[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1323 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1323

  To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to further 
express United States foreign policy with respect to, and to strengthen 
  United States advocacy on behalf of, freedom of religion or belief 
 abroad and individuals persecuted in foreign countries on account of 
              religion or belief, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 2015

    Mr. Pitts (for himself, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. 
  Ellison, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Salmon, Ms. 
DeLauro, Mr. Chabot, and Mr. Bilirakis) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 
 to the Committees on Financial Services and Oversight and Government 
 Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to further 
express United States foreign policy with respect to, and to strengthen 
  United States advocacy on behalf of, freedom of religion or belief 
 abroad and individuals persecuted in foreign countries on account of 
              religion or belief, 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 AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Shahbaz Bhatti 
International Religious Freedom Act of 2015''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings; policy.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
                TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIVITIES

Sec. 101. Office on International Religious Freedom; Ambassador at 
                            Large for International Religious Freedom.
Sec. 102. Reports.
Sec. 103. Training for Foreign Service officers.
Sec. 104. Programs and allocations of funds by United States missions 
                            abroad.
Sec. 105. Prisoner lists and issue briefs on religious freedom 
                            concerns.
Sec. 106. Report on foreign assistance to promote religious freedom and 
                            religious engagement.
Sec. 107. Reports on countries not designated as countries of 
                            particular concern for religious freedom.
 TITLE II--UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Sec. 201. Report of the Commission.
                  TITLE III--NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

Sec. 301. Special Adviser on International Religious Freedom.
                     TITLE IV--PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

Sec. 401. Presidential actions in response to violations of religious 
                            freedom.
Sec. 402. Presidential actions in response to particularly severe 
                            violations of religious freedom.
Sec. 403. Consultations.
Sec. 404. Description of Presidential actions.
Sec. 405. Presidential waiver.
Sec. 406. Termination of Presidential actions.
                TITLE V--PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Sec. 501. Assistance for promoting religious freedom.
Sec. 502. International broadcasting.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; POLICY.

    (a) Findings.--Section 2(a) of the International Religious Freedom 
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(a)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) as 
        paragraphs (4) through (8), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(3) International religious freedom means the right of 
        all persons to fully enjoy freedom of religion or belief, as 
        protected by international law, and applies to the holders of 
        all religious beliefs and those who reject religious belief 
        altogether.'';
            (3) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) by striking the second and third sentences and 
                inserting the following: ``More than 76 percent of the 
                world's population live in countries in which religion 
                is restricted in significant ways, either by the 
                government or by societal non-state actors. These 
                limitations severely restrict or prohibit the freedom 
                of people to study, believe, observe, and freely 
                practice the religious faith of their choice.''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                sentence: ``Other governmental violations include 
                registration laws, laws limiting or prohibiting 
                religious dress or symbols, anti-conversion laws, 
                blasphemy laws, and apostasy laws.'';
            (4) by further redesignating paragraphs (7) and (8) (as so 
        redesignated) as paragraphs (9) and (12), respectively;
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new 
        paragraphs:
            ``(7) In addition to governments, non-state actors severely 
        violate freedom of religion or belief. These actors include 
        individuals, mobs, vigilante groups, anti-government 
        insurgents, militant organizations, and recognized terrorist 
        groups. In those cases in which governments' legal systems 
        promote intolerance, non-state actors often act unilaterally to 
        enforce these biased measures.
            ``(8) Over the past 15 years, the global landscape for 
        religious freedom has deteriorated. While authoritarian 
        governments continue to persecute individuals, unchecked 
        majoritarianism against religious minorities and increasing 
        acts of violence by religious extremists against any who 
        challenge their ideologies are troubling new threats to this 
        fundamental freedom. Such violence includes the 2011 
        assassination of Pakistan's Minister of Minority Affairs, 
        Shahbaz Bhatti, an advocate for religious freedom.'';
            (6) by inserting after paragraph (9) (as so redesignated) 
        the following new paragraphs:
            ``(10) Freedom of religion or belief also is central to a 
        country's stability and security. Religious freedom abuses are 
        linked to abuses of other human rights, and to instability and 
        violent extremism. Wherever religious freedom is abused, peace 
        and security may be threatened, affecting societies and in some 
        cases the security of the United States. As such, religious 
        freedom merits consideration with economic, security, and other 
        concerns.
            ``(11) The United States must do more to promote freedom of 
        religion or belief overseas. This fundamental freedom is under 
        serious and sustained pressure across much of the globe.''; and
            (7) by striking paragraph (12) (as so redesignated) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(12) Congress has recognized and denounced acts of 
        religious persecution through the passage of the following 
        measures and adoption of the following resolutions:
                    ``(A) H.R. 2330 of the One Hundred Eighth Congress, 
                which became Public Law 108-61, prohibiting the 
                importation into the United States of any article that 
                is a product of Burma (Myanmar) until the President 
                determines and certifies to Congress that Burma has met 
                certain conditions, including the releasing of all 
                political prisoners and permitting the peaceful 
                exercise of religion.
                    ``(B) H.R. 4011 of the One Hundred Eighth Congress, 
                which became Public Law 108-333, the North Korea Human 
                Rights Act of 2004, which directs the Secretary of 
                State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to report 
                annually on measures taken to facilitate access to the 
                United States refugee program by persons fleeing 
                countries of particular concern for violations of 
                religious freedom.
                    ``(C) H.R. 6198 of the One Hundred Ninth Congress, 
                which became Public Law 109-293, the Iran Freedom 
                Support Act, which holds the current regime in Iran 
                accountable for its threatening behavior and supports a 
                transition to democracy in Iran and states that 
                assistance may be provided only to an individual, 
                organization, or entity that supports freedom of 
                religion while also expressing the sense of Congress 
                that U.S. officials and representatives should draw 
                international attention to Iran's violations of human 
                rights and freedom of religion.
                    ``(D) House Resolution 1370 of the One Hundred 
                Tenth Congress, calling on the Government of the 
                People's Republic of China to immediately end abuses of 
                the human rights of its citizens, to cease repression 
                of Tibetan and Uyghur people, and to end its support 
                for the Governments of Sudan and Burma to ensure that 
                the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games take place in an 
                atmosphere that honors the Olympic traditions of 
                freedom and openness.
                    ``(E) House Resolution 944 of the One Hundred 
                Eleventh Congress, expressing the sense of the House of 
                Representatives on the protection of members of 
                vulnerable religious and ethnic minority communities in 
                Iraq.
                    ``(F) House Resolution 134 of the One Hundred 
                Twelfth Congress, condemning the Government of Iran for 
                its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority 
                and its continued violation of the International 
                Covenants on Human Rights.
                    ``(G) House Resolution 306 of the One Hundred 
                Twelfth Congress, urging the Republic of Turkey to 
                safeguard its Christian heritage and to return 
                confiscated church properties.
                    ``(H) House Resolution 484 of the One Hundred 
                Twelfth Congress, calling on the Government of the 
                Socialist Republic of Vietnam to respect basic human 
                rights and cease abusing vague national security 
                provisions such as articles 79 and 88 of the Vietnamese 
                penal code which are often the pretext to arrest and 
                detain citizens who peacefully advocate for religious 
                and political freedom.
                    ``(I) House Resolution 556 of the One Hundred and 
                Twelfth Congress, condemning the Government of Iran for 
                its continued persecution, imprisonment, and sentencing 
                of Youcef Nadarkhani on the charge of apostasy.
                    ``(J) H.R. 515 of the One Hundred Twelfth Congress, 
                which became Public Law 112-81, to reauthorize the 
                Belarus Democracy Act of 2004, which authorizes the 
                denial of United States entry to members of the 
                security or law enforcement services who have 
                participated in the persecution of religious groups or 
                human rights defenders.
                    ``(K) House Resolution 418 of the One Hundred and 
                Thirteenth Congress, urging the Government of Burma to 
                end the persecution of the Rohingya people and respect 
                internationally recognized human rights for all ethnic 
                and religious minority groups.
                    ``(L) House Resolution 599 of the One Hundred 
                Thirteenth Congress, urging the Government of the 
                People's Republic of China to respect the freedom of 
                assembly, expression, and religion and all fundamental 
                human rights and the rule of law for all its citizens 
                and to stop censoring discussion of the 1989 Tiananmen 
                Square demonstrations and their violent suppression.
                    ``(M) House Resolution 683 of the One Hundred 
                Thirteenth Congress, expressing the sense of the House 
                of Representatives on the current situation in Iraq and 
                the urgent need to protect religious minorities from 
                the persecution from the Sunni Islamist insurgent and 
                terrorist group the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant 
                (ISIL) as it expands its control over areas in 
                northwestern Iraq.
                    ``(N) House Resolution 707 of the One Hundred 
                Thirteenth Congress, condemning all forms of anti-
                Semitism and rejecting attempts to justify anti-Jewish 
                hatred or violent attacks as an acceptable expression 
                of disapproval or frustration over political events in 
                the Middle East or elsewhere.
                    ``(O) H.R. 301 of the One Hundred Thirteenth 
                Congress, which became Public 113-161, to provide for 
                the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote 
                Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near 
                East and South Central Asia.
                    ``(P) House Resolution 754 of the One Hundred 
                Thirteenth Congress, condemning the Government of Iran 
                for its gross human rights violations.''.
    (b) Policy.--Section 2(b) of the International Religious Freedom 
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(b)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (5) as 
        paragraphs (3) through (6), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(2) To ensure that religious freedom is a central 
        component of United States foreign policy and receives the 
        appropriate prioritization across government agencies, 
        including in bilateral diplomacy, multilateral diplomacy, 
        public diplomacy, and programmatic activities of the United 
        States government.'';
            (3) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by inserting 
        ``and non-state actors'' after ``persecuting regimes''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
            ``(7) To work in coalition with international partners in 
        support of religious freedom in those countries whose 
        governments violate religious freedom or do not take action 
        against those who violate religious freedom or in those cases 
        in which non-state actors perpetrate violations of religious 
        freedom.
            ``(8) To work with foreign governments and in international 
        fora to support rule of law, good governance, and a vigorous 
        civil society and advocate in support of prisoners of 
        conscience abroad whose detentions violate their freedom of 
        religion or belief.''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 3 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 
U.S.C. 6402) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (13)(A)--
                    (A) in clause (iv), by striking ``or'' at the end; 
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new clause:
                            ``(vi) having no religious beliefs; or''; 
                        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(14) Non-state actor.--The term `non-state actor' means 
        any entity outside of government, including an extremist group 
        or terrorist organization.''.

                TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIVITIES

SEC. 101. OFFICE ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM; AMBASSADOR AT 
              LARGE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

    (a) Appointment.--Section 101(b) of the International Religious 
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6411(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
before the period the following: ``, and shall report directly to the 
Secretary of State''.
    (b) Advisory Role.--Section 101(c)(2) of the International 
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6411(c)(2)) is amended by 
striking ``a principal adviser'' and inserting ``the principal 
adviser''.

SEC. 102. REPORTS.

    (a) Annual Report on International Religious Freedom; Deadline for 
Submission.--Section 102(b)(1) of the International Religious Freedom 
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) in clause (ii), by adding at the end before the 
                semicolon the following: ``or perpetrated by non-state 
                actors'';
                    (B) in clause (iii)--
                            (i) by adding at the end before the 
                        semicolon the following: ``or perpetrated by 
                        non-state actors''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (C) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (vii); 
                and
                    (D) by inserting after clause (iii) (as so amended) 
                the following new clauses:
                            ``(iv) particularly severe violations of 
                        religious freedom occurring in the country but 
                        where a government does not exist or the 
                        government does not control its territory;
                            ``(v) an identification of whether the 
                        country is designated or re-designated as a 
                        country of particular concern for religious 
                        freedom under section 402 and, if the country 
                        is designated or re-designated as a country of 
                        particular concern for religious freedom, a 
                        description of the presidential action or 
                        actions that have been taken with respect to 
                        the country as described in section 402;
                            ``(vi) an identification of prisoners in 
                        that country pursuant to section 108; and''; 
                        and
            (2) in subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) by striking ``A description'' and inserting ``A 
                comprehensive description'';
                    (B) by striking ``the measures'' and inserting 
                ``the specific measures''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end before the period the 
                following: ``and an analysis of the impact of such 
                actions and policies on the status of religious freedom 
                in the country''.
    (b) Annual Report on International Religious Freedom; Congressional 
Hearings and Briefings Required.--Section 102(b) of the International 
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) Congressional hearings and briefings required.--The 
        Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate shall, not 
        later than 30 days after the receipt by Congress of the report 
        submitted under paragraph (1), hold hearings on the report, 
        including any recommendations contained therein, and not later 
        than 180 days after the date of completion of such hearings, 
        the Ambassador at Large shall meet with such Committees to 
        brief such Committees on the report and on progress to date 
        with respect to implementation of such recommendations.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect 
to each Annual Report on International Religious Freedom that is 
required to be submitted to Congress under section 102 of the 
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412) (as so 
amended) on or after such date of enactment.

SEC. 103. TRAINING FOR FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 708 of the Foreign 
Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4028) is amended by inserting ``members 
of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom,'' 
after ``International Religious Freedom Act of 1998,''.
    (b) Other Required Training.--Section 708 of the Foreign Service 
Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4028) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(d) The Secretary of State, with the assistance of other relevant 
officials as specified in subsection (a), shall ensure that the 
standard training described in such subsection shall, at a minimum, be 
a required segment of each of the following:
            ``(1) The A-100 course attended by all officers of the 
        Service.
            ``(2) The courses required of all officers of the Service 
        prior to a posting abroad, tailored to the religious 
        demography, status of religious freedom, and United States 
        strategies for advancing religious freedom in the country of 
        posting.
            ``(3) The courses required of all deputy chiefs of mission 
        and all chiefs of mission.''.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom and the 
Director of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, shall submit 
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a comprehensive plan 
for administering training of Foreign Service officers required under 
section 708 of the Foreign Service Act (22 U.S.C. 4028), as amended by 
this section.

SEC. 104. PROGRAMS AND ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDS BY UNITED STATES MISSIONS 
              ABROAD.

    Section 106 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 
U.S.C. 6415) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``sense of the Congress'' and inserting ``policy of the United 
        States''; and
            (2) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking ``should'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``shall''.

SEC. 105. PRISONER LISTS AND ISSUE BRIEFS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
              CONCERNS.

    (a) In General.--Section 108(b) of the International Religious 
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6417(b)) is amended by inserting ``the 
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom,'' after 
``United States chiefs of mission abroad,''.
    (b) Availability of Lists.--Section 108(c) of the International 
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6417(c)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: ``In addition, the Secretary of State shall 
transmit the lists of persons imprisoned, detained, or placed under 
house arrest prepared under subsection (b) not later than 180 days 
after the enactment of the Shahbaz Bhatti International Religious 
Freedom Act of 2015, and every 180 days thereafter, to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee 
on Appropriations of the Senate, the Tom Lantos Human Rights 
Commission, and the Senate Human Rights Caucus.''.

SEC. 106. REPORT ON FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND 
              RELIGIOUS ENGAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the 
Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to Congress a report on the 
best uses of foreign assistance to promote the goals of religious 
freedom and religious engagement, while also making a distinction 
between these two goals.
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall address 
how assistance and other United States government actions can 
strengthen the protection of religious minorities and dissenters, 
strengthen democratic institutions, and foster a vibrant civil society, 
and create civic space for religious debate and discussion.
    (c) Deadline.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
submitted to Congress not later than 180 days after the date on which 
the first Annual Report on International Religious Freedom required 
under section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 
(22 U.S.C. 6412(b)) is submitted to Congress after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (d) Hearings and Briefings.--The information contained in the 
report required by subsection (a) report shall be included in the 
congressional hearings and briefings required in paragraph (3) of 
section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 
U.S.C. 6412(b)) (as added by section 102(b) of this Act).

SEC. 107. REPORTS ON COUNTRIES NOT DESIGNATED AS COUNTRIES OF 
              PARTICULAR CONCERN FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
President designates countries as a country of particular concern for 
religious freedom under section 402 of the International Religious 
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442), the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to Congress a report on the lack of 
designation by the President of any other countries recommended for 
such designation by the United States Commission on International 
Religious Freedom.
    (b) Report Relating to Pakistan.--In addition to the report 
required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to Congress a report that focuses specifically on 
the lack of designation by the President of Pakistan as a country of 
particular concern for religious freedom under section 402 of the 
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442) despite 
the repeated recommendation for such designation by the United States 
Commission on International Religious Freedom.

 TITLE II--UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

SEC. 201. REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.

    Section 205 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 
U.S.C. 6433) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(d) Congressional Hearings and Briefings Required.--The Committee 
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate shall, not later than 30 days after the 
receipt by Congress of the report submitted under subsection (a), hold 
hearings on the report, including any recommendations contained 
therein, and not later than 180 days after the date of completion of 
such hearings, the Commission shall meet with such Committees on the 
report and on progress with respect to implementation of such 
recommendations to date.''.

                  TITLE III--NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

SEC. 301. SPECIAL ADVISER ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

    Section 101(k) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 
3021(k)) is amended in the first sentence by inserting ``senior'' 
before ``director''.

                     TITLE IV--PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

SEC. 401. PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS 
              FREEDOM.

    (a) Response to Violations of Religious Freedom.--Section 401(a)(1) 
of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 
6441(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)(i), by adding at the end before the 
        semicolon the following: ``or carried out by non-state actors 
        in that country''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting before ``, the 
        President'' the following: ``and for each foreign country in 
        which non-state actors carry out violations of religious 
        freedom''.
    (b) Presidential Actions.--Section 401(b)(2) of the International 
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6441(b)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``September 1 of each year'' and inserting 
        ``30 days after the date on which each report is submitted 
        under section 102(b)'';
            (2) by striking ``action'' and inserting ``1 or more of the 
        actions'';
            (3) by inserting ``or in which non-state actors in that 
        country carried out violations of religious freedom'' before 
        ``at any time'';
            (4) by striking ``September 1 of the preceding year'' and 
        inserting ``the previous such report was submitted''; and
            (5) by striking ``thereto)'' and all that follows and 
        inserting ``thereto) the action may only be taken after the 
        President certifies to Congress that the requirements of 
        sections 403 and 404 have been satisfied.''.
    (c) Implementation.--Section 401(c)(1)(B) of the International 
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6441(c)(1)(B)) is amended by 
inserting ``or the non-state actors in that country,'' after ``special 
officials thereof,''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect 
to each Annual Report on International Religious Freedom that is 
required to be submitted to Congress under section 102 of the 
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412) (as so 
amended) on or after such date of enactment.

SEC. 402. PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO PARTICULARLY SEVERE 
              VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

    (a) Response to Particularly Severe Violations of Religious 
Freedom.--Section 402(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 
1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by adding at the end before the 
        semicolon the following: ``or carried out by non-state 
        actors''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or a non-state actor 
        has carried out,'' after ``engaged in or tolerated''.
    (b) Designation 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 ``September 1 of each 
                        year'' and inserting ``30 days after the date 
                        on which each report is submitted under section 
                        102(b)'';
                            (ii) by striking ``whether'' and inserting 
                        ``whether, during the preceding 12 months,'';
                            (iii) by inserting ``, or in which a non-
                        state actor has carried out,'' after ``engaged 
                        in or tolerated'' each place it appears; and
                            (iv) by striking ``during the preceding 12 
                        months or since the date of the last review of 
                        that country under this subparagraph, whichever 
                        period is longer''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (C)--
                            (i) by inserting ``or non-state actor'' 
                        after ``foreign country''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``and may take place any 
                        time prior to September 1 of the respective 
                        year'' and inserting ``and before the date on 
                        which the report is submitted under section 
                        102(b)'';
            (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or the non-state 
        actor specifically responsible for the particularly severe 
        violations of religious freedom,'' after ``by that 
        government'';
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``as soon as practicable'' and inserting ``not 
                later than 30 days'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(C) the actions taken, the purposes of the 
                actions taken, and evaluation of any previous actions 
                taken pursuant to a designation by the President of a 
                country as a country of particular concern for 
                religious freedom under this section.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) Termination.--A country that has been designated a 
        country of particular concern for religious freedom under this 
        section retains such designation until the President determines 
        such designation should be terminated and submits to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the 
        reasons for such termination.''.
    (c) 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 determines'' and inserting 
                ``the President determines''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end before the period the 
                following: ``and include a description of the impact of 
                the designation of such sanction or sanctions''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The 
        President shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
        Relations of the Senate a report that explains why the decision 
        was made to designate the specific sanction or sanctions which 
        the President determines satisfy the requirements of this 
        subsection.''.

SEC. 403. CONSULTATIONS.

    Section 403(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 
(22 U.S.C. 6443(a)) is amended by striking ``As soon as practicable'' 
and inserting ``Not later than 30 days''.

SEC. 404. DESCRIPTION OF PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 405(a) of the International Religious 
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6445(a)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (15) as 
        paragraphs (10) through (16), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(9) The raising of concerns and initiation of actions 
        through multilateral and regional bodies.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The International Religious Freedom Act 
of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is amended in sections 3(3), 
401(c)(2), 402(c)(1)(A), 403(a), 404(a), 405(b), and 407(a) by striking 
``paragraphs (9) through (15)'' each place it appears and inserting 
``paragraphs (10) through (16)''.

