A bill to amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to support religious freedom in foreign countries.

To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to support religious freedom in foreign countries. 1. Presidential actions in response to violations of religious freedom Section 401(b)(2) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ( 22 U.S.C. 6441(b)(2) (2) Deadline for actions (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), not later than 90 days after the date on which each report is submitted under section 102(b), the President shall take 1 or more of the actions described in section 405(a) or a commensurate action with respect to each foreign country in which the government has engaged in or tolerated violations of religious freedom at any time since the previous such report was submitted. (B) Additional prerequisite The President may not take any of the actions described in paragraphs (9) through (15) of section 405(a) or a commensurate action until the President certifies that the requirements under sections 403 and 404 have been satisfied. . 2. Presidential actions in response to particularly severe violations of religious freedom (a) Designations 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) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking Not later than September 1 of each year, the President shall review (i) review ; and (ii) by striking or since the date longer. The President shall designate (ii) designate ; and (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking prior to September 1 of the respective year before the date on which the report is submitted under section 102(b) (2) in paragraph (3)— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and moving each clause 2 ems to the right; (B) in the matter preceding clause (i), as redesignated— (i) by striking Whenever (A) In general Whenever ; and (ii) by striking as soon as practicable not later than 120 days (C) in subparagraph (A), as redesignated— (i) in clause (i), as redesignated, by striking and (ii) in clause (ii), as redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (iii) the actions taken, the purposes of the actions taken, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the actions taken. ; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (B) Countries recommended by the commission If the President does not designate a country as a country of particular concern for religious freedom under paragraph (1)(A) after the Commission has recommended such designation, the President shall submit a report to Congress that contains the reasons for such nondesignation. (C) Removal of designation A country that is designated as a country of particular concern for religious freedom under paragraph (1)(A) shall retain such designation until the President determines and reports to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . (b) 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) (1) in the second sentence— (A) by striking must shall (B) by striking he the President (C) by inserting and include a description of the impact of the designation of such sanction or sanctions (2) by adding at the end the following: The President shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 3. Consultations Section 403(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ( 22 U.S.C. 6443(a) As soon as practicable Not later than 90 days 4. Presidential waiver Section 407(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ( 22 U.S.C. 6447(a) , for a 180-day period, may waive 5. Termination of presidential actions Section 409 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ( 22 U.S.C. 6449 on the earlier of Upon upon

Summary: Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to revise presidential requirements, including reporting requirements, with respect to the designation of a country as a country of particular concern for religious freedom.