FREEDOM OF RELIGION

Addresses

History of Syriac Orthodox Church and Call To Protect Religious Minorities From Persecution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization): Helma Adde, E1577 [14NO]

Amendments

Iraq: protect religious minorities from persecution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization) (H. Res. 683), H7237 [1AU]

——— protect religious minorities from persecution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization) (S. Res. 530), S5379 [8SE], S5878 [18SE]

Religion: condemn anti-Semitism and comparison of Israel to Nazis perpetrating the Holocaust and reject attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred as an acceptable disapproval of political events in the Middle East (H. Res. 707), H7861, H7862 [18SE]

Sudan: condemn charge of apostasy and death sentence of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, encourage U.S. efforts to support religious freedom, and urge inclusion of freedom of religion when drafting new constitution (S. Res. 453), S3383, S3384 [3JN]

Appointments

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, H5350 [12JN]

Articles and editorials

Christian Purge From Mosul—The Islamist Attacks on Non-Muslims Are a Problem for Islam, H6585 [22JY]

——— (excerpt), H6751 [24JY]

Concern and Support for Iraqi Christians Forced by Militants To Flee Mosul, H6584 [22JY]

Democrats on Hobby Lobby—‘‘Misspeaks’’ ‘‘Opinion’’ and Overheated Rhetoric, S4525 [16JY]

Hobby Lobby Decision and Its Distortions, S4526 [16JY]

Religious Freedom in Peril, E1201 [22JY]

Bills and resolutions

Cemeteries and funerals: include desecration of cemeteries among the many forms of violations of the right to religious freedom (see S. 2466), S3604 [11JN] (see H.R. 4028), H1718 [10FE]

China: recognize anniversary of Tiananmen Square massacre, condemn continued persecution of political dissent and religious minorities, and release political prisoners (see S. Res. 451), S3075 [15MY]

——— urge respect for freedom of assembly, expression, and religion, all human rights and the rule of law, and stop censoring discussion of 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations and their violent suppression (see H. Res. 597), H4834 [23MY] (see H. Res. 599), H4836 [27MY]

Civil liberties: include additions to forms of violations of the right to religious freedom (see H.R. 4650), H4059 [9MY]

Contraceptives: ensure employers cannot prohibit access, call for an FDA study on whether prescriptions are necessary for contraceptives, and allow use of certain health accounts to purchase over-the-counter drugs (see S. 2605), S4502 [15JY]

Dept. of State: provide a report on U.S. efforts to survey and secure the return, protection, and restoration of stolen or otherwise unreturned Christian properties in Turkey and Turkish occupied territories (see H.R. 4347), H2748 [28MR]

Foreign countries: improve U.S. ability to protect religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and foreign assistance efforts and through stronger responses to violations (see H.R. 5846), H9044 [10DE]

——— support religious freedom in foreign countries (see S. 2675), S5050 [29JY]

Foreign policy: express policy relative to, and strengthen advocacy on behalf of, freedom of religion or belief abroad and individuals persecuted in foreign countries due to religious belief (see H.R. 5878), H9303 [11DE]

Ibrahim Ishag, Meriam Yahia: relief (see S. 2474), S3668 [12JN] (see H.R. 4821), H5186 [9JN]

Iran: condemn human rights violations (see H. Res. 754), H7995 [14NO]

Iraq: protect religious freedom, help secure safe havens for those seeking amnesty, and expedite visa processing for minority groups and lift quota cap for Iraqi Christians to streamline acceptance of refugees (see H. Res. 663), H6106 [10JY]

——— protect religious minorities from persecution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization) (see S. Res. 530), S5135 [30JY] (see H. Res. 683), H6814 [24JY]

Religion: condemn anti-Semitism and comparison of Israel to Nazis perpetrating the Holocaust and reject attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred as an acceptable disapproval of political events in the Middle East (see H. Res. 707), H7185 [31JY]

