering the government to arbitrarily strip organizations of their tax-exempt status based on subjective judgments about their activities or viewpoints is a dangerous precedent. It risks chilling legitimate advocacy and protest, stifling dissent, and undermining the very principles of free speech and association that are fundamental to our democracy. We urge you to defend the rights of nonprofits and reject H.R. 9495. This legislation's potential for misuse far outweighs any purported benefits in countering terrorism financing, which is already prohibited under existing laws. Preserve the ability of charitable organizations to operate freely and fulfill their vital roles in our society without fear of politically-motivated retaliation or overreach by the government.