[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 77 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2399-H2406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FRANK R. WOLF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1150) to amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to
improve the ability of the United States to advance religious freedom
globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and
foreign assistance efforts, and through stronger and more flexible
political responses to religious freedom violations and violent
extremism worldwide, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1150
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 ``Frank R.
Wolf International Religious Freedom Act''.
(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. Annual Report on International Religious Freedom.
Sec. 103. Training for Foreign Service officers; report.
Sec. 104. Prisoner lists and issue briefs on religious freedom
concerns.
TITLE II--NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
Sec. 201. Special Adviser for International Religious Freedom.
TITLE III--PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
Sec. 301. Non-state actor designations.
Sec. 302. Presidential actions in response to particularly severe
violations of religious freedom.
Sec. 303. Report to Congress.
Sec. 304. Presidential waiver.
Sec. 305. Publication in the Federal Register.
TITLE IV--PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Sec. 401. Assistance for promoting religious freedom.
TITLE V--DESIGNATED PERSONS LIST FOR PARTICULARLY SEVERE VIOLATIONS OF
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Sec. 501. Designated Persons List for Particularly Severe Violations of
Religious Freedom.
TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 601. Miscellaneous provisions.
Sec. 602. Clerical amendments.
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) in paragraph (3), by inserting immediately prior to the
penultimate sentence the following new sentence: ``The
freedom of thought, conscience, and religion is understood to
protect theistic and non-theistic beliefs as well as the
right not to profess or practice any religion.''; and
(2) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by inserting ``and the specific targeting of non-
theists, humanists, and atheists because of their beliefs''
after ``religious persecution''; and
(B) by inserting ``and in regions where non-state actors
exercise significant political power and influence'' after
``religious majorities''.
(b) Policy.--Section 2(b) of the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(b)) is amended by adding
at the end the following new paragraph:
``(6) Because the promotion of international religious
freedom protects human rights, advances democracy abroad, and
advances United States interests in stability, security, and
development globally, the promotion of international
religious freedom requires new and evolving policies, and
diplomatic responses that are drawn from the expertise of the
national security agencies, the diplomatic services, and
other governmental agencies and nongovernmental
organizations, and are coordinated across and carried out by
the entire range of Federal agencies.''.
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) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (v)
and (vi), respectively; and
(ii) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
``(iv) not professing a particular religion, or any
religion;''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by inserting ``conscience, non-theistic views, or''
before ``religious belief or practice''; and
(ii) by inserting after ``forced religious conversion'' the
following: ``, forcibly compelling non-believers or non-
theists to recant their beliefs or to convert''; and
(2) by adding at the end, the following new paragraphs:
``(14) Special watch list.--The term `Special Watch List'
means the Special Watch List as contained in the Executive
Summary to the Annual Report and described in section
102(b)(1)(F)(iii).
``(15) Non-state actor.--The term `non-state actor' means a
nonsovereign entity that exercises significant political
power and is able to exert influence at a national or
international level but does not belong to or ally itself to
any particular country and often employs illegal violence in
pursuit of its objectives.
``(16) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001)''.
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIVITIES
SEC. 101. OFFICE ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM;
AMBASSADOR AT LARGE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM.
(a) In General.--Section 101 of the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6411) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end before the
period the following: ``, and shall report directly to the
Secretary of State'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
[[Page H2400]]
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``responsibility'' and inserting
``responsibilities'';
(ii) by striking ``shall be to advance'' and inserting the
following: ``shall be to--
``(A) advance'';
(iii) in subparagraph (A) (as so added), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(B) integrate United States international religious
freedom policies and strategies into the foreign policy
efforts of the United States.'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``the principal adviser
to'' before ``the Secretary of State'';
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(C) contacts with nongovernmental organizations that have
an impact on the state of religious freedom in their
respective societies or regions, or internationally.'';
(D) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
(E) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new
paragraph:
``(4) Coordination responsibilities.--In order to promote
religious freedom as an interest of United States foreign
policy, the Ambassador at Large--
``(A) shall coordinate international religious freedom
policies across all programs, projects, and activities of the
United States; and
``(B) should participate in any interagency processes on
issues in which the promotion of international religious
freedom policy can advance United States national security
interests, including in democracy promotion, stability,
security, and development globally.''; and
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ``staff for the Office''
and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``individuals to fill at least 25 full-time
equivalent staff positions, and any other temporary staff
positions as needed to compile, edit, and manage the Annual
Report under the direct supervision of the Ambassador at
Large, and for the conduct of investigations by the Office
and for necessary travel to carry out the provisions of this
Act. The Secretary of State should also provide to the
Ambassador at Large funds that are sufficient to carry out
the duties described in this section, including as necessary
representation funds, in amounts comparable to those provided
to other Ambassadors at Large in the Department of State.''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--Because international religious
freedom is a vital foreign policy interest and one that needs
coordination across many regional bureaus and among Special
Envoys and Special Representatives with overlapping mandates,
the Secretary of State should consider elevating the office
of International Religious Freedom and the position of the
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom to
the Office of the Secretary, similar to other Ambassador-at-
Large positions that now report directly to the Secretary.
Providing the Office of International Religious Freedom with
additional resources and status will demonstrate both the
strategic importance of international religious freedom
policy within the State Department bureaucracy and show
persecuted religious groups globally that the U.S. gives
priority to the protection and promotion of international
religious freedom as mandated by the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998.