——— ensure organizations with religious or moral convictions are allowed to provide child welfare services (see S. 2706), S5135 [30JY] (see H.R. 5285), H7125 [30JY]

Sri Lanka: develop a balanced U.S. policy, call for international assistance in dealing with grievances arising from civil war, support reconciliation, and improve religious and media freedoms (see S. Res. 364), S1233 [27FE]

Sudan: condemn charge of apostasy and death sentence of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, encourage U.S. efforts to support religious freedom, and urge inclusion of freedom of religion when drafting new constitution (see S. Res. 453), S3237 [21MY]

——— condemn charge of apostasy and death sentence of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag and encourage U.S. efforts to support religious freedom (see H. Res. 601), H4910 [28MY]

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: reauthorize (see S. 2711), S5135 [30JY] (see H.R. 4653), H4059 [9MY] (see H.R. 5816), H8931 [9DE]

Vietnam: impose sanctions on individuals who are complicit in human rights abuses against nationals of Vietnam or their families (see H.R. 4254), H2484 [14MR]

——— recognize contributions of Montagnards who fought with U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnamese Conflict and condemn suppression of human rights and civil liberties (see S. Res. 592), S6234 [1DE]

Wani, Martin: relief (see S. 2474), S3668 [12JN] (see H.R. 4821), H5186 [9JN]

Wani, Maya: relief (see S. 2474), S3668 [12JN] (see H.R. 4821), H5186 [9JN]

Lists

Christian sites destroyed in Iraq by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization), E1261 [29JY]

Pledge of Solidarity and Call to Action on Behalf of Christians and Other Small Religious Communities in Egypt, Iraq and Syria signatories, E789 [20MY]

Press releases

Pledge of Solidarity and Call to Action on Behalf of Christians and Other Small Religious Communities in Egypt, Iraq and Syria, E769–E771 [19MY]

Remarks in House

Armed Forces: discrimination of Christians, H7058 [30JY]

——— ensure free exercise of religion, H4723 [21MY], H8282 [3DE]

Cemeteries and funerals: include desecration of cemeteries among the many forms of violations of the right to religious freedom (H.R. 4028), H4850, H4851 [28MY]

China: recognize anniversary of Tiananmen Square massacre, condemn continued persecution of political dissent and religious minorities, and release political prisoners, E985 [13JN]

——— urge respect for freedom of assembly, expression, and religion, all human rights and the rule of law, and stop censoring discussion of 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations and their violent suppression, H5027 [30MY]

——— urge respect for freedom of assembly, expression, and religion, all human rights and the rule of law, and stop censoring discussion of 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations and their violent suppression (H. Res. 599), H4851–H4856 [28MY]

Cuba: human rights violations, H8869 [9DE]

Dept. of State: provide a report on U.S. efforts to survey and secure the return, protection, and restoration of stolen or otherwise unreturned Christian properties in Turkey and Turkish occupied territories (H.R. 4347), E1207 [23JY]

Dept. of the Interior: conduct a special resource study of sites associated with the 1657 signing of the Flushing Remonstrance in Queens, NY (H.R. 3222), H7494, H7495 [15SE]

Egypt: religious persecution of Christians, H6947 [28JY]

Human rights: importance of protecting and promoting international religious freedom, E987 [13JN]

Ibrahim Ishag, Meriam Yahia: call to grant political asylum relative to imprisonment in Sudan for apostasy, H4483 [20MY]

Iran: condemn human rights violations (H. Res. 754), H8106–H8110 [19NO], E1635 [19NO]

——— prevent acquisition of nuclear weapons, dismantle production facilities, allow inspections, and suspend support for terrorists, E813 [22MY]

——— prevent acquisition of nuclear weapons, dismantle production facilities, allow inspections, suspend support for terrorists and Syria, reduce human rights violations, and allow additional sanctions, H4919 [29MY]

