H.R. 8236 — Designating Hamas Affiliates in America Act of 2026

This section sets forth 12 congressional findings regarding the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), including (1) its status as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial with ties to Hamas; (2) involvement of CAIR founders in a Hamas front group; (3) CAIR's founding with Holy Land Foundation funding; (4) convictions of Holy Land Foundation leaders for funneling over $12 million to Hamas and of CAIR-Texas founding member Ghassan Elashi (sentenced to 65 years); (5) terrorism-related arrests, convictions, or deportations of seven CAIR officials; (6) executive orders by Texas and Florida governors designating CAIR as a terrorist organization and resolutions in other states to suspend contacts; (7) United Arab Emirates' 2014 terrorist designation of CAIR; (8) FBI suspension of non-investigative contacts with CAIR; (9) criticisms of CAIR for antisemitic rhetoric; (10) cancellations of CAIR-hosted events; (11) Biden Administration disavowal of CAIR; and (12) suspensions and resignations of CAIR officials from Maryland's hate crimes commission.

This section directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), including all its chapters, affiliates, and successors, as a specially designated global terrorist under Executive Order 13224 (relating to blocking property and prohibiting transactions with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism). Upon designation, (1) all CAIR assets within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked; (2) no U.S. person may engage in any transaction with CAIR; and (3) CAIR is added to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. The section further directs suspension of CAIR's tax-exempt status under IRC §501(c)(3) (i.e., exemption for organizations operated exclusively for charitable and similar purposes) pursuant to §501(p).

This section requires the Secretaries of State and the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General, to submit to the appropriate committees of Congress (i.e., specified committees in both the House and Senate, including those on Armed Services, Financial Services or Banking, Foreign Affairs or Relations, Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Intelligence) a report on CAIR not later than 30 days after enactment of the Act. The report must detail criteria met for CAIR's designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224 (which authorizes sanctions against persons who commit, threaten, or support terrorism) or provide a justification if any criteria are not met; it must be unclassified (with a possible classified annex) and provided only in electronic form unless a legislative branch office requests a printed copy.