[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 191 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8552-S8553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     REAUTHORIZING THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT OF 1998

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the Foreign Relations Committee be 
discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2867.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2867) to reauthorize the International 
     Religious Freedom Act of 1998, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a Durbin 
amendment which is at the desk be agreed to and the bill, as amended, 
be read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 1461) was agreed to, as follows:

  (Purpose: To limit appointments to the United States Commission on 
    International Religious Freedom to 2 2-year terms, to authorize 
 employees of the Commission who have filed a discrimination complaint 
  under section 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to complete such 
proceedings, and to clarify that travel by members of the United States 
Commission on International Religious Freedom is subject to the Federal 
Travel Regulation and the Department of State Standardized Regulations)

       Beginning on page 2, strike line 6 and all that follows 
     through ``(3)'' on page 4, line 18, and insert the following:
       (a) Terms.--Section 201(c) of the International Religious 
     Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6431(c)) is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--The term of office of each member of the 
     Commission shall be 2 years. An individual, including any 
     member appointed to the Commission prior to the date of the 
     enactment of the United States Commission on International 
     Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011, 
     shall not serve more than 2 terms as a member of the 
     Commission under any circumstance. For any member serving on 
     the Commission on such date who has completed at least 2 full 
     terms on the Commission, such member's term shall expire 90 
     days after such date. A member of the Commission may not 
     serve after the expiration of that member's term.''; and
       (2)

       On page 5, line 3, strike ``(c)'' and insert ``(b)''.

       On page 5, strike lines 9 through 19 and insert the 
     following:
       (c) Application of Federal Travel Regulation and Department 
     of State Standardized Regulations to the Commission.--Section 
     201(i) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 
     U.S.C. 6431(i)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following: ``Members of the Commission are subject to the 
     requirements set forth in chapters 300 through 304 of title 
     41, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly known as the 
     `Federal Travel Regulation') and the Department of State 
     Standardized Regulations governing authorized travel at 
     government expense, including regulations concerning the mode 
     of travel, lodging and per diem expenditures,

[[Page S8553]]

     reimbursement payments, and expense reporting and 
     documentation requirements.''.

       On page 5, strike line 21 and insert the following:
       (a) In General.--Section 204 of the International Religious 
     Freedom

       On page 6, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following:
       (b) Pending Claims.--Any administrative or judicial claim 
     or action pending on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     may be maintained under section 204(g) of the International 
     Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as added by subsection (a).

       On page 6, line 21, strike ``and 2013'' and insert 
     ``through 2014''.

       On page 7, line 9, strike ``2013'' and insert ``2014''.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on the engrossment of the 
amendment and third reading of the bill.
  The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a 
third time.
  The bill was read the third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the 
question is, Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (H.R. 2867), as amended, was passed, as follows:

                               H.R. 2867

         Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives 
     (H.R. 2867) entitled ``An Act to reauthorize the 
     International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, and for other 
     purposes.'', do pass with the following
       Amendments:
     (1)Beginning on page 2, strike line 6 and all that follows 
     through ``(3)'' on page 4, line 18, and insert the following:
       (a) Terms.--Section 201(c) of the International Religious 
     Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6431(c)) is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--The term of office of each member of the 
     Commission shall be 2 years. An individual, including any 
     member appointed to the Commission prior to the date of the 
     enactment of the United States Commission on International 
     Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011, 
     shall not serve more than 2 terms as a member of the 
     Commission under any circumstance. For any member serving on 
     the Commission on such date who has completed at least 2 full 
     terms on the Commission, such member's term shall expire 90 
     days after such date. A member of the Commission may not 
     serve after the expiration of that member's term.''; and
       (2)
     (2)On page 5, line 3, strike ``(c)'' and insert ``(b)''.
     (3)On page 5, strike lines 9 through 19 and insert the 
     following:
       (c) Application of Federal Travel Regulation and Department 
     of State Standardized Regulations to the Commission.--Section 
     201(i) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 
     U.S.C. 6431(i)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following: ``Members of the Commission are subject to the 
     requirements set forth in chapters 300 through 304 of title 
     41, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly known as the 
     `Federal Travel Regulation') and the Department of State 
     Standardized Regulations governing authorized travel at 
     government expense, including regulations concerning the mode 
     of travel, lodging and per diem expenditures, reimbursement 
     payments, and expense reporting and documentation 
     requirements.''.
     (4)On page 5, strike line 21 and insert the following:
       (a) In General.--Section 204 of the International Religious 
     Freedom
     (5)On page 6, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following:
       (b) Pending Claims.--Any administrative or judicial claim 
     or action pending on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     may be maintained under section 204(g) of the International 
     Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as added by subsection (a).
     (6)On page 6, line 21, strike ``and 2013'' and insert 
     ``through 2014''.
     (7)On page 7, line 9, strike ``2013'' and insert ``2014''.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the motion to reconsider be laid on 
the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The majority leader is recognized.

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