Iraq: protect religious freedom, help secure safe havens for those seeking amnesty, and expedite visa processing for minority groups and lift quota cap for Iraqi Christians to streamline acceptance of refugees (H. Res. 663), E1239 [25JY]

——— protect religious minorities from persecution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization), E1389 [11SE]

——— protect religious minorities from persecution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization) (H. Res. 683), H7236, H7237 [1AU]

——— religious persecution of Christians, H6584, H6585 [22JY], H6738 [23JY], H6751 [24JY], H6864 [28JY], H6982, H7036 [29JY], H7047 [30JY], E1261 [29JY], E1317 [1AU]

Middle East: religious persecution of Christians, H1506 [29JA], H6130 [11JY], H6818 [25JY], E769 [19MY]

National Day of Reason: observance, E629, E644 [30AP]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: impact of fines on for-profit corporations for not fulfilling health insurance coverage requirements to offer contraceptives, H2638–H2641 [25MR]

Prayer: constitutional amendment clarifying that the Constitution neither prohibits voluntary prayer nor requires prayer in schools (H.J. Res. 42), E622 [29AP]

Religion: condemn anti-Semitism and comparison of Israel to Nazis perpetrating the Holocaust and reject attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred as an acceptable disapproval of political events in the Middle East (H. Res. 707), H7860–H7862, H7863 [18SE], E1467 [19SE]

——— constraints on religious freedom throughout the world, E1201 [22JY]

——— global persecution of Christians, H2156 [5MR], E242 [25FE]

——— urge the U.N. to take decisive action against anti-Semitism globally, H8941 [10DE]

Sudan: condemn charge of apostasy and death sentence of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, encourage U.S. efforts to support religious freedom, and urge inclusion of freedom of religion when drafting new constitution, E1300 [1AU]

Supreme Court: decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., v. Burwell relative to requirements for health insurance coverage of contraceptives by for-profit corporations, H5862 [8JY], H6238–H6240 [15JY], H6312 [16JY], H6356, H6359–H6361 [17JY]

——— hearing of arguments in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., v. Sebelius relative to requirements for health insurance coverage of contraceptives by for-profit corporations, H2370, H2371, H2372, H2373, H2374 [13MR], H2592, H2600–H2609 [24MR], H2615, H2619, H2620, H2636–H2642 [25MR], H2658, H2684 [26MR], H2735 [27MR], E399 [14MR]

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: reauthorize (H.R. 4653), H5836–H5839 [8JY], E1317 [1AU]

——— reauthorize (H.R. 5816), H9016 [10DE]

Vietnam: tribute to recognition of Interim Representative Committee of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, E894 [30MY], E907 [5JN]

Remarks in Senate

Cemeteries and funerals: include desecration of cemeteries among the many forms of violations of the right to religious freedom (H.R. 4028), S5070 [29JY], S5125 [30JY]

China: recognize anniversary of Tiananmen Square massacre, condemn continued persecution of political dissent and religious minorities, and release political prisoners (S. Res. 451), S3430 [4JN]

——— recognize anniversary of Tiananmen Square massacre and condemn continued persecution of political dissent and religious minorities, S3417 [4JN]

Contraceptives: ensure employers cannot prohibit access, call for an FDA study on whether prescriptions are necessary for contraceptives, and allow use of certain health accounts to purchase over-the-counter drugs (S. 2605), S4475 [15JY], S4514, S4522 [16JY]

Cuba: human rights violations, S2184–S2188 [7AP]

Ensure and protect, S4205 [7JY]

Ibrahim Ishag, Meriam Yahia: relief (S. 2474), S3962 [25JN]

Iraq: protect religious minorities from persecution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization) (S. Res. 530), S5878 [18SE]

Religion: reaffirm importance of religion and freedom to exercise beliefs peacefully, S3278–S3280 [22MY]

Saperstein, David N.: nomination to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, S6682 [11DE], S6739, S6740 [12DE]

