1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

It is vital to safeguard non-profit organizations' ability to operate freely and advocate for their causes without undue government interference or overreach. The proposed HR 9495 bill raises serious concerns by granting the Treasury Secretary broad, unchecked authority to revoke the tax-exempt status of any nonprofit deemed "terrorist-supporting" without requiring evidence or due process. This legislation threatens fundamental rights like free speech and assembly that are crucial for a healthy civil society. While preventing genuine terrorist financing is a legitimate goal, HR 9495 is alarmingly susceptible to abuse by allowing the revocation of tax-exempt status based solely on unilateral accusations. This could enable the targeted suppression of dissenting voices, human rights groups, or any organizations the administration deems unfavorable, setting a dangerous precedent that undermines democratic values. We urge the prioritization of robust safeguards and oversight mechanisms to protect nonprofits from unjustified retaliation or politically-motivated attacks on their tax-exempt status. The preservation of civil liberties and a vibrant nonprofit sector should be paramount concerns. HR 9495 in its current form poses an unacceptable risk to these principles and merits reconsideration to uphold constitutional rights and accountability.