FREEDOM OF RELIGION

Amendments

U.N.: condemn sexual violence against women and children of religious minorities by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization) and support international prosecution of such crimes (S. Res. 310), S8727, S8732 [16DE]

Articles and editorials

Gay Rights, Religious Freedom and the Law, S2422 [27AP]

Bills and resolutions

Armed Forces: ensure every military chaplain has the prerogative to close a prayer outside of a religious service according to the dictates of the chaplain’s own conscience (see H.R. 148), H41 [6JA]

——— require congressional approval prior to changes in oaths for military enlistment, uniformed services appointments, or appointment as a cadet or midshipman at military service academy (see H.R. 1425), H1768 [18MR]

Bangladesh: protect human rights, strengthen democratic institutions and rule of law, and prevent growth of extremist groups (see H. Res. 396), H5769 [29JY]

China: call for an end to forced organ harvesting, investigate organ transplant abuses, end persecution of the Falun Gong, and respond to state-sanctioned organ harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience (see H. Res. 343), H4771 [25JN]

Civil liberties: call for global repeal of blasphemy laws (see H. Res. 290), H3757 [2JN]

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. 1438), S3238 [21MY]

District of Columbia: disapprove law repealing exemption allowing religiously affiliated educational institutions to discriminate against gay and lesbian student groups (see S.J. Res. 11), S1629 [18MR] (see H.J. Res. 44), H2210 [14AP]

Foreign policy: call for protection of religious minority rights and freedoms worldwide (see S. Res. 69), S833 [5FE] (see H. Res. 105), H982 [11FE]

——— 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. 1323), H1613 [4MR]

Health: protect rights of conscience relative to requirements for coverage of specific items and services and prohibit certain abortion-related discrimination in government activities (see S. 1919), S6296 [4AU] (see H.R. 940), H1034 [12FE]

International relations: improve U.S. ability to advance religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and foreign assistance and through stronger responses to violations and extremism (see H.R. 1150), H1498 [27FE]

——— protect and promote international religious freedom (see S. 1860), S5526 [23JY] (see H.R. 3194), H5466 [23JY]

Iran: call for release of detained U.S. citizens (see S. Con. Res. 16), S2730 [7MY]

——— call for release of Saeed Abedini and others detained due to their religious beliefs (see H. Res. 111), H1069 [13FE]

——— observe Nowruz, the Iranian New Year (see H. Res. 156), H1769 [18MR]

IRS: prohibit use of funds to target citizens for exercising any right guaranteed under the First Amendment of the Constitution (see S. 965), S2221 [15AP]

Middle East: condemn violence against religious minorities and any actions that limit the free expression and practice of faith by these minorities (see H. Res. 139), H1566 [3MR]

Pilgrims: mint coins in commemoration of anniversary of arrival (see S. 1715), S4840 [8JY] (see H.R. 2980), H4955 [8JY]

Religion: condemn violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslim Americans and express condolences to victims of hate crimes (see H. Res. 569), H9691 [17DE]

——— ensure organizations with religious or moral convictions are allowed to provide child welfare services (see S. 667), S1303 [4MR] (see H.R. 1299), H1612 [4MR]

——— reaffirm importance of religion and freedom to exercise beliefs peacefully (see H. Res. 514), H7742 [4NO]

Schneier, Arthur: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 2723), H4136 [10JN]

Taxation: establish Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund to receive payments of taxpayers conscientiously opposed to war, ensure that such revenue is used for non-military purposes, and improve revenue collection (see H.R. 2377), H3252 [15MY]

Tibet: call for substantive dialogue, without preconditions, in order to address Tibetan grievances and secure a negotiated agreement for the Tibetan people (see H. Res. 337), H4650 [24JN]

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: reauthorize (see S. 1798), S5170 [16JY] (see S. 2078, 2079), S6938 [24SE] (see H.R. 2037), H2474 [27AP]

Vietnam: promote freedom, human rights, and the rule of law (see H.R. 2140), H2767 [30AP]

Documents

Mayflower Compact, H5457 [23JY]

Letters

Condemn sexual violence against women and children of religious minorities by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization) and support international prosecution of such crimes: Julia Frifield, Dept. of State, S8731 [16DE]

——— several Senators, S8731 [16DE]

Lists

Houston, TX, community meeting participants, H9313 [15DE]

Remarks in House

Armed Forces: require congressional approval prior to changes in oaths for military enlistment, uniformed services appointments, or appointment as a cadet or midshipman at military service academy (H.R. 1425), H1730 [18MR]

Bangladesh: protect human rights, strengthen democratic institutions and rule of law, and prevent growth of extremist groups (H. Res. 396), H5609 [29JY]

Constitutional amendments: anniversary of ratification of first ten amendments, H9323 [15DE]

Dept. of Education: reaffirm right of students, teachers, and school administrators to free exercise of religion, H1292, H1293 [26FE]

