[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2431 Engrossed in House (EH)]


  2d Session

                               H. R. 2431

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

To establish an Office of Religious Persecution Monitoring, to provide 
for the imposition of sanctions against countries engaged in a pattern 
           of religious persecution, and for other purposes.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 2431

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To establish an Office of Religious Persecution Monitoring, to provide 
for the imposition of sanctions against countries engaged in a pattern 
           of religious persecution, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom From Religious Persecution 
Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Governments have a primary responsibility to promote, 
        encourage, and protect respect for the fundamental and 
        internationally recognized right to freedom of religion.
            (2)(A) Since its inception, the United States Government 
        has rested upon certain founding principles. One of those 
        principles is that all people have the inalienable right to 
        worship freely, which demands that religion be protected from 
        unnecessary government intervention. The Founding Fathers of 
        the United States incorporated that principle in the 
        Declaration of Independence, which states that mankind has the 
        inalienable right to ``life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
        happiness'', and in the United States Constitution, the first 
        amendment to which states that ``Congress shall make no law 
        respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the 
        free exercise thereof''. Therefore, in accordance with this 
        belief in the inalienable right of freedom of religion for all 
        people, as expressed by the Declaration of Independence, and 
        the belief that religion should be protected from government 
        interference, as expressed by the United States Constitution, 
        the Congress opposes international religious persecution and 
        believes that the policies of the United States Government and 
        its relations with foreign governments should be consistent 
        with the commitment to this principle.
            (B) Numerous international agreements and covenants also 
        identify mankind's inherent right to freedom of religion. These 
        include the following:
                    (i) Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of 
                Human Rights states that ``Everyone has the right to 
                freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right 
                includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and 
                freedom, either alone or in community with others and 
                in public or private, to manifest his religion or 
                belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance''.
                    (ii) Article 18 of the Covenant on Civil and 
                Political Rights declares that ``Everyone shall have 
                the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and 
                religion * * *'' and further delineates the privileges 
                under this right.
                    (iii) The Declaration on the Elimination of All 
                Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on 
                Religion and Belief, adopted by the United Nations 
                General Assembly on November 25, 1981, declares that 
                ``religion or belief, for anyone who professes either, 
                is one of the fundamental elements in his conception of 
                life * * *'' and that ``freedom of religion and belief 
                should also contribute to the attainment of the goals 
                of world peace, social justice and friendship among 
                peoples and to the elimination of ideologies or 
                practices of colonialism and racial discrimination''.
                    (iv) The Concluding Document of the Third Follow-Up 
                Meeting of the Organization for Security and 
                Cooperation in Europe commits states to ``ensure in 
                their laws and regulations and in their application the 
                full and effective exercise of the freedom of thought, 
                conscience, religion or belief''.
            (3) Persecution of religious believers, particularly Roman 
        Catholic and evangelical Protestant Christians, in Communist 
        countries persists and in some cases is increasing.
            (4) In many countries and regions thereof, governments 
        dominated by extremist movements persecute non-Muslims and 
        religious converts from Islam using means such as ``blasphemy'' 
        and ``apostasy'' laws, and such movements seek to corrupt a 
        historically tolerant Islamic faith and culture through the 
        persecution of Baha'is, Christians, and other religious 
        minorities.
            (5) The extremist Government of Sudan is waging a self-
        described religious war against Christians, other non-Muslims, 
        and moderate Muslims by using torture, starvation, enslavement, 
        and murder.
            (6) In Tibet, where Tibetan Buddhism is inextricably linked 
        to the Tibetan identity, the Government of the People's 
        Republic of China has intensified its control over the Tibetan 
        people by interfering in the selection of the Panchen Lama, 
        propagandizing against the religious authority of the Dalai 
        Lama, restricting religious study and traditional religious 
        practices, and increasing the persecution of monks and nuns.
            (7) In Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China, formerly the 
        independent republic of East Turkistan, where the Muslim 
        religion is inextricably linked to the dominant Uyghur culture, 
        the Government of the People's Republic of China has 
        intensified its control over the Uyghur people by 
        systematically repressing religious authority, restricting 
        religious study and traditional practices, destroying mosques, 
        and increasing the persecution of religious clergy and 
        practitioners.
            (8) In countries around the world, Christians, Jews, 
        Muslims, Hindus, and other religious believers continue to be 
        persecuted on account of their religious beliefs, practices, 
        and affiliations.
            (9) The 104th Congress recognized the facts set forth in 
        this section and stated clearly the sense of the Senate and the 
        House of Representatives regarding these matters in approving--
                    (A) House Resolution 515, expressing the sense of 
                the House of Representatives with respect to the 
                persecution of Christians worldwide;
                    (B) S. Con. Res. 71, expressing the sense of the 
                Senate with respect to the persecution of Christians 
                worldwide;
                    (C) H. Con. Res. 102, concerning the emancipation 
                of the Iranian Baha'i community; and
                    (D) section 1303 of H.R. 1561, the Foreign 
                Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1996 and 
                1997.
            (10) The Department of State, in a report to Congress filed 
        pursuant to House Report 104-863, accompanying the Omnibus 
        Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-208) set 
        forth strong evidence that widespread and ongoing religious 
        persecution is occurring in a number of countries around the 
        world.
            (11)(A)(i) In recent years there have been successive 
        terrorist attempts to desecrate and destroy the premises of the 
        Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Fanar area of Istanbul 
        (Constantinople), Turkey.
            (ii) Attempts against the Ecumenical Patriarchate have 
        intensified, including the following:
                    (I) On September 30, 1996, a hand grenade was 
                thrown into the headquarters of the Eastern Orthodox 
                Patriarchate and exploded, causing damage to the 
                physical structure of the grounds, most notably the 
                Agios Georgios Church.
                    (II) On May 28, 1994, three powerful bombs were 
                discovered in the living quarters of the Patriarch, and 
                were subsequently defused only minutes before they were 
                set to detonate.
                    (III) In July and August 1993, the Christian 
                Orthodox cemetery in Yenikoy, near Istanbul, was 
                attacked by vandals and desecrated.
            (iii) His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and those 
        associated with the Ecumenical Patriarchate are Turkish 
        citizens and thus must be protected under Turkish law against 
        blatant and unprovoked attacks toward ethnic minorities.
            (iv) The Turkish Government arbitrarily closed the Halki 
        Patriarchal School of Theology in 1971.
            (v) The Ecumenical Patriarchate is the spiritual center for 
        more than 250,000,000 Orthodox Christians worldwide, including 
        approximately 5,000,000 in the United States.
            (vi) It is in the best interest of the United States to 
        prevent further incidents regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate 
        and in the overall goals of the United States to establish 
        peaceful relations with and among the many important nations of 
        the world that have substantial Orthodox Christian populations.
            (B) It is the sense of the Congress that--
                    (i) the United States should use its influence with 
                the Turkish Government and as a permanent member of the 
                United Nations Security Council to suggest that the 
                Turkish Government--
                            (I) ensure proper protection for the 
                        Patriarchate and all of the Orthodox faithful 
                        residing in Turkey;
                            (II) provide for the proper protection and 
                        safety of the Ecumenical Patriarch and 
                        Patriarchate personnel;
                            (III) establish conditions that would 
                        prevent the recurrence of past terrorist 
                        activities and vandalism and other personal 
                        threats against the Patriarch;
                            (IV) establish conditions to ensure that 
                        the Patriarchate is free to carry out its 
                        religious mission; and
                            (V) do everything possible to find and 
                        punish the perpetrators of any provocative and 
                        terrorist acts against the Patriarchate; and
                    (ii) the Secretary of State should report to the 
                Congress on an annual basis on the status and progress 
                of the concerns expressed in clause (i).
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to reduce and eliminate 
the widespread and ongoing religious persecution taking place 
throughout the world today.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Office of Religious Persecution Monitoring established 
        under section 5.
            (2) Legislative day.--The term ``legislative day'' means a 
        day on which both Houses of Congress are in session.
            (3) Persecuted community.--The term ``persecuted 
        community'' means any religious group or denomination whose 
        members have been found to be subject to category 1 or category 
        2 persecution in the latest annual report submitted under 
        section 6(a) or in any interim report submitted thereafter 
        under section 6(c) before the next annual report.
            (4) Persecution facilitating products.--The term 
        ``persecution facilitating products'' means those crime 
        control, detection, torture, and electroshock instruments and 
        equipment (as determined under section 6(n) of the Export 
        Administration Act of 1979) that are directly and substantially 
        used or intended for use in carrying out acts of persecution 
        described in paragraphs (5) and (6).
            (5) Category 1 persecution.--The term ``category 1 
        persecution'' means widespread and ongoing persecution of 
        persons on account of their religious beliefs or practices, or 
        membership in or affiliation with a religion or religious group 
        or denomination, whether officially recognized or otherwise, 
        when such persecution--
                    (A) includes abduction, enslavement, killing, 
                imprisonment, forced mass relocation, rape, crucifixion 
                or other forms of torture, or the systematic imposition 
                of fines or penalties which have the purpose and effect 
                of destroying the economic existence of persons on whom 
                they are imposed; and
                    (B) is conducted with the involvement or support of 
                government officials or agents, or pursuant to official 
                government policy.
            (6) Category 2 persecution.--The term ``category 2 
        persecution'' means widespread and ongoing persecution of 
        persons on account of their religious beliefs or practices, or 
        membership in or affiliation with a religion or religious group 
        or denomination, whether officially recognized or otherwise, 
        when such persecution--
                    (A) includes abduction, enslavement, killing, 
                imprisonment, forced mass relocation, rape, crucifixion 
                or other forms of torture, or the systematic imposition 
                of fines or penalties which have the purpose and effect 
                of destroying the economic existence of persons on whom 
                they are imposed; and
                    (B) is not conducted with the involvement or 
                support of government officials or agents, or pursuant 
                to official government policy, but which the government 
                fails to undertake serious and sustained efforts to 
                eliminate, being able to do so.
            (7) Responsible entities.--The term ``responsible 
        entities'' means the specific government units, as narrowly 
        defined as practicable, which directly carry out the acts of 
        persecution described in paragraphs (5) and (6).
            (8) Sanctioned country.--The term ``sanctioned country'' 
        means a country on which sanctions have been imposed under 
        section 7.
            (9) United states assistance.--The term ``United States 
        assistance'' means--
                    (A) any assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act 
                of 1961 (including programs under title IV of chapter 2 
                of part I of that Act, relating to the Overseas Private 
                Investment Corporation), other than--
                            (i) assistance under chapter 8 of part I of 
                        that Act;
                            (ii) any other narcotics-related assistance 
                        under part I of that Act or under chapter 4 or 
                        5 of part II of that Act, but any such 
                        assistance provided under this clause shall be 
                        subject to the prior notification procedures 
                        applicable to reprogrammings pursuant to 
                        section 634A of that Act;
                            (iii) disaster relief assistance, including 
                        any assistance under chapter 9 of part I of 
                        that Act;
                            (iv) antiterrorism assistance under chapter 
                        8 of part II of that Act;
                            (v) assistance which involves the provision 
                        of food (including monetization of food) or 
                        medicine;
                            (vi) assistance for refugees; and
                            (vii) humanitarian and other development 
                        assistance in support of programs of 
                        nongovernmental organizations under chapters 1 
                        and 10 of that Act;
                    (B) sales, or financing on any terms, under the 
                Arms Export Control Act, other than sales or financing 
                provided for narcotics-related purposes following 
                notification in accordance with the prior notification 
                procedures applicable to reprogrammings pursuant to 
                section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; and
                    (C) financing under the Export-Import Bank Act of 
                1945.
            (10) United states person.--The term ``United States 
        person'' means--
                    (A) any United States citizen or alien lawfully 
                admitted for permanent residence into the United 
                States; and
                    (B) any corporation, partnership, or other entity 
                organized under the laws of the United States or of any 
                State, the District of Columbia, or any territory or 
                possession of the United States.

