[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 142 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7051-S7052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
                      REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2015

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 238, S. 2078.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2078) to reauthorize the United States 
     Commission on International Religious Freedom, and for other 
     purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third 
time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and 
laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 2078) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 2078

       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 ``United States Commission on 
     International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 
     2015''.

     SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of the Congress that the United States 
     Commission on International Religious Freedom--
       (1) was created by Congress to independently assess and to 
     accurately and unflinchingly describe threats to religious 
     freedom around the world; and
       (2) in carrying out its prescribed duties, should use its 
     authorized powers to ensure that efforts by the United States 
     to advance religious freedom abroad are timely, appropriate 
     to the circumstances, prudent, and effective.

     SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.

       Section 209 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 
     1998 (22 U.S.C. 6436) is amended by striking ``September 30, 
     2015'' and inserting ``September 30, 2019''.

     SEC. 4. STRATEGIC PLAN.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
       (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the United 
     States Commission on International Religious Freedom 
     established under section 201 of the International Religious 
     Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6431).
       (3) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'' means a member 
     of the Commission.
       (4) Vice chair.--The term ``Vice Chair'' means the Vice 
     Chair of the Commission who was appointed to such position by 
     an elected official from the political party that is 
     different from the political party of the elected official 
     who appointed the Chair of the Commission.
       (b) Strategic Policy and Organizational Review Planning 
     Process.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
     biennially thereafter, the Chair and Vice Chair of the 
     Commission, in coordination with the Commissioners, the 
     Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, 
     Commission staff, and others jointly selected by the Chair 
     and Vice Chair, shall carry out a strategic policy and 
     organizational review planning process that includes--
       (1) a review of the duties set forth in section 202 of the 
     International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6432) 
     and the powers set forth in section 203 of such Act (22 
     U.S.C. 6432a);
       (2) the preparation of a written description of prioritized 
     actions that the Commission is required to complete to 
     fulfill the strategic plan required under subsection (d);
       (3) a review of the scope, content, and timing of the 
     Commission's annual report and any required changes; and
       (4) a review of the personnel policies set forth in section 
     204 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 
     U.S.C. 6432b) and any required changes to such policies.
       (c) Unanimous Agreement.--
       (1) In general.--To the greatest extent possible, the 
     Chair, Vice Chair, and all of the Commissioners shall ensure 
     that this section is implemented in a manner that results in 
     unanimous agreement among the Commissioners with regard to--
       (A) the strategic policy and organizational review planning 
     process required under subsection (b); and
       (B) the strategic plan required under subsection (d).
       (2) Alternative approval process.--If unanimous agreement 
     under paragraph (1) is not possible, items for inclusion in 
     the strategic plan may, at the joint discretion of the Chair 
     and Vice Chair, be approved by an affirmative vote of--
       (A) a majority of Commissioners appointed by an elected 
     official from the political party of the President; and
       (B) a majority of Commissioners appointed by an elected 
     official from the political party that is not the party of 
     the President.

[[Page S7052]]

       (d) Submission of Strategic Plan.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of the Act, and not less 
     frequently than biennially thereafter, the Chair and Vice 
     Chair of the Commission shall jointly submit, to the 
     appropriate congressional committees, a written strategic 
     plan that includes--
       (1) a description of prioritized actions for the Commission 
     for a period of time to be specified by the Commissioners;
       (2) a description of any changes the Commission considers 
     necessary with regard to the scope, content, and timing of 
     the Commission's annual report;
       (3) a description of any changes the Commission considers 
     necessary with regard to personnel matters; and
       (4) the Commission's funding requirements for the period 
     covered by the strategic plan.
       (e) Pending Issues.--The strategic plan required under 
     subsection (d) may identify any issues or proposals that have 
     not yet been resolved by the Commission.
       (f) Implementation of Personnel Provisions and Annual 
     Report.--Notwithstanding section 204(a) and 205(a) of the 
     International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 
     6432b(a) and 6533(a)), the Commission is authorized to 
     implement provisions related to personnel and the 
     Commission's annual report that are included in the strategic 
     plan submitted pursuant to this section.
       (g) Congressional Oversight.--Upon request, the Commission 
     shall--
       (1) make available for inspection any information and 
     documents requested by the appropriate congressional 
     committees; and
       (2) respond to any requests to provide testimony before the 
     appropriate congressional committees.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 207 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 
     1998 (22 U.S.C. 6435) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Commission $3,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 
     2016 to 2019 to carry out the provisions of this Act and 
     section 4 of the United States Commission on International 
     Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015.
       ``(b) Availability of Funds.--Amounts authorized to be 
     appropriated under subsection (a) shall remain available 
     until the earlier of--
       ``(1) the date on which they have been expended; or
       ``(2) the date on which the Commission is terminated under 
     section 209.
       ``(c) Limitation.--In each fiscal year, the Commission 
     shall only be authorized to expend amounts that have been 
     appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) if the Commission--
       ``(1) complies with the requirements set forth in section 4 
     of the United States Commission on International Religious 
     Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015; and
       ``(2) submits the annual financial report required under 
     section 208(e) to the appropriate congressional 
     committees.''.

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