Shahbaz Bhatti International Religious Freedom Act of 2014 - Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to include violations of religious freedom by non-state actors in the annual Department of State report to Congress on international religious freedom.
Requires the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold hearings on specified Department and U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reports concerning the status of religious freedom.
Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require Foreign Service officers to receive training about the religious demography, status of religious freedom, and U.S. strategies for advancing religious freedom in their country of posting.
Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) transmit to specified congressional committees certain lists of persons imprisoned, detained, or placed under house arrest; and (2) report to Congress on the best uses of foreign assistance to promote the goals of religious freedom and religious engagement.
Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress after the date on which the President designates countries as a country of particular concern for religious freedom on the lack of the President's designation of Pakistan and and any other countries recommended for such designation by the Commission.
Directs the President to take specified actions in response to violations of religious freedom by non-state actors.
Authorizes certain funds for democracy programs to be used to implement innovative uses of the Internet and other electronic methods to support freedom of religion or belief abroad.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5878 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5878
To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to further
express United States foreign policy with respect to, and to strengthen
United States advocacy on behalf of, freedom of religion or belief
abroad and individuals persecuted in foreign countries on account of
religion or belief, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 11, 2014
Mr. Pitts (for himself and Ms. Eshoo) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition
to the Committees on Financial Services and Oversight and Government
Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to further
express United States foreign policy with respect to, and to strengthen
United States advocacy on behalf of, freedom of religion or belief
abroad and individuals persecuted in foreign countries on account of
religion or belief, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Shahbaz Bhatti
International Religious Freedom Act of 2014''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings; policy.
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. Reports.
Sec. 103. Training for Foreign Service officers.
Sec. 104. Programs and allocations of funds by United States missions
abroad.
Sec. 105. Prisoner lists and issue briefs on religious freedom
concerns.
Sec. 106. Report on foreign assistance to promote religious freedom and
religious engagement.
Sec. 107. Reports on countries not designated as countries of
particular concern for religious freedom.
TITLE II--UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Sec. 201. Report of the Commission.
TITLE III--NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
Sec. 301. Special Adviser on International Religious Freedom.
TITLE IV--PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
Sec. 401. Presidential actions in response to violations of religious
freedom.
Sec. 402. Presidential actions in response to particularly severe
violations of religious freedom.
Sec. 403. Consultations.
Sec. 404. Description of Presidential actions.
Sec. 405. Presidential waiver.
Sec. 406. Termination of Presidential actions.
TITLE V--PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Sec. 501. Assistance for promoting religious freedom.
Sec. 502. International broadcasting.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; POLICY.
(a) Findings.--Section 2(a) of the International Religious Freedom
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(a)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) as
paragraphs (4) through (8), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new
paragraph:
``(3) International religious freedom means the right of
all persons to fully enjoy freedom of religion or belief, as
protected by international law, and applies to the holders of
all religious beliefs and those who reject religious belief
altogether.'';
(3) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by striking the second and third sentences and
inserting the following: ``More than 76 percent of the
world's population live in countries in which religion
is restricted in significant ways, either by the
government or by societal non-state actors. These
limitations severely restrict or prohibit the freedom
of people to study, believe, observe, and freely
practice the religious faith of their choice.''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
sentence: ``Other governmental violations include
registration laws, laws limiting or prohibiting
religious dress or symbols, anti-conversion laws,
blasphemy laws, and apostasy laws.'';
(4) by further redesignating paragraph (7) and (8) (as so
redesignated) as paragraphs (9) and (12), respectively;
(5) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new
paragraphs:
``(7) In addition to governments, non-state actors severely
violate freedom of religion or belief. These actors include
individuals, mobs, vigilante groups, anti-government
insurgents, militant organizations, and recognized terrorist
groups. In those cases in which governments' legal systems
promote intolerance, non-state actors often act unilaterally to
enforce these biased measures.
