Council on American-Islamic Relations raises concerns over potential passage of “nonprofit killer” bill
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has expressed strong concerns over the potential passage of the “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act” (HR 9495), which it has referred to as the “nonprofit killer” bill.
The legislation, which failed to secure a two-thirds majority in the House last week, is expected to return for a vote on Tuesday or Wednesday, where only a simple majority would be required for its passage.
CAIR criticized the bill for potentially suppressing legitimate criticism of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian human rights, warning that it could undermine free speech, due process, and nonprofit independence.
The bill would grant the U.S. Department of the Treasury sweeping authority to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofits accused of supporting terrorism.
Critics argue that the lack of clear definitions in the legislation risks enabling the arbitrary targeting of organizations based on their political views or activities, particularly those advocating for Palestinian causes.
During the initial vote, 256 representatives supported the bill, including 204 Republicans, while 52 Democrats voted in favor and 144 opposed it.
Advocacy groups have raised alarms about the potential consequences, including the suppression of Palestinian rights advocacy and the chilling of free speech through financial penalties for nonprofits.
The legislation has sparked a broader debate over balancing national security measures with the protection of civil liberties, particularly in the context of politically sensitive issues involving U.S.-Middle East relations.
