[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 180 (Tuesday, December 13, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H7580-H7584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FRANK R. WOLF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take
from the Speaker's table 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, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the
Senate amendment.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the Senate amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Senate amendment:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; 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; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings; policy; sense of Congress.
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.
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; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(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 ``The freedom of
thought, conscience, and religion is understood to protect
theistic and non-theistic beliefs and the right not to
profess or practice any religion.'' before ``Governments'';
(2) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following:
``A policy or practice of routinely denying applications for
visas for religious workers in a country can be indicative of
a poor state of religious freedom in that country.''; and
(3) 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 territorial
control'' before the period at the end.
(b) Policy.--Section 2(b) of the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(b)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as
subparagraphs (A) through (E);
(2) by striking the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as
redesignated, and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--The following shall be the policy of the
United States:''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Evolving policies and coordinated diplomatic
responses.--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--
``(A) are drawn from the expertise of the national security
agencies, the diplomatic services, and other governmental
agencies and nongovernmental organizations; and
``(B) are coordinated across and carried out by the entire
range of Federal agencies.''.
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) a policy or practice by the government of any foreign
country of routinely denying visa applications for religious
workers can be indicative of a poor state of religious
freedom in that country; and
(2) the United States Government should seek to reverse any
such policy by reviewing the entirety of the bilateral
relationship between such country and the United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 3 of the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998 (22 U.S.C. 6402) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (16);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (10), (11), and (12) as
paragraphs (12), (13), and (14), respectively;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
``(10) 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).
``(11) Non-state actor.--The term `non-state actor' means a
nonsovereign entity that--
``(A) exercises significant political power and territorial
control;
``(B) is outside the control of a sovereign government; and
``(C) often employs violence in pursuit of its
objectives.'';
(4) by inserting after paragraph (14), as redesignated, the
following:
``(15) Special watch list.--The term `Special Watch List'
means the Special Watch List described in section
402(b)(1)(A)(iii).''; and
(5) in paragraph (16), as redesignated--
(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 ``forcibly compelling non-believers or
non-theists to recant their beliefs or to convert,'' after
``forced religious conversion,''.
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 inserting ``, and shall report
directly to the Secretary of State'' before the period at the
end;
(2) in subsection (c)--
(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 redesignated, by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(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:
``(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:
``(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 and inserting ``appropriate staff for
the Office, including full-time equivalent positions and
other temporary staff
[[Page H7581]]
positions 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 this Act. The Secretary
of State should provide the Ambassador at Large with
sufficient funding to carry out the duties described in this
section, including, as necessary, representation funds. On
the date on which the President's annual budget request is
submitted to Congress, the Secretary shall submit an annual
report to the appropriate congressional committees that
includes a report on staffing levels for the International
Religious Freedom Office.''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
maintaining an adequate staffing level at the Office, such as
was in place during fiscal year 2016, is necessary for the
Office to carry out its important work.
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) in clause (iii), by striking ``; and'' and inserting
``as well as the routine denial of visa applications for
religious workers;'';
(B) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (vii); and
(C) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
``(iv) particularly severe violations of religious freedom
in that country if such country does not have a functioning
government or the government of such country does not control
its territory;
``(v) the identification of prisoners, to the extent
possible, in that country pursuant to section 108(d);
``(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; and'';
(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), by striking ``A description of
United States actions and'' and inserting ``A detailed
description of United States actions, diplomatic and
political coordination efforts, and other''; and
(5) in subparagraph (F)(i)--
(A) by striking ``section 402(b)(1)'' and inserting
``section 402(b)(1)(A)(ii)''; and
(B) 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) 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 policymakers, 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 coordinate with the Commission to fulfill
the original intent of the International Religious Freedom
Act of 1998.
SEC. 103. TRAINING FOR FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS.
(a) Amendments to Foreign Service Act of 1980.--Section 708
of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4028) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively;
(B) by striking ``(a) The Secretary of State'' and
inserting the following:
``(a) Human Rights, Religious Freedom, and Human
Trafficking Training.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of State''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Religious freedom training.--
``(A) In general.--In carrying out the training required
under paragraph (1)(B), the Director of the George P. Shultz
National Foreign Affairs Training Center shall, not later
than the one year after the date of the enactment of the
Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act, conduct
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 be included in--
``(i) the A-100 course attended by all Foreign Service
officers;
``(ii) 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;
and
``(iii) the courses required of all outgoing deputy chiefs
of mission and ambassadors.
``(B) Development of curriculum.--In carrying out the
training required under paragraph (1)(B), the Ambassador at
Large for International Religious Freedom, in coordination
with the Director of the George P. Shultz National Foreign
Affairs Training Center and other Federal officials, as
appropriate, and in consultation with the United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom established
under section 201(a) of the International Religious Freedom
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6431(a)), shall make recommendations
to the Secretary of State regarding a curriculum for the
training of United States Foreign Service officers under
paragraph (1)(B) on 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 should ensure the availability of
sufficient resources to develop and implement such
curriculum.
``(C) Information sharing.--The curriculum and training
materials developed under this paragraph shall be shared with
the United States Armed Forces and other Federal departments
and agencies with personnel who are stationed overseas, as
appropriate, to provide training on--
``(i) United States religious freedom policies;
``(ii) religious traditions;
``(iii) religious engagement strategies;
``(iv) religious and cultural issues; and
``(v) efforts to counter violent religious extremism.'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``The Secretary of
State'' and inserting ``Refugees.--The Secretary of State'';
and
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ``The Secretary of
State'' and inserting ``Child Soldiers.--The Secretary of
State''.
(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 Foreign Service
Institute, located at the George P. Shultz National Foreign
Affairs Training Center, shall submit a report to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate that
contains a plan for undertaking training for Foreign Service
officers under section 708 of the Foreign Services Act of
1980, as amended by subsection (a).
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:
``(d) Victims List Maintained by the United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom.--
``(1) In general.--The Commission shall make publicly
available, to the extent practicable, online and in official
publications, lists of persons it determines are imprisoned
or detained, have disappeared, been placed under house
arrest, been tortured, or subjected 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)(A)(ii) 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 practicable on the
conditions and circumstances of such persons.
``(2) Discretion.--In compiling lists under paragraph (1),
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.
The position described in section 101(k) of the National
Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3021(k)) should assist the
Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to
coordinate international religious freedom policies and
strategies throughout the executive branch and within any
interagency policy committee of which the Ambassador at Large
is a member.
TITLE III--PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
SEC. 301. NON-STATE ACTOR DESIGNATIONS.
(a) In General.--The President, concurrent with the annual
foreign country review required under section 402(b)(1)(A) of
the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
6442(b)(1)(A)), shall--
(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
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(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, as soon as practicable
after the designation is made, shall submit a report to the
appropriate congressional committees that describes the
reasons for such designation.
(c) Actions.--The President should take specific actions,
when practicable, to address severe violations of religious
freedom of non-state actors that are designated under
subsection (a)(2).
(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 under section 102(b)(1) of the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
6412(b)(1)).
(e) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Secretary of State should work with Congress and
the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom--
(A) to create new political, financial, and diplomatic
tools to address severe violations of religious freedom by
non-state actors; and
(B) to update the actions the President can take under
section 405 of the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998 (22 U.S.C. 6445);
(2) governments must ultimately be held accountable for the
abuses that occur in their territories; and
(3) any actions the President takes after designating a
non-state actor as an entity of particular concern should
also involve high-level diplomacy with the government of the
country in which the non-state actor is operating.
(f) Determinations of Responsible Parties.--In order to
appropriately target Presidential actions under the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401
et seq.), the President, with respect to each non-state actor
designated as an entity of particular concern for religious
freedom under subsection (a), shall seek to determine, to the
extent practicable, the specific officials or members that
are responsible for the particularly severe violations of
religious freedom engaged in or tolerated by such non-state
actor.
(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;
``(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
``(iii) designate each country that engaged in or tolerated
severe violations of religious freedom during the previous
year, but does not meet, in the opinion of the President at
the time of publication of the Annual Report, all of the
criteria described in section 3(15) for designation under
clause (ii) as being placed on a `Special Watch List'.''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``prior to September
1 of the respective year'' and inserting ``before 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)(ii), the President, not later
than 90 days after such designation, shall submit 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)(ii) 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:
``(4) 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)(ii) in
any such year.''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(5), by striking ``the President must
designate the specific sanction or sanctions which he
determines satisfy the requirements of this subsection.'' and
inserting ``the President shall designate the specific
sanction or sanctions that the President determines satisfy
the requirements under this subsection and include a
description of the impact of such sanction or sanctions on
each country.''.
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 (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(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 counterterrorism.''.
