CovertAction Bulletin Movement Repression and the HR 9495 Bill
Shortly after we recorded our last episode and mentioned the bill, the House of Representatives tried and failed to vote on HR 9495, the “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act” bill. House Republicans tried to suspend the rules and push a vote through, and got 52 Democrats to vote with them, but weren’t able to get the ⅔ majority they needed under House procedural rules.
But HR 9495, also called the “nonprofit killer” bill, isn’t dead yet. If passed, it would allow the Trump administration to revoke an organization’s nonprofit status by simply saying the organization is connected to or supports terrorism. It’s another weapon the US government would have to attempt to crush dissent, targeting organizations standing up against the genocide in Gaza and many more. Civil society, activist, nonprofit and legal organizations from the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund to the National Council of Nonprofits, CAIR, ACLU and beyond have called for the bill to be rejected.
To understand where this bill comes from and what its impact would be, we’re joined today by Wassim Kanaan, a grass-roots-oriented advocate, focusing on direct advocacy and working with the community on high impact projects.
Wassim currently serves as the Chair-person for the New Jersey Chapter of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP).