FREEDOM OF RELIGION

Addresses

U.S. Bilateral Engagement with Sudan Relative to Support of Human Rights and Religious Freedom: John J. Sullivan, Dept. of State, E86 [22JA]

Amendments

Pittsburgh, PA: condemn shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue and rising anti-Semitism, honor those killed, support those who were injured, offer condolences to those affected, and commend first responders (H. Res. 1138), H9507 [13NO]

Appointments

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, S2330 [19AP], S2655 [14MY], S4292 [20JN], H3913 [10MY], H4246 [21MY], H10086 [11DE]

Articles and editorials

China—New Controls on Tibetan Monastery, E117 [30JA]

Bills and resolutions

China: condemn human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims and call for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment of these communities (see S. 3622), S6964 [14NO] (see H.R. 7123), H9510 [13NO]

——— condemn violence against religious minorities and any actions that limit free expression and practice of faith by such minorities (see S. Res. 667), S6542 [4OC]

——— counter arbitrary detention of ethnic Turkic Muslims, including Uighurs, within Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (see H.R. 7384), H10510 [20DE]

——— express solidarity with Tuidang Movement whereby Chinese citizens renounce ties to the Communist Party and affiliates and call for immediate end to campaign to persecute Falun Gong practitioners (see H. Res. 932), H5021 [8JN]

Civil liberties: call for global repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws (see S. Res. 647), S6304 [25SE]

——— oppose enforcement and call for global repeal of blasphemy laws, promote religious freedom, and condition U.S. foreign aid on level of enforcement of blasphemy laws in such countries (see H. Res. 1132), H9443 [23OC]

Civil rights: ensure laws intended to protect religious freedom do not infringe upon laws intended to protect civil rights (see S. 2918), S2835 [22MY]

Dept. of HHS: abolish Conscience and Religious Freedom division within Office of Civil Rights (see H.R. 5123), H1333 [27FE]

Eurasia: combat religious freedom violations, especially use of torture, degrading treatment, or prolonged detention without charges, causing disappearance of persons by abduction or clandestine detention (see S. Res. 539), S3601 [11JN]

Farrakhan, Louis: condemn promotion of ideas that create animosity and anger toward Jews and the Jewish religion and all expressions of racism, anti-Semitism, and ethnic or religious intolerance (see H. Res. 772), H1542 [13MR]

Government regulations: eliminate effect on constitutionally protected expression of religion by Federal, State, and local officials from threat of litigants seeking damages and attorney’s fees (see H.R. 6213), H5648 [25JN]

Gyari, Lodi G.: tribute (see S. Res. 686), S6924 [13NO]

International relations: reaffirm commitment to promote international religious freedom and commemorate anniversary of International Religious Freedom Act (see H. Res. 1024), H7155 [24JY]

Iran: condemn human rights violations and violence or retribution targeting antigovernment demonstrators and support freedoms of speech, press, religion, association, and assembly (see S. Res. 368), S46 [4JA]

——— impose sanctions on individuals responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses against U.S. citizens or legal permanent resident aliens (see H.R. 5330), H1698 [19MR]

Iraq: support secure return of minority communities displaced by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization) and development of plan for stabilization and security of affected regions (see H. Res. 1117), H9419 [5OC]

Pittsburgh, PA: condemn shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue and rising anti-Semitism, honor those killed, support those who were injured, offer condolences to those affected, and commend first responders (see S. Res. 694), S7051 [15NO] (see H. Res. 1138), H9467 [6NO]

Prisoners of Conscience Day: designate (see H. Res. 750), H1266 [26FE]

Religion: affirm importance as a fundamental human right (see H. Con. Res. 126), H5975 [28JN]

——— affirm importance as a fundamental human right and observe anniversary of Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (see S. Con. Res. 32), S187 [16JA]

——— protect rights of free speech and free exercise, reject labeling of groups as hate groups based on religion or political views, and prevent discrimination and crime based on such labeling (see H. Res. 903), H4209 [17MY]

——— recognize religious freedom of, and historic contributions by, the American Muslim community (see S. Res. 555), S4281 [20JN]

Religious Freedom Restoration Act: eliminate applicability to the District of Columbia (see H.R. 5265), H1542 [13MR]

Turkey: grant Ecumenical Patriarchate international recognition, ecclesiastic succession, and the right to train clergy and elect Holy Synod members from any nationality and call for respect of religious and human rights (see H. Res. 732), H974 [7FE]

Vietnam: 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 H. Res. 797), H2041 [22MR]

Cloture motions

Brownback, Sam: nomination to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, S439 [22JA], S493 [24JA]

Remarks in House

China: condemn violence against religious minorities and any actions that limit free expression and practice of faith by such minorities, E1329 [28SE], E1457 [26OC]

——— express solidarity with Falun Gong practitioners who have lost lives, freedoms, and rights for adhering to their beliefs and practices and condemn practice of non-consenting organ harvesting, E875 [20JN]

——— imposition of Communist control over Larung Gar Monastery in Tibet, E117 [30JA]

——— tribute to Tuidang Movement, E613 [9MY]

Courts: decision in American Humanist Association v. Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission relative to government endorsement of religion, H1586 [14MR], H7171 [25JY]

——— impact of personal activism in rulings by Federal judges, H398 [16JA]

Crime: condemn hate crimes and other forms of racism, religious or ethnic bias, discrimination, incitement to violence, or animus targeting minorities, H489 [18JA], H9527 [15NO]

