United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-2867
Sponsor: Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10]
Introduced: 2011-09-08 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Religion

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-08
text: 
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011 - Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to prohibit: (1) an individual from serving more than two consecutive terms as a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, (2) each member serving on the date of enactment of this Act from being reappointed to more than one additional consecutive term, (3) a member attending less than 75% of the meetings during one of such member's terms from being eligible for reappointment, and (4) a member from being eligible to be elected as Chair of the Commission for a second, consecutive term.
 
Establishes an Executive Committee of the Commission. 
 
Requires, for purposes of providing remedies and procedures to address alleged violations of rights and protections that pertain to various specified antidiscrimination laws, that all employees of the Commission be treated as employees whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives and that the Commission be treated as an employing office of the Senate or House.
 
Increases to $250,000 the maximum amount the Commission may expend in any fiscal year to procure temporary or intermittent services contracts for the conduct of certain activities necessary to Commission functions.
 
Extends the Commission's termination date to September 30, 2013.

action_date: 2011-09-15
text: 
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011 - (Sec. 2) Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to reduce: (1) from nine to five (excluding the nonvoting Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom) the number of members appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and (2) from six to four the number of voting members constituting a quorum for transacting business. Requires that: (1) one member be appointed by the President, (2) two members be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate (one upon the recommendation of the leader in the Senate of the political party that is not the political party of the President, and the other upon the recommendation of the leader in the Senate of the other political party), and (3) two members be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (using the same process with one recommendation by each of the respective House leaders).
 
Prohibits: (1) an individual from serving more than two consecutive terms, (2) each member serving on the date of enactment of this Act from being reappointed to more than one additional consecutive term, (3) a member attending less than 75% of the meetings during one of such member's terms from being eligible for reappointment, and (4) a member from being eligible to be elected as Chair of the Commission for a second, consecutive term.
 
Establishes staggered office terms by modifying certain terms of office conditions for members appointed to serve from May 15, 2012, through May 14, 2014.
 
(Sec. 3) Requires, for purposes of providing remedies and procedures to address alleged violations of rights and protections that pertain to various specified antidiscrimination laws, that all employees of the Commission be treated as employees whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives and that the Commission be treated as an employing office of the Senate or House.
 
(Sec. 4) Authorizes appropriations of $3 million for each of FY2012-FY2013.
 
(Sec. 5) Increases to $250,000 the maximum amount the Commission may expend in any fiscal year to procure temporary or intermittent services contracts for the conduct of certain activities necessary to Commission functions.
 
(Sec. 6) Extends the Commission's termination date to September 30, 2013.
 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) review the effectiveness of federal programs to promote international religious freedom; (2) assess the roles and functions of the Office on International Religious Freedom, the relationship to other offices in the Department of State, and the role of the Ambassador at Large; (3) analyze the Commission's structure as an independent nonpartisan entity in relation to other U.S. advisory commissions; and (4) review the relationship between the Ambassador at Large and the Commission.

action_date: 2011-12-13
text: 
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011 - (Sec. 2) Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to prohibit any individual (including members appointed prior to enactment of this Act) from serving more than two terms as a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. 
 
Requires, for any member serving on the date of enactment of this Act who has completed at least two full terms, that such member's term expire 90 days after such enactment. Bars a member from serving after the expiration of that member's term.
 
Prohibits: (1) a member attending less than 75% of the meetings during one of such member's terms from being eligible for reappointment, and (2) a member from being eligible to be elected as Chair of the Commission for a second, consecutive term.
 
Subjects members to specified Department of State and federal travel regulations governing authorized travel at government expense. 
 
(Sec. 3) Requires, for purposes of providing remedies and procedures to address alleged violations of rights and protections that pertain to various specified antidiscrimination laws, that all employees of the Commission be treated as employees whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives and that the Commission be treated as an employing office of the Senate or House.
 
Authorizes such treatment for any administrative or judicial claim or action pending on the date of enactment of this Act.
 
(Sec. 4) Authorizes appropriations of $3 million for each of FY2012-FY2014.
 
(Sec. 5) Increases to $250,000 the maximum amount the Commission may expend in any fiscal year to procure temporary or intermittent services contracts for the conduct of certain activities necessary to Commission functions.
 
(Sec. 6) Extends the Commission's termination date to September 30, 2014.
 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) review the effectiveness of federal programs to promote international religious freedom; (2) assess the roles and functions of the Office on International Religious Freedom, the relationship to other offices in the Department of State, and the role of the Ambassador at Large; (3) analyze the Commission's structure as an independent nonpartisan entity in relation to other U.S. advisory commissions; and (4) review the relationship between the Ambassador at Large and the Commission.

action_date: 2011-12-23
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was amended by the Senate on December 13, 2011. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 
 
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011 - (Sec. 2) Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to prohibit any individual (including members appointed prior to enactment of this Act) from serving more than two terms as a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. 
 
Requires, for any member serving on the date of enactment of this Act who has completed at least two full terms, that such member's term expire 90 days after such enactment. Bars a member from serving after the expiration of that member's term.
 
Prohibits: (1) a member attending less than 75% of the meetings during one of such member's terms from being eligible for reappointment, and (2) a member from being eligible to be elected as Chair of the Commission for a second, consecutive term.
 
Subjects members to specified Department of State and federal travel regulations governing authorized travel at government expense. 
 
(Sec. 3) Requires, for purposes of providing remedies and procedures to address alleged violations of rights and protections that pertain to various specified antidiscrimination laws, that all employees of the Commission be treated as employees whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives and that the Commission be treated as an employing office of the Senate or House.
 
Authorizes such treatment for any administrative or judicial claim or action pending on the date of enactment of this Act.
 
(Sec. 4) Authorizes appropriations of $3 million for each of FY2012-FY2014.
 
(Sec. 5) Increases to $250,000 the maximum amount the Commission may expend in any fiscal year to procure temporary or intermittent services contracts for the conduct of certain activities necessary to Commission functions.
 
(Sec. 6) Extends the Commission's termination date to September 30, 2014.
 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) review the effectiveness of federal programs to promote international religious freedom; (2) assess the roles and functions of the Office on International Religious Freedom, the relationship to other offices in the Department of State, and the role of the Ambassador at Large; (3) analyze the Commission's structure as an independent nonpartisan entity in relation to other U.S. advisory commissions; and (4) review the relationship between the Ambassador at Large and the Commission.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-23
text: Became Public Law No: 112-75.
action_date: 2011-12-23
text: Became Public Law No: 112-75.
action_date: 2011-12-23
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2011-12-23
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2011-12-19
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2011-12-19
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2011-12-16
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2011-12-16
text: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment (CR H9810)
action_date: 2011-12-16
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.(text as House agreed to Senate amendment (CR H9810)
action_date: 2011-12-16
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendments to H.R. 2867.
action_date: 2011-12-16
text: Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H9810-9812)
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote. (text: CR S8553)
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.(text: CR S8553)
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8552-8553)
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 391 - 21 (Roll no. 709). (text: CR 9/14/2011 H6152-6153)
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 391 - 21 (Roll no. 709).(text: CR 9/14/2011 H6152-6153)
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6197-6198)
action_date: 2011-09-14
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2011-09-14
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2867.
action_date: 2011-09-14
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6152-6156)
action_date: 2011-09-14
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2011-09-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2011-09-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-08
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 112-75