Washington, DC — On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 219-184 to pass H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, which would empower the executive branch to revoke the tax exempt status for groups that are vaguely deemed to be a “terrorist-supporting organization.” The legislation was introduced as a means to criminalize nationwide protests on college campuses against Israel’s war on Gaza, but has widespread and dangerous implications for organizations working on issues far beyond that.
In last week’s failed suspension vote, 52 House Democrats voted in favor of the bill. Today, only 15 House Democrats voted to pass it. Demand Progress is part of a coalition of nearly 300 organizations—including civil liberties, religious, reproductive health, immigrant rights, human rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+, environmental and educational organizations—calling on representatives to change their vote and oppose the bill.
The following is a statement from Demand Progress Senior Policy Advisor Hajar Hammado:
“No president should be handed unilateral power to cripple any group they please without real due process. We are disappointed in the representatives who are choosing to empower the Trump administration, and any other future administration, to maliciously target nonprofits, universities, media outlets and civil rights groups that they disagree with. We thank the 34 members who switched to a ‘no’ vote today, and all the others who continue to oppose this naked, bad faith power grab. We also call on the Senate to avoid putting this anti-democratic bill in any must-pass, end-of-year legislative packages.”