——— condemn hate crimes and other forms of racism, religious or ethnic bias, discrimination, incitement to violence, or animus targeting minorities (H. Res. 257), H7200 [25JY]

Dept. of HHS: formation of Conscience and Religious Freedom division within Office of Civil Rights, H559 [19JA]

——— tribute to proposed rule by Conscience and Religious Freedom division within Office of Civil Rights to protect health care professionals from being coerced into performing procedures that violate their beliefs, H1171 [14FE]

Dept. of State: monitor and combat anti-Semitism globally by elevating position of Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism to the rank of Ambassador (H.R. 1911), H8150–H8153 [12SE], E697 [21MY], E1253, E1257 [13SE]

India: condemn violence against religious minorities, E1263 [17SE]

Middle East: religious persecution of Christians, H9815 [10DE]

Pakistan: addition to Dept. of State watch list for severe violations of religious freedom, H789 [6FE]

——— assistance funding, E1531 [16NO]

——— call for release of Asia Bibi and protection of her and her family and urge legal reforms relative to blasphemy and tolerance of religious minorities, E1531 [16NO]

Pittsburgh, PA: condemn shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue and rising anti-Semitism, honor those killed, support those who were injured, offer condolences to those affected, and commend first responders (H. Res. 1138), H9506 [13NO], E1546 [20NO]

Poe, Representative: appreciation of opportunity to serve, H10087–H10092 [11DE]

Religion: condemn acts of anti-Semitism, E475 [16AP]

——— global persecution of Christians, H2039 [22MR]

——— historical importance of Christian values, H1264 [26FE], H4280 [21MY], H6108 [11JY]

——— persecution of Jews in the Middle East, E1588 [30NO]

——— reaffirm importance of religion and freedom to exercise beliefs peacefully, H398 [16JA]

Religious Freedom Day: observance, H177, H397, H398 [16JA]

Religious Freedom Restoration Act: eliminate applicability to the District of Columbia (H.R. 5265), E299 [13MR]

Religious Freedom Week: observance, H5509 [22JN]

Trump, President: evaluation of administration relative to religious freedom, H9537 [15NO]

Remarks in Senate

Afghanistan: persecution of religious minorities, S5575 [1AU]

Brownback, Sam: confirmation as Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, S517 [25JA]

——— nomination to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, S446 [23JA], S497 [24JA]

China: condemn violence against religious minorities and any actions that limit free expression and practice of faith by such minorities, S6713 [9OC]

Dept. of HHS: formation of Conscience and Religious Freedom division within Office of Civil Rights, S443 [22JA]

Iran: condemn human rights violations and violence or retribution targeting antigovernment demonstrators and support freedoms of speech, press, religion, association, and assembly, S126 [10JA]

Pittsburgh, PA: condemn shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue and rising anti-Semitism, honor those killed, support those who were injured, offer condolences to those affected, and commend first responders, S6943 [14NO], S7030 [15NO]

——— condemn shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue and rising anti-Semitism, honor those killed, support those who were injured, offer condolences to those affected, and commend first responders (S. Res. 694), S7062 [15NO]

Religion: condemn anti-Semitism, S2472 [26AP]

——— recognize religious freedom of, and historic contributions by, the American Muslim community (S. Res. 555), S4293 [20JN]

U.N.: anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, S7382 [10DE]

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: require continued reporting on anti-Semitic incidents, safety and security of Jewish communities, and U.S. partnerships to combat anti-Semitism in Europe (H.R. 672), S8041 [22DE]

Reports filed

Nomination of Sam Brownback To Be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom: Committee on Foreign Relations (Senate), S299 [18JA]

Statements

Declaration for the Sake of the Christian Faith: Several Chinese Christian Pastors, E1457–E1459 [26OC]

Shooting at Pittsburgh, PA, Tree of Life Synagogue and Rising Anti-Semitism: Israel Zoberman, E1564 [28NO]

Texts of

H. Res. 257, condemn hate crimes and other forms of racism, religious or ethnic bias, discrimination, incitement to violence, or animus targeting minorities, H7200 [25JY]

H. Res. 1138, condemn shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA, and rising anti-Semitism, honor those killed, support those who were injured, offer condolences to those affected, and commend first responders, H9506 [13NO]

H.R. 1911, Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act, H8150 [12SE]

S. Con. Res. 32, affirm importance of freedom of religion as a fundamental human right and observe anniversary of Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, S188 [16JA]

S. Res. 368, condemn Iranian human rights violations and violence or retribution targeting antigovernment demonstrators and support freedoms of speech, press, religion, association, and assembly, S47 [4JA]

S. Res. 539, combat religious freedom violations in Eurasia, especially use of torture, degrading treatment, or prolonged detention without charges, causing disappearance of persons by abduction or clandestine detention, S3605 [11JN]

S. Res. 555, recognize religious freedom of, and historic contributions by, the American Muslim community, S4286 [20JN]

S. Res. 647, call for global repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws, S6307 [25SE]

S. Res. 667, condemn violence against religious minorities in China and any actions that limit free expression and practice of faith by such minorities, S6543 [4OC]

S. Res. 686, tribute to Lodi G. Gyari, S6928 [13NO]

S. Res. 694, condemn shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA, and rising anti-Semitism, honor those killed, support those who were injured, offer condolences to those affected, and commend first responders, S7057 [15NO]