``(8) Over the past 15 years, the global landscape for
religious freedom has deteriorated. While authoritarian
governments continue to persecute individuals, unchecked
majoritarianism against religious minorities and increasing
acts of violence by religious extremists against any who
challenge their ideologies are troubling new threats to this
fundamental freedom. Such violence includes the 2011
assassination of Pakistan's Minister of Minority Affairs,
Shahbaz Bhatti, an advocate for religious freedom.'';
(6) by inserting after paragraph (9) (as so redesignated)
the following new paragraphs:
``(10) Freedom of religion or belief also is central to a
country's stability and security. Religious freedom abuses are
linked to abuses of other human rights, and to instability and
violent extremism. Wherever religious freedom is abused, peace
and security may be threatened, affecting societies and in some
cases the security of the United States. As such, religious
freedom merits consideration with economic, security, and other
concerns.
``(11) The United States must do more to promote freedom of
religion or belief overseas. This fundamental freedom is under
serious and sustained pressure across much of the globe.''; and
(7) by striking paragraph (12) (as so redesignated) and
inserting the following:
``(12) Congress has recognized and denounced acts of
religious persecution through the passage of the following
measures and adoption of the following resolutions:
``(A) H.R. 2330 of the One Hundred Eighth Congress,
which became Public Law 108-61, prohibiting the
importation into the United States of any article that
is a product of Burma (Myanmar) until the President
determines and certifies to Congress that Burma has met
certain conditions, including the releasing of all
political prisoners and permitting the peaceful
exercise of religion.
``(B) H.R. 4011 of the One Hundred Eighth Congress,
which became Public Law 108-333, the North Korea Human
Rights Act of 2004, which directs the Secretary of
State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to report
annually on measures taken to facilitate access to the
United States refugee program by persons fleeing
countries of particular concern for violations of
religious freedom.
``(C) H.R. 6198 of the One Hundred Ninth Congress,
which became Public Law 109-293, the Iran Freedom
Support Act, which holds the current regime in Iran
accountable for its threatening behavior and supports a
transition to democracy in Iran and states that
assistance may be provided only to an individual,
organization, or entity that supports freedom of
religion while also expressing the sense of Congress
that U.S. officials and representatives should draw
international attention to Iran's violations of human
rights and freedom of religion.
``(D) House Resolution 1370 of the One Hundred
Tenth Congress, calling on the Government of the
People's Republic of China to immediately end abuses of
the human rights of its citizens, to cease repression
of Tibetan and Uyghur people, and to end its support
for the Governments of Sudan and Burma to ensure that
the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games take place in an
atmosphere that honors the Olympic traditions of
freedom and openness.
``(E) House Resolution 944 of the One Hundred
Eleventh Congress, expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives on the protection of members of
vulnerable religious and ethnic minority communities in
Iraq.
``(F) House Resolution 134 of the One Hundred
Twelfth Congress, condemning 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.
``(G) House Resolution 306 of the One Hundred
Twelfth Congress, urging the Republic of Turkey to
safeguard its Christian heritage and to return
confiscated church properties.
``(H) House Resolution 484 of the One Hundred
Twelfth Congress, calling on the Government of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam to respect basic human
rights and cease abusing vague national security
provisions such as articles 79 and 88 of the Vietnamese
penal code which are often the pretext to arrest and
detain citizens who peacefully advocate for religious
and political freedom.
``(I) House Resolution 556 of the One Hundred and
Twelfth Congress, condemning the Government of Iran for
its continued persecution, imprisonment, and sentencing
of Youcef Nadarkhani on the charge of apostasy.
``(J) H.R. 515 of the One Hundred Twelfth Congress,
which became Public Law 112-81, to reauthorize the
Belarus Democracy Act of 2004, which authorizes the
denial of United States entry to members of the
security or law enforcement services who have
participated in the persecution of religious groups or
human rights defenders.
``(K) House Resolution 418 of the One Hundred and
Thirteenth Congress, urging the Government of Burma to
end the persecution of the Rohingya people and respect
internationally recognized human rights for all ethnic
and religious minority groups.
``(L) House Resolution 599 of the One Hundred
Thirteenth Congress, urging the Government of the
People's Republic of China to respect the freedom of
assembly, expression, and religion and all fundamental
human rights and the rule of law for all its citizens
and to stop censoring discussion of the 1989 Tiananmen
Square demonstrations and their violent suppression.
``(M) House Resolution 683 of the One Hundred
Thirteenth Congress, expressing the sense of the House
of Representatives on the current situation in Iraq and
the urgent need to protect religious minorities from
the persecution from the Sunni Islamist insurgent and
terrorist group the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant
(ISIL) as it expands its control over areas in
northwestern Iraq.
``(N) House Resolution 707 of the One Hundred
Thirteenth Congress, condemning all forms of anti-
Semitism and rejecting attempts to justify anti-Jewish
hatred or violent attacks as an acceptable expression
of disapproval or frustration over political events in
the Middle East or elsewhere.
``(O) H.R. 301 of the One Hundred Thirteenth
Congress, which became Public 113-161, to provide for
the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote
Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near
East and South Central Asia.
``(P) House Resolution 754 of the One Hundred
Thirteenth Congress, condemning the Government of Iran
for its gross human rights violations.''.
(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 (2) through (5) as
paragraphs (3) through (6), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new
paragraph:
``(2) To ensure that religious freedom is a central
component of United States foreign policy and receives the
appropriate prioritization across government agencies,
including in bilateral diplomacy, multilateral diplomacy,
public diplomacy, and programmatic activities of the United
States government.'';
(3) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by inserting
``and non-state actors'' after ``persecuting regimes''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(7) To work in coalition with international partners in
support of religious freedom in those countries whose
governments violate religious freedom or do not take action
against those who violate religious freedom or in those cases
in which non-state actors perpetrate violations of religious
freedom.
``(8) To work with foreign governments and in international
fora to support rule of law, good governance, and a vigorous
civil society and advocate in support of prisoners of
conscience abroad whose detentions violate their freedom of
religion or belief.''.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 3 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22
U.S.C. 6402) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (13)(A)--
(A) in clause (iv), by striking ``or'' at the end;
and
(B) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(vi) having no religious beliefs; or'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(14) Non-state actor.--The term `non-state actor' means
any entity outside of government, including an extremist group
or terrorist organization.''.
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIVITIES
SEC. 101. OFFICE ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM; AMBASSADOR AT
LARGE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
(a) Appointment.--Section 101(b) of the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6411(b)) is amended by adding at the end
before the period the following: ``, and shall report directly to the
Secretary of State''.
(b) Advisory Role.--Section 101(c)(2) of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6411(c)(2)) is amended by
striking ``a principal adviser'' and inserting ``the principal
adviser''.
SEC. 102. REPORTS.
(a) Annual Report on International Religious Freedom; Deadline for
Submission.--Section 102(b)(1) of the International Religious Freedom
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) in clause (ii), by adding at the end before the
semicolon the following: ``or perpetrated by non-state
actors'';
(B) in clause (iii)--
(i) by adding at the end before the
semicolon the following: ``or perpetrated by
non-state actors''; and
(ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(C) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (vii);
and
(D) by inserting after clause (iii) (as so amended)
the following new clauses:
``(iv) particularly severe violations of
religious freedom occurring in the country but
where a government does not exist or the
government does not control its territory;
``(v) an identification of whether the
country is designated or re-designated as a
country of particular concern for religious
freedom under section 402 and, if the country
is designated or re-designated as a country of
particular concern for religious freedom, a
description of the presidential action or
actions that have been taken with respect to
the country as described in section 402;
``(vi) an identification of prisoners in
that country pursuant to section 108; and'';
and
(2) in subparagraph (C)--
(A) by striking ``A description'' and inserting ``A
comprehensive description'';
(B) by striking ``the measures'' and inserting
``the specific measures''; and
(C) by adding at the end before the period the
following: ``and an analysis of the impact of such
actions and policies on the status of religious freedom
in the country''.
(b) Annual Report on International Religious Freedom; Congressional
Hearings and Briefings Required.--Section 102(b) of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)) is amended by adding
at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Congressional hearings and briefings required.--The
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate shall, not
later than 30 days after the receipt by Congress of the report
submitted under paragraph (1), hold hearings on the report,
including any recommendations contained therein, and not later
than 180 days after the date of completion of such hearings,
the Ambassador at Large shall meet with such Committees to
brief such Committees on the report and on progress to date
with respect to implementation of such recommendations.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect
to each Annual Report on International Religious Freedom that is
required to be submitted to Congress under section 102 of the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412) (as so
amended) on or after such date of enactment.
