1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I strongly urge you to oppose H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, due to the concerning inclusion of H.R. 6408. This provision grants the Secretary of Treasury sweeping and unchecked authority to unilaterally designate U.S. nonprofits as "terrorist supporting organizations" and strip them of their tax-exempt status, even without evidence of intentional or actual support for violence. The potential for abuse and discriminatory enforcement is immense, allowing the executive branch to censor dissenting voices, target political opponents, and punish disfavored groups across the ideological spectrum under the guise of national security. Fundamental due process protections are lacking, denying designated organizations a meaningful opportunity to defend themselves before an impartial decision-maker or access to the full evidence against them. While aimed at student groups involved in protests over the Gaza conflict, this authority could easily be expanded to suppress a wide range of civil society organizations and advocacy efforts. The chilling effect alone, with groups self-censoring to avoid ruinous investigations and litigation, would undermine free speech and civic engagement. Opposing H.R. 9495 is crucial to safeguarding constitutional rights and preventing further erosion of our democratic institutions. There are already robust laws prohibiting material support to terrorist groups; expanding unchecked executive powers is unnecessary and dangerous.