SEC. 4. APPLICATION AND SCOPE.

    The responsibility of the Secretary of State under section 5(g) to 
determine whether category 1 or category 2 persecution exists, and to 
identify persons and communities that are subject to such persecution, 
extends to--
            (1) all foreign countries in which alleged violations of 
        religious freedom have been set forth in the latest annual 
        report of the Department of State on human rights under 
        sections 116(d) and 502(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
        1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) and 2304(b)); and
            (2) such other foreign countries in which, either as a 
        result of referral by an independent human rights group or 
        nongovernmental organization in accordance with section 5(e)(2) 
        or otherwise, the Director has reason to believe category 1 or 
        category 2 persecution may exist.

SEC. 5. OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION MONITORING.

    (a) Establishment.--There shall be established in the Department of 
State the Office of Religious Persecution Monitoring (hereafter in this 
Act referred to as the ``Office'').
    (b) Appointment.--The head of the Office shall be a Director who 
shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate. The Director shall receive compensation at a rate of pay 
not to exceed the rate of pay in effect for level IV of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
    (c) Removal.--The Director shall serve at the pleasure of the 
President.
    (d) Barred From Other Federal Positions.--No person shall serve as 
Director while serving in any other position in the Federal Government.
    (e) Responsibilities of Director.--The Director shall do the 
following:
            (1) Consider information regarding the facts and 
        circumstances of violations of religious freedom presented in 
        the annual reports of the Department of State on human rights 
        under sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act 
        of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) and 2304(b)).
            (2) Make findings of fact on violations of religious 
        freedom based on information--
                    (A) considered under paragraph (1); or
                    (B) presented by independent human rights groups, 
                nongovernmental organizations, or other interested 
                parties, at any stage of the process provided in this 
                Act.
         When appropriate, the Director may hold public hearings 
        subject to notice at which such groups, organizations, or other 
        interested parties can present testimony and evidence of acts 
        of persecution occurring in countries being examined by the 
        Office.
            (3) On the basis of information and findings of fact 
        described in paragraphs (1) and (2), make recommendations to 
        the Secretary of State for consideration by the Secretary in 
        making determinations of countries in which there is category 1 
        or category 2 persecution under subsection (g), identify the 
        responsible entities within such countries, prepare and submit 
        the annual report described in section 6, and transmit a copy 
        of the report to the Commission on International Religious 
        Persecution established under section 14.
            (4) Maintain the lists of persecution facilitating 
        products, and the responsible entities within countries 
        determined to be engaged in persecution described in paragraph 
        (3), revising the lists in accordance with section 6(c) as 
        additional information becomes available. These lists shall be 
        published in the Federal Register.
            (5) In consultation with the Secretary of State, make 
        policy recommendations to the President regarding the policies 
        of the United States Government toward governments which are 
        determined to be engaged in religious persecution.
            (6) Report directly to the President and the Secretary of 
        State, and coordinate with the appropriate officials of the 
        Department of State, the Department of Justice, the Department 
        of Commerce, and the Department of the Treasury, to ensure that 
        the provisions of this Act are fully and effectively 
        implemented.
            (7) In consultation with the Secretary of State, make 
        policy recommendations to the President that would make a 
        priority of promoting and developing legal protections and 
        cultural respect for religious freedom, including by--
                    (A) ensuring that funds made available for 
                development assistance are used, among other things, to 
                encourage and promote increased adherence to the right 
                to free religious belief and practice;
                    (B) ensuring that United States international 
                broadcasting is designed to promote respect for human 
                rights, including freedom of religion, among other 
                broadcasting goals; and
                    (C) ensuring that United States cultural and 
                educational exchanges promote, among other goals, 
                respect for and guarantees of religious freedom abroad, 
                including through interchanges and visits between the 
                United States and other countries of religious leaders, 
                scholars, and religious and legal experts in the field 
                of religious freedom.
            (8) Assist the Secretary of State in establishing a program 
        of granting awards to members of the Foreign Service who have 
        provided distinguished, meritorious service in the promotion of 
        internationally recognized human rights, including the right to 
        religious freedom.
    (f) Administrative Matters.--
            (1) Personnel.--The Director may appoint such personnel as 
        may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Office.
            (2) Services of other agencies.--The Director may use the 
        personnel, services, and facilities of any other department or 
        agency, on a reimbursable basis, in carrying out the functions 
        of the Office.
    (g) Responsibilities of the Secretary of State.--The Secretary of 
State, in time for inclusion in the annual report described in 
subsections (a) and (b) of section 6, shall determine with respect to 
each country described in section 4 whether there is category 1 or 
category 2 persecution, and shall include in each such determination 
the communities against which such persecution is directed. Any 
determination in any interim report described in subsection (c) of 
section 6 that there is category 1 or category 2 persecution in a 
country shall be made by the Secretary of State.

SEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    (a) Annual Reports.--Not later than April 30 of each year, the 
Director shall submit to the Committees on Foreign Relations, the 
Judiciary, Appropriations, and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of 
the Senate and to the Committees on International Relations, the 
Judiciary, Appropriations, and Banking and Financial Services of the 
House of Representatives a report described in subsection (b).
    (b) Contents of Annual Report.--The annual report of the Director 
shall include the following:
            (1) Determination of religious persecution.--A copy of the 
        determinations of the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection 
        (g) of section 5.
            (2) Identification of persecution facilitating products.--
        With respect to each country in which the Secretary of State 
        has determined that there is either category 1 or category 2 
        persecution, the Director, in consultation with the Secretary 
        of Commerce, shall identify and list the items on the list 
        established under section 6(n) of the Export Administration Act 
        of 1979 that are directly and substantially used or intended 
        for use in carrying out acts of religious persecution in such 
        country.
            (3) Identification of responsible entities.--With respect 
        to each country in which the Secretary of State has determined 
        that there is category 1 persecution, the Director shall 
        identify and list the responsible entities within that country 
        that are engaged in such persecution. Such entities shall be 
        defined as narrowly as possible.
            (4) Other reports.--The Director shall include the reports 
        submitted to the Director by the Attorney General under section 
        9 and by the Secretary of State under section 10.
    (c) Interim Reports.--The Director may submit interim reports to 
the Congress containing such matters as the Director considers 
necessary, including revisions to the lists issued under paragraphs (2) 
and (3) of subsection (b). The Director shall submit an interim report 
in the case of a determination by the Secretary of State under section 
5(g), other than in an annual report of the Director, that category 1 
or category 2 persecution exists, or in the case of a determination by 
the Secretary of State under section 11(a) that neither category 1 or 
category 2 persecution exists.
    (d) Persecution in Regions of a country.--In determining whether 
category 1 or category 2 persecution exists in a country, the Secretary 
of State shall include such persecution that is limited to one or more 
regions within the country, and shall indicate such regions in the 
reports described in this section.

SEC. 7. SANCTIONS.

    (a) Prohibition on Exports Relating to Religious Persecution.--
            (1) Actions by responsible departments and agencies.--With 
        respect to any country in which--
                    (A) the Secretary of State finds the occurrence of 
                category 1 persecution, the Director shall so notify 
                the relevant United States departments and agencies, 
                and such departments and agencies shall--
                            (i) prohibit all exports to the responsible 
                        entities identified in the lists issued under 
                        subsections (b)(3) and (c) of section 6; and
                            (ii) prohibit the export to such country of 
                        the persecution facilitating products 
                        identified in the lists issued under 
                        subsections (b)(2) and (c) of section 6; or
                    (B) the Secretary of State finds the occurrence of 
                category 2 persecution, the Director shall so notify 
                the relevant United States departments and agencies, 
                and such departments and agencies shall prohibit the 
                export to such country of the persecution facilitating 
                products identified in the lists issued under 
                subsections (b)(2) and (c) of section 6.
            (2) Prohibitions on u.s. persons.--(A) With respect to any 
        country in which the Secretary of State finds the occurrence of 
        category 1 persecution, no United States person may--
                    (i) export any item to the responsible entities 
                identified in the lists issued under subsections (b)(3) 
                and (c) of section 6; and
                    (ii) export to that country any persecution 
                facilitating products identified in the lists issued 
                under subsections (b)(2) and (c) of section 6.
            (B) With respect to any country in which the Secretary of 
        State finds the occurrence of category 2 persecution, no United 
        States person may export to that country any persecution 
        facilitating products identified in the lists issued under 
        subsections (b)(2) and (c) of section 6.
            (3) Penalties.--Any person who knowingly violates the 
        provisions of paragraph (2) shall be subject to the penalties 
        set forth in subsections (a) and (b)(1) of section 16 of the 
        Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. 16 (a) and (b)(1)) 
        for violations under that Act.
            (4) Effective date of prohibitions.--The prohibitions on 
        exports under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall take effect with 
        respect to a country 90 days after the date on which--
                    (A) the country is identified in a report of the 
                Director under section 6 as a country in which category 
                1 or category 2 persecution exists;
                    (B) responsible entities are identified in that 
                country in a list issued under subsection (b)(3) or (c) 
                of section 6; or
                    (C) persecution facilitating products are 
                identified in a list issued under subsection (b)(2) or 
                (c) of section 6,
        as the case may be.
    (b) United States Assistance.--
            (1) Category 1 persecution.--No United States assistance 
        may be provided to the government of any country which the 
        Secretary of State determines is engaged in category 1 
        persecution, effective 90 days after the date on which the 
        Director submits the report in which the determination is 
        included.
            (2) Category 2 persecution.--No United States assistance 
        may be provided to the government of any country in which the 
        Secretary of State determines that there is category 2 
        persecution, effective 1 year after the date on which the 
        Director submits the report in which the determination is 
        included, if the Secretary of State, in the next annual report 
        of the Director under section 6, determines that the country is 
        engaged in category 1 persecution or that category 2 
        persecution exists in that country.
    (c) Multilateral Assistance.--
            (1) Category 1 persecution.--With respect to any country 
        which the Secretary of State determines is engaged in category 
        1 persecution, the President shall instruct the United States 
        Executive Director of each multilateral development bank and of 
        the International Monetary Fund to vote against, and use his or 
        her best efforts to deny, any loan or other utilization of the 
        funds of their respective institutions to that country (other 
        than for humanitarian assistance, or for development assistance 
        which directly addresses basic human needs, is not administered 
        by the government of the sanctioned country, and confers no 
        benefit on the government of that country), effective 90 days 
        after the Director submits the report in which the 
        determination is included.
            (2) Category 2 persecution.--With respect to any country in 
        which the Secretary of State determines there is category 2 
        persecution, the President shall instruct the United States 
        Executive Director of each multilateral development bank and of 
        the International Monetary Fund to vote against, and use his or 
        her best efforts to deny, any loan or other utilization of the 
        funds of their respective institutions to that country (other 
        than for humanitarian assistance, or for development assistance 
        which directly addresses basic human needs, is not administered 
        by the government of the sanctioned country, and confers no 
        benefit on the government of that country), effective 1 year 
        after the date on which the Director submits the report in 
        which the determination is included, if the Secretary of State, 
        in the next annual report of the Director under section 6, 
        determines that the country is engaged in category 1 
        persecution or that category 2 persecution exists in that 
        country.
            (3) Reports to congress.--If a country described in 
        paragraph (1) or (2) is granted a loan or other utilization of 
        funds notwithstanding the objection of the United States under 
        this subsection, the Secretary of the Treasury shall report to 
        the Congress on the efforts made to deny loans or other 
        utilization of funds to that country, and shall include in the 
        report specific and explicit recommendations designed to ensure 
        that such loans or other utilization of funds are denied to 
        that country in the future.
            (4) Definition.--As used in this subsection, the term 
        ``multilateral development bank'' means any of the multilateral 
        development banks as defined in section 1701(c)(4) of the 
        International Financial Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 
        262r(c)(4)).
    (d) Relationship to Other Provisions.--The effective dates of the 
sanctions provided in this section are subject to sections 8 and 11.
    (e) Duly Authorized Intelligence Activities.--The prohibitions and 
restrictions of this section shall not apply to the conduct of duly 
authorized intelligence activities of the United States Government.
    (f) Effect on Existing Contracts.--The imposition of sanctions 
under this section shall not affect any contract that is entered into 
by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Trade and 
Development Agency, or the Export Import Bank of the United States 
before the sanctions are imposed, is in force on the date on which the 
sanctions are imposed, and is enforceable in a court of law on such 
date.
    (g) Effect of Waivers.--Any sanction under this section shall not 
take effect during the period after the President has notified the 
Congress of a waiver of that sanction under section 8 and before the 
waiver has taken effect under that section.

