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religious faith, together with brief evaluations and
critiques of policies of the respective country re-
stricting religious freedom. The Secretary of State
shall exercise appropriate discretion regarding the
safety and security concerns of prisoners in consider-
ing the inclusion of their names on the lists.
(3) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.—The Sec-
retary of State shall provide these religious freedom
issue briefs to executive branch and congressional of-
ficials and delegations in anticipation of bilateral
contacts with foreign leaders, both in the United
States and abroad.
(g) ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTING RELIGIOUS FREE-
DOM.—
(1) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the fol-
lowing findings:
(A) In many nations where severe viola-
tions of religious freedom occur, there is not
sufficient statutory legal protection for religious
minorities or there is not sufficient cultural and
social understanding of international norms of
religious freedom.
(B) Accordingly, in its foreign assistance
already being disbursed, the United States
should make a priority of promoting and devel-
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oping legal protections and cultural respect for
religious freedom.
(2) ALLOCATION
OF
FUNDS
FOR
INCREASED
PROMOTION
OF
RELIGIOUS
FREEDOMS.—Section
116(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is
amended by inserting ‘‘and the right to free religious
belief and practice’’ after ‘‘adherence to civil and po-
litical rights’’.
(h) INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING.—
(1) Section 302(1) of the United States Inter-
national Broadcasting Act of 1994 is amended by
inserting ‘‘and of conscience (including freedom of
religion)’’ after ‘‘freedom of opinion and expression’’.
(2) Section 303(a) of the United States Inter-
national Broadcasting Act of 1994 is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (6);
(B) by striking the period at the end of
paragraph (7) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(8) promote respect for human rights, includ-
ing freedom of religion.’’.
(i) INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES.—Section 102(b) of
the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of
1961 is amended—
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(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ after paragraph (10);
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (11) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(12) promoting respect for and guarantees of
religious freedom abroad by interchanges and visits
between the United States and other nations of reli-
gious leaders, scholars, and religious and legal ex-
perts in the field of religious freedom.’’.
(j) FOREIGN SERVICE AWARDS.—
(1) PERFORMANCE PAY.—Section 405(d) of the
Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended by inserting
after the first sentence the following: ‘‘Such service
in the promotion of internationally recognized
human rights, including the right to religious free-
dom, shall serve as a basis for granting awards
under this section.’’.
(2) FOREIGN SERVICE AWARDS.—Section 614
of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended by
adding at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘Dis-
tinguished, meritorious service in the promotion of
internationally recognized human rights, including
the right to religious freedom, shall serve as a basis
for granting awards under this section.’’.
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SEC. 14. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS PER-
SECUTION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION.—
(1) GENERALLY.—There is established the
United States Commission on International Reli-
gious Persecution (hereinafter referred to as the
‘‘Commission’’).
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—
(A) 
APPOINTMENT.—The 
Commission
shall be composed of—
(i) the Director; and
(ii) four other members, who shall be
appointed as follows:
(I) Two Senators, one of whom
shall be appointed by the President
pro tempore of the Senate upon the
recommendations 
of 
the 
Majority
Leader, and one of whom shall be ap-
pointed by the Minority Leader.
(II) Two Members of the House
of Representatives, one of whom shall
be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives upon the
recommendations 
of 
the 
Majority
Leader, and one of whom shall be ap-
pointed by the Minority Leader.
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(B) CHAIR.—The Commission shall elect
one of its members as chair.
(C) TIME
OF
APPOINTMENT.—The ap-
pointments required by subparagraph (A) shall
be made not later than 120 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(3) TERMS.—The term of office of each mem-
ber of the Commission shall be 2 years, except that
an individual may not serve more than 2 terms.
(4) QUORUM.—Three members of the Commis-
sion constitute a quorum of the Commission.
(5) MEETINGS.—Not more than 15 days after
the issuance of an annual report under section 6, the
Commission shall convene.
(6) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Director
shall provide to the Commission such staff and ad-
ministrative services of the Office as may be nec-
essary for the Commission to perform its functions.