SEC. 103. TRAINING FOR FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS.
(a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 708 of the Foreign
Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4028) is amended by inserting ``members
of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom,''
after ``International Religious Freedom Act of 1998,''.
(b) Other Required Training.--Section 708 of the Foreign Service
Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4028) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``(d) The Secretary of State, with the assistance of other relevant
officials as specified in subsection (a), shall ensure that the
standard training described in such subsection shall, at a minimum, be
a required segment of each of the following:
``(1) The A-100 course attended by all officers of the
Service.
``(2) The courses required of all officers of the Service
prior to a posting abroad, tailored to the religious
demography, status of religious freedom, and United States
strategies for advancing religious freedom in the country of
posting.
``(3) The courses required of all deputy chiefs of mission
and all chiefs of mission.''.
(c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the
Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom and the
Director of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, shall submit
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a comprehensive plan
for administering training of Foreign Service officers required under
section 708 of the Foreign Service Act (22 U.S.C. 4028), as amended by
this section.
SEC. 104. PROGRAMS AND ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDS BY UNITED STATES MISSIONS
ABROAD.
Section 106 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22
U.S.C. 6415) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``sense of the Congress'' and inserting ``policy of the United
States''; and
(2) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking ``should'' each
place it appears and inserting ``shall''.
SEC. 105. PRISONER LISTS AND ISSUE BRIEFS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
CONCERNS.
(a) In General.--Section 108(b) of the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6417(b)) is amended by inserting ``the
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom,'' after
``United States chiefs of mission abroad,''.
(b) Availability of Lists.--Section 108(c) of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6417(c)) is amended by adding
at the end the following: ``In addition, the Secretary of State shall
transmit the lists of persons imprisoned, detained, or placed under
house arrest prepared under subsection (b) not later than 180 days
after the enactment of the Shahbaz Bhatti International Religious
Freedom Act of 2014, and every 180 days thereafter, to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee
on Appropriations of the Senate, the Tom Lantos Human Rights
Commission, and the Senate Human Rights Caucus.''.
SEC. 106. REPORT ON FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND
RELIGIOUS ENGAGEMENT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the
Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to Congress a report on the
best uses of foreign assistance to promote the goals of religious
freedom and religious engagement, while also making a distinction
between these two goals.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall address
how assistance and other United States government actions can
strengthen the protection of religious minorities and dissenters,
strengthen democratic institutions, and foster a vibrant civil society,
and create civic space for religious debate and discussion.
(c) Deadline.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be
submitted to Congress not later than 180 days after the date on which
the first Annual Report on International Religious Freedom required
under section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998
(22 U.S.C. 6412(b)) is submitted to Congress after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(d) Hearings and Briefings.--The information contained in the
report required by subsection (a) report shall be included in the
congressional hearings and briefings required in paragraph (3) of
section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22
U.S.C. 6412(b)) (as added by section 102(b) of this Act).
SEC. 107. REPORTS ON COUNTRIES NOT DESIGNATED AS COUNTRIES OF
PARTICULAR CONCERN FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the
President designates countries as a country of particular concern for
religious freedom under section 402 of the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442), the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to Congress a report on the lack of
designation by the President of any other countries recommended for
such designation by the United States Commission on International
Religious Freedom.
(b) Report Relating to Pakistan.--In addition to the report
required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to Congress a report that focuses specifically on
the lack of designation by the President of Pakistan as a country of
particular concern for religious freedom under section 402 of the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442) despite
the repeated recommendation for such designation by the United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom.
TITLE II--UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
SEC. 201. REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.
Section 205 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22
U.S.C. 6433) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(d) Congressional Hearings and Briefings Required.--The Committee
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate shall, not later than 30 days after the
receipt by Congress of the report submitted under subsection (a), hold
hearings on the report, including any recommendations contained
therein, and not later than 180 days after the date of completion of
such hearings, the Commission shall meet with such Committees on the
report and on progress with respect to implementation of such
recommendations to date.''.
