I am writing to express my outrage over Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s vote in favor of H.R. 9495, the so-called “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.” Far from protecting Americans, this bill poses a serious threat to democracy and every nonprofit organization in the country.
While the bill’s title suggests a focus on countering terrorism, its true purpose is to grant unchecked, sweeping powers to the executive branch. The legislation allows the Treasury Secretary to arbitrarily label any organization as a “terrorist supporter” without providing any justification or evidence. This includes nonprofits, news outlets, universities, civil society groups, and even religious organizations. In effect, it opens the door to silencing dissenting voices and chilling free speech.
Worse still, the bill strips away due process, denying organizations the right to defend themselves against such baseless designations. By allowing the government to target ideological opponents, this bill endangers the very foundations of our civil liberties and could be used as a weapon against anyone who dares to oppose those in power.
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Congressman Fitzpatrick has shown a blatant disregard for the values that Bucks County stands for, participating in a dangerous power grab that could further erode the rights of our citizens. His vote in favor of this bill emboldens those who wish to silence political opposition, including former President Trump, who has previously threatened to jail journalists and retaliate against political adversaries. This legislation hands him, or any future administration, the power to make those threats a reality.
It’s time for us to stand up against this assault on democracy. Congressman Fitzpatrick’s vote is a clear indication of his willingness to compromise our freedoms for political gain.
David Meiser, Pipersville
