PUBLIC LAW 114–71—OCT. 16, 2015 129 STAT. 563 

Public Law 114–71 

114th Congress 

An Act 

To reauthorize the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, 

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. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States Commission on 

International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015’’. 

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

It is the sense of the Congress that the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom— 

(1) was created by Congress to independently assess and 

to accurately and unflinchingly describe threats to religious 

freedom around the world; and 

(2) in carrying out its prescribed duties, should use its 

authorized powers to ensure that efforts by the United States 

to advance religious freedom abroad are timely, appropriate 

to the circumstances, prudent, and effective. 

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY. 

Section 209 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 

(22 U.S.C. 6436) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2015’’ 

and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2019’’. 

SEC. 4. STRATEGIC PLAN. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 

‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 

(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; 

(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 

of Representatives; 

(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 

and 

(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House 

of Representatives. 

(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the 

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 

established under section 201 of the International Religious 

Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6431). 

(3) COMMISSIONER.—The term ‘‘Commissioner’’ means a 

member of the Commission. 

(4) VICE CHAIR.—The term ‘‘Vice Chair’’ means the Vice 

Chair of the Commission who was appointed to such position 

by an elected official from the political party that is different 

22 USC 6433a. 

United States 

Commission on 

International 

Religious 

Freedom 

Reauthorization 

Act of 2015. 

22 USC 6401 

note. 

22 USC 6432 

note. 

Oct. 16, 2015 

[S. 2078] 


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129 STAT. 564 PUBLIC LAW 114–71—OCT. 16, 2015 

from the political party of the elected official who appointed 

the Chair of the Commission. 

(b) STRATEGIC POLICY AND ORGANIZATIONAL REVIEW PLANNING

PROCESS.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 

of this Act, and not less frequently than biennially thereafter, 

the Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission, in coordination with 

the Commissioners, the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Commission staff, and others jointly selected by 

the Chair and Vice Chair, shall carry out a strategic policy and 

organizational review planning process that includes— 

(1) a review of the duties set forth in section 202 of the 

International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6432) 

and the powers set forth in section 203 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 

6432a); 

(2) the preparation of a written description of prioritized 

actions that the Commission is required to complete to fulfill 

the strategic plan required under subsection (d); 

(3) a review of the scope, content, and timing of the 

Commission’s annual report and any required changes; and 

(4) a review of the personnel policies set forth in section 

204 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 

U.S.C. 6432b) and any required changes to such policies. 

(c) UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—To the greatest extent possible, the Chair, 

Vice Chair, and all of the Commissioners shall ensure that 

this section is implemented in a manner that results in unanimous agreement among the Commissioners with regard to— 

(A) the strategic policy and organizational review planning process required under subsection (b); and 

(B) the strategic plan required under subsection (d). 

(2) ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS.—If unanimous agreement under paragraph (1) is not possible, items for inclusion 

in the strategic plan may, at the joint discretion of the Chair 

and Vice Chair, be approved by an affirmative vote of— 

(A) a majority of Commissioners appointed by an 

elected official from the political party of the President; 

and 

(B) a majority of Commissioners appointed by an 

elected official from the political party that is not the 

party of the President. 

(d) SUBMISSION OF STRATEGIC PLAN.—Not later than 180 days 

after the date of the enactment of the Act, and not less frequently 

than biennially thereafter, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission shall jointly submit, to the appropriate congressional committees, a written strategic plan that includes— 

(1) a description of prioritized actions for the Commission 

for a period of time to be specified by the Commissioners; 

(2) a description of any changes the Commission considers 

necessary with regard to the scope, content, and timing of 

the Commission’s annual report; 

(3) a description of any changes the Commission considers 

necessary with regard to personnel matters; and 

(4) the Commission’s funding requirements for the period 

covered by the strategic plan. 

(e) PENDING ISSUES.—The strategic plan required under subsection (d) may identify any issues or proposals that have not 

yet been resolved by the Commission. 

Deadlines. 

Deadlines. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–71—OCT. 16, 2015 129 STAT. 565 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2078: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015): 

Sept. 30, considered and passed Senate. 

Oct. 6, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

(f) IMPLEMENTATION OF PERSONNEL PROVISIONS AND ANNUAL

REPORT.—Notwithstanding section 204(a) and 205(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6432b(a) and 

6533(a)), the Commission is authorized to implement provisions 

related to personnel and the Commission’s annual report that are 

included in the strategic plan submitted pursuant to this section. 

(g) CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.—Upon request, the Commission shall— 

(1) make available for inspection any information and documents requested by the appropriate congressional committees; 

and 

(2) respond to any requests to provide testimony before 

the appropriate congressional committees. 

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

Section 207 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 

(22 U.S.C. 6435) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated 

to the Commission $3,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2016 

to 2019 to carry out the provisions of this Act and section 4 of 

the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 

Reauthorization Act of 2015. 

‘‘(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a) shall remain available until the earlier 

of— 

‘‘(1) the date on which they have been expended; or 

‘‘(2) the date on which the Commission is terminated under 

section 209. 

‘‘(c) LIMITATION.—In each fiscal year, the Commission shall 

only be authorized to expend amounts that have been appropriated 

pursuant to subsection (a) if the Commission— 

‘‘(1) complies with the requirements set forth in section 

4 of the United States Commission on International Religious 

Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015; and 

‘‘(2) submits the annual financial report required under 

section 208(e) to the appropriate congressional committees.’’. 

Approved October 16, 2015. 


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