Shahbaz Bhatti International Religious Freedom Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1323
Sponsor: Rep. Pitts, Joseph R. [R-PA-16]
Introduced: 2015-03-04 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Foreign aid and international relief
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Human rights
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Pakistan
Protest and dissent
Religion
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-04
text: 

Shahbaz Bhatti International Religious Freedom Act of 2015

 
 Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to include violations of religious freedom by non-state actors in the annual Department of State report to Congress on international religious freedom. 
 
Requires the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold hearings on specified Department and U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reports concerning the status of religious freedom.
 
Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require Foreign Service officers to receive training about the religious demography, status of religious freedom, and U.S. strategies for advancing religious freedom in their country of posting.
 
Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) transmit to specified congressional committees certain lists of persons imprisoned, detained, or placed under house arrest; and (2) report to Congress on the best uses of foreign assistance to promote the goals of religious freedom and religious engagement.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress after the date on which the President designates countries as a country of particular concern for religious freedom on the lack of the President's designation of Pakistan and and any other countries recommended for such designation by the Commission.
 
Directs the President to take specified actions in response to violations of religious freedom by non-state actors.
 
Authorizes certain funds for democracy programs to be used to implement innovative uses of the Internet and other electronic methods to support freedom of religion or belief abroad.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
action_date: 2015-03-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-03-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-03-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-03-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-03-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-04
text: Introduced in House