SEC. 8. WAIVER OF SANCTIONS.

    (a) Waiver Authority.--Subject to subsection (b), the President may 
waive the imposition of any sanction against a country under section 7 
for periods of not more than 12 months each, if the President, for each 
waiver--
            (1) determines--
                    (A) that the national security interests of the 
                United States justify such a waiver; or
                    (B) that such a waiver will substantially promote 
                the purposes of this Act as set forth in section 2; and
            (2) provides to the Committees on Foreign Relations, 
        Finance, the Judiciary, and Appropriations of the Senate and to 
        the Committees on International Relations, the Judiciary, and 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives a written 
        notification of the President's intention to waive any such 
        sanction.
The notification shall contain an explanation of the reasons why the 
President considers the waiver to be necessary, the type and amount of 
goods, services, or assistance to be provided pursuant to the waiver, 
and the period of time during which such a waiver will be effective. 
When the President considers it appropriate, the explanation under the 
preceding sentence, or any part of the explanation, may be submitted in 
classified form.
    (b) Additional Information.--In the case of a waiver under 
subsection (a)(1)(B), the notification shall contain a detailed 
statement of the facts particular to the country subject to the waiver 
which justifies the President's determination, and of the alternative 
measures the President intends to implement in order to achieve the 
objectives of this Act.
    (c) Taking Effect of Waiver.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a waiver under 
        subsection (a) shall take effect 45 days after its submission 
        to the Congress, or on the day after the 15th legislative day 
        after such submission, whichever is later.
            (2) In emergency conditions.--The President may waive the 
        imposition of sanctions against a country under subsection (b) 
        or (c) of section 7 to take effect immediately if the 
        President, in the written notification of intention to waive 
        the sanctions, certifies that emergency conditions exist that 
        make an immediate waiver necessary.
    (d) Sense of the Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that in 
order to achieve the objectives of this Act, the waiver authority 
provided in this section should be used only in extraordinary 
circumstances.

SEC. 9. MODIFICATION OF IMMIGRATION POLICY.

    (a) Inadmissibility of Certain Participants in Religious 
Persecution.--
            (1) In general.--Section 212(a)(3) of the Immigration and 
        Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)) is amended by adding at 
        the end the following:
                    ``(F) Participants in religious persecution.--Any 
                alien who carried out or directed the carrying out of 
                category 1 persecution (as defined in section 3 of the 
                Freedom from Religious Persecution Act of 1998) or 
                category 2 persecution (as so defined) is 
                inadmissible.''.
            (2) Applicability.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        shall apply to persecution occurring before, on, or after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Refugees.--
            (1) Guidelines for addressing bias affecting refugees.--Not 
        later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State shall 
        jointly promulgate and implement guidelines for identifying and 
        addressing improper biases, affecting the treatment of persons 
        who may be eligible for admission into the United States as a 
        refugee based upon a claim of persecution or a well-founded 
        fear of persecution on account of religion, on the part of--
                    (A) immigration officers adjudicating applications 
                for admission as a refugee submitted by such persons 
                and interpreters assisting immigration officers in 
                adjudicating such applications; and
                    (B) individuals and entities assisting in the 
                identification of such persons and the preparation of 
                such applications.
            (2) Admission priority.--For purposes of section 207(a)(3) 
        of the Immigration and Nationality Act, an individual who is a 
        member of a persecuted community, and is determined by the 
        Attorney General to be a refugee within the meaning of section 
        101(a)(42)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, shall be 
        considered a refugee of special humanitarian concern to the 
        United States. In carrying out such section 207(a)(3), 
        applicants for refugee status who are members of a persecuted 
        community shall be given priority status equal to that given to 
        applicants who are members of other specific groups of special 
        concern to the United States. This paragraph shall be construed 
        only to require that members of a persecuted community be 
        accorded equal consideration in determining admissions under 
        section 207(a) of such Act, and shall not be construed to 
        require that any particular individual or group be admitted 
        under that section.
            (3) No effect on others' rights.--Nothing in this section, 
        or any amendment made by this section, shall be construed to 
        deny any applicant for asylum or refugee status (including any 
        applicant who is not a member of a persecuted community but 
        whose claim is based on race, religion, nationality, membership 
        in a particular social group, or political opinion) any right, 
        privilege, protection, or eligibility otherwise provided by 
        law.
            (4) No displacement of other refugees.--Refugees admitted 
        to the United States as a result of the procedures set forth in 
        this section shall not displace other refugees in need of 
        resettlement who would otherwise have been admitted in 
        accordance with existing law and procedures.
            (5) Period for public comment and review.--Section 207(d) 
        of the Immigration and Nationality Act is amended by adding at 
        the end the following:
    ``(4)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, prior to each 
annual determination regarding refugee admissions under this 
subsection, there shall be a period of public review and comment, 
particularly by appropriate nongovernmental organizations, churches, 
and other religious communities and organizations, and the general 
public.
    ``(B) Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to apply 
subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, to the 
period of review and comment referred to in subparagraph (A).''.
    (c) Asylees.--
            (1) Guidelines for addressing bias.--Not later than 180 
        days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney 
        General shall develop and implement guidelines for identifying 
        and addressing improper biases, affecting the treatment of 
        persons who may be eligible for asylum in the United States, 
        based upon a claim of persecution or a well-founded fear of 
        persecution on account of religion, on the part of immigration 
        officers carrying out functions under section 208 or 235 of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act and interpreters assisting 
        immigration officers in carrying out such functions.
            (2) Studies of effect of expedited removal provisions on 
        asylum claims.--
                    (A) Studies.--
                            (i) Participation by united nations high 
                        commissioner for refugees.--The Attorney 
                        General shall invite the United Nations High 
                        Commissioner for Refugees to conduct a study, 
                        alone or in cooperation with the Comptroller 
                        General of the United States (as determined in 
                        the discretion of the United Nations High 
                        Commissioner for Refugees), to determine 
                        whether immigration officers described in 
                        clause (ii) are engaging in any of the conduct 
                        described in such clause.
                            (ii) Duties of comptroller general.--The 
                        Comptroller General of the United States shall 
                        conduct a study, alone or, upon request by the 
                        United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 
                        in cooperation with the United Nations High 
                        Commissioner for Refugees, to determine whether 
                        immigration officers performing duties under 
                        section 235(b) of the Immigration and 
                        Nationality Act with respect to aliens who may 
                        be eligible to be granted asylum are engaging 
                        in any of the following conduct:
                                    (I) Improperly encouraging such 
                                aliens to withdraw their applications 
                                for admission.
                                    (II) Incorrectly failing to refer 
                                such aliens for an interview by an 
                                asylum officer for a determination of 
                                whether they have a credible fear of 
                                persecution (within the meaning of 
                                section 235(b)(1)(B)(v) of such Act).
                                    (III) Incorrectly removing such 
                                aliens to a country where they may be 
                                persecuted.
                                    (IV) Detaining such aliens 
                                improperly or in inappropriate 
                                conditions.
                    (B) Reports.--
                            (i) Participation by united nations high 
                        commissioner for refugees.--The United Nations 
                        High Commissioner for Refugees may submit to 
                        the committees described in clause (ii) a 
                        report containing the results of a study 
                        conducted under subparagraph (A)(i) or, if the 
                        United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 
                        elected to participate in the study conducted 
                        under subparagraph (A)(ii), may submit with the 
                        Comptroller General of the United States a 
                        report under clause (ii).
                            (ii) Duties of comptroller general.--Not 
                        later than September 30, 1999, the Comptroller 
                        General of the United States shall submit to 
                        the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of 
                        Representatives and the Senate, the Committee 
                        on International Relations of the House of 
                        Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign 
                        Relations of the Senate a report containing the 
                        results of the study conducted under 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii). If the United Nations 
                        High Commissioner for Refugees requests to 
                        participate with the Comptroller General in the 
                        preparation and submission of the report, the 
                        Comptroller General shall grant the request.
                    (C) Access to proceedings.--
                            (i) In general.--Except as provided in 
                        clause (ii), to facilitate the studies and 
                        reports, the Attorney General shall permit the 
                        United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 
                        and the Comptroller General of the United 
                        States to have unrestricted access to all 
                        stages of all proceedings conducted under 
                        section 235(b).
                            (ii) Exceptions.--Clause (i) shall not 
                        apply in cases in which the alien objects to 
                        such access, or the Attorney General determines 
                        that the security of a particular proceeding 
                        would be threatened by such access, so long as 
                        any restrictions on the United Nations High 
                        Commissioner for Refugees' access under this 
                        subparagraph do not contravene international 
                        law.
                    (D) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
                authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1999 to 
                carry out this paragraph not to exceed $1,000,000 to 
                the Attorney General (for a United States contribution 
                to the Office of the United Nations High Commission for 
                Refugees for the activities of the United Nations High 
                Commissioner for Refugees under this paragraph) and not 
                to exceed $1,000,000 to the Comptroller General of the 
                United States.
    (d) Training.--
            (1) Training on religious persecution.--The Attorney 
        General shall provide training regarding religious persecution 
        to all immigration officers and immigration judges adjudicating 
        applications for admission as a refugee or asylum applications, 
        including--
                    (A) country-specific instruction on the practices 
                and beliefs of religious groups, and on the methods of 
                governmental and nongovernmental persecution employed 
                on account of religious practices and beliefs; and
                    (B) other relevant information contained in the 
                most recent annual report submitted by the Director to 
                the Congress under section 6.
            (2) Instruction by nongovernmental experts.--It is the 
        sense of the Congress that the Attorney General, in carrying 
        out paragraph (1)(A), should include in the training under the 
        paragraph, where practicable, instruction by nongovernmental 
        experts on religious persecution.
            (3) Training for immigration officers adjudicating refugee 
        applications.--Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality 
        Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
    ``(f) The Attorney General shall provide training in country 
conditions, refugee law, and interview techniques, comparable to that 
provided to full-time adjudicators of applications under section 208, 
to all immigration officers adjudicating applications for admission as 
a refugee under this section.''.
    (e) Reporting.--Not later than March 30 of each year, the Attorney 
General shall provide to the Director, for inclusion in the Director's 
annual report under section 6(b)(4), a report containing the following:
            (1) With respect to the year that is the subject of the 
        report, the number of applicants for asylum or refugee status 
        whose applications were based, in whole or in part, on 
        religious persecution.
            (2) In the case of such applications, the number that were 
        proposed to be denied, and the number that were finally denied.
            (3) In the case of such applications, the number that were 
        granted.
            (4) A description of other developments with respect to the 
        adjudication of applications for asylum or refugee status that 
        were based, in whole or in part, on religious persecution.
            (5) A description of the training conducted for immigration 
        officers and immigration judges under subsection (d)(1), 
        including a list of speakers and materials used in such 
        training and the number of immigration officers and immigration 
        judges who received such training.
            (6) A description of the development and implementation of 
        anti-bias guidelines under subsections (b)(1) and (c)(1).

