Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act
PL 114-281 (H.R.1150), enacted 12/16/2016

130 STAT. 1426 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
Public Law 114–281 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to improve the ability 
of the United States to advance religious freedom globally through enhanced 
diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and foreign assistance efforts, and through 
stronger and more flexible political responses to religious freedom violations and 
violent extremism worldwide, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Frank R. 
Wolf International Religious Freedom Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act 
is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings; policy; sense of Congress. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 101. Office on International Religious Freedom; Ambassador at Large for 
International Religious Freedom. 
Sec. 102. Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. 
Sec. 103. Training for Foreign Service officers. 
Sec. 104. Prisoner lists and issue briefs on religious freedom concerns. 
TITLE II—NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL 
Sec. 201. Special Adviser for International Religious Freedom. 
TITLE III—PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS 
Sec. 301. Non-state actor designations. 
Sec. 302. Presidential actions in response to particularly severe violations of reli-
gious freedom. 
Sec. 303. Report to Congress. 
Sec. 304. Presidential waiver. 
Sec. 305. Publication in the Federal Register. 
TITLE IV—PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
Sec. 401. Assistance for promoting religious freedom. 
TITLE V—DESIGNATED PERSONS LIST FOR PARTICULARLY SEVERE 
VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
Sec. 501. Designated Persons List for Particularly Severe Violations of Religious 
Freedom. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 601. Miscellaneous provisions. 
Sec. 602. Clerical amendments. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; POLICY; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Section 2(a) of the International Religious 
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(a)) is amended— 
Frank R. Wolf 
International 
Religious 
Freedom Act. 
22 USC 6401 
note. 
Dec. 16, 2016 
[H.R. 1150] 
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130 STAT. 1427 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
(1) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘The freedom of thought, 
conscience, and religion is understood to protect theistic and 
non-theistic beliefs and the right not to profess or practice 
any religion.’’ before ‘‘Governments’’; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘A policy or practice of routinely denying applications for visas 
for religious workers in a country can be indicative of a poor 
state of religious freedom in that country.’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (6)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and the specific targeting of non- 
theists, humanists, and atheists because of their beliefs’’ 
after ‘‘religious persecution’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and in regions where non-state actors 
exercise significant political power and territorial control’’ 
before the period at the end. 
(b) POLICY.—Section 2(b) of the International Religious Freedom 
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(b)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as subpara-
graphs (A) through (E); 
(2) by striking the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
as redesignated, and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The following shall be the policy of the 
United States:’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) EVOLVING
POLICIES
AND
COORDINATED
DIPLOMATIC 
RESPONSES.—Because the promotion of international religious 
freedom protects human rights, advances democracy abroad, 
and advances United States interests in stability, security, 
and development globally, the promotion of international reli-
gious freedom requires new and evolving policies and diplomatic 
responses that— 
‘‘(A) are drawn from the expertise of the national secu-
rity agencies, the diplomatic services, and other govern-
mental agencies and nongovernmental organizations; and 
‘‘(B) are coordinated across and carried out by the 
entire range of Federal agencies.’’. 
(c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) a policy or practice by the government of any foreign 
country of routinely denying visa applications for religious 
workers can be indicative of a poor state of religious freedom 
in that country; and 
(2) the United States Government should seek to reverse 
any such policy by reviewing the entirety of the bilateral rela-
tionship between such country and the United States. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 3 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 
(22 U.S.C. 6402) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (16); 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (10), (11), and (12) as 
paragraphs (12), (13), and (14), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following: 
‘‘(10) INSTITUTION
OF
HIGHER
EDUCATION.—The term 
‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001). 
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130 STAT. 1428 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
‘‘(11) NON-STATE ACTOR.—The term ‘non-state actor’ means 
a nonsovereign entity that— 
‘‘(A) exercises significant political power and territorial 
control; 
‘‘(B) is outside the control of a sovereign government; 
and 
‘‘(C) often employs violence in pursuit of its objectives.’’; 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (14), as redesignated, the 
following: 
‘‘(15) SPECIAL WATCH LIST.—The term ‘Special Watch List’ 
means 
the 
Special 
Watch 
List 
described 
in 
section 
402(b)(1)(A)(iii).’’; and 
(5) in paragraph (16), as redesignated— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses 
(v) and (vi), respectively; and 
(ii) by inserting after clause (iii) the following: 
‘‘(iv) not professing a particular religion, or any 
religion;’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘conscience, non-theistic views, or’’ 
before ‘‘religious belief or practice’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘forcibly compelling non-believers 
or non-theists to recant their beliefs or to convert,’’ 
after ‘‘forced religious conversion,’’. 
TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF STATE 
ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 101. OFFICE ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM; AMBAS-
SADOR 
AT 
LARGE 
FOR 
INTERNATIONAL 
RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 101 of the International Religious 
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6411) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘, and shall report directly 
to the Secretary of State’’ before the period at the end; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘responsibility’’ and inserting 
‘‘responsibilities’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘shall be to advance’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘shall be to— 
‘‘(A) advance’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (A), as redesignated, by 
striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) integrate United States international religious 
freedom policies and strategies into the foreign policy 
efforts of the United States.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘the principal adviser 
to’’ before ‘‘the Secretary of State’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
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130 STAT. 1429 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) contacts with nongovernmental organizations that 
have an impact on the state of religious freedom in their 
respective societies or regions, or internationally.’’; 
(D) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); 
and 
(E) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: 
‘‘(4) COORDINATION RESPONSIBILITIES.—In order to promote 
religious freedom as an interest of United States foreign policy, 
the Ambassador at Large— 
‘‘(A) shall coordinate international religious freedom 
policies across all programs, projects, and activities of the 
United States; and 
‘‘(B) should participate in any interagency processes 
on issues in which the promotion of international religious 
freedom policy can advance United States national security 
interests, including in democracy promotion, stability, secu-
rity, and development globally.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘staff for the Office’’ and 
all that follows and inserting ‘‘appropriate staff for the Office, 
including full-time equivalent positions and other temporary 
staff positions needed to compile, edit, and manage the Annual 
Report under the direct supervision of the Ambassador at 
Large, and for the conduct of investigations by the Office and 
for necessary travel to carry out this Act. The Secretary of 
State should provide the Ambassador at Large with sufficient 
funding to carry out the duties described in this section, 
including, as necessary, representation funds. On the date on 
which the President’s annual budget request is submitted to 
Congress, the Secretary shall submit an annual report to the 
appropriate congressional committees that includes a report 
on staffing levels for the International Religious Freedom 
Office.’’. 