SEC. 405. PRESIDENTIAL WAIVER.

    Section 407(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 
(22 U.S.C. 6447(a)), as amended by section 404(b), is further amended 
by inserting ``for a period not to exceed 180 days'' after ``may 
waive''.

SEC. 406. TERMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 409 of the International Religious Freedom 
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6449) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 409. TERMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS.

    ``Any Presidential action taken under this Act with respect to a 
foreign country shall remain in effect unless expressly terminated by 
Presidential actions based upon the determination by the President and 
certification to Congress that the foreign government has ceased or 
taken substantial and verifiable steps to cease the particularly severe 
violations of religious freedom.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section takes 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and applies with 
respect to any Presidential action taken under the International 
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (as so amended) on or after such date of 
enactment.

                TITLE V--PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

SEC. 501. ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

    Section 501 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Economic Support Fund Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), assistance 
        authorized to be provided under chapter 4 of part II of the 
        Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.; 
        relating to the Economic Support Fund) should include 
        assistance--
                    ``(A) to entities and individuals in support of 
                religious freedom, the rule of law, good governance, 
                and the creation of a strong and vibrant civil society; 
                and
                    ``(B) to provide enhanced security for human rights 
                and religious freedom defenders.
            ``(2) Limitation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Assistance authorized to be 
                provided under the provisions of law specified in 
                subparagraph (B) may not be provided to a foreign 
                government that is designated or re-designated as a 
                country of particular concern for religious freedom 
                under section 402 until the Secretary of State 
                certifies to the appropriate congressional committees 
                that the government of such country has agreed to use 
                such funds to support improvements in respecting 
                international standards of religious freedom for all 
                its residents and to take measures to address 
                discrimination and violence against religious 
                minorities or dissenting members of the majority 
                community in such country.
                    ``(B) Provisions of law.--The provisions of law 
                specified in this subparagraph are the following:
                            ``(i) Chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign 
                        Assistance Act of 1961.
                            ``(ii) Part II of the Foreign Assistance 
                        Act of 1961.
                            ``(iii) The Arms Export Control Act.
            ``(3) Waiver.--The President may waive for a period not to 
        exceed 180 days the application of paragraph (2) if the 
        President determines and reports to the appropriate 
        congressional committees that--
                    ``(A) the exercise of such waiver authority would 
                further the purposes of this Act; or
                    ``(B) it is important to the national interest of 
                the United States to provide for the exercise of such 
                waiver authority.
    ``(d) Programs To Promote and Protect Freedom of Religion or 
Belief.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President, acting through the 
        Federal departments and other entities described in paragraph 
        (3)(B), is authorized to carry out programs related to the 
        promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief in 
        foreign countries. Such programs shall focus on supporting 
        civil society, especially in countries designated or re-
        designated as countries of particular concern for religious 
        freedom under section 402, or recommended by the United States 
        Commission on International Religious Freedom for such 
        designation or re-designation.
            ``(2) Elements.--Programs carried out under paragraph (1) 
        shall include proposed reforms to a country's education systems 
        to promote respect for religious tolerance and freedom.
            ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to the President $17,000,000 for each of the 
        fiscal years 2016 through 2019 to carry out this subsection, of 
        which--
                    ``(A) $5,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated 
                to each of the Office on International Religious 
                Freedom within the Department of State, the National 
                Endowment for Democracy, and the United States 
                Institute for Peace; and
                    ``(B) $2,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated 
                to the United States Commission on International 
                Religious Freedom.
    ``(e) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Secretary of State should prioritize the protection of religious 
minorities and places where these minorities reside and congregate when 
developing policy and directing programs that are administered by the 
Department of Defense.''.

SEC. 502. INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING.

    Section 502 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``Section 303(a)'' and inserting ``(a) In 
        General.--Section 303(a)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Availability of Funds.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated 
for democracy programs of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and 
Labor of the Department of State, the United States Agency for 
International Development, and the Broadcasting Board of Governors are 
authorized to be used to support the development and implementation of 
innovative uses of the Internet and other electronic methods to support 
freedom of religion or belief abroad.''.
                                 <all>