SEC. 102. ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
(a) In General.--Section 102(b)(1) of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)) is
amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``September 1'' and inserting ``May 1'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (vii); and
(B) by inserting after clause (iii) the following new
clauses:
``(iv) particularly severe violations of religious freedom
in that country in the case of a foreign country with respect
to which a government does not exist or the government does
not control its territory;
``(v) an identification of prisoners in that country
pursuant to section 108;
``(vi) any action taken by the government of that country
to censor religious content, communications, or worship
activities online, including descriptions of the targeted
religious group, the content, communication, or activities
censored, and the means used.'';
(3) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause
(i)--
(A) by inserting ``persecution of lawyers, politicians, or
other human rights advocates seeking to defend the rights of
members of religious groups or highlight religious freedom
violations, prohibitions on ritual animal slaughter or male
infant circumcision,'' after ``entire religions,''; and
(B) by inserting ``policies that ban or restrict the public
manifestation of religious belief and the peaceful
involvement of religious groups or their members in the
political life of each such foreign country,'' after ``such
groups,'';
(4) in subparagraph (C)--
(A) by striking ``A description'' and inserting ``A
comprehensive description'';
(B) by striking ``policies in support'' and inserting
``diplomatic and political coordination efforts, and other
policies in support''; and
(C) by adding at the end before the period the following:
``, and a comprehensive and country-specific analysis of the
impact of actions by the United States on the status of
religious freedom in each such country''; and
(5) in subparagraph (F)--
(A) in clause (i)--
(i) by striking ``section 402(b)(1)'' and inserting
``section 402(b)(1)(B)(i)''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following: ``Any country in
which a non-state actor designated as an entity of particular
concern for religious freedom under section 301 of the Frank
R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act is located shall
be included in this section of the report.''
(B) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iii) Special watch list.--A list, to be known as the
`Special Watch List', which shall identify each country that
engages in or tolerates severe violations of religious
freedom during the previous year but which the President
determines does not meet, at the time of the publication of
the Annual Report, all of the criteria described in section
3(11) for designation under section 402(b)(1).''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the original intent of the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) was to require
annual reports from both the Department of State and the
Commission on International Religious Freedom to be delivered
each year, during the same calendar year, and with at least 5
months separating these reports, in order to provide updated
information for policy-makers, Members of Congress, and
nongovernmental organizations; and
(2) given that the annual Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices no longer contain updated information on religious
freedom conditions globally, it is important that the
Department of State and the Commission work together to
fulfill the original intent of the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998.
SEC. 103. TRAINING FOR FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS; REPORT.
(a) Amendment to Foreign Service Act of 1980.--Section 708
of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4028) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections
(d) and (e), respectively;
(2) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by striking ``The
Secretary of State'' and inserting ``Refugees.--The Secretary
of State'';
(3) in subsection (e), as redesignated, by striking ``The
Secretary of State'' and inserting ``Child Soldiers.--The
Secretary of State'';
(4) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) Development of Curriculum.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall develop a
curriculum for training United States Foreign Service
officers in the scope and strategic value of international
religious freedom, how violations of international religious
freedom harm fundamental United States interests, how the
advancement of international religious freedom can advance
such interests, how United States international religious
freedom policy should be carried out in practice by United
States diplomats and other Foreign Service officers, and the
relevance and relationship of international religious freedom
to United States defense, diplomacy, development, and public
affairs efforts. The Secretary of State shall ensure the
availability of sufficient resources to develop and implement
such curriculum.
``(2) Role of other officials.--The Secretary of State
shall carry out paragraph (1)--
``(A) with the assistance of the Ambassador at Large for
International Religious Freedom appointed under section
101(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998;
``(B) in coordination with the Director of the George P.
Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center and other
Federal officials as appropriate; and
``(C) in consultation with the United States Commission on
International Religious Freedom established in section 201(a)
of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and other
relevant stakeholders.
``(b) Training Program.--Not later than the date that is
one year after the date of the enactment of the Frank R. Wolf
International Religious Freedom Act, the Director of the
George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center
shall begin mandatory training on religious freedom for all
Foreign Service officers, including all entry level officers,
all officers prior to departure for posting outside the
United States, and all outgoing deputy chiefs of mission and
ambassadors. Such training shall, at minimum, be a separate,
independent, and required segment of each of the following:
``(1) The A-100 course attended by all Foreign Service
officers.
``(2) The courses required of every Foreign Service officer
prior to a posting outside the United States, with segments
tailored to the particular religious demography, religious
freedom conditions, and United States strategies for
advancing religious freedom, in each receiving country.
[[Page H2401]]
``(3) The courses required of all outgoing deputy chiefs of
mission and ambassadors.
``(c) Information Sharing.--The curriculum and training
materials developed pursuant to subsections (a) and (b)
should be made available to all other Federal agencies.''.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, with the
assistance of the Ambassador at Large for International
Religious Freedom, and the Director of the George P. Shultz
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 report
containing a comprehensive plan for undertaking training for
Foreign Service officers as required under section 708 of the
Foreign Services Act of 1980, as amended by subsection (a) of
this section.
SEC. 104. PRISONER LISTS AND ISSUE BRIEFS ON RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM CONCERNS.
Section 108 of the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998 (22 U.S.C. 6417) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``faith'' and inserting
``activities, religious freedom advocacy, or efforts to
protect and advance the universally-recognized right to the
freedom of religion,'';
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``, as appropriate,
provide'' and insert ``make available''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Victims List Maintained by the United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom.--
``(1) In general.--The Commission shall make publicly
available online and in official publications lists of
persons it determines are imprisoned, detained, disappeared,
placed under house arrest, tortured, or subject to forced
renunciations of faith for their religious activity or
religious freedom advocacy by the government of a foreign
country that the Commission recommends for designation as a
country of particular concern for religious freedom under
section 402(b)(1) or by a non-state actor that the Commission
recommends for designation as an entity of particular concern
for religious freedom under section 301 of the Frank R. Wolf
International Religious Freedom Act and include as much
publicly-available information as possible on the conditions
and circumstances of such persons.
