Take Action to Protect Nonprofits and Democratic Rights: Oppose H.R. 9495
Dear Peace Advocates,
The fight for peace and justice faces a new challenge, and we need your voice now more than ever. A dangerous bill, H.R. 9495, is headed for a vote in the House any day. Dubbed the “Nonprofit Killer Bill,” this legislation poses a grave threat to civil society and democratic rights.
What’s at Stake?
H.R. 9495 grants the Secretary of the Treasury unilateral power to designate any nonprofit as a “terrorist-supporting organization” with minimal due process. This would effectively strip targeted nonprofits of their tax-exempt status, shutting them down and silencing their voices.
This unprecedented overreach could impact humanitarian organizations, advocacy groups, media outlets, and even peace organizations like ours.
Worse still, this bill could disproportionately target groups advocating for Palestinian rights or any organization opposing the administration’s policies. We’ve already seen President-elect Trump vow to “crush” the pro-Palestinian movement. This bill gives him the tools to silence dissent across the board.
Why We Must Act Now
H.R. 9495 is disguised as a good-faith measure to exempt American hostages from IRS penalties, but it hides a dark agenda. Some House members, including Democrats, may vote for it without fully understanding its broader implications. This is where we come in.
Our right to petition the government for redress of grievances is at the heart of the First Amendment. H.R. 9495 threatens to undermine that fundamental right, and if passed, it will signal a new level of authoritarian control over civil society.
What You Can Do
1. Contact your House Representative Today. Urge them to oppose H.R. 9495. Remind them of the bill’s dangerous implications for nonprofits, civil rights, and the First Amendment.
2. Spread the Word. Share this blog post or draft your own message to ensure more people are informed about this critical issue.
3. Stay Engaged. We’ll be sharing updates on this and other critical votes, including Senator Sanders’ effort to block U.S. weapons transfers to Israel.
Sample Message to Your Representative:
“I urge you to vote NO on H.R. 9495. This bill gives unprecedented and dangerous power to the Secretary of the Treasury to shut down nonprofits, undermining the First Amendment and democratic rights. While exempting American hostages from tax penalties is commendable, the broader implications of this bill are alarming and unacceptable. Please stand with civil society and protect our democratic principles by opposing this legislation.”
The Time to Act is Now
We’re grateful to have allies like Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who is leading the fight against this bill. But we need every supporter of peace and justice to make their voice heard to stop this dangerous legislation in its tracks.
Our democracy and civil society depend on it. Let’s protect the organizations that fight for peace, justice, and equality every day.
In solidarity,
The Peace Economy Project Team
