UPDATE: H.R. 9495 passed in the House this morning, November 21st, 219-184, with 30 members not voting.
H.R. 9495: The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act gives the Treasury Secretary power to revoke a nonprofit organization’s tax-exempt status on allegations of supporting terrorism.
The nonprofit would have 90 days from the decision letter date to challenge the claim in court. The secretary would need to show the court the alleged terrorist-supporting material support or other resources.
Supporters say the bill would strengthen the government’s ability to fight terrorism, while opponents worry the broad powers would suppress free expression.
The bill would also extend certain tax filings for Americans detained or held hostage abroad while reimbursing those penalized.
Iowa Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-1st District) and Ashley Hinson (R-2nd District), as well as Illinois Representative Eric Sorensen (D-17th District), voted for the bill last week when it was fast-tracked under suspension of the rules, failing to meet the two-thirds required.
In a news release today, November 21st, Congressman Sorensen says he heard from constituents and will vote no. “My number one responsibility in this job is to listen to my neighbors and make sure their voices are heard on the issues they care about,” said Sorensen. “Over the past week, we have heard from constituents and nonprofit leaders expressing their concerns with H.R. 9495. They pointed out how the bill could unfairly target nonprofits and public charities, making them vulnerable to politically motivated attacks and undermining their ability to serve our communities. And later today, after listening to their concerns, I will vote against H.R. 9495. As the trusted representative for Central and Northwestern Illinois, I will always make sure my neighbors' voices are heard in Washington D.C.”
Fifteen Democrats voted in favor of the legislation and Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie voted against the bill.
Illinois Representatives Mary Miller (R-15th District) and Darin LaHood (R-16th District) voted in favor of the legislation. Miller represents Henderson and portions of Mercer and Warren counties within our listening area. LaHood represents Stark and most of Henry and Bureau counties within our listening area.
The bill moves to the Senate. A bill similar to H.R. 9495 passed in the House earlier this year but stalled in the Senate.
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The 118th Congress is working on various bills, including the Farm Bill, before their lame-duck session ends on January 3rd, 2025.
This past Tuesday, November 12th, two bills came to a vote in the House of Representatives chamber.
One of the bills, HR 9495, known as the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, would assist Americans who are held hostage or detained abroad by postponing certain tax filings for them and their spouse and offering refunds for those who were penalized while detained.
Iowa Representative Ashley Hinson (IA-2nd), who serves mostly Northeast Iowa, says she supports the bill.
In an email response to WVIK on Wednesday (Nov. 13th), Congresswoman Hinson says, "We should be ensuring the safe return of every American hostage held against their will abroad – not issuing fines on the individual and their families for missing tax deadlines. I am proud to support legislation that removes any IRS penalties for hostages and revokes tax-exempt status for pro-terrorism organizations that support the evil terrorists that hold innocent civilians against their will.”
WVIK contacted Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa's 1st District and Representative Eric Sorensen of Illinois' 17th District for comment on their "Yea" votes for the bill. As of Thursday's publication, neither representative had contacted WVIK.
Legislators suspended the rules to fast-track the bill through the House, but it would require two-thirds approval. Texas Representative Democrat Lloyd Doggett moved to withdraw the bill because of a lack of quorum. The bill later appeared on the floor during unfinished business.
Originally, the measure had a majority of support. However, the inclusion of language allowing the Treasury Secretary to unilaterally remove the tax-exempt status of any non-profit they deem a partner to terrorist groups worried First Amendment rights organizations.
The bill eventually failed the two-thirds threshold, as 144 Democrats voted to kill the measure compared to 52 Democrats supporting the legislation. Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote against the bill, and 33 members did not vote.
The legislation may make a return in the 119th Congress.
Representatives Hinson, Miller-Meeks and Sorensen also supported HR 82, Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, which eliminated the provision that barred Americans from receiving assistance if they collected other benefits like a state pension.
The bill removed the government pension offset, which reduced funds for widows, widowers, and spouses who received their own benefits. It also axed the windfall elimination provision, which reduced benefits to Americans who received disability from their employer who did not withhold Social Security taxes.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Nov. 13th, Representative Miller-Meeks says, "Last night, the Social Security Fairness Act passed the House. This legislation ensures Iowa firefighters, teachers, police officers and other public servants receive the social security benefits they earned. I was proud to vote to correct a longstanding error."
Congressman Sorensen sent a news release on Wednesday, Nov. 13th, saying, "Social Security is a sacred promise to more than 100,000 of my neighbors in Central and Northwestern Illinois who benefit from this important program. Our communities have worked for decades to get these benefits, and it is long past time we expand access to Social Security and put more money into the pockets of those who have earned it. I am proud to have helped pass this bipartisan bill through the House to show the people we serve that we respect their labor and hard work. I urge the Senate to quickly pass this bill and get it to the president’s desk for his signature.”
Congresswoman Hinson also made a post on her website stating her support for the bill. Representative Hinson says, "For far too long, public servants like teachers and police officers in Iowa have been unfairly punished through reduced Social Security benefits. Iowans who dedicate their lives to helping others should not have to worry if they are going to receive their full Social Security benefits when they retire. I fought to bring this bill to the Floor for a vote and proudly supported it to restore full retirement benefits for public servants and help ensure financial security for millions of seniors who have served our communities."
The bill passed 327 to 75, with 29 members not voting. Because the rules were suspended, it passed the two-thirds required. The legislation now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
You can follow all legislative actions at congress.gov.
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