[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 136 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11387-S11388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I wish to associate myself with the remarks 
delivered earlier this afternoon by my friend, the senior Senator from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Nickles) regarding the International Religious Freedom 
Act. I commend him and Senator Lieberman for their leadership in 
advancing this legislation. I congratulate their willingness to work 
with the Administration and all interested parties to craft legislation 
that is inclusive, that preserves many options for the President, yet 
is strong and effective in addressing religious persecution around the 
world. The revisions suggested and accepted in the spirit of compromise 
have not weakened the core purpose or value of this legislation.
  This is one of the most important pieces of foreign relations 
legislation this Congress will consider during this session. It 
proposes action against religious persecution worldwide, and 
establishes a structure by which the United States can more effectively 
investigate, monitor, and address serious violations of religious 
freedom, an internationally recognized human right, as well as an issue 
of concern to all people of faith.
  The International Religious Freedom Act is a necessary step to ensure 
that religious persecution will not be tolerated in our conduct of 
foreign policy. S. 1868 seeks to promote religious freedom by 
establishing an Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Liberty, a Special 
Advisor within the White House on Religious Persecution, and a 
bipartisan Commission on International Religious Liberty. It also 
provides the President with an array of options, including economic 
sanctions, which he can use to respond to countries that engage in or 
condone religious persecution. The measure in no way constricts or 
mandates the conduct of American foreign policy.
  This is not a Republican bill or a Democratic bill, a conservative or 
liberal proposal, or an effort to protect or promote any one faith. It 
is supported by the Episcopal Church, the Christian Coalition, the 
Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Catholic organizations, and other 
religious and human rights associations across the country. Indeed, it 
is an ecumenical effort supported by a bipartisan group in Congress, 
and it enjoys wide support among all people of faith and supporters of 
human rights. This is why I was honored to join Senator Nickles, 
Lieberman, Specter, and Coats, Congressmen Wolf and Clement, and a 
diverse coalition of religious leaders this morning to urge 
Congressional action on the International Religious Freedom Act before 
adjournment.
  As a longtime supporter of human rights, the defense of the right to 
religious freedom is as significant as IMF funding and our ongoing 
efforts to deal with the international financial crisis. Sadly, many of 
the conflicts we are

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witnessing today have religious intolerance at their core. It is my 
strong belief that if we in the United States, our allies in other 
nations and people of faith around the world speak out about religious 
liberty and call attention to religious persecution, and bring positive 
forces to bear in defense of religious freedom, we can advance 
understanding and respect for this basic human right and prevent 
religious intolerance from festering and exploding into conflict and 
violence.
  Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hagel). The Senator from Illinois.

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