``(2) Discretion.--In compiling such lists, the Commission
shall exercise all appropriate discretion, including
consideration of the safety and security of, and benefit to,
the persons who may be included on the lists and the families
of such persons.''.
TITLE II--NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
SEC. 201. SPECIAL ADVISER FOR INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM.
Section 101 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C.
3021) is amended by striking subsection (k) and inserting the
following:
``(k) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
there should be within the staff of the National Security
Council a Special Adviser to the President on International
Religious Freedom, whose position should be comparable to
that of a director within the Executive Office of the
President, with the primary responsibility to serve as a
resource for executive branch officials on international
religious freedom, compiling and maintaining information on
the facts and circumstances of violations of religious
freedom (as defined in section 3 of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998), and making relevant policy
recommendations to advance United States international
religious freedom policy. The Special Advisor should also
assist the Ambassador-at-Large to coordinate international
religious freedom policies and strategies throughout the
executive branch and within any interagency policy committees
where the Ambassador-at-Large participates.''.
TITLE III--PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
SEC. 301. NON-STATE ACTOR DESIGNATIONS.
(a) In General.--The President shall, concurrent with the
annual foreign country review required by section 402(b)(1)
of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
6442(b)(1))--
(1) review and identify any non-state actors operating in
any such reviewed country or surrounding region that have
engaged in particularly severe violations of religious
freedom; and
(2) designate, in a manner consistent with such Act, each
such non-state actor as an entity of particular concern for
religious freedom.
(b) Report.--Whenever the President designates a non-state
actor under subsection (a) as an entity of particular concern
for religious freedom, the President shall, as soon as
practicable after the designation is made, submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report detailing the
reasons for such designation.
(c) Actions.--The President should take specific actions to
address severe violations of religious freedom of non-state
actors that are designated under subsection (a), including
taking actions commensurate to those actions described in
section 405 of the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998 (22 U.S.C. 6445).
(d) Department of State Annual Report.--The Secretary of
State should include information detailing the reasons the
President designated a non-state actor as an entity of
particular concern for religious freedom under subsection (a)
in the Annual Report required in section 102(b)(1) of the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
6442(b)(1)).
(e) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary of State should work with Congress to create
new political, financial, and diplomatic tools to address
severe violations of religious freedom by non-state actors
and to update the actions the President can take in section
405 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
(f) Determinations of Responsible Parties.--In order to
appropriately target Presidential actions under the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 in response, the
President shall with respect to each non-state actor
designated as an entity of particular concern for religious
freedom under subsection (a), seek to determine the specific
officials or members thereof that are responsible for the
particularly severe violations of religious freedom engaged
in or tolerated by that entity.
(g) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``appropriate
congressional committees'', ``non-state actor'', and
``particularly severe violations of religious freedom'' have
the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6402),
as amended by section 3 of this Act.
SEC. 302. PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO PARTICULARLY
SEVERE VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
Section 402 of the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date on
which each Annual Report is submitted under section 102(b),
the President shall--
``(i) review the status of religious freedom in each
foreign country to determine whether the government of that
country has engaged in or tolerated particularly severe
violations of religious freedom in each such country during
the preceding 12 months or longer; and
``(ii) designate each country the government of which has
engaged in or tolerated violations described in clause (i) as
a country of particular concern for religious freedom.''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``September 1 of the
respective year'' and inserting ``the date on which each
Annual Report is submitted under section 102(b)'';
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) Congressional notification.--
``(A) In general.--Whenever the President designates a
country as a country of particular concern for religious
freedom under paragraph (1)(A), the President shall, not
later than 90 days after the designation is made, transmit to
the appropriate congressional committees--
``(i) the designation of the country, signed by the
President;
``(ii) the identification, if any, of responsible parties
determined under paragraph (2); and
``(iii) a description of the actions taken under subsection
(c), the purposes of the actions taken, and the effectiveness
of the actions taken.
``(B) Removal of designation.--A country that is designated
as a country of particular concern for religious freedom
under paragraph (1)(A) shall retain such designation until
the President determines and reports to the appropriate
congressional committees that the country should no longer be
so designated.''; and
(C) by adding at the end, the following new paragraph:
``(4) Treatment of countries on special watch list.--
``(A) In general.--The President shall designate as a
country of particular concern for religious freedom under
paragraph (1)(A) any country that appears on the Special
Watch List in more than 2 consecutive Annual Reports.
``(B) Exercise of waiver authority.--The President may
waive the application of subparagraph (A) with respect to a
country for up to 2 years if the President certifies to the
appropriate committees of Congress that--
``(i) the country has entered into an agreement with the
United States to carry out specific and credible actions to
improve religious freedom conditions and end religious
freedom violations;
``(ii) the country has entered into an agreement with the
United Nations, the European Union, or other ally of the
United States, to carry out specific and credible actions to
improve religious freedom conditions and end religious
freedom violations; or
``(iii) the waiver is in the national security interests of
the United States.
``(C) Effect on designation as country of particular
concern.--The presence or absence of a country from the
Special Watch List in any given year shall not preclude the
designation of such country as a country of particular
concern for religious freedom under paragraph (1)(A) in any
such year.''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(5), in the second sentence, by
inserting ``and include a description of the impact of the
designation of such sanction or sanctions that exist in each
country'' after ``determines satisfy the requirements of this
subsection''.
[[Page H2402]]
SEC. 303. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Section 404(a)(4)(A) of the International Religious Freedom
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6444(a)(4)(A)) is amended--
(1) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iv) the impact on the advancement of United States
interests in democracy, human rights, and security, and a
description of policy tools being applied in the country,
including programs that target democratic stability, economic
growth, and counter-terrorism.''.
SEC. 304. PRESIDENTIAL WAIVER.