SEC. 10. STATE DEPARTMENT HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS.

    (a) Annual Human Rights Report.--In preparing the annual reports of 
the State Department on human rights under sections 116(d) and 502B(b) 
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) and 2304(b)), 
the Secretary of State shall, in the section on religious freedom--
            (1) consider the facts and circumstances of the violation 
        of the right to freedom of religion presented by independent 
        human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations;
            (2) report on the extent of the violations of the right to 
        freedom of religion, specifically including whether the 
        violations arise from governmental or nongovernmental sources, 
        and whether the violations are encouraged by the government or 
        whether the government fails to exercise satisfactory efforts 
        to control such violations;
            (3) report on whether freedom of religion violations occur 
        on a nationwide, regional, or local level; and
            (4) identify whether the violations are focused on an 
        entire religion or on certain denominations or sects.
    (b) Training.--The Secretary of State shall--
            (1) institute programs to provide training for chiefs of 
        mission as well as Department of State officials having 
        reporting responsibilities regarding the freedom of religion, 
        which shall include training on--
                    (A) the fundamental components of the right to 
                freedom of religion, the variation in beliefs of 
                religious groups, and the governmental and 
                nongovernmental methods used in the violation of the 
                right to freedom of religion; and
                    (B) the identification of independent human rights 
                groups and nongovernmental organizations with expertise 
                in the matters described in subparagraph (A); and
            (2) submit to the Director, not later than January 1 of 
        each year, a report describing all training provided to 
        Department of State officials with respect to religious 
        persecution during the preceding 1-year period, including a 
        list of instructors and materials used in such training and the 
        number and rank of individuals who received such training.

SEC. 11. TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS.

    (a) Termination.--The sanctions described in section 7 shall cease 
to apply with respect to a sanctioned country 45 days, or the day after 
the 15th legislative day, whichever is later, after the Director, in an 
annual report described in section 6(b), does not include a 
determination by the Secretary of State that the sanctioned country is 
among those in which category 1 or category 2 persecution continues to 
exist, or in an interim report under section 6(c), includes a 
determination by the Secretary of State that neither category 1 nor 
category 2 persecution exists in such country.
    (b) Withdrawal of Finding.--Any determination of the Secretary of 
State under section 5(g) may be withdrawn before taking effect if the 
Secretary makes a written determination, on the basis of a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the country substantially 
eliminated any category 1 or category 2 persecution that existed in 
that country. The Director shall submit to the Congress each 
determination under this subsection.

SEC. 12. SANCTIONS AGAINST SUDAN.

