November 20, 2024, WASHINGTON, DC - The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) has united more than 55 prominent Jewish organizations across the United States to oppose the "Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act" (H.R. 9495). In a letter addressed to lawmakers, organizations expressed significant concerns about the legislation's potential to politicize tax-exempt designations and undermine core rights.
The full text of the letter, which was delivered to Capitol Hill today, can be found below.
Among other provisions, the proposed bill would grant the Treasury Secretary unilateral authority to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofits accused of supporting terrorism, undermining impartial decision-making and potentially chilling legitimate nonprofit advocacy and activity.
"As a community that has faced the consequences of terror, we recognize the importance of robust safeguards against violence," said Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center. "However, H.R. 9495 is the wrong approach. It jeopardizes constitutional protections and risks stifling and politicizing free speech under the guise of combating terrorism."
The coalition's letter calls on Congress to reject H.R. 9495 and instead pursue measures that enhance safety without undermining democratic principles.
Dear Members of Congress,
On behalf of the undersigned Jewish organizations from across the United States, we write to express our strong opposition to the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act (H.R. 9495).
The bill would allow the Treasury Secretary unilateral authority to designate an American non-profit a "terrorist supporting organization" and to revoke its tax-exempt status. Rather than enhancing the country's safety, the bill threatens to politicize decisions that should be made neutrally and deliberatively.
As a Jewish community, we have experienced the harms caused by those who foment hate and terror. That is why we appreciate that there already exists a sound process to address such instances as laid out in Article 18 Section 2339 of the U.S. Code. In contrast to the proposed bill, the current process is less susceptible to political interference or the chilling effect on speech and activity than H.R. 9495 is likely to have. No individual, including a Treasury Secretary, should be given nearly unfettered power to remove an organization's tax-exempt status.
We urge you to seek solutions that make the nation safer, instead of advancing those that threaten constitutional rights. Please oppose H.R. 9495 and vote against it when it comes to the floor.
Sincerely,
A More Perfect Union
Ameinu
American Conference of Cantors
American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
Americans for Peace Now
Avodah
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Bronx Jews for Climate Action
Carolina Jews for Justice
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Congregation Rodeph Shalom (Philadelphia, PA)
Conservative Synagogue of the Hamptons
Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action
Gesher Bridge Shul
Habonim Dror Camp Galil
Habonim Dror North America
Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America
HIAS
Ikar
Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation
J Street
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
Jewish Climate Action Network NYC
Jewish Community Action
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Liberation Fund
Jewish Women International
Jews for a Secular Democracy
Keshet
Kirva
Lab/Shul
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Men of Reform Judaism
Mitsui Collective
National Council of Jewish Women
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
New York Jewish Agenda (NYJA)
Nexus Leadership Project
Path With Heart Community
Rabbinical Assembly
Reconstructing Judaism
Sixth & I
Society for Humanistic Judaism
Ta'amod
Temple Shaaray Tefila, New York, NY
The Mordecai Kaplan Center for Jewish Peoplehood
The Workers Circle
Tivnu: Building Justice
T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Union for Reform Judaism
USCJ
Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS)
Women of Reform Judaism
YAFFED
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For more than six decades, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism has worked to educate, inspire, and mobilize the Reform Jewish community to advocate for social justice. We mobilize around federal, state, provincial, and local legislation on more than 70 pressing socioeconomic issues, including gun violence prevention, immigration, reproductive rights, and criminal justice reform.
As a joint instrumentality of the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, we represent the values of the largest and most diverse Jewish Movement in North America to governments at all levels. As part of a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, our work is nonpartisan.
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