Section 407 of the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998 (22 U.S.C. 6447) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``subsection (b)'' and inserting
``subsection (c)''; and
(B) by inserting ``, for a single 180-day period,'' after
``may waive'';
(2) by striking ``that--'' and all that follows and
inserting ``that the exercise of such waiver authority would
further the purposes of this Act.'';
(3) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);
(4) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Additional Authority.--Subject to subsection (c), the
President may waive, for any additional period of time after
the 180-day period described in subsection (a), the
application of any of the actions described in paragraphs (9)
through (15) of section 405(a) (or a commensurate action in
substitution thereto) with respect to a country, if the
President determines and so reports to the appropriate
congressional committees that--
``(1) the respective foreign government has ceased the
violations giving rise to the Presidential action; or
``(2) the exercise of such authority is important to the
national interests of the United States.''.
(5) in subsection (c), by inserting ``or (b)'' after
``subsection (a)''; and
(6) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress
that--
``(1) ongoing and persistent waivers of the application of
any of the actions described in paragraphs (9) through (15)
of section 405(a) (or commensurate action in substitution
thereto) with respect to a country do not fulfill the
purposes of this Act; and
``(2) because the promotion of religious freedom is a
compelling interest of United States foreign policy, the
President, the Secretary of State, and other Executive branch
officials, in consultation with Congress, should seek to find
ways to address existing violations, on a case-by-case basis,
through the actions specified in section 405 or other
commensurate action in substitution thereto.''.
SEC. 305. PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER.
Section 408(a)(1) of the International Religious Freedom
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6448(a)(1)) is amended by adding at
the end the following: ``Any designation of a non-state actor
as an entity of particular concern for religious freedom
under section 301 of the Frank R. Wolf International
Religious Freedom Act, together with, when applicable and to
the extent practicable, the identities of individuals
determined to be responsible for the violations under
subsection (e) of such section.''.
TITLE IV--PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
SEC. 401. ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
(a) Availability of Assistance.--It is the sense of
Congress that for each fiscal year that begins on or after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Department of
State should make available--
(1) an amount equal to not less than 10 percent of the
amounts available in that fiscal year for the Human Rights
and Democracy Fund for the promotion of international
religious freedom and for projects to advance United States
interests in the protection and advancement of international
religious freedom, in particular, through grants to--
(A) groups that are able to develop legal protections or
promote cultural and societal understanding of international
norms of religious freedom;
(B) groups that seek to address and mitigate religiously
motivated and sectarian violence and combat violent
extremism; and
(C) groups that seek to strengthen investigations,
reporting, and monitoring of religious freedom violations;
and
(2) an amount equal to not less than 2 percent of amounts
available in that fiscal year for the Human Rights and
Democracy Fund to be made available for the establishment of
a Religious Freedom Defense Fund, administered by the
Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, to
provide grants for--
(A) victims of religious freedom abuses and their families
to cover legal and other expenses that may arise from
detention, imprisonment, torture, fines, and other
restrictions; and
(B) projects to help create and support training of a new
generation of defenders of religious freedom, including legal
and political advocates, and civil society projects which
seek to create advocacy networks, strengthen legal
representation, train and educate new religious freedom
defenders, and build the capacity of religious communities
and rights defenders to protect against religious freedom
violations, mitigate societal or sectarian violence, or
minimize legal or other restrictions of the right to freedom
of religion.
(b) Preference.--It is the sense of Congress that, in
providing grants under subsection (a), the Ambassador at
Large for International Religious Freedom should, as
appropriate, give preference to projects targeting religious
freedom violations in countries designated as countries of
particular concern for religious freedom under section
402(b)(1) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998
(22 U.S.C. 6442(b)(1)) and countries included on the Special
Watch List described in section 102(b)(1)(F)(iii) of the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
6412(b)(1)(F)(iii)).
(c) Administration and Consultations.--
(1) Administration.--Amounts made available in accordance
with subsection (a) shall be administered by the Ambassador
at Large for International Religious Freedom.
(2) Consultations.--In developing priorities and policies
for providing grants in accordance with subsection (a),
including priorities and policies for identification of
potential grantees, the Ambassador at Large for International
Religious Freedom shall consult with other Federal agencies,
including the United States Commission on International
Religious Freedom and, as appropriate, nongovernmental
organizations.
TITLE V--DESIGNATED PERSONS LIST FOR PARTICULARLY SEVERE VIOLATIONS OF
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
SEC. 501. DESIGNATED PERSONS LIST FOR PARTICULARLY SEVERE
VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
Title VI of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998
(22 U.S.C. 6471 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 605 as section 606; and
(2) by inserting after section 604 the following new
section:
``SEC. 605. DESIGNATED PERSONS LIST FOR PARTICULARLY SEVERE
VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
``(a) List.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Ambassador at Large and in consultation with
relevant government and non-government experts, shall
establish and maintain a list of foreign individuals who are
sanctioned, through visa denials, financial sanctions, or
other measures, because they are responsible for ordering,
controlling, or otherwise directing particularly severe
violations of freedom religion.
``(2) Reference.--The list required under paragraph (1)
shall be known as the `Designated Persons List for
Particularly Severe Violations of Religious Freedom'.
``(b) Report.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report that
contains the list required under subsection (a), including,
with respect to each foreign individual on the list--
``(A) the name of the individual and a description of the
particularly severe violation of religious freedom committed
by the individual;
``(B) the name of the country or other location in which
such violation took place; and
``(C) a description of the actions taken pursuant to this
Act or any other Act or Executive order in response to such
violation; and
``(2) Submission and updates.--The Secretary of State shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees--
``(A) the initial report required under paragraph (1) not
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
section; and
``(B) updates to the report every 180 days thereafter and
as new information becomes available.
``(3) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) should
be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a
classified annex.
``(4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term
`appropriate congressional committees' means--
``(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
``(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee
on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.''.
TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SEC. 601. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
Title VII of the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998 (22 U.S.C. 6481 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following new sections:
``SEC. 702. VOLUNTARY CODES OF CONDUCT FOR UNITED STATES
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION OUTSIDE THE
UNITED STATES.
``(a) Finding.--Congress recognizes the enduring importance
of United States institutions of higher education worldwide
both for their potential for shaping positive leadership and
new educational models in host countries and for their
emphasis on teaching universally recognized rights of free
inquiry and academic freedom.
[[Page H2403]]
``(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
United States institutions of higher education operating
campuses outside the United States or establishing any
educational entities with foreign governments, particularly
with or in countries the governments of which engage in or
tolerate severe violations of religious freedom as identified
in the Annual Report, should seek to adopt a voluntary code
of conduct for operating in such countries that should--
``(1) uphold the right of freedom of religion of their
employees and students, including the right to manifest that
religion peacefully as protected in international law;
``(2) ensure that the religious views and peaceful practice
of religion in no way affect, or be allowed to affect, the
status of a worker's or faculty member's employment or a
student's enrollment; and
``(3) make every effort in all negotiations, contracts, or
memoranda of understanding engaged in or constructed with a
foreign government to protect academic freedom and the rights
enshrined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
``SEC. 703. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NATIONAL SECURITY
STRATEGY TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM THROUGH
UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY.
``It is the sense of Congress that--
``(1) the annual national security strategy report of the
President required by section 108 of the National Security
Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043) should promote international
religious freedom as a foreign policy and national security
priority and should articulate that promotion of the right to
freedom of religion is a strategy that protects other,
related human rights, and advances democracy outside the
United States, and make clear its importance to United States
foreign policy goals of stability, security, development, and
diplomacy; and
``(2) the national security strategy report should be a
guide for the strategies and activities of relevant Federal
agencies and inform the Department of Defense quadrennial
defense review under section 118 of title 10, United States
Code, and the Department of State Quadrennial Diplomacy and
Development Review.''.
SEC. 602. CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.
The table of contents of the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 note) is amended--
(1) by striking the item relating to section 605 and
inserting the following:
``Sec. 606. Studies on the effect of expedited removal provisions on
asylum claims.'';
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 604 the
following:
``Sec. 605. Designated Persons List for Particularly Severe Violations
of Religious Freedom.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 702. Voluntary codes of conduct for United States institutions
of higher education operating outside the United States.
``Sec. 703. Sense of Congress regarding national security strategy to
promote religious freedom through United States foreign
policy.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include any extraneous material on this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today, 18 years after enactment of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the right to believe and practice one's
faith remains under threat around the world.
The threats come not just from authoritarian regimes obsessed with
control, such as North Korea, Iran, or Vietnam, which were the focus of
that law, but also from lethal terrorist groups.
Two months ago this Chamber made history by declaring that the so-
called Islamic State, or ISIS, is committing genocide against religious
and ethnic minorities. It has committed mass murder, beheadings, rape,
torture, slavery, and the kidnapping of children, among many other
atrocities. ISIS dynamites churches and flattens ancient monasteries,
hoping to erase the very existence of religious groups that disagree
with their brutal world view.
Boko Haram in Nigeria and al Shabaab in East Africa are also
responsible for their own deadly persecutions, both also linked to ISIS
in their support for that terrorist movement.
These groups have turned religious intolerance into a murderous force
of global instability. The right to believe and practice according to
the dictates of conscience is a direct challenge to their ideologies.
Thus, religious freedom is not just a human rights issue; frankly,
today, it is a global security issue. However, current law related to
religious freedom, which focuses solely on governments of sovereign
states, does not address this reality.
Based on years of oversight and multiple hearings, H.R. 1150, the
Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act, updates the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to improve the coordination
and effectiveness of U.S. efforts to promote religious liberty around
the world and also expressly addresses the role of these non-state
actors like ISIS.
Introduced by Subcommittee Chairman Smith and Congresswoman Anna
Eshoo, the bill was amended and agreed to by the Foreign Affairs
Committee and has more than 115 bipartisan cosponsors.
It is fitting that this bill is named in honor of our former
colleague from Virginia, Frank Wolf, a tireless advocate for human
rights and the author of the original International Religious Freedom
Act of 1998, which we are amending.
By enhancing coordination, confronting non-state actors, and
improving reporting and training, H.R. 1150 is a helpful refinement of
our statutory commitment to combat religious persecution around the
globe. It deserves our unanimous support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Financial Services,
Washington, DC, May 13, 2016.
Hon. Ed Royce,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Royce: I am writing concerning H.R. 1150, the
Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016.
As a result of your having consulted with the Committee on
Financial Services concerning provisions in the bill that
fall within our Rule X jurisdiction, I agree to forgo action
on the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House
Floor. The Committee on Financial Services takes this action
with our mutual understanding that, by foregoing
consideration of H.R. 1150 at this time, we do not waive any
jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or
similar legislation, and that our Committee will be
appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar
legislation moves forward so that we may address any
remaining issues that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction.
Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of
an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate
conference involving this or similar legislation, and
requests your support for any such request.
Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter
confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 1150 and
would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this
matter be included in your committee's report to accompany
the legislation, as well as in the Congressional Record
during floor consideration thereof.
Sincerely,
Jeb Hensarling,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, May 12, 2016.
Hon. Jeb Hensarling,
Chairman, Committee on Financial Services,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for consulting with the
Committee on Foreign Affairs on H.R. 1150, the Frank R. Wolf
International Religious Freedom Act, and for agreeing to be
discharged from further consideration of that bill.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure
does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the
Committee on Financial Services, or prejudice its
jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar
legislation in the future. I would support your effort to
seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any
House-Senate conference involving this legislation.
I will seek to place our letters on H.R. 1150 into the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill.
