[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 653 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 268
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 653
To provide for the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote
Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South
Central Asia.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 22, 2013
Mr. Blunt (for himself, Mr. Levin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Boozman, Ms.
Stabenow, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Coats, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Scott, Mr. Crapo, Ms.
Collins, Mr. Moran, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Roberts,
Mr. Pryor, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Kirk, and Mr. Enzi) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
December 18, 2013
Reported by Mr. Menendez, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote
Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South
Central Asia.
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 ``Near East and South Central Asia
Religious Freedom Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. SPECIAL ENVOY TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS
MINORITIES IN THE NEAR EAST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ASIA.
(a) Appointment.--The President may appoint a Special Envoy to
Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and
South Central Asia (in this Act referred to as the ``Special Envoy'')
within the Department of State. The Special Envoy shall have the rank
of ambassador and shall hold the office at the pleasure of the
President.
(b) Qualifications.--The Special Envoy should be a person of
recognized distinction in the field of human rights and religious
freedom and with expertise in the Near East and South Central Asia.
SEC. 3. DUTIES.
(a) In General.--The Special Envoy shall carry out the following
duties:
(1) Promote the right of religious freedom of religious
minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries
of South Central Asia, denounce the violation of such right,
and recommend appropriate responses by the United States
Government when such right is violated.
(2) Monitor and combat acts of religious intolerance and
incitement targeted against religious minorities in the
countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central
Asia.
(3) Work to ensure that the unique needs of religious
minority communities in the countries of the Near East and the
countries of South Central Asia are addressed, including the
economic and security needs of such communities.
(4) Work with foreign governments of the countries of the
Near East and the countries of South Central Asia to address
laws that are discriminatory toward religious minority
communities in such countries.
(5) Coordinate and assist in the preparation of that
portion of the report required by sections 116(d) and 502B(b)
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) and
2304(b)) relating to the nature and extent of religious freedom
of religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and
the countries of South Central Asia.
(6) Coordinate and assist in the preparation of that
portion of the report required by section 102(b) of the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b))
relating to the nature and extent of religious freedom of
religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the
countries of South Central Asia.
(b) Coordination.--In carrying out the duties under subsection (a),
the Special Envoy shall, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate
with the Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and
Migration, the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom,
the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and
other relevant Federal agencies and officials.
SEC. 4. DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION.
Subject to the direction of the President and the Secretary of
State, the Special Envoy is authorized to represent the United States
in matters and cases relevant to religious freedom in the countries of
the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia in--
(1) contacts with foreign governments, intergovernmental
organizations, and specialized agencies of the United Nations,
the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, and
other international organizations of which the United States is
a member; and
(2) multilateral conferences and meetings relevant to
religious freedom in the countries of the Near East and the
countries of South Central Asia.
SEC. 5. CONSULTATIONS.
The Special Envoy shall consult with domestic and international
nongovernmental organizations and multilateral organizations and
institutions, as the Special Envoy considers appropriate to fulfill the
purposes of this Act.
SEC. 6. FUNDING.
Of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the
Secretary of State for ``Diplomatic and Consular Programs'' for fiscal
years 2013 through 2017, the Secretary of State is authorized to
provide to the Special Envoy $1,000,000 for each such fiscal year for
the hiring of staff, the conduct of investigations, and necessary
travel to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Calendar No. 268
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 653
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote
Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South
Central Asia.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 18, 2013
Reported without amendment