San Antonio Rep. Henry Cuellar voted for ‘nonprofit killer’ bill passed by U.S. House

Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, whose Texas District 28 covers part of San Antonio, voted for a bill that would allow President-elect Donald Trump to target nonprofits with claims they’re funding terrorism.

The bill passed the GOP-controlled House Thursday morning with the help of 15 Democrats who joined with the Republican majority. It was approved on a 219-184 vote.

Dubbed the “nonprofit killer” by critics, HR 9495 would give the incoming president unprecedented power to target activist organizations under the guise of rooting out nonprofits funding Hamas and other terror groups.

Also known as the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, the bill would enable the Treasury Secretary to unilaterally designate any nonprofit a “terrorist-supporting organization” and revoke its tax-exempt status, making it nearly impossible to continue operating.

“Authoritarianism is not born overnight — it creeps in,” U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, said Thursday on the House floor, according to a report by The Intercept. “A tyrant tightens his grip not just by seizing power but when he demands new powers and when those who can stop him willingly cede and bend to his will.”

Ahead of Thursday’s vote, the ACLU brought together a coalition of more than 180 nonprofits in opposition to the bill, including Planned Parenthood, the NAACP, United Auto Workers and the AFL-CIO. In a letter to Congress, the groups warned the bill could be used to “silence dissent” and “go after vulnerable communities.”

Other activist groups closer to home are also sounding the alarm.

“This bill jeopardizes the essential work of nonprofits, including MOVE Texas, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering all young Texans through voter registration, civic education and advocacy for fair elections,” Claudia Yoli, executive director of San Antonio-based MOVE Texas, said in a statement to the Current.

“Its sweeping and unchecked authority undermines our efforts to get out the vote in Texas, threatening the constitutional protections that ensure nonprofits can serve their communities without fear of political retribution. We will continue to stand firm against this dangerous censorship and fight for a democracy that represents the voices of all young Texans.”
The ACLU argues that HR 9495 isn’t just dangerous but also unnecessary. It’s already illegal for any group or individual in the United States to fund terrorism, and there are already provisions to enforce, prosecute and sanction in such cases. The bill also prevents the IRS from imposing fines and penalties on hostages while they are held abroad. However, the ACLU notes that this part of the bill already passed the Senate and could be signed into law without the “nonprofit-killer” language from previous measure HR 6408 that was subsequently added.

The San Antonio Current reached out to Cuellar’s field office in Laredo and his DC office for comment on his vote. His staff didn’t respond by press time.

The bill’s fate is uncertain as it next heads to the Republican-controlled Senate.

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This article appears in Nov 13-26, 2024.