I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and
look forward to continuing to work with your committee as
this measure moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Royce,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform,
Washington, DC, May 13, 2016.
Hon. Edward R. Royce,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I write concerning H.R. 1150, the Frank
R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2015. As you
know,
[[Page H2404]]
the Committee on Foreign Affairs received an original
referral and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
a secondary referral when the bill was introduced on February
27, 2015. I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring
this legislation before the House of Representatives in an
expeditious manner, and accordingly, the Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform will forego action on the
bill.
The Committee takes this action with our mutual
understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 1150 at
this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject
matter contained in this or similar legislation. Further, I
request your support for the appointment of conferees from
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform during any
House-Senate conference convened on this or related
legislation.
Finally, I would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters
on this matter be included in the bill report filed by the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, as well as in the Congressional
Record during floor consideration, to memorialize our
understanding
Sincerely,
Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, May 12, 2016.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for consulting with the
Committee on Foreign Affairs on H.R. 1150, the Frank R. Wolf
International Religious Freedom Act, and for agreeing to be
discharged from further consideration of that bill.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure
does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, or prejudice
its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar
legislation in the future. I would support your effort to
seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any
House-Senate conference involving this legislation.
I will seek to place our letters on H.R. 1150 into the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill.
I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and
look forward to continuing to work with your committee as
this measure moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Royce,
Chairman.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. Let me again thank
Chairman Ed Royce for bringing this bill forward. I also want to thank
my friend, Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, for his leadership
and for authorizing this bill.
Mr. Speaker, freedom of religion has been a bedrock principle of open
and democratic societies for centuries. Some of the first immigrants to
settle on American shores sailed here because they were fleeing
religious persecution at home. This liberty is enshrined in our own
founding documents, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and
in the charters of democracies all over the world.
The freedom to worship as a person chooses or not to worship at all
should be settled business and nobody's business but the person
themselves. Yet, around the world religious communities endure
discrimination, persecution, and violence.
It is amazing to me that, when we look at the history of strife and
war that has swirled around religious persecution, governments continue
to deny this freedom to their own people. This assault on religious
liberty holds societies back and undercuts progress. It obviously has
no place in the 21st century.
So for the United States and other countries that cherish freedom, it
is not enough just to guarantee religious liberty to our own people. We
need to speak out and act when we see this right under attack around
the world. For that matter, we have a responsibility to speak out when
we see any liberty under attack, whether freedom of the press, the
right to organize, or the equality of LGBT persons.
Mr. Smith's legislation would help ensure that promoting and
supporting religious liberty are a component of American foreign
policy. It would help ensure that our diplomats around the world
understand the importance of this issue and are working to advance this
freedom on the front lines.
It is worth noting that we should also continue to fully fund the
State Department's Human Rights and Democracy Fund, which helps address
a range of human rights abuses around the world, including threats to
our religious freedom. Together with this legislation, it sends a clear
message to the world that protecting human rights is a priority for the
United States.
So I support this measure. I urge my colleagues to do the same. I
again want to congratulate my friend Mr. Smith, who is so strong on
issues like this and so forceful in pushing forward all the way until
we finally got this on the floor of the House.
I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on
Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International
Organizations, and the author of the bill.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend,
Chairman Royce, for his leadership on this bill, the markup, and for
the very timely recommendations he and staff made to improve it.
I would like to thank Eliot Engel again for working hand in glove in
a good, bipartisan effort to protect international religious freedom.
As my good friend, Chairman Royce, noted a moment ago, 18 years ago
Congress had the foresight to pass the International Religious Freedom
Act of 1998. That landmark bill, authored by Congressman Frank Wolf of
Virginia, made advancing the right to religious freedom a significant
and profoundly serious U.S. foreign policy priority.
Passage of the International Religious Freedom Act was not easy.
There were determined opponents in Congress and in the Clinton
administration. I know. I chaired the congressional hearings and the
subcommittee markup. It was no cakewalk.
But our opposition was overcome by the courage, tenacity, and vision
of Frank Wolf, bolstered by a diverse, bipartisan, and ecumenical
coalition of Members of Congress, ethnic minority and religions groups,
and human rights organizations. That coalition has reassembled to
support this bill today, the Frank R. Wolf International Religious
Freedom Act.
I want to especially thank Anna Eshoo, who is the principal
Democratic sponsor of this legislation, for her leadership and for
working particularly in the Middle East to combat the savagery that is
being imposed upon people of minority faiths, including Christians.
{time} 1700
I thank her for her leadership and, again, for being the principal
Democrat on this bill.
Let me just note that naming this bill after Frank Wolf, who I
consider to be, and many of us consider to be the William Wilberforce
of modern times, is an attempt to recognize his extraordinary life's
work promoting human rights, 34 years as a Member of Congress,
including, and especially, religious freedom.
He now serves as the Wilson Chair at Baylor, again, continuing his
lifesaving work for religious believers all over the world.
He just returned from Nigeria and testified at our hearing last week.
He was in the embattled states in northern Nigeria, where Boko Haram
runs free, massacring people. He was there on a fact-finding mission to
promote religious freedom.
Mr. Speaker, the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act
that is before us is a series of upgrades to meet the challenges of the
21st century.
We know that the world is experiencing an unprecedented crisis of
international religious freedom; a crisis that continues to create
millions--no, tens of millions of victims; a crisis that undermines
liberty, prosperity, and peace; a crisis that poses a direct challenge
to the U.S. interests in the Middle East, Russia, China, Sub-Saharan
Africa, and elsewhere in the world.
The Pew Research Center notes that over 75 percent of the world's
population today lives in countries where severe religious freedom
abuses occur annually. According to Pew, instances of anti-Semitism are
at a 7-year high. It is getting worse everywhere, particularly in the
Middle East, but also in Europe and in the United States.