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)'';
(B) by inserting ``, for a single, 180-day period,'' after
``may waive'';
(C) by striking paragraph (1); and
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs
(1) and (2), respectively;
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Additional Authority.--Subject to subsection (c), the
President may waive, for any additional specified 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
substitute action) with respect to a country, if the
President determines and 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 important national interest of the United States
requires the exercise of such waiver authority.'';
(4) in subsection (c), as redesignated, by inserting ``or
(b)'' after ``subsection (a)''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(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 substitute action) with
respect to a country do not fulfill the purposes of this Act;
and
``(2) because the promotion of religious freedom is an
important 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 described in section 405 or other
commensurate substitute action.''.
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 and, if applicable and to the extent
practicable, the identities of individuals determined to be
responsible for violations described in subsection (f) 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 President should
request sufficient appropriations from Congress to support--
(1) the vigorous 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 groups that--
(A) are capable of developing legal protections or
promoting cultural and societal understanding of
international norms of religious freedom;
(B) seek to address and mitigate religiously motivated and
sectarian violence and combat violent extremism; or
(C) seek to strengthen investigations, reporting, and
monitoring of religious freedom violations, including
genocide perpetrated against religious minorities; and
(2) the establishment of an effective Religious Freedom
Defense Fund, to be 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),
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the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom
should, as appropriate, give preference to projects targeting
religious freedom violations in countries--
(1) 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)); or
(2) included on the Special Watch List described in section
402(b)(1)(A)(iii) of the International Religious Freedom Act
of 1998, as added by section 302(1)(A)(i) of this Act.
(c) Administration and Consultations.--
(1) Administration.--Amounts made available under
subsection (a) shall be administered by the Ambassador at
Large for International Religious Freedom.
(2) Consultations.--In developing priorities and policies
for providing grants authorized under subsection (a),
including programming and policy, the Ambassador at Large for
International Religious Freedom should 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:
``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 nongovernment experts, shall
establish and maintain a list of foreign individuals to whom
a consular post has denied a visa on the grounds of
particularly severe violations of religious freedom under
section 212(a)(2)(G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(G)), or who are subject to financial
sanctions or other measures for 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 a
report to the appropriate congressional committees 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.
``(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 the
Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act; 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 Relations of the Senate;
``(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
``(C) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
of the Senate;
``(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
``(E) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
``(F) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives.''.
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:
``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--
``(1) for their potential for shaping positive leadership
and new educational models in host countries; and
``(2) for their emphasis on teaching universally recognized
rights of free inquiry and academic freedom.
``(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 the annual national
security strategy report of the President required under
section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C.
3043)--
``(1) should promote international religious freedom as a
foreign policy and national security priority; and
``(2) should articulate that promotion of the right to
freedom of religion is a strategy that--
``(A) protects other, related human rights, and advances
democracy outside the United States; and
``(B) makes clear its importance to United States foreign
policy goals of stability, security, development, and
diplomacy;
``(3) should be a guide for the strategies and activities
of relevant Federal agencies; and
``(4) should 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.''.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (during the reading). Madam Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of the amendment.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, eighteen years ago, Congress
had the foresight to pass the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998. That landmark bill made advancing the right to religious freedom
a U.S. foreign policy priority.
The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 needed to be upgraded
to meet some of the new challenges of the 21st century. This bill, the
Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016, accomplishes
that goal by integrating international religious freedom into U.S.
foreign policy; improving the ability of the U.S. government to advance
religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy, training,
counterterrorism, and foreign assistance efforts; and giving the
Secretary of State stronger and more flexible political responses to
growing religious freedom violations.
Religion is an even more relevant foreign policy issue today than it
was eighteen years ago. From China and Vietnam to Syria and Nigeria, we
are witnessing a tragic, global crisis in religious persecution,
violence and terrorism, with dire consequences for religious minorities
and for U.S. national security.
The biggest threats to our nation often come from those most
violently opposed to religious freedom. Thus, the promotion of
religious liberty is not an isolated human rights concern, but a
fundamental component of our national security.
The global religious freedom crisis we are experiencing today has
created millions of victims and undermines liberty, prosperity and
peace in places vital to U.S. national interests--posing direct
challenge to the U.S. interests in the Middle East, Russia, China and
sub-Saharan Africa.
Ancient Christian communities in Iraq and Syria are on the verge of
extinction and other religious minorities in the Middle East face a
constant assault from the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS). ISIS is committing genocide, mass atrocities, and war crimes to
advance its cause--they must be stopped and those facing genocide must
be giving the assistance.
A robust religious freedom diplomacy is necessary to advance U.S.
interests in stability, security, and economic development. Research
has shown that where there is more
[[Page H7584]]
religious freedom, there is more economic freedom, more women's
empowerment, more political stability, more freedom of speech, and less
terrorism.
