Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, what we are witnessing on the floor today is, I believe, one of the most bizarre arguments against a bill that I have seen since I have been here in my 8 years in Congress.
In fact, look over there and see how they are contorting themselves to say they are against this bill.
Mr. Speaker, remember that old game we used to play as kids, Twister? It looks like a game of Twister over on that side today.
First, about the facts in this bill, today, it is 411 days since Hamas terrorists captured and continue to hold men, women, and children, including seven American citizens, hostage in the Gaza Strip.
In the wake of those attacks, nefarious groups have leveraged their status as nonprofits under section 501(c)(3) of the tax code to provide material and financial support to Hamas.
We have examples. One is the Alliance for Global Justice, which is linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which the State Department has designated as a terrorist organization.
Another example is the Popular Media Project, which employed a Hamas spokesperson who held three Israelis hostage at his home in Gaza.
Mr. Speaker, we don't negotiate with terrorists, so why should we allow tax-advantaged groups to fund them?
Why should taxpayers be on the hook to subsidize organizations aiding Hamas terrorists and continuing to hold American citizens hostage?
Why did our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, along with Mr. Doggett, vote for this bill unanimously in the Ways and Means Committee on September 11?
Why was it okay to prevent the funding of terrorists by nonprofits then, but it is not okay to do so now?
Why did our colleagues on the floor of the House vote for this, but not now?
My colleagues on the other side of the aisle say it is because suddenly we have Donald Trump as our President. You are saying, folks, this would have been okay if President Harris had been elected, but not with Donald Trump?
Maybe it makes sense because, under Democratic Presidents, the IRS did target conservative groups. Where was your outrage at that when the IRS was targeting conservative groups?
Do you know that President Trump won the election by a wide margin? He has a mandate by the American people. He won the popular vote. He won 312 electoral votes.
The American people believe that Donald Trump will save this country and will put this country on the right path. They don't believe that he is a fascist. They don't believe that he is the kind of dictator that you think he will be.
Talk about election denialism. When are you going to accept that President Trump won this election and that President Trump will do what is right for the American people?
Mr. Speaker, this is the most bizarre argument that I have heard on this bill. It is the most bizarre argument I have heard since I have been in Congress. They have completely reversed their vote in just a few months. It is unbelievable, Mr. Speaker. It is sad.
This is a bill that has parameters around the bill. They say now, suddenly, it doesn't have parameters.
It simply says, if a nonprofit is supporting a terrorist organization, their tax status should be revoked. It is a commonsense bill. Do not believe what they are saying today.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this bill.
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