Promoting Religious Freedom Abroad

Congressional Action
112th Congress (2011-2012)

More than a decade ago, Congress enacted legislation that established much of the governmental architecture through which the United States promotes religious freedom abroad.  The 112th Congress has been deeply involved in the activities of the institutions created by this legislation.

In 1998, the House of Representatives and the Senate passed, both by unanimous vote, the International Religious Freedom Act, which President Bill Clinton signed into law.  This law required the State Department to create an Office of International Religious Freedom and to issue an annual report on the state of religious freedom around the world.  The Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, who heads the office, also serves as principal advisor to the President and the Secretary of State on issues of international religious freedom.

The International Religious Freedom Act also created the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.  The Commission acts as an independent agency, outside of government, that monitors violations of religious freedom around the world and makes policy recommendations to the President and Congress.

In 2004, Congress passed the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act, which President George W. Bush signed into law.  This law created within the State Department the new post of Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.

Hearings in the 112th Congress:

• Organ Harvesting of Religious and Political Dissidents by the Chinese Communist Party
  House Committee on Foreign Affairs
  Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
  Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights
  September 12, 2012
• The 2011 International Religious Freedom Report
  House Committee on Foreign Affairs
  Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Human Rights
  November 17, 2011
• Prioritizing International Religious Freedom in U.S. Foreign Policy
  House Committee on Foreign Affairs
  Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Human Rights
  June 3, 2011
• Religious Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights in Asia
  House Committee on Foreign Affairs
  June 2, 2011

Legislation in the House of Representatives:

• H.RES.506: An Act to urge the Government of Turkey to facilitate the reopening of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Theological School of Halki
  Sponsor: Representative Gus Bilirakis
  Introduced on December 20, 2011
• H.R.3557: Religious Worker Visa Reciprocity Act of 2011
  Sponsor: Representative Steve King
  Introduced on December 2, 2011
• H.RES.459: An Act to encourage any new government convened in Egypt to fully allow for the freedom of religion
  Sponsor: Representative Robert Aderholt
  Introduced on November 4, 2011
• H.RES.387: An Act to condemn the extremist violence, lack of religious freedom, and human rights violations committed against Kashmiri Pandits since 1989
  Sponsor: Representative Frank Pallone, Jr.
  Introduced on August 1, 2011
• H.RES.306: Urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties
  Sponsor: Representative Edward Royce
  Introduced on June 15, 2011
  Passed the House by voice vote on December 12, 2011
• H.R.1856: International Religious Freedom Act Amendments of 2011
  Sponsor: Representative Frank Wolf
  Introduced on May 11, 2011
• H.RES.180: An Act to urge Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
  Sponsor: Representative Carolyn Maloney
  Introduced on March 17, 2011
• H.RES.134: An Act to condemn the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights
  Sponsor: Representative Robert Dold
  Introduced on March 1, 2011
• H.R.554: Freedom Trade Act
  Sponsor: Representative Thaddeus McCotter
  Introduced on February 8, 2011
  [Religious provisions of the bill: Impose restrictions on imports from any foreign country that violates the rights of its citizens to freedom of religion]
• H.R.440: An Act to create a Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia
  Sponsor: Representative Frank Wolf
  Introduced on January 25, 2011
• H.RES.16: An Act to designate the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as a "Country of Particular Concern" with respect to religious freedom
  Sponsor: Representative Edward Royce
  Introduced on January 5, 2011

Legislation in the Senate:

• S.RES.392: A resolution urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties
  Sponsor: Senator Scott Brown
  Introduced on March 8, 2012
• S.RES.385: A resolution condemning the Government of Iran for its continued persecution, imprisonment, and sentencing of Youcef Nadarkhani on the charge of apostasy
  Sponsor: Senator David Vitter
  Introduced on March 1, 2012
• S.RES.232: A resolution recognizing the continued persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China
  Sponsor: Senator Robert Menendez
  Introduced on July 13, 2011
• S.1245: Near East and South Central Asia Religious Freedom Act of 2011
  Sponsor: Senator Roy Blunt
  Introduced on June 22, 2011
• S.RES.196: A resolution calling upon the Government of Turkey to facilitate the reopening of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Theological School of Halki
  Sponsor: Senator Benjamin Cardin
  Introduced on May 24, 2011
• S.RES.150: A resolution calling for the protection of religious minority rights and freedoms in the Arab world
  Sponsor: Senator James Inhofe
  Introduced on April 14, 2011
• S.RES.80: A resolution condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority
  Sponsor: Senator Mark Steven Kirk
  Introduced on March 1, 2011

Information on proposed legislation can be found on the Library of Congress website: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php