FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
November 20, 2024
Contact: Denzel McCampbell, denzel@progressmichigan.org
Michigan Organizations Pen Open Letter to MI Congressional Delegation
To the Michigan Congressional Delegation:
As a coalition of progressive nonprofit groups, we are extremely concerned about the upcoming vote on HR 9495, which would give the executive branch the power to unilaterally strip tax-exempt status from nonprofit organizations the Treasury Department deems as “terrorist-supporting.”
We were incredibly disheartened to see so many members of Michigan’s Congressional delegation vote yes on this legislation when it came up last week, as it poses a significant threat to free speech and would give Donald Trump even more power to pursue his own grudges while in office.
Under this law, the decision of which nonprofits are “supportive of terrorists” and what that phrase means would belong entirely to the Trump administration. Effectively, this bill would give the president carte blanche to directly attack any nonprofits he perceives as enemies. With someone as reckless and vindictive as Trump in office, that could include any number of social justice and advocacy organizations, including those who work on reproductive health, LGBTQ+ advocacy, or racial justice. Every social justice and human service group and all the services and protections they provide to Michiganders would be in jeopardy.
Time and time again, Donald Trump has lashed out at his critics and perceived opponents—even journalists whose only supposed wrongdoing was to accurately report factual information. His first administration showed that he is more than willing to use the presidency, and all the power that comes with it, to pursue his own personal agendas with no concern for what is right or legal.
The last thing Americans need as we prepare for a second Trump presidency is for Congress to deliver even more power into his hands.
Many of you voted yes on this bill last week, and we believe that was the wrong decision. But now, you have a second chance to make the right choice. Vote NO on HR 9495.
Sincerely,
482Forward
APIA Vote-Michigan
Black Voters Matter Fund
Black Women’s Roundtable
Clean Water Action
Detroit Change Initiative
Detroit Disability Power
Detroit People’s Platform
Emgage Action
Equality Michigan
Jews for a Secular Democracy
Liberation Policy Action Center
Metro Detroit APRI
MI Poder
Michigan Country
Michigan Education Justice Coalition
Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Michigan United Action
Michigan Voices
Mothers of Hope, Kalamazoo
Oakland Forward Action Fund
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan
Progress Michigan
Rising Voices
Service Employees International Union
Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice
The Arc Michigan
Voting Access for All Coalition
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