TITLE III--NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
SEC. 301. SPECIAL ADVISER ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
Section 101(k) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C.
3021(k)) is amended in the first sentence by inserting ``senior''
before ``director''.
TITLE IV--PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
SEC. 401. PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM.
(a) Response to Violations of Religious Freedom.--Section 401(a)(1)
of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
6441(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)(i), by adding at the end before the
semicolon the following: ``or carried out by non-state actors
in that country''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting before ``, the
President'' the following: ``and for each foreign country in
which non-state actors carry out violations of religious
freedom''.
(b) Presidential Actions.--Section 401(b)(2) of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6441(b)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``September 1 of each year'' and inserting
``30 days after the date on which each report is submitted
under section 102(b)'';
(2) by striking ``action'' and inserting ``1 or more of the
actions'';
(3) by inserting ``or in which non-state actors in that
country carried out violations of religious freedom'' before
``at any time'';
(4) by striking ``September 1 of the preceding year'' and
inserting ``the previous such report was submitted''; and
(5) by striking ``thereto)'' and all that follows and
inserting ``thereto) the action may only be taken after the
President certifies to Congress that the requirements of
sections 403 and 404 have been satisfied.''.
(c) Implementation.--Section 401(c)(1)(B) of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6441(c)(1)(B)) is amended by
inserting ``or the non-state actors in that country,'' after ``special
officials thereof,''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect
to each Annual Report on International Religious Freedom that is
required to be submitted to Congress under section 102 of the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412) (as so
amended) on or after such date of enactment.
SEC. 402. PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO PARTICULARLY SEVERE
VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
(a) Response to Particularly Severe Violations of Religious
Freedom.--Section 402(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by adding at the end before the
semicolon the following: ``or carried out by non-state
actors''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or a non-state actor
has carried out,'' after ``engaged in or tolerated''.
(b) Designation of Countries of Particular Concern for Religious
Freedom.--Section 402(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by striking ``September 1 of each
year'' and inserting ``30 days after the date
on which each report is submitted under section
102(b)'';
(ii) by striking ``whether'' and inserting
``whether, during the preceding 12 months,'';
(iii) by inserting ``, or in which a non-
state actor has carried out,'' after ``engaged
in or tolerated'' each place it appears; and
(iv) by striking ``during the preceding 12
months or since the date of the last review of
that country under this subparagraph, whichever
period is longer''; and
(B) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) by inserting ``or non-state actor''
after ``foreign country''; and
(ii) by striking ``and may take place any
time prior to September 1 of the respective
year'' and inserting ``and before the date on
which the report is submitted under section
102(b)'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or the non-state
actor specifically responsible for the particularly severe
violations of religious freedom,'' after ``by that
government'';
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``as soon as practicable'' and inserting ``not
later than 30 days'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) the actions taken, the purposes of the
actions taken, and evaluation of any previous actions
taken pursuant to a designation by the President of a
country as a country of particular concern for
religious freedom under this section.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) Termination.--A country that has been designated a
country of particular concern for religious freedom under this
section retains such designation until the President determines
such designation should be terminated and submits to the
appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the
reasons for such termination.''.
(c) Presidential Actions With Respect to Countries of Particular
Concern for Religious Freedom.--Section 402(c)(5) of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442(c)(5)) is amended--
(1) in the second sentence--
(A) by striking ``must'' and inserting ``shall'';
(B) by striking ``he determines'' and inserting
``the President determines''; and
(C) by adding at the end before the period the
following: ``and include a description of the impact of
the designation of such sanction or sanctions''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The
President shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate a report that explains why the decision
was made to designate the specific sanction or sanctions which
the President determines satisfy the requirements of this
subsection.''.
SEC. 403. CONSULTATIONS.
Section 403(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998
(22 U.S.C. 6443(a)) is amended by striking ``As soon as practicable''
and inserting ``Not later than 30 days''.