Mr. Speaker, ancient Christian communities in Iraq and Syria are on
the verge of extinction, and other religious minorities in the Middle
East face a
[[Page H2405]]
constant assault from the Islamic State.
Several weeks ago, this Congress passed a resolution, sponsored by
Jeff Fortenberry, that was followed by a declaration by Secretary of
State John Kerry, that said that ISIS has committed, and continues to
commit genocide, mass atrocities and war crimes against Christians,
Yazidis, and other minority faiths.
We are on record. We know it is happening. We are speaking out.
In a couple of weeks, I am chairing a hearing on what is next; what
should we be doing next to combat this terrible, terrible crisis.
In Nigeria, the Islamist terror group, Boko Haram, is believed to
have killed over 6,600 people last year alone, mostly Christian, but
there are Muslims as well who are being targeted. According to the
testimony we received last week, since 2009, the number is about 15,000
year to date since 2009.
Mr. Speaker, at one of those hearings a few years ago, I had a man
named Habila. Habila, I met him at an IDP camp in Jos, Nigeria, where a
lot of churches have been firebombed. He told me this story. He was
credible, and it checked out. And he came to Congress and testified.
Boko Haram put an AK-47--a terrorist--to his jaw and said: Renounce
Christ or I will kill you. You must become a Muslim on the spot.
Habila said: I am ready to meet my Lord.
And this terrorist pulled the trigger and blew most of his face away.
What courage, what faith for a man. And when he told the story, you
could have heard a pin drop.
Mr. Speaker, the bipartisan U.S. Commission on International
Religious Freedom just released its 2016 annual report. And let me
note, parenthetically, USCIRF, or that Commission, was also created by
Chairman Wolf as part of IRFA, the original bill.
They have found that the abuses committed by governments and non-
state actors has ``deteriorated.'' ``The incarceration of prisoners of
conscience''--they point out--``remains astonishingly widespread . .
.''
They point out that ``Over the past year, the Chinese government''--
as just one of many examples--``has stepped up its persecution of
religious groups''--across the board: Tibetans, Uighurs, Muslim
Uighurs, Christians, and, of course, the Falun Gong.
I spoke in mid-February at NYU, I gave a keynote there in Shanghai,
and talked about how Xi Jinping, the President of China, is in a race
to the bottom with North Korea to make religion absolutely subservient
to the Communist Party. He calls it the sinification of religion; and
what was already a bad situation has now become demonstrably worse.
The Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act will upgrade
the tools so that this administration, and subsequent ones, can do an
even better job to try to mitigate and, hopefully, end religious
persecution. It does this by, one, requiring that international
religious freedom policies be integrated into national security,
immigration, rule of law, and other relevant U.S. foreign policies.
It creates a Designated Persons List of individuals sanctioned for
participating in or directing religious freedom abuses.
It expands diplomatic training on international religious freedoms
for all State Department diplomats; creates a tier system for IRFA, for
the reports, not just countries of particular concern, of which there
are currently 10, but also those that are on a watch list, those that
are bad and, perhaps, getting worse.
It gives the President authority to designate non-state actors in
addition to countries; and it also requires the Ambassador at Large to
report directly to the Secretary of State.
It also is increasingly clear that religious freedom diplomacy is
really needed to advance U.S. interests around the world. This will do
it.
The legislation is backed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
and the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, a diverse and
ecumenical group of individuals from the faith community.
Finally, just let me thank Scott Flipse, who worked for Frank Wolf
previously, then he worked for the International Religious Freedom
Office at the State Department, and now is working at the China
Commission; our General Counsel, Piero Tozzi; Janice Kaguyutan, I thank
her for her work on this; and Sajit Gandhi. This is a true, bipartisan
piece of legislation and, hopefully, the Senate will favorably receive
it.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Again, Mr. Speaker, in closing, we focus on human rights as part of
our foreign policy because it is the right thing to do. The United
States is founded on the idea that an individual should be able to live
according to his or her own beliefs. That is a value we want to see
thriving around the world.
Advancing human rights is also the smart thing to do. Countries with
a strong respect for human rights are countries that prosper and play a
constructive role on the global stage.
I want to again say to my friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Smith), when he comes for advancing human rights, he takes a second
seat to nobody. He is indefatigable when it comes to these things. In
all the years I have known him, he has always been fair and honest. I
really sincerely commend him, and know how heartfelt it is and how much
we appreciate his hard work.
When we see governments stifling religious freedom, or any freedom,
we have a responsibility to speak out and make it clear that the United
States remains a champion for these basic liberties. This bill helps us
to live up to that responsibility, and I am proud to support it.
I thank Chairman Royce and Mr. Smith.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Mrs. Comstock), our esteemed colleague, who ably represents
the district formerly served by Frank Wolf, who is honored in the title
of this bill. Representative Barbara Comstock is a coauthor of this
bill with Mr. Smith, and I thank them both.
Mrs. COMSTOCK. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, ask human rights and religious freedom advocates to name
their most steadfast friend who has served on Capitol Hill over the
years, and Representative Frank Wolf, my predecessor, is always on the
short list, as are my colleagues here today.
So I am honored today to stand in support of a bill I proudly
cosponsored, the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act,
named after the distinguished gentleman who served in this seat for the
10th District of Virginia, and as the co-chair of the Congressional
Human Rights Caucus, and a man whose deep faith and commitment to human
rights and religion freedom were a large part of why he was known for
years here and around the country, and even around the world, as the
conscience of the Congress.
He wrote a book, a powerful book, titled a ``Prisoner of
Conscience,'' about his many trips over the years and how he fought for
religious freedom; and I hope he doesn't mind if I recommend that book
to our listeners here.
We continue to be blessed with Congressman Wolf's passionate
leadership as he leads the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative to
create a world where religious freedom is recognized by nations across
the globe as a fundamental human right.
