Last night, the House of Representatives voted on H.R. 9495 — a bill that would have given Trump the power to investigate and effectively shut down any tax-exempt organization based on a unilateral accusation of wrongdoing — without any explanation required.
Because of quick action from Bend the Arc and hundreds of other organizations and their memberships, the bill was defeated last night.
But we know the threat is not over. The MAGA movement is getting in formation after Trump’s election and it’s clear that one of their first targets are nonprofit, media, and civil rights organizations like Bend the Arc.
Here’s what we did to help defeat this bill:
- We communicated to all Democratic offices our opposition to the bill
- We had individual conversations with members of Congress, including people on the fence
- We worked with other Jewish and progressive organizations to share resources and ensure key members of Congress were getting the pressure they needed
This was a practice round: with a likely Republican trifecta in 2025, this was only a preview of what’s to come. We are seeing the danger a second Trump presidency poses to our safety as Jews, the many communities we love and belong to, and the institutions we rely on.
Chip in here to protect Bend the Arc’s ability to protect our families, futures, and freedoms.
Thank you for your urgent action,
Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block
Washington Director, Bend the Arc