SEC. 404. DESCRIPTION OF PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 405(a) of the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6445(a)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (15) as
paragraphs (10) through (16), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new
paragraph:
``(9) The raising of concerns and initiation of actions
through multilateral and regional bodies.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--The International Religious Freedom Act
of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is amended in sections 3(3),
401(c)(2), 402(c)(1)(A), 403(a), 404(a), 405(b), and 407(a) by striking
``paragraphs (9) through (15)'' each place it appears and inserting
``paragraphs (10) through (16)''.
SEC. 405. PRESIDENTIAL WAIVER.
Section 407(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998
(22 U.S.C. 6447(a)), as amended by section 404(b), is further amended
by inserting ``for a period not to exceed 180 days'' after ``may
waive''.
SEC. 406. TERMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 409 of the International Religious Freedom
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6449) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 409. TERMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS.
``Any Presidential action taken under this Act with respect to a
foreign country shall remain in effect unless expressly terminated by
Presidential actions based upon the determination by the President and
certification to Congress that the foreign government has ceased or
taken substantial and verifiable steps to cease the particularly severe
violations of religious freedom.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section takes
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and applies with
respect to any Presidential action taken under the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (as so amended) on or after such date of
enactment.
TITLE V--PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
SEC. 501. ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
Section 501 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Economic Support Fund Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), assistance
authorized to be provided under chapter 4 of part II of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.;
relating to the Economic Support Fund) should include
assistance--
``(A) to entities and individuals in support of
religious freedom, the rule of law, good governance,
and the creation of a strong and vibrant civil society;
and
``(B) to provide enhanced security for human rights
and religious freedom defenders.
``(2) Limitation.--
``(A) In general.--Assistance authorized to be
provided under the provisions of law specified in
subparagraph (B) may not be provided to a foreign
government that is designated or re-designated as a
country of particular concern for religious freedom
under section 402 until the Secretary of State
certifies to the appropriate congressional committees
that the government of such country has agreed to use
such funds to support improvements in respecting
international standards of religious freedom for all
its residents and to take measures to address
discrimination and violence against religious
minorities or dissenting members of the majority
community in such country.
``(B) Provisions of law.--The provisions of law
specified in this subparagraph are the following:
``(i) Chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961.
``(ii) Part II of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961.
``(iii) The Arms Export Control Act.
``(3) Waiver.--The President may waive for a period not to
exceed 180 days the application of paragraph (2) if the
President determines and reports to the appropriate
congressional committees that--
``(A) the exercise of such waiver authority would
further the purposes of this Act; or
``(B) it is important to the national interest of
the United States to provide for the exercise of such
waiver authority.
``(d) Programs To Promote and Protect Freedom of Religion or
Belief.--
``(1) In general.--The President, acting through the
Federal departments and other entities described in paragraph
(3)(B), is authorized to carry out programs related to the
promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief in
foreign countries. Such programs shall focus on supporting
civil society, especially in countries designated or re-
designated as countries of particular concern for religious
freedom under section 402, or recommended by the United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom for such
designation or re-designation.
``(2) Elements.--Programs carried out under paragraph (1)
shall include proposed reforms to a country's education systems
to promote respect for religious tolerance and freedom.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the President $17,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2015 through 2018 to carry out this subsection, of
which--
``(A) $5,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated
to each of the Office on International Religious
Freedom within the Department of State, the National
Endowment for Democracy, and the United States
Institute for Peace; and
``(B) $2,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated
to the United States Commission on International
Religious Freedom.
``(e) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Secretary of State should prioritize the protection of religious
minorities and places where these minorities reside and congregate when
developing policy and directing programs that are administered by the
Department of Defense.''.
SEC. 502. INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING.
Section 502 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 is
amended--
(1) by striking ``Section 303(a)'' and inserting ``(a) In
General.--Section 303(a)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Availability of Funds.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated
for democracy programs of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and
Labor of the Department of State, the United States Agency for
International Development, and the Broadcasting Board of Governors are
authorized to be used to support the development and implementation of
innovative uses of the Internet and other electronic methods to support
freedom of religion or belief abroad.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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