United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-4653
Sponsor: Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10]
Introduced: 2014-05-09 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Religion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Summary:
action_date: 2014-05-09
text: 
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) as an independent federal government advisory body through FY2019.
 
Removes authority under which a USCIRF member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken office. 
 
Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require the Secretary of State to receive assistance from USCIRF when establishing training for Foreign Service officers in the field of internationally recognized human rights, including instruction regarding the relationship between religious freedom and security, as well as the role of religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy.
 
Encourages the Department of State to allow classified information to be accessed by USCIRF Commissioners and staff with the appropriate security clearance.
 
Revises restrictions on USCIRF's acceptance of gifts and donations to permit sponsoring private parties to provide compensation and benefits to interns, fellows, and volunteers.

action_date: 2014-07-08
text: 
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) as an independent federal government advisory body through FY2019.
 
(Sec. 2) Requires USCIRF as a whole to have expertise on the variety of faiths practiced around the world.
 
Requires appointments to USCIRF to be made within 90 days of a vacancy. Removes authority under which a USCIRF member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken office.
 
(Sec. 3) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require the Secretary of State to receive assistance from USCIRF when establishing training for Foreign Service officers in the field of internationally recognized human rights, including instruction regarding the relationship between religious freedom and security, as well as the role of religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy.
 
(Sec. 4) Encourages the Department of State to allow classified information to be accessed by USCIRF Commissioners and staff with the appropriate security clearance.
 
Requires discrimination on the basis of religion to be treated as a category of employment discrimination for purposes of the employment protections for USCIRF employees.
 
(Sec. 5) Revises restrictions on USCIRF's acceptance of gifts and donations to permit sponsoring private parties to provide compensation and benefits to interns, fellows, and volunteers. Requires the number, duration, and funding source of any such internship, fellowship, or volunteer programs to be described in USCIRF's annual financial report.
 
(Sec. 6) Terminates USCIRF on September 30, 2019. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2014-07-08
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5836)
action_date: 2014-07-08
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5836)
action_date: 2014-07-08
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4653.
action_date: 2014-07-08
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5836-5839)
action_date: 2014-07-08
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2014-06-26
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2014-06-26
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2014-06-18
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent .
action_date: 2014-06-18
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2014-06-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
action_date: 2014-05-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2014-05-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-05-09
text: Introduced in House