The Secretary of State shall assist the Director and
the Commission by detailing staff resources as need-
ed and as appropriate.
(7) COMPENSATION.—
(A) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the
Commission shall receive no pay for services
performed as such a member, but shall be al-
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lowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu
of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ-
ees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter
57 of title 5, United States Code, while away
from their homes or regular places of business
in the performance of services for the Commis-
sion.
(B) NO COMPENSATION FOR GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.—Any member of the Commission
who is an officer or employee of the United
States shall receive no additional compensation
for services performed as a member of the Com-
mission.
(b) DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall have
as its primary responsibility the consideration of the
facts and circumstances of category 1 or category 2
persecution presented in each annual report issued
under section 6 and the consideration of United
States Government policies to promote religious free-
dom and prevent religious persecution, and to make
appropriate policy recommendations to the Presi-
dent, the Secretary of State, and the Congress.
(2) POLICY
REVIEW
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
IN RESPONSE TO VIOLATIONS.—The Commission, in
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evaluating United States Government policies, shall
consider and recommend policy options to further
enhance the effectiveness of sanctions related to reli-
gious persecution and human rights.
(3) POLICY
REVIEW
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
IN RESPONSE TO PROGRESS.—The Commission shall
make and provide an assessment of—
(A) the progress of sanctions imposed
under section 7 on a country or responsible en-
tity toward achieving termination of religious
persecution, as well as the potential deterrence
of religious persecution as a result of this Act
in countries on which sanctions have not been
imposed under this Act;
(B) diplomatic and other steps the United
States has taken or should take to further ac-
complish the intended objectives of the sanc-
tions, including the promotion of multilateral
adoption of comparable measures;
(C) comparable measures undertaken by
other countries;
(D) additional policy options to promote
the objectives of this Act and an assessment of
their potential effectiveness;
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(E) any obligations of the United States
under international treaties or trade agreements
with which sanctions imposed under section 7
have conflicted or proposed policy options under
paragraph (2) may conflict;
(F) any retaliation resulting from sanc-
tions imposed under section 7 and the likelihood
that a proposed policy option under paragraph
(2) will lead to retaliation against United States
interests, including agricultural interests; and
(G) the estimated impact from sanctions
imposed under section 7 and proposed policy
options under paragraph (2) on United States
foreign policy, national security, economic, and
humanitarian interests, including benefit or
harm to United States businesses, agriculture,
and consumers, the competitiveness of United
States businesses, and the international reputa-
tion of the United States as a reliable supplier
of products, technology, agricultural commod-
ities, and services.
(4) EFFECTS ON RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES AND
INDIVIDUALS.—Together with specific policy rec-
ommendations provided under paragraphs (2) and
(3), the Commission shall also indicate its evaluation
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of the potential effects of such policies, if imple-
mented, on the religious communities and individ-
uals whose rights are found to be violated in the
country in question.
(5) MONITORING.—The Commission shall, on
an ongoing basis, monitor facts and circumstances of
religious persecution, in consultation with independ-
ent human rights groups and nongovernmental orga-
nizations, including churches and other religious
communities, and make such recommendations as
may be necessary to the appropriate agencies and of-
ficials of the United States Government.
(c) REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1 of
each year, the Commission shall submit a report to
the President and the Congress setting forth its rec-
ommendations for changes in United States policy
based on its evaluations under subsection (b).
(2) CLASSIFIED FORM OF REPORT.—The report
may be submitted in classified form, together with a
public summary of recommendations.
(3) INDIVIDUAL OR DISSENTING VIEWS.—Each
member of the Commission may include the individ-
ual or dissenting views of the member.
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(d) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate
8 years after the initial appointment of its members.
SEC. 15. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsections (b) and (c),
this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take
effect 120 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(b) APPOINTMENT
OF DIRECTOR.—The Director
shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(c) REGULATIONS.—Each Federal department or
agency responsible for carrying out any of the sanctions
under section 7 shall issue all necessary regulations to
carry out such sanctions within 120 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives May 14, 1998.
Attest:
ROBIN H. CARLE,
Clerk.