Egypt: religious persecution of Christians, H5177 [15JY], H5986 [16SE]

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, H1729 [18MR]

India: call for full legal recognition of all religions, E1367 [28SE]

——— religious persecution of Christians, H538 [26JA]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization): religious persecution of Christians, H4583 [23JN]

Lin, Anastasia: refusal of Chinese government to grant visa for attending Miss World competition in Beijing because of her activism on behalf of human rights abuses against the Falun Gong, E1791 [15DE]

Middle East: religious persecution of Christians, H1176 [26FE]

——— religious persecution of Christians and Jews, H6303–H6305 [28SE]

Pope Francis: address to Congress, H6231 [25SE]

Religion: condemn anti-Muslim discrimination, harassment, and violence, H9312 [15DE]

——— ensure organizations with religious or moral convictions are allowed to provide child welfare services, H3555 [21MY]

——— global persecution of Christians, H1637 [16MR], H2494 [28AP]

——— historical importance of Christian values, H4645 [24JN], H9008 [3DE], H10700–H10703 [18DE]

——— persecution of Christians and other religious minorities around the world, H5186 [15JY], H5454–H5458 [23JY], H5983 [16SE], E1125 [27JY]

——— reaffirm importance of religion and freedom to exercise beliefs peacefully, H3555 [21MY], H7395 [3NO], H7634 [4NO]

Schools: reaffirm right of school personnel and students to free exercise of religion, H7628, H7638 [4NO]

Tibet: call for substantive dialogue, without preconditions, in order to address Tibetan grievances and secure a negotiated agreement for the Tibetan people (H. Res. 337), H4900–H4904 [8JY], E966 [24JN]

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: reauthorize (S. 2078), H6808–H6811 [6OC]

Vietnam: human rights violations, H4966 [9JY]

——— promote freedom, human rights, and the rule of law (H.R. 2140), E941 [23JN]

Vietnamese Conflict: recognize anniversary of end of war and call for continued political, religious, and economic reform, E637 [30AP]

Remarks in Senate

Ensure and protect, S8473 [8DE]

Foreign aid: prohibit to any country persecuting Christians and other religious minorities, S7671 [30OC]

Foreign trade: ensure conditions relating to religious freedoms are considered as part of negotiations for trade agreements, S2960 [18MY]

Human rights: call for release of political prisoners, S7260 [8OC]

Iran: call for release of detained U.S. citizens, S6971 [28SE]

——— call for release of detained U.S. citizens (S. Con. Res. 16), S2743, S2746, S2749–S2751 [11MY]

——— call for release of detained U.S. citizens (S. Con. Res. 16), unanimous-consent agreement, S2733 [7MY]

IRS: prohibit use of funds to target citizens for exercising any right guaranteed under the First Amendment of the Constitution (S. 965), S2223 [15AP]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: impact of regulations on ability of certain entities to exercise religious beliefs, S7902 [10NO]

Religion: condemn anti-Muslim discrimination, harassment, and violence, S8626 [14DE], S8788 [17DE]

——— reaffirm importance of religion and freedom to exercise beliefs peacefully, S2420–S2423 [27AP], S5679–S5681 [24JY], S6873–S6875 [22SE], S7080–S7082 [1OC], S7212–S7214 [7OC], S7752–S7754 [4NO], S7899–S7901 [10NO], S8131–S8133 [19NO], S8206–S8208 [1DE], S8586–S8588 [10DE], S8625 [14DE]

——— role in government and politics, S6860 [22SE]

Schools: reaffirm right of school personnel and students to free exercise of religion, S7559–S7561 [28OC], S7640 [29OC]

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: reauthorize (S. 2078), S7051 [30SE]

Reports filed

U.N. Condemning of Sexual Violence Against Women and Children of Religious Minorities by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization): Committee on Foreign Relations (Senate) (S. Res. 310), S8079 [18NO]

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization: Committee on Foreign Relations (Senate) (S. 2078), S6938 [24SE]

Summaries

Religious Persecution Incidents Targeting Christians in India: Evangelical Fellowship of India (organization), E112–E114 [26JA]

Texts of

H. Res. 337, call for substantive dialogue, without preconditions, in order to address Tibetan grievances and secure a negotiated agreement for the Tibetan people, H4900 [8JY]

S. 1860, Further Independence of Religion for Security and Tolerance (FIRST) Freedom Act, S5533–S5537 [23JY]

S. 2078, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reauthorization, S7051 [30SE], H6808 [6OC]

S. Con. Res. 16, call for release of detained U.S. citizens in Iran, S2732 [7MY], S2751 [11MY]

S. Res. 69, call for protection of religious minority rights and freedoms worldwide, S840 [5FE]

S. Res. 310, condemn sexual violence against women and children of religious minorities by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization) and support international prosecution of such crimes, S8732 [16DE]