H.R. 9495 / S. 4631 is a bill that would devastate our communities, our organizations, and our democracy. It would let the Executive Branch unilaterally shut down any nonprofits they disagree with, without due process. The potential for overreach, subjective application, and abuse of this legislation is enormous, and the consequences for organizations and the people they serve cannot be overstated. As nonprofits, we have the right under the 1st amendment to protest and advocate for or against legislation that will directly impact our sector, and with this bill, this right is at risk.

Despite significant mobilization against the bill, H.R. 9495 passed in the House on 11/21. There are still action steps you can take:

• Urge Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer to NOT allow S. 4136 (the bill’s equivalent in the Senate) to come up for a vote in the Senate. Call him via the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, or submit a message through this page of his website.
• If you have friends, colleagues, or loved ones in Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington State, or Maine, ask them to contact their Senators (Senators Wyden, Reed, Murray, and King) and urge them to oppose the bill.
• No matter your party affiliation or your senators' party affiliation, call your state senators and ask them to vote NO on HR 9495/S 4136. Every vote will matter.
  • Dial the Capitol Switchboard to be connected to your Senator’s office: (202) 224-3121.
  • If you or your board members or donors have relationships with them or their staff, reach out personally!
  • Be authentic and passionate.
• If your Representative voted No, consider thanking them. Perhaps with a note card in the mail; a phone call; or tagging them in a post on social media written specifically to praise them.

Sample Script

Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [City/State]. I’m calling to urge you to oppose H.R. 9495 / S. 4631, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, scheduled for a vote in 2025. 

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 / S. 4631 to protect nonprofits and the communities they serve. Thank you for your time and consideration. 

Sincerely,  
[Your Name]