[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1662 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1662

To require an annual Department of State report on information relating 
 to the promotion of religious freedom, democracy, and human rights in 
 foreign countries by individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and 
         the media in those countries, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 14, 2005

Mr. Schiff (for himself and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) introduced the following 
  bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require an annual Department of State report on information relating 
 to the promotion of religious freedom, democracy, and human rights in 
 foreign countries by individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and 
         the media in those countries, 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 ``Liberty List Act''.

SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to--
            (1) highlight the work and accomplishments of individuals, 
        nongovernmental organizations, and the media that promote 
        respect for religious freedom, democracy, and human rights in 
        foreign countries;
            (2) draw attention to the conditions in such countries in 
        which these individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and 
        media struggle;
            (3) offer protection for these individuals, nongovernmental 
        organizations, and media by identifying them to the 
        international community; and
            (4) emphasize the special significance of respect for 
        religious freedom, democracy, and human rights in United States 
        foreign policy.

SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORT ON PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, AND 
              HUMAN RIGHTS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES BY INDIVIDUALS, 
              NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE MEDIA IN THOSE 
              COUNTRIES.

    (a) Annual Report.--The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended 
by adding after section 116 (22 U.S.C. 2151n) the following new 
section:

``SEC. 116A. ANNUAL REPORT ON PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, 
              DEMOCRACY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

    ``(a) Report.--The Secretary of State shall annually submit to 
Congress a full and complete report regarding the promotion of 
religious freedom, democracy, and internationally recognized human 
rights in foreign countries by individuals, nongovernmental 
organizations, and media groups and organizations in those countries. 
The report shall be entitled the `Annual Report on the Promotion of 
Religious Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights in Foreign Countries by 
Individuals, Nongovernmental Organizations, and Media Groups and 
Organizations'.
    ``(b) Preparation.--The Secretary shall prepare the Annual Report 
with the assistance of the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, 
Human Rights, and Labor and the Ambassador at Large for International 
Religious Freedom.
    ``(c) Contents.--The Annual Report shall contain, with respect to a 
foreign country, the following information:
            ``(1) An identification of individuals in the country who 
        have made significant efforts to promote religious freedom, 
        democracy, or internationally recognized human rights in that 
        country, together with a description of the nature and extent 
        of those efforts and an assessment of progress made as a result 
        of those efforts.
            ``(2) An identification of nongovernmental organizations in 
        the country that have made significant efforts to promote 
        religious freedom, democracy, or internationally recognized 
        human rights in that country, together with a description of 
        the nature and extent of those efforts and an assessment of 
        progress made as a result of those efforts.
            ``(3) An identification of media groups and organizations 
        in the country that have made significant efforts to promote 
        religious freedom, democracy, or internationally recognized 
        human rights in that country, together with a description of 
        the nature and extent of those efforts and an assessment of 
        progress made as a result of those efforts.
    ``(d) Organization.--The Annual Report shall be organized in three 
parts, as follows:
            ``(1) Part I shall consist of the identification of 
        individuals (and the associated assessment of their efforts) 
        under subsection (b)(1).
            ``(2) Part II shall consist of the identification of 
        nongovernmental organizations (and the associated assessment of 
        their efforts) under subsection (b)(2).
            ``(3) Part III shall consist of the identification of media 
        groups and organizations (and the associated assessment of 
        their efforts) under subsection (b)(3).
    ``(e) Time for Submission.--The Secretary shall submit the Annual 
Report together with, but not as part of, the presentation materials 
for security assistance programs proposed for each fiscal year.
    ``(f) Classification.--
            ``(1) Unclassified form.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (2), the Annual Report shall be submitted in unclassified form.
            ``(2) Classified annex.--The Secretary may withhold the 
        identification of an individual, nongovernmental organization, 
        or media group or organization (including the associated 
        assessment) if the Secretary determines that such disclosure 
        would endanger or harm such individual, nongovernmental 
        organization, or media group or organization. If the Secretary 
        makes such a determination, the Secretary shall disclose such 
        identification (and associated assessment) in a classified 
        annex.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Annual report.--The term `Annual Report' means the 
        Annual Report on the Promotion of Religious Freedom, Democracy, 
        and Human Rights in Foreign Countries by Individuals, 
        Nongovernmental Organizations, and Media Groups and 
        Organizations required under subsection (a).
            ``(2) Internationally recognized human rights.--The term 
        `internationally recognized human rights' has the meaning 
        ascribed to it in section 116(a).
            ``(3) Media group or organization.--The term `media group 
        or organization' means a group or organization that gathers and 
        disseminates news and information to the public (through any 
        medium of mass communication) in a foreign country in which the 
        group or organization is located, except that the term does not 
        include a group or organization that is primarily an agency or 
        instrumentality of the government of the foreign country. The 
        term includes an individual who is an agent or employee of the 
        media group or organization who acts within the scope of such 
        agency or employment.
            ``(4) Nongovernmental organization.--The term 
        `nongovernmental organization' means an organization that works 
        at the local level to promote religious freedom, democracy, or 
        human rights in a foreign country in which the organization is 
        located, except that the term does not include an organization 
        that is primarily an agency or instrumentality of the 
        government of the foreign country. The term includes an 
        individual who is an agent or employee of the nongovernmental 
        organization who acts within the scope such agency or 
        employment.
            ``(5) Religious freedom.--The term `religious freedom' 
        means the internationally recognized right to freedom of 
        religion and religious belief and practice, as set forth in the 
        international instruments referred to in paragraph (2) of 
        section 2(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 
        (22 U.S.C. 6401(a)) and as described in paragraph (3) of such 
        section.
            ``(6) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of State.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Section 116A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to reports submitted more 
than one year after such date.
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