11/19/2024
Non-Profit Leaders! Please read post from CAL NONPROFITS!
Urgent Action Alert: Oppose
H.R. 9495 to Protect Nonprofits
An alarming piece of legislation in Congress, H.R. 9495, would allow the government to designate any nonprofit as a "terrorist supporting organization," and then require that organization to prove itself innocent to avoid revocation of its tax-exempt status. The House of Representatives is scheduled to consider H.R. 9495 this week, with a vote likely on Wednesday. While intended to be anti-terrorism legislation, all nonprofits should be concerned about the dangerous precedent this bill could establish and the potential for abuse by the Executive Branch. Read the bill language here.
CalNonprofits and our partners are fiercely opposed to the fact that this legislation would allow the Secretary of the Treasury to have unilateral authority and discretion to designate section 501(c) nonprofits as “terrorist supporting organizations,” without requiring the Secretary to share their full evidence or reasoning. The lack of due process protections should be concerning to all Americans and not just nonprofit organizations, as it places the burden of proof on the accused organization, with only 90 days to demonstrate their innocence before revoking tax-exempt status.
The Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, National Council of Nonprofits, and United Philanthropy Forum on Friday issued a joint statement of opposition.
The bill has been introduced and failed twice already; note that 52 Democrats supported it, including Congressman Adam Schiff, our state’s newly elected U.S. Senator. The legislation is being reintroduced with a hearing on Monday, November 18th at 1 pm PT.
Find the California representatives who voted yes here and contact their offices immediately.
Take Action: Tell Congress to OPPOSE H.R. 9495
1. Visit the IS Action Center to sign a petition to oppose H.R. 9495. https://independentsector.quorum.us/campaign/92339/
2. Call your Congressional Representative TODAY and urge them to vote NO on H.R. 9495 when it comes up again for a vote. You can find contact information for your Member of Congress here. https://www.house.gov/representa.../find-your-representative And the list of California representatives who already voted yes on previous votes here. https://docs.google.com/.../1VnEs8tGYuaGjNCDJeKYS.../edit...
3. Social Media Engagement: Post on your platforms and tag your Representative to urge them to oppose H.R.9495.
Sample posts:
ACTION NEEDED As a constituent of [] and a staunch supporter of the nonprofit sector, I urge you to vote NO on H.R. 9495. This bill may be well-intentioned but it erodes due process and jeopardizes vital services for vulnerable communities.
Nonprofits are critical to our communities. H.R. 9495 may mean well, but it threatens due process and risks harming those we serve. [], vote NO on .
Sample script for calling your representative:
I’m calling to urge you to oppose H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, scheduled for a vote later today. 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. 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.
Adam Schiff
