United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2014

To reauthorize the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2014 2. Establishment and composition (a) Leadership Subsection (d) of section 201 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6431(d)) is amended to read as follows: (d) Election of chair At the first meeting of the Commission after May 30 of each year, a majority of the Members of the Commission present and voting shall elect the Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission, subject to the following requirements: (1) Initial elections At the first meeting of the Commission after May 30, 2015, the Members of the Commission shall elect as Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected official of the political party that is not the political party of the President, and as Vice Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected official of the political party of the President. (2) Future elections At the first meeting of the Commission after May 30, 2016, the Members of the Commission shall elect as Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected official of the political party of the President, and as Vice Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected official of the political party that is not the political party of the President. Thereafter, positions of Chair and Vice Chair shall continue to rotate on an annual basis between Commissioners appointed by elected officials of each political party. (3) Term limits No Member of the Commission is eligible to be elected as Chair of the Commission for a second term, and no Member of the Commission is eligible to be elected as Vice Chair of the Commission for a second term. . (b) Attendance at meetings of ambassador at large for international religious freedom Subsection (f) of such section ( 22 U.S.C. 6431(f) The Ambassador at Large shall be given advance notice of all Commission meetings and may attend all Commission meetings as a non-voting Member of the Commission. (c) Appointments in cases of vacancies Subsection (g) of such section ( 22 U.S.C. 6431(g) 3. Powers of the commission Section 203(e) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ( 22 U.S.C. 6432a (e) Views of the commission The Members of the Commission may speak in their capacity as private citizens. Statements on behalf of the Commission shall be issued in writing over the names of the Members. Members of the Commission shall make every effort to reach consensus on all statements on behalf of the Commission, including testimony, press releases, and articles by Commissioners or Commission staff. When a statement supported by all Commissioners is not possible, the Commission shall issue a statement only if such statement is approved by an affirmative vote of at least six of the nine Members of the Commission and each Member of the Commission may include the individual or dissenting views of the Member. The Commission shall in its written statements clearly describe its statutory authority, distinguishing that authority from that of appointed or elected officials of the United States Government. Oral statements, where practicable, shall include a similar description. . 4. Commission personnel matters (a) Staff directors Section 204 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ( 22 U.S.C. 6432b (a) Committee functions Subject to subsection (c), the Commission may appoint and fix the pay of such staff personnel as it deems desirable. All decisions pertaining to the hiring, firing, and fixing of pay of personnel of the Commission shall be by an affirmative vote of at least six of the nine Members of the Commission, except that— (1) Members of the Commission appointed by an elected official of the political party of the President, by a majority vote thereof, shall be entitled to appoint, terminate, and fix the pay of a Majority Staff Director and shall have the authority to appoint, terminate, and fix the pay of three professional staff members who shall be responsible to the Members of the Commission of the political party of the President; and (2) Members of the Commission appointed by an elected official of the political party that is not the political party of the President, by a majority vote thereof, shall be entitled to appoint, terminate, and fix the pay of a Minority Staff Director and shall have the authority to appoint, terminate, and fix the pay of three professional staff members who shall be responsible to the Members of the Commission of the political party that is not the political party of the President. (b) Staff appointments and compensation All staff appointments shall be made without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 (c) Qualifications of professional staff The Commission shall ensure that the professional staff of the Commission consists of persons with expertise in areas relevant to the issue of international religious freedom, including foreign affairs, direct experience abroad, human rights, and international law. . (b) Conforming amendments Subsection (e) of such section ( 22 U.S.C. 6432b(e) The Executive Director The Majority Staff Director and the Minority Staff Director 5. Report of commission (a) Report publication date Section 205(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ( 22 U.S.C. 6433(a) Not later than May 1 of each year Each year, not earlier than 30 days after, and not later than 90 days after, the publication of the Department of State's Annual Report on International Religious Freedom (b) Consensus on reports Section 205(c) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ( 22 U.S.C. 6433(c) (c) Individual or dissenting views Members of the Commission shall make every effort to reach consensus on the report. When a report supported by all Commissioners is not possible, the report shall be approved by an affirmative vote of at least six of the nine Members of the Commission and each Member of the Commission may include the individual or dissenting views of the Member. . 6. Authorization of appropriations Section 207(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ( 22 U.S.C. 6435(a) 2014 2016 7. Termination Section 209 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ( 22 U.S.C. 6436 September 30, 2014 September 30, 2016

Summary: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom through September 30, 2016. Directs the Commission, during an initial election, to elect: (1) as Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected official of the political party that is not the political party of the President, and (2) as Vice Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected official of the political party of the President. Sets forth a process for future elections in which the positions of Chair and Vice Chair rotate annually between Commissioners appointed by elected officials of each political party. Requires the Ambassador at Large to be notified in advance of all Commission meetings. Allows the Ambassador to attend all meetings as a nonvoting member. Removes authority under which a Commission member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken office. Requires approval by at least six of the nine members of the Commission before: (1) issuance of a statement on behalf of the Commission, or (2) submittal of policy recommendation reports to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. Permits each member to include individual or dissenting views. Authorizes elected officials to appoint majority and minority staff directors for the Commission, as well as professional staff for the political parties. (Currently, the Commission appoints a single executive director and is served by nonpartisan staff.)