Contact Congress about H.R. 8166: GUARD Act
Some charities and social welfare groups could lose their federal tax break after one covered donation. The rule applies when the donor is a citizen or national of a listed foreign adversary country. Treasury could add more countries to that list after consulting the State Department.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
GUARD Act is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Latest action on H.R. 8166: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects charities, social welfare nonprofits, and donors tied to listed foreign adversary countries. Groups that want to keep tax-exempt status may need to check donor citizenship or nationality before accepting gifts. Donors who are citizens or nationals of listed countries could find it harder to give to U.S. tax-exempt groups, even if they live in the United States.
Why this matters: This bill could change who some nonprofits are willing to accept money from. It ties a group’s tax break to the citizenship or nationality of certain donors. That could reduce foreign-adversary influence, but it could also make fundraising harder and add donor-screening costs. The bill does not show how many groups or donors would be affected.
Key provisions in H.R. 8166
- The bill applies only to 501(c)(3) charities and 501(c)(4) social welfare groups. These are tax-exempt nonprofits under the Internal Revenue Code.
- A covered group would lose its tax exemption if it accepts any covered gift from a citizen or national of a listed foreign adversary. The group would become taxable for any tax year that ends on or after the gift date.
- The bill lists China as a foreign adversary, including Hong Kong and Macau. It also lists Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
- The Treasury Secretary could add more countries to the foreign adversary list. The Secretary must first consult the Secretary of State and decide the change serves U.S. national security.
- The bill uses an existing tax-law meaning of “contribution or gift.” That definition comes from section 6033(b)(5), which covers reports filed by tax-exempt groups.
How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 8166
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about H.R. 8166
- What is H.R. 8166?
- Some charities and social welfare groups could lose their federal tax break after one covered donation. The rule applies when the donor is a citizen or national of a listed foreign adversary country. Treasury could add more countries to that list after consulting the State Department.
- How do I support or oppose H.R. 8166?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about H.R. 8166?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain H.R. 8166 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
