US House passes bill to punish non-profits deemed to support 'terrorism' [View all]

[babylonsister]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/21/house-republicans-bill-nonprofits-terrorism

US House passes bill to punish non-profits deemed to support ‘terrorism’
Critics argue it would give Trump sweeping powers to crack down arbitrarily on his political opponents
Alice Herman
Thu 21 Nov 2024 11.52 EST


The Republican-controlled US House on Thursday passed a bill that would give the government broad powers to punish non-profit organizations it deems support “terrorism”.

This was the second time members voted on the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, or HR 9495. Last week, after suspending House rules to fast-track the bill, the lower chamber failed to garner the two-thirds majority required to pass. This time, after passing the House committee on rules, the bill – requiring only a simple majority to pass – survived by a vote of 219-184. Fifteen Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure.

The bill, which gives the treasury the power to strip non-profits it claims support “terrorism” of their tax-exempt status, does not require the treasury to adhere to any evidentiary standard in releasing its findings. Although groups targeted could appeal to the IRS or the courts for review, simply being identified as a supporter of terrorism could have a chilling effect on advocacy groups, critics warn.

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“Americans want checks and balances, not a blank check for any president to label anyone as a terrorist without evidence,” said the California congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat. “With this bill, the only guardrail against authoritarian abuse to any voice of dissent to his agenda will be Trump’s imagination.”