    (a) Extension of Sanctions Under Existing Law.--Any sanction 
imposed on Sudan because of a determination that the government of that 
country has provided support for acts of international terrorism, 
including--
            (1) export controls imposed pursuant to the Export 
        Administration Act of 1979;
            (2) prohibitions on transfers of munitions under section 40 
        of the Arms Export Control Act;
            (3) the prohibition on assistance under section 620A of the 
        Foreign Assistance Act of 1961;
            (4) section 2327(b) of title 10, United States Code;
            (5) section 6 of the Bretton Woods Agreements Act 
        Amendments, 1978 (22 U.S.C. 286e-11); and
            (6) section 527 of the Foreign Operations, Export 
        Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1998 (as 
        contained in Public Law 105-118),
shall continue in effect after the enactment of this Act until the 
Secretary of State determines that Sudan has substantially eliminated 
religious persecution in that country, or the determination that the 
government of that country has provided support for acts of 
international terrorism is no longer in effect, whichever occurs later.
    (b) Additional Sanctions on Sudan.--Effective 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the following sanctions (to the 
extent not covered under subsection (a)) shall apply with respect to 
Sudan:
            (1) Prohibition on financial transactions with government 
        of sudan.--
                    (A) Offense.--Any United States person who 
                knowingly engages in any financial transaction, 
                including any loan or other extension of credit, 
                directly or indirectly, with the Government of Sudan 
                shall be fined in accordance with title 18, United 
                States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, 
                or both.
                    (B) Definitions.--As used in this paragraph:
                            (i) Financial transaction.--The term 
                        ``financial transaction'' has the meaning given 
                        that term in section 1956(c)(4) of title 18, 
                        United States Code.
                            (ii) United states person.--The term 
                        ``United States person'' means--
                                    (I) any United States citizen or 
                                national;
                                    (II) any alien lawfully admitted 
                                into the United States for permanent 
                                residence;
                                    (III) any juridical person 
                                organized under the laws of the United 
                                States; and
                                    (IV) any person in the United 
                                States.
            (2) Prohibitions on united states exports to sudan.--
                    (A) Prohibition on computer exports.--No computers, 
                computer software, or goods or technology intended to 
                manufacture or service computers may be exported to or 
                for use of the Government of Sudan.
                    (B) Regulations of the secretary of commerce.--The 
                Secretary of Commerce may prescribe such regulations as 
                may be necessary to carry out subparagraph (A).
                    (C) Penalties.--Any person who violates this 
                paragraph shall be subject to the penalties provided in 
                section 11 of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 
                U.S.C. App. 2410) for violations under that Act.
            (3) Prohibition on new investment in sudan.--
                    (A) Prohibition.--No United States person may, 
                directly or through another person, make any new 
                investment in Sudan that is not prohibited by paragraph 
                (1).
                    (B) Regulations.--The Secretary of Commerce may 
                prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry 
                out subparagraph (A).
                    (C) Penalties.--Any person who violates this 
                paragraph shall be subject to the penalties provided in 
                section 11 of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 
                U.S.C. App. 2410) for violations under that Act.
            (4) Aviation rights.-- 
                    (A) Air transportation rights.--The Secretary of 
                Transportation shall prohibit any aircraft of a foreign 
                air carrier owned or controlled, directly or 
                indirectly, by the Government of Sudan or operating 
                pursuant to a contract with the Government of Sudan 
                from engaging in air transportation with respect to the 
                United States, except that such aircraft shall be 
                allowed to land in the event of an emergency for which 
                the safety of an aircraft's crew or passengers is 
                threatened.
                    (B) Takeoffs and landings.--The Secretary of 
                Transportation shall prohibit the takeoff and landing 
                in Sudan of any aircraft by an air carrier owned, 
                directly or indirectly, or controlled by a United 
                States person, except that such aircraft shall be 
                allowed to land in the event of an emergency for which 
                the safety of an aircraft's crew or passengers is 
                threatened, or for humanitarian purposes.
                    (C) Termination of air service agreements.--To 
                carry out subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Secretary of 
                State shall terminate any agreement between the 
                Government of Sudan and the Government of the United 
                States relating to air services between their 
                respective territories.
                    (D) Definitions.--For purposes of this paragraph, 
                the terms ``aircraft'', ``air transportation'', and 
                ``foreign air carrier'' have the meanings given those 
                terms in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.
            (5) Prohibition on promotion of united states tourism.--
        None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by 
        any provision of law may be available to promote United States 
        tourism in Sudan.
            (6) Government of sudan bank accounts.--
                    (A) Prohibition.--A United States depository 
                institution may not accept, receive, or hold a deposit 
                account from the Government of Sudan, except for such 
                accounts which may be authorized by the President for 
                diplomatic or consular purposes.
                    (B) Annual reports.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
                shall submit annual reports to the Congress on the 
                nature and extent of assets held in the United States 
                by the Government of Sudan.
                    (C) Definition.--For purposes of this paragraph, 
                the term ``depository institution'' has the meaning 
                given that term in section 19(b)(1) of the Act of 
                December 23, 1913 (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(1)).
            (7) Prohibition on united states government procurement 
        from Sudan.--
                    (A) Prohibition.--No department, agency, or any 
                other entity of the United States Government may enter 
                into a contract for the procurement of goods or 
                services from parastatal organizations of Sudan, except 
                for items necessary for diplomatic or consular 
                purposes.
                    (B) Definition.--As used in this paragraph, the 
                term ``parastatal organization of Sudan'' means a 
                corporation, partnership, or entity owned, controlled, 
                or subsidized by the Government of Sudan.
            (8) Prohibition on united states appropriations for use as 
        investments in or trade subsidies for sudan.--None of the funds 
        appropriated or otherwise made available by any provision of 
        law may be available for any new investment in, or any subsidy 
        for trade with, Sudan, including funding for trade missions in 
        Sudan and for participation in exhibitions and trade fairs in 
        Sudan.
            (9) Prohibition on cooperation with armed forces of 
        sudan.--No agency or entity of the United States may engage in 
        any form of cooperation, direct or indirect, with the armed 
        forces of Sudan, except for activities which are reasonably 
        necessary to facilitate the collection of necessary 
        intelligence. Each such activity shall be considered as 
        significant anticipated intelligence activity for purposes of 
        section 501 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 
        413).
            (10) Prohibition on cooperation with intelligence services 
        of sudan.--
                    (A) Sanction.--No agency or entity of the United 
                States involved in intelligence activities may engage 
                in any form of cooperation, direct or indirect, with 
                the Government of Sudan, except for activities which 
                are reasonably designed to facilitate the collection of 
                necessary intelligence.
                    (B) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States 
                that no agency or entity of the United States involved 
                in intelligence activities may provide any intelligence 
                information to the Government of Sudan which pertains 
                to any internal group within Sudan. Any change in such 
                policy or any provision of intelligence information 
                contrary to this policy shall be considered a 
                significant anticipated intelligence activity for 
                purposes of section 501 of the National Security Act of 
                1947 (50 U.S.C. 413).
The sanctions described in this subsection shall apply until the 
Secretary of State determines that Sudan has substantially eliminated 
religious persecution in that country.
    (c) Multilateral Efforts To End Religious Persecution in Sudan.--
            (1) Efforts to obtain multilateral measures against 
        sudan.--It is the policy of the United States to seek an 
        international agreement with the other industrialized 
        democracies to bring about an end to religious persecution by 
        the Government of Sudan. The net economic effect of such 
        international agreement should be measurably greater than the 
        net economic effect of the other measures imposed by this 
        section.
            (2) Commencement of negotiations to initiate multilateral 
        sanctions against sudan.--It is the sense of the Congress that 
        the President or, at his direction, the Secretary of State 
        should convene an international conference of the 
        industrialized democracies in order to reach an international 
        agreement to bring about an end to religious persecution in 
        Sudan. The international conference should begin promptly and 
        should be concluded not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act.
            (3) Presidential report.--Not less than 210 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit 
        to the Congress a report containing--
                    (A) a description of efforts by the United States 
                to negotiate multilateral measures to bring about an 
                end to religious persecution in Sudan; and
                    (B) a detailed description of economic and other 
                measures adopted by the other industrialized countries 
                to bring about an end to religious persecution in 
                Sudan, including an assessment of the stringency with 
                which such measures are enforced by those countries.
            (4) Conformity of united states measures to international 
        agreement.--If the President successfully concludes an 
        international agreement described in paragraph (2), the 
        President may, after such agreement enters into force with 
        respect to the United States, adjust, modify, or otherwise 
        amend the measures imposed under any provision of this section 
        to conform with such agreement.
            (5) Procedures for agreement to enter into force.--Each 
        agreement submitted to the Congress under this subsection shall 
        enter into force with respect to the United States if--
                    (A) the President, not less than 30 days before the 
                day on which the President enters into such agreement, 
                notifies the House of Representatives and the Senate of 
                the President's intention to enter into such an 
                agreement, and promptly thereafter publishes notice of 
                such intention in the Federal Register;
                    (B) after entering into the agreement, the 
                President transmits to the House of Representatives and 
                to the Senate a document containing a copy of the final 
                text of such agreement, together with--
                            (i) a description of any administrative 
                        action proposed to implement such agreement and 
                        an explanation as to how the proposed 
                        administrative action would change or affect 
                        existing law; and
                            (ii) a statement of the President's reasons 
                        regarding--
                                    (I) how the agreement serves the 
                                interest of United States foreign 
                                policy; and
                                    (II) why the proposed 
                                administrative action is required or 
                                appropriate to carry out the agreement; 
                                and
                    (C) a joint resolution approving such agreement has 
                been enacted.
            (6) United nations security council imposition of same 
        measures against sudan.--It is the sense of the Congress that 
        the President should instruct the Permanent Representative of 
        the United States to the United Nations to propose that the 
        United Nations Security Council, pursuant to Article 41 of the 
        United Nations Charter, impose measures against Sudan of the 
        same type as are imposed by this section.
    (d) Additional Measures and Reports; Recommendations of the 
President.--
            (1) United states policy to end religious persecution.--It 
        shall be the policy of the United States to impose additional 
        measures against the Government of Sudan if its policy of 
        religious persecution has not ended on or before December 25, 
        1998.
            (2) Report to congress.--The Director shall prepare and 
        transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
        Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on 
        or before February 1, 1999, and every 12 months thereafter, a 
        report containing a determination by the Secretary of State of 
        whether the policy of religious persecution by the Government 
        of Sudan has ended.
            (3) Recommendation for imposition of additional measures.--
        If the Secretary of State determines that the policy of 
        religious persecution by the Government of Sudan has not ended, 
        the President shall prepare and transmit to the Speaker of the 
        House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Committee on 
        Foreign Relations of the Senate on or before March 1, 1999, and 
        every 12 months thereafter, a report setting forth such 
        recommendations for such additional measures and actions 
        against the Government of Sudan as will end that government's 
        policy of religious persecution.
    (e) Definitions.--As used in this section:
            (1) Government of sudan.--The term ``Government of Sudan'' 
        includes any agency or instrumentality of the Government of 
        Sudan.
            (2) New investment in sudan.--The term ``new investment in 
        Sudan''--
                    (A) means--
                            (i) a commitment or contribution of funds 
                        or other assets; or
                            (ii) a loan or other extension of credit,
                that is made on or after the effective date of this 
                subsection; and
                    (B) does not include--
                            (i) the reinvestment of profits generated 
                        by a controlled Sudanese entity into that same 
                        controlled Sudanese entity, or the investment 
                        of such profits in a Sudanese entity;
                            (ii) contributions of money or other assets 
                        where such contributions are necessary to 
                        enable a controlled Sudanese entity to operate 
                        in an economically sound manner, without 
                        expanding its operations; or
                            (iii) the ownership or control of a share 
                        or interest in a Sudanese entity or a 
                        controlled Sudanese entity or a debt or equity 
                        security issued by the Government of Sudan or a 
                        Sudanese entity before the date of the 
                        enactment of this Act, or the transfer or 
                        acquisition of such a share or interest, or 
                        debt or equity security, if any such transfer 
                        or acquisition does not result in a payment, 
                        contribution of funds or assets, or credit to a 
                        Sudanese entity, a controlled Sudanese entity, 
                        or the Government of Sudan.
            (3) Controlled sudanese entity.--The term ``controlled 
        Sudanese entity'' means--
                    (A) a corporation, partnership, or other business 
                association or entity organized in Sudan and owned or 
                controlled, directly or indirectly, by a United States 
                person; or
                    (B) a branch, office, agency, or sole 
                proprietorship in Sudan of a United States person.
            (4) Sudanese entity.--The term ``Sudanese entity'' means--
                    (A) a corporation, partnership, or other business 
                association or entity organized in Sudan; or
                    (B) a branch, office, agency, or sole 
                proprietorship in Sudan of a person that resides or is 
                organized outside Sudan.
            (5) Sudan.--The term ``Sudan'' means any area controlled by 
        the Government of Sudan or by any entity allied with the 
        Government of Sudan, and does not include any area in which 
        effective control is exercised by an entity engaged in active 
        resistance to the Government of Sudan.
    (f) Waiver Authority.--The President may waive the imposition of 
any sanction against Sudan under this section for periods of not more 
than 12 months each, if the President, for each waiver--
            (1) determines that the national security interests of the 
        United States justify such a waiver; and
            (2) provides to the Committees on Foreign Relations, 
        Finance, the Judiciary, and Appropriations of the Senate and to 
        the Committees on International Relations, the Judiciary, and 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives a written 
        notification of the President's intention to waive any such 
        sanction.
The notification shall contain an explanation of the reasons why the 
President considers the waiver to be necessary, the type and amount of 
goods, services, or assistance to be provided pursuant to the waiver, 
and the period of time during which such a waiver will be effective. 
When the President considers it appropriate, the explanation under the 
preceding sentence, or any part of the explanation, may be submitted in 
classified form.
    (g) Duly Authorized Intelligence Activities.--The prohibitions and 
restrictions contained in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (7) of 
subsection (b) shall not apply to the conduct of duly authorized 
intelligence activities of the United States Government.

