[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 107 (Thursday, July 10, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4435-S4436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NEAR EAST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ASIA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to Calendar No. 268.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The bill clerk read as follows:
A bill (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.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Blunt
amendment at the desk be agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 3556) was agreed to, as follows:
On page 1, line 5, strike ``2013'' and insert ``2014''.
On page 5, strike line 6 and insert the following:
SEC. 6. SUNSET.
This Act shall cease to be effective beginning on October
1, 2019.
SEC. 7. FUNDING.
On page 5, line 9, strike ``2013 through 2017'' and insert
``2015 through 2019''.
Mr. REID. I personally do not know of any more debate on this matter.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is
on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The bill (S. 653), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
S. 653
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 2014''.
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.
[[Page S4436]]
(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. SUNSET.
This Act shall cease to be effective beginning on October
1, 2019.
SEC. 7. FUNDING.
Of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to
the Secretary of State for ``Diplomatic and Consular
Programs'' for fiscal years 2015 through 2019, 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.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motions to
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________