(b) SENSE
OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 
maintaining an adequate staffing level at the Office, such as was 
in place during fiscal year 2016, is necessary for the Office to 
carry out its important work. 
SEC. 102. ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 102(b)(1) of the International Reli-
gious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘September 1’’ and inserting ‘‘May 1’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 
‘‘as well as the routine denial of visa applications for reli-
gious workers;’’; 
(B) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (vii); and 
(C) by inserting after clause (iii) the following: 
‘‘(iv) particularly severe violations of religious 
freedom in that country if such country does not have 
a functioning government or the government of such 
country does not control its territory; 
‘‘(v) the identification of prisoners, to the extent 
possible, in that country pursuant to section 108(d); 
Reports. 
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130 STAT. 1430 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
‘‘(vi) any action taken by the government of that 
country to censor religious content, communications, 
or worship activities online, including descriptions of 
the targeted religious group, the content, communica-
tion, or activities censored, and the means used; and’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause 
(i)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘persecution of lawyers, politicians, 
or other human rights advocates seeking to defend the 
rights of members of religious groups or highlight religious 
freedom violations, prohibitions on ritual animal slaughter 
or male infant circumcision,’’ after ‘‘entire religions,’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘policies that ban or restrict the public 
manifestation of religious belief and the peaceful involve-
ment of religious groups or their members in the political 
life of each such foreign country,’’ after ‘‘such groups,’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘A description of 
United States actions and’’ and inserting ‘‘A detailed description 
of United States actions, diplomatic and political coordination 
efforts, and other’’; and 
(5) in subparagraph (F)(i)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘section 402(b)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
402(b)(1)(A)(ii)’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Any country 
in which a non-state actor designated as an entity of par-
ticular concern for religious freedom under section 301 
of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act 
is located shall be included in this section of the report.’’. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the original intent of the International Religious 
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) was to require 
annual reports from both the Department of State and the 
Commission on International Religious Freedom to be delivered 
each year, during the same calendar year, and with at least 
5 months separating these reports, in order to provide updated 
information for policymakers, Members of Congress, and non-
governmental organizations; and 
(2) given that the annual Country Reports on Human 
Rights Practices no longer contain updated information on reli-
gious freedom conditions globally, it is important that the 
Department of State coordinate with the Commission to fulfill 
the original intent of the International Religious Freedom Act 
of 1998. 
SEC. 103. TRAINING FOR FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS. 
(a) AMENDMENTS TO FOREIGN SERVICE ACT OF 1980.—Section 
708 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4028) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as 
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively; 
(B) by striking ‘‘(a) The Secretary of State’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) HUMAN RIGHTS, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND HUMAN TRAF-
FICKING TRAINING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
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130 STAT. 1431 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
‘‘(2) RELIGIOUS FREEDOM TRAINING.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the training required 
under paragraph (1)(B), the Director of the George P. 
Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center shall, not 
later than the one year after the date of the enactment 
of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act, 
conduct training on religious freedom for all Foreign Service 
officers, including all entry level officers, all officers prior 
to departure for posting outside the United States, and 
all outgoing deputy chiefs of mission and ambassadors. 
Such training shall be included in— 
‘‘(i) the A–100 course attended by all Foreign 
Service officers; 
‘‘(ii) the courses required of every Foreign Service 
officer prior to a posting outside the United States, 
with segments tailored to the particular religious 
demography, religious freedom conditions, and United 
States strategies for advancing religious freedom, in 
each receiving country; and 
‘‘(iii) the courses required of all outgoing deputy 
chiefs of mission and ambassadors. 
‘‘(B) DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULUM.—In carrying out 
the training required under paragraph (1)(B), the Ambas-
sador at Large for International Religious Freedom, in 
coordination with the Director of the George P. Shultz 
National Foreign Affairs Training Center and other Federal 
officials, as appropriate, and in consultation with the 
United States Commission on International Religious 
Freedom established under section 201(a) of the Inter-
national Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6431(a)), 
shall make recommendations to the Secretary of State 
regarding a curriculum for the training of United States 
Foreign Service officers under paragraph (1)(B) on the scope 
and strategic value of international religious freedom, how 
violations of international religious freedom harm funda-
mental United States interests, how the advancement of 
international religious freedom can advance such interests, 
how United States international religious freedom policy 
should be carried out in practice by United States diplomats 
and other Foreign Service officers, and the relevance and 
relationship of international religious freedom to United 
States defense, diplomacy, development, and public affairs 
efforts. The Secretary of State should ensure the avail-
ability of sufficient resources to develop and implement 
such curriculum. 
‘‘(C) INFORMATION
SHARING.—The curriculum and 
training materials developed under this paragraph shall 
be shared with the United States Armed