SEC. 13. PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

    (a) Establishment of a Religious Freedom Internet Site.--In order 
to facilitate access by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and by the 
public around the world to international documents on the protection of 
religious freedom, the Director shall establish and maintain an 
Internet site containing major international documents relating to 
religious freedom, each annual report submitted under section 6, and 
any other documentation or references to other sites as deemed 
appropriate or relevant by the Director.
    (b) Training for Foreign Service Officers.--Chapter 7 of title I of 
the Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``SEC. 708. TRAINING FOR FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS.

    ``The Secretary of State and the Director of the Office of 
Religious Persecution Monitoring established under section 5 of the 
Freedom From Religious Persecution Act of 1998, acting jointly, shall 
establish as part of the standard training for officers of the Service, 
including chiefs of mission, instruction in the field of 
internationally recognized human rights. Such instruction shall 
include--
            ``(1) standards for proficiency in the knowledge of 
        international documents and United States policy in human 
        rights, and shall be mandatory for all members of the Service 
        having reporting responsibilities relating to human rights, and 
        for chiefs of mission; and
            ``(2) instruction on the international right to freedom of 
        religion, the nature, activities, and beliefs of different 
        religions, and the various aspects and manifestations of 
        religious persecution.''.
    (c) High-level Contacts with NGOS.--United States chiefs of mission 
shall seek out and contact religious nongovernmental organizations to 
provide high-level meetings with religious nongovernmental 
organizations where appropriate and beneficial. United States chiefs of 
mission and Foreign Service officers abroad shall seek to meet with 
imprisoned religious leaders where appropriate and beneficial.
    (d) Programs and Allocations of Funds by United States Missions 
Abroad.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) United States diplomatic missions in countries the 
        governments of which engage in or tolerate religious 
        persecution should develop, as part of annual program planning, 
        a strategy to promote the respect of the internationally 
        recognized right to freedom of religion; and
            (2) in allocating or recommending the allocation of funds 
        or the recommendation of candidates for programs and grants 
        funded by the United States Government, United States 
        diplomatic missions should give particular consideration to 
        those programs and candidates deemed to assist in the promotion 
        of the right to religious freedom.
    (e) Equal Access to United States Missions Abroad For Conducting 
Religious Activities.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to this subsection, the Secretary 
        of State shall permit, on terms no less favorable than that 
        accorded other nongovernmental activities, access to the 
        premises of any United States diplomatic mission or consular 
        post by any United States citizen seeking to conduct an 
        activity for religious purposes.
            (2) Timing and location.--The Secretary of State shall make 
        reasonable accommodations with respect to the timing and 
        location of such access in light of--
                    (A) the number of United States citizens requesting 
                the access (including any particular religious concerns 
                regarding the time of day, date, or physical setting 
                for services);
                    (B) conflicts with official activities and other 
                nonofficial United States citizen requests;
                    (C) the availability of openly conducted, organized 
                religious services outside the premises of the mission 
                or post; and
                    (D) necessary security precautions.
            (3) Discretionary access for foreign nationals.--The 
        Secretary of State may permit access to the premises of a 
        United States diplomatic mission or consular post to foreign 
        nationals for the purpose of attending or participating in 
        religious activities conducted pursuant to this Act.
    (f) Prisoner Lists and Issue Briefs on Religious Persecution 
Concerns.--
            (1) Sense of the congress.--To encourage involvement with 
        religious persecution concerns at every possible opportunity 
        and by all appropriate representatives of the United States 
        Government, it is the sense of the Congress that officials of 
        the executive branch of the United States Government should 
        promote increased advocacy on such issues during meetings 
        between executive branch and congressional leaders and foreign 
        dignitaries.
            (2) Religious persecution prisoner lists and issue 
        briefs.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with United 
        States chiefs of mission abroad, regional experts, the 
        Director, and nongovernmental human rights and religious 
        groups, shall prepare and maintain issue briefs on religious 
        freedom, on a country-by-country basis, consisting of lists of 
        persons believed to be imprisoned for their religious faith, 
        together with brief evaluations and critiques of policies of 
        the respective country restricting religious freedom. The 
        Secretary of State shall exercise appropriate discretion 
        regarding the safety and security concerns of prisoners in 
        considering the inclusion of their names on the lists.
            (3) Availability of information.--The Secretary of State 
        shall provide these religious freedom issue briefs to executive 
        branch and congressional officials and delegations in 
        anticipation of bilateral contacts with foreign leaders, both 
        in the United States and abroad.
    (g) Assistance for Promoting Religious Freedom.--
            (1) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
                    (A) In many nations where severe violations of 
                religious freedom occur, there is not sufficient 
                statutory legal protection for religious minorities or 
                there is not sufficient cultural and social 
                understanding of international norms of religious 
                freedom.
                    (B) Accordingly, in its foreign assistance already 
                being disbursed, the United States should make a 
                priority of promoting and developing legal protections 
                and cultural respect for religious freedom.
            (2) Allocation of funds for increased promotion of 
        religious freedoms.--Section 116(e) of the Foreign Assistance 
        Act of 1961 is amended by inserting ``and the right to free 
        religious belief and practice'' after ``adherence to civil and 
        political rights''.
    (h) International Broadcasting.--
            (1) Section 302(1) of the United States International 
        Broadcasting Act of 1994 is amended by inserting ``and of 
        conscience (including freedom of religion)'' after ``freedom of 
        opinion and expression''.
            (2) Section 303(a) of the United States International 
        Broadcasting Act of 1994 is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (6);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (7) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) promote respect for human rights, including freedom 
        of religion.''.
    (i) International Exchanges.--Section 102(b) of the Mutual 
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' after paragraph (10);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) promoting respect for and guarantees of religious 
        freedom abroad by interchanges and visits between the United 
        States and other nations of religious leaders, scholars, and 
        religious and legal experts in the field of religious 
        freedom.''.
    (j) Foreign Service Awards.--
            (1) Performance pay.--Section 405(d) of the Foreign Service 
        Act of 1980 is amended by inserting after the first sentence 
        the following: ``Such service in the promotion of 
        internationally recognized human rights, including the right to 
        religious freedom, shall serve as a basis for granting awards 
        under this section.''.
            (2) Foreign service awards.--Section 614 of the Foreign 
        Service Act of 1980 is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new sentence: ``Distinguished, meritorious service in 
        the promotion of internationally recognized human rights, 
        including the right to religious freedom, shall serve as a 
        basis for granting awards under this section.''.

