🚨 C&SN Opposes Legislation that Targets Charities
On Nov. 14, 2023, Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN) and Congressman Brad Schnieder (D-IL) introduced H.R. 6408, bipartisan legislation that would “revoke the tax-exempt status for any organization that provides financial support or resources to designated terrorist groups.”
On Apr. 15, 2024, H.R. 6408 passed the House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support. Two days later, a companion bill, S. 4136, was introduced in the Senate.
C&SN emphasizes that the prohibition on material support to terrorist organizations already exists under U.S. law.
The bipartisan support of the House bill signals a potential for this legislation to pass the Senate in the name of “fighting terrorism financing,” without due consideration of the potential costs and possible motivations behind the bills. As the bills’ purported objective of preventing terrorist financing is already fulfilled under U.S. law, legislators and advocates must question the bills’ broad implications.
HR 6408 was clearly crafted with the intent to target pro-Palestinian groups and student groups, as evidenced by statements at a November Ways and Means Committee Hearing referencing baseless allegations against American Muslims for Palestine and Students for Justice in Palestine.
However, a closer look demonstrates that this legislation could be wielded as a weapon against charities from any sector at the whims of any administration. This legislation would allow the federal government to strip charities of their tax-exempt status without an official terrorist designation, and nothing in the bill prevents the administration from targeting any 501(c)(3) organizations, as long as they have been deemed by the administration to be “terrorist supporting organizations.”
#CivilSociety #Palestine #NGOs #Lawfare #NationalSecurity #Charity
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