More than ever before, vigorous U.S. leadership and diplomacy are
needed to address religious freedom violations globally. It is clear
that our national security will depend on the protection and
advancement of this fundamental freedom.
The Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act will upgrade the
tools and used by the Administration to improve U.S. religious freedom
diplomacy efforts globally; better trained and equipped diplomats to
counter extremism; address anti-Semitism and religious persecution, and
mitigate sectarian conflict.
The bill does this by:
Requiring that the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious
Freedom report directly to the Secretary of State.
Elevating the position of the Ambassador within the Federal
Government: Gives the Ambassador responsibilities to coordinate
religious freedom policy throughout the government; develop training
curriculum for all Foreign Service officers; and administer grants to
promote religious freedom policy globally.
Requiring training in international religious freedom for all Foreign
Service Officers: Requires development of curriculum and training for
all incoming Foreign Service Officers and for Deputy Chiefs of Mission
and Ambassadors going out to new posts. The curriculum used by the
State Department will be made available to the U.S. Military and other
relevant government agencies.
Creating an ``Entity of Particular Concern'' Designation for Non-
State Actors: Gives the Secretary of State authority to designate as
``entities of particular concern'' in recognition of the fact that in
the 21st century some of the most egregious religious freedom
violations are committed by non-state actors.
Requiring more frequent Presidential actions to counter severe
religious freedom violations globally: Requires annual Country of
Particular Concern (CPC) designations. Limits the number of sanctions
waivers (except in cases of the national interest) and requires more
frequent reporting on countries where sanction waivers are used.
Creating a comprehensive Religious Prisoner's List: Lists of
religious prisoners would be made available upon request from Members
of Congress.
Increasing congressional oversight of State Department actions
against individual religious freedom violators through the creation of
a ``Designated Persons List:'' The list will include individuals who
have been denied a visa or sanctioned because of their involvement in
severe violations of religious freedom. Congress will receive frequent
and regular updates on the list.
Requiring the State Department to create a ``Special Watch List'' of
countries that tolerate severe violations of religious freedom but
which may fail to meet the CPC threshold.
Sets Congressional Expectations for Staffing of the IRF Office and
Expansion of Religious Freedom Program Grants: Requires ``appropriate
staff' for the IRF office and seeks office staffing at FY 16 levels.
Urges the State Department to request ``sufficient funding for vigorous
promotion'' of international religious freedom policy.
The bill is named after former Congressman Frank Wolf, a tireless
champion for the rights of the poor and the persecuted globally. 18
years ago, he had the foresight to make advancing the right to
religious freedom a high U.S. foreign policy priority. It is largely
because of his efforts that religious freedom is taken seriously as a
foreign policy issue. I had the distinct honor and pleasure of working
with him for over thirty years. This bill is a fitting tribute to his
work and service to our great nation.
I want to thank Rep. Anna Eshoo for her partnership on this
legislation and her advocacy on behalf of religious minorities in the
Middle East and the cause of all those oppressed for the beliefs they
hold.
I also want to thank Senator Marco Rubio for his commitment to the
cause of human rights and international religious freedom and for his
assistance in getting this bill passed in the Senate.
As with many pieces of bipartisan legislation, this bill would not
have gotten this far without the assistance of many individuals and
groups invested in its passage. I want to thank Senators Bob Corker,
and Ben Cardin, for assisting with the bill's amendment and passage on
the Senate side. Congressman Ed Royce and Eliot Engel and their staff
for helping to move this bill on a bipartisan basis through the House.
Also, I want to recognize the contribution David Saperstein, the
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, who's worked
to strengthen the bill and assure its passage. Finally, I want to
recognize and thank the many staff members, in the House and Senate,
who have worked hard for this bill's passage over the past two years
including, Scott Flipse, Elyse Anderson, Mary Noonan, Hannah Murphy,
Caleb McCarry, Jaime Fly, Doug Anderson, Piero Tozzi, Sajit Gandhi, and
Janice Kaguyutan.
International religious freedom is not a partisan or party issue. The
freedom to practice a religion without persecution is a precious right
for everyone, of whatever race, sex, status, or location on earth. This
human right is enshrined in our own founding documents, in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is a bedrock principle of
open and democratic societies for centuries.
We Americans understand the importance of religious liberty. It is
the First Freedom on which our nation was founded. We should be united
in defending it, standing up for those who suffer grievously for its
absence, and for the noble and essential cause of protecting our own
country. I urge passage of this bill without objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request
of the gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________