Since leaving Congress, Mr. Wolf has continued to travel to the front
lines to see, firsthand, the plight of ethnic minorities in Iraq and
Syria, including Christians, Yazidis, Kurds, and other minority
religious groups.
As previously mentioned, he has just returned from Nigeria. He
continues to shine a light every day on the dark places where men and
women and children, even, of faith are victimized, tortured and,
tragically, even killed for their faith. He will not let the world look
away, and we thank him for his continued work and his strong and much-
needed voice.
Now this legislation amends his own legislation to continue that
mission that Mr. Wolf so valiantly fought for for 3 decades here in
Congress. It will improve the ability of the United States to advance
religious freedom globally, with stronger and more flexible political
responses to a disturbing and growing denial of basic religious
freedoms around the world.
[[Page H2406]]
As has been said by many, Frank Wolf is the William Wilberforce of
our day. He is, and has always been, a voice for the voiceless. He once
said: ``Most would agree that conscience rights figure prominently in
the narrative of America's founding. Historically, Americans and our
corresponding institutions have recognized that conscience is not
ultimately allegiant to the state, but to something, and for many
people, Someone, higher.''
I appreciate the opportunity today to continue that legacy with the
passing of this important legislation which will continue his important
and vital mission and legacy; and that is needed now, more than ever,
for so many of the reasons that my colleagues here have highlighted.
I thank the gentleman so much for the privilege of addressing and
cosponsoring this legislation.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for their contributions to
this bill and to today's debate, especially Mr. Smith, Congresswoman
Barbara Comstock and Mr. Engel.
The right to believe and practice one's religion according to the
dictates of conscience is often called the first freedom. It is one of
the founding ideas of our Nation, but we do not believe that it is only
an American value. Rather, this is what we believe here. We believe it
flows from the inherent dignity of every human person, and it deserves
protection everywhere.
In today's world, those who are most violently opposed to religious
freedom also pose the biggest threat to our Nation. They also pose the
biggest threat to civilization worldwide.
Thus, the promotion of religious liberty is not some isolated human
rights concern. No. It is a key component of our national security. And
this bill, now authored by Mr. Smith, H.R. 1150, contains important
updates to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 that will
enhance the effectiveness of the United States' efforts to promote that
liberty around the world, so it deserves our unanimous support.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1150,
amending the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act.
I support this measure because the right to freedom of religion has
been a cornerstone of the American conscience.
Many of our country's first leaders fled religious persecution abroad
and went on to establish laws protecting religious freedom.
This core belief of our great nation does not stop at our national
borders; we offer refuge to those suffering from religious persecution
throughout the world.
A testament to this commitment was the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 which was a landmark piece of legislation seeking
to make religious freedom a higher priority in U.S. Foreign policy.
The Act was approved by Congress unanimously in 1998 and signed into
law by President Clinton.
The Act condemns violations of religious freedom and promotes and
assists other governments in the promotion of the fundamental right to
freedom of religion.
While strides have been made in establishing worldwide practice of
freedom of religion, it is currently under attack.
Let me also note that people are being prosecuted under blasphemy
laws for freedom of expression, which is why I introduced the
bipartisan measure H. Res. 290, calling for the global repeal of
blasphemy laws.
I support H.R. 1150 because we must continue to work to preserve
religious freedoms as well as making sure that religion is not a
pretext for prosecution or persecution in the world.
Indeed, one of the key amendments to IRFA would be to relocate the
Office of International Religious Freedom within the Office of the
Secretary of State.
This action would allow for greater coordination of strategic focus
and the minimization of duplicated efforts, streamline mandates, and
centralize efforts to engage religious communities and promote human
rights more generally in regards to religious freedom.
Currently, the office is headed by the Ambassador at-Large for
International Religious Freedom which monitors religious persecution
and discrimination worldwide to develop policy recommendations,
programs, and awareness.
Besides being placed in the Secretary of State's office, the
Ambassador at large would be able to make every effort to collaborate
and coordinate across all U.S. agencies and departments to formulate
strategic religious freedom policies, programs, and activities.
These two changes will provide a greater ability for us to advance
religious freedom throughout the world.
H.R. 1150 will also allow us to assist emerging democracies to
implement freedom of religion while also helping older partners
maintain their freedom of religion practices and conscience.
H.R. 1150 calls to ensure that our diplomats and foreign policy
experts are well versed in the importance of religious freedom and how
to address atrocities related to religion.
H.R. 1150 also addresses how to improve our ability to promote
freedom of religion by enhancing the capabilities and knowledge of our
diplomats.
Our Foreign Service Officers (FSO) are on the front lines everyday
carrying out American foreign policy while also shaping it, which makes
sure that they are adequately trained on religious freedom.
H.R. 1150 directs the Secretary to develop mandatory religious
freedom training for all Foreign Service Officers.
This major change will enhance FSO capabilities to identify severe
persecutors to help assemble the Ambassador's Annual Report on
International Religious Freedom.
In addition to the Annual Report, H.R. 1150 calls for an updated
lists of persons that are currently being persecuted and forced to
renounce their faith.
This is essential in bringing awareness to countries that need to be
monitored or that have non-state actors that have high levels of
detainment, disappearance, torture, or murder based on someone's
religion.
Another key aspect of H.R. 1150 is to enhance engagement and
coordination with the executive branch on issues pertaining to
international religious freedom policies and global religion engagement
strategies.
This would be achieved through amendment of The National Security Act
of 1947, calling for the appointment of a Special Adviser for Global
Religious Engagement and establishing the Interagency Policy Committee
on Religious Freedom and Engagement.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support adequate funding in order
to enable rapid and decisive efforts of supporting democracy and
preservation of human rights.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Smith of Nebraska). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1150, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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