Sudan: call for release from custody of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag and allow departure from Sudan, S3960, S3962 [25JN]

——— condemn charge of apostasy and death sentence of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, encourage U.S. efforts to support religious freedom, and urge inclusion of freedom of religion when drafting new constitution (S. Res. 453), S3384 [3JN]

Supreme Court: decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., v. Burwell relative to requirements for health insurance coverage of contraceptives by for-profit corporations, S4205, S4212 [7JY], S4388 [10JY], S4451 [14JY], S4461–S4468, S4474–S4476, S4481–S4483, S4489–S4491, S4495 [15JY], S4516, S4519–S4529, S4531, S4533–S4535, S4537 [16JY], S5401 [9SE], S5493 [10SE]

——— hearing of arguments in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., v. Sebelius relative to requirements for health insurance coverage of contraceptives by for-profit corporations, S1646 [13MR], S1707–S1711 [25MR]

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: reauthorize (H.R. 5816), S6840 [15DE]

——— reauthorize (S. 2711), S5143 [30JY]

Wani, Martin: relief (S. 2474), S3962 [25JN]

Wani, Maya: relief (S. 2474), S3962 [25JN]

Reports filed

Flushing Remonstrance Study Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 3222) (H. Rept. 113–395), H2801 [1AP]

Include Desecration of Cemeteries Among the Many Forms of Violations of the Right to Religious Freedom: Committee on Foreign Relations (Senate) (H.R. 4028) (S. Rept. 113–214), S4661 [21JY]

Nomination of David N. Saperstein To Be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom: Committee on Foreign Relations (Senate), S5781 [18SE]

Protect Religious Minorities in Iraq From Persecution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization): Committee on Foreign Relations (Senate) (S. Res. 530), S5779 [18SE]

Recognize Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre, Condemn Continued Persecution of Political Dissent and Religious Minorities, and Release Political Prisoners in China: Committee on Foreign Relations (Senate) (S. Res. 451), S3183 [20MY]

Statements

Protect Religious Minorities From Persecution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization): Robert Ghazool, E1584 [14NO]

Texts of

H. Res. 599, urge respect for freedom of assembly, expression, and religion, all human rights and the rule of law, and stop censoring discussion of 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations and their violent suppression in China, H4851 [28MY]

H. Res. 683, protect religious minorities in Iraq from persecution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization), H7236 [1AU]

H. Res. 707, condemn anti-Semitism and comparison of Israel to Nazis perpetrating the Holocaust and reject attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred as an acceptable disapproval of political events in the Middle East, H7860 [18SE]

H. Res. 754, condemn human rights violations in Iran, H8106 [19NO]

H.R. 3222, Flushing Remonstrance Study Act, H7494 [15SE]

H.R. 4028, include desecration of cemeteries among the many forms of violations of the right to religious freedom, H4850 [28MY]

H.R. 4653, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reauthorization, H5836 [8JY]

H.R. 5816, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reauthorization, H9016 [10DE]

S. 2711, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reauthorization, S5144 [30JY]

S. Res. 364, develop a balanced U.S. policy, call for international assistance in dealing with grievances arising from civil war, support reconciliation, and improve religious and media freedoms in Sri Lanka, S1237 [27FE]

S. Res. 451, recognize anniversary of Tiananmen Square massacre, condemn continued persecution of political dissent and religious minorities, and release political prisoners in China, S3079 [15MY]

S. Res. 453, condemn charge of apostasy and death sentence of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, encourage U.S. efforts to support religious freedom, and urge inclusion of freedom of religion when drafting new constitution in Sudan, S3241 [21MY], S3384 [3JN]

S. Res. 530, protect religious minorities in Iraq from persecution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization), S5146 [30JY]

S. Res. 592, recognize contributions of Montagnards who fought with U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnamese Conflict and condemn suppression of human rights and civil liberties, S6235 [1DE]