SEC. 14. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.

    (a) Establishment and Composition.--
            (1) Generally.--There is established the United States 
        Commission on International Religious Persecution (hereinafter 
        referred to as the ``Commission'').
            (2) Membership.--
                    (A) Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed 
                of--
                            (i) the Director; and
                            (ii) four other members, who shall be 
                        appointed as follows:
                                    (I) Two Senators, one of whom shall 
                                be appointed by the President pro 
                                tempore of the Senate upon the 
                                recommendations of the Majority Leader, 
                                and one of whom shall be appointed by 
                                the Minority Leader.
                                    (II) Two Members of the House of 
                                Representatives, one of whom shall be 
                                appointed by the Speaker of the House 
                                of Representatives upon the 
                                recommendations of the Majority Leader, 
                                and one of whom shall be appointed by 
                                the Minority Leader.
                    (B) Chair.--The Commission shall elect one of its 
                members as chair.
                    (C) Time of appointment.--The appointments required 
                by subparagraph (A) shall be made not later than 120 
                days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (3) Terms.--The term of office of each member of the 
        Commission shall be 2 years, except that an individual may not 
        serve more than 2 terms.
            (4) Quorum.--Three members of the Commission constitute a 
        quorum of the Commission.
            (5) Meetings.--Not more than 15 days after the issuance of 
        an annual report under section 6, the Commission shall convene.
            (6) Administrative support.--The Director shall provide to 
        the Commission such staff and administrative services of the 
        Office as may be necessary for the Commission to perform its 
        functions. The Secretary of State shall assist the Director and 
        the Commission by detailing staff resources as needed and as 
        appropriate.
            (7) Compensation.--
                    (A) Travel expenses.--Members of the Commission 
                shall receive no pay for services performed as such a 
                member, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including 
                per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized 
                for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 
                57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from 
                their homes or regular places of business in the 
                performance of services for the Commission.
                    (B) No compensation for government employees.--Any 
                member of the Commission who is an officer or employee 
                of the United States shall receive no additional 
                compensation for services performed as a member of the 
                Commission.
    (b) Duties of the Commission.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall have as its primary 
        responsibility the consideration of the facts and circumstances 
        of category 1 or category 2 persecution presented in each 
        annual report issued under section 6 and the consideration of 
        United States Government policies to promote religious freedom 
        and prevent religious persecution, and to make appropriate 
        policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of 
        State, and the Congress.
            (2) Policy review and recommendations in response to 
        violations.--The Commission, in evaluating United States 
        Government policies, shall consider and recommend policy 
        options to further enhance the effectiveness of sanctions 
        related to religious persecution and human rights.
            (3) Policy review and recommendations in response to 
        progress.--The Commission shall make and provide an assessment 
        of--
                    (A) the progress of sanctions imposed under section 
                7 on a country or responsible entity toward achieving 
                termination of religious persecution, as well as the 
                potential deterrence of religious persecution as a 
                result of this Act in countries on which sanctions have 
                not been imposed under this Act;
                    (B) diplomatic and other steps the United States 
                has taken or should take to further accomplish the 
                intended objectives of the sanctions, including the 
                promotion of multilateral adoption of comparable 
                measures;
                    (C) comparable measures undertaken by other 
                countries;
                    (D) additional policy options to promote the 
                objectives of this Act and an assessment of their 
                potential effectiveness;
                    (E) any obligations of the United States under 
                international treaties or trade agreements with which 
                sanctions imposed under section 7 have conflicted or 
                proposed policy options under paragraph (2) may 
                conflict;
                    (F) any retaliation resulting from sanctions 
                imposed under section 7 and the likelihood that a 
                proposed policy option under paragraph (2) will lead to 
                retaliation against United States interests, including 
                agricultural interests; and
                    (G) the estimated impact from sanctions imposed 
                under section 7 and proposed policy options under 
                paragraph (2) on United States foreign policy, national 
                security, economic, and humanitarian interests, 
                including benefit or harm to United States businesses, 
                agriculture, and consumers, the competitiveness of 
                United States businesses, and the international 
                reputation of the United States as a reliable supplier 
                of products, technology, agricultural commodities, and 
                services.
            (4) Effects on religious communities and individuals.--
        Together with specific policy recommendations provided under 
        paragraphs (2) and (3), the Commission shall also indicate its 
        evaluation of the potential effects of such policies, if 
        implemented, on the religious communities and individuals whose 
        rights are found to be violated in the country in question.
            (5) Monitoring.--The Commission shall, on an ongoing basis, 
        monitor facts and circumstances of religious persecution, in 
        consultation with independent human rights groups and 
        nongovernmental organizations, including churches and other 
        religious communities, and make such recommendations as may be 
        necessary to the appropriate agencies and officials of the 
        United States Government.
    (c) Report of the Commission.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than March 1 of each year, the 
        Commission shall submit a report to the President and the 
        Congress setting forth its recommendations for changes in 
        United States policy based on its evaluations under subsection 
        (b).
            (2) Classified form of report.--The report may be submitted 
        in classified form, together with a public summary of 
        recommendations.
            (3) Individual or dissenting views.--Each member of the 
        Commission may include the individual or dissenting views of 
        the member.
    (d) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate 8 years after the 
initial appointment of its members.

SEC. 15. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsections (b) and (c), this Act and 
the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Appointment of Director.--The Director shall be appointed not 
later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Regulations.--Each Federal department or agency responsible for 
carrying out any of the sanctions under section 7 shall issue all 
necessary regulations to carry out such sanctions within 120 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 14, 1998.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.