Presidential actions in response to violations of religious freedom

Section 401(b)(2) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6441(b)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

(2)

Deadline for actions

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), not later than 90 days after the date on which each report is submitted under section 102(b), the President shall take 1 or more of the actions described in section 405(a) or a commensurate action with respect to each foreign country in which the government has engaged in or tolerated violations of religious freedom at any time since the previous such report was submitted.(B)

Additional prerequisite

The President may not take any of the actions described in paragraphs (9) through (15) of section 405(a) or a commensurate action until the President certifies that the requirements under sections 403 and 404 have been satisfied.

Presidential actions in response to particularly severe violations of religious freedom

(a)

Designations of countries of particular concern for religious freedom

Section 402(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442(b)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (1)—(A)in subparagraph (A)—(i)by striking Not later than September 1 of each year, the President shall review and inserting the following: “Not later than 90 days after the date on which each report is submitted under section 102(b), the President shall—

(i)review

; and

(ii)by striking or since the date and all that follows through longer. The President shall designate and inserting the following: “longer; and

(ii)designate

; and

(B)in subparagraph (C), by striking prior to September 1 of the respective year and inserting before the date on which the report is submitted under section 102(b); and(2)in paragraph (3)—(A)by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and moving each clause 2 ems to the right;(B)in the matter preceding clause (i), as redesignated—(i)by striking Whenever and inserting the following:

(A)

In general

Whenever

; and

(ii)by striking as soon as practicable and inserting not later than 120 days;(C)in subparagraph (A), as redesignated—(i)in clause (i), as redesignated, by striking and at the end;(ii)in clause (ii), as redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and(iii)by adding at the end the following:

(iii)the actions taken, the purposes of the actions taken, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the actions taken.

; and

(D)by adding at the end the following:

(B)

Countries recommended by the commission

If the President does not designate a country as a country of particular concern for religious freedom under paragraph (1)(A) after the Commission has recommended such designation, the President shall submit a report to Congress that contains the reasons for such nondesignation.(C)

Removal of designation

A country that is designated as a country of particular concern for religious freedom under paragraph (1)(A) shall retain such designation until the President determines and reports to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that the country should no longer be so designated.

(b)

Presidential actions with respect to countries of particular concern for religious freedom

Section 402(c)(5) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442(c)(5)) is amended—(1)in the second sentence—(A)by striking must and inserting shall;(B)by striking he and inserting the President; and(C)by inserting and include a description of the impact of the designation of such sanction or sanctions before the period at the end; and(2)by adding at the end the following: The President shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that explains why the decision was made that 1 or more of such sanctions also satisfy the requirements of this subsection..