IICalendar No. 475113th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 4028[Report No. 113–214]IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJune 2, 2014Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsJuly 21, 2014Reported by Mr. Menendez, without amendmentAN ACTTo amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to include the desecration of cemeteries among the many forms of violations of the right to religious freedom.

1.

Findings

Congress finds the following:(1)Cemeteries are sacred sites that are of great spiritual, cultural, and historical significance to many religious and ethnic groups.(2)Congress is committed to protecting and preserving the heritage and sacred sites of national, religious, and ethnic groups, which includes cemeteries in the United States and abroad.(3)Cemeteries around the world have and continue to be defaced or destroyed as a direct result of their affiliation with a particular religious or spiritual group.(4)Such attacks constitute an assault on the fundamental right to freedom of religion, and are especially egregious when sponsored or tolerated by the local or national governments in the countries in which such offenses occur.

2.

Amendment to International Religious Freedom Act of 1998

Section 2(a)(4) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(a)(4)) is amended in the fourth sentence by inserting desecration of cemeteries, after confiscations of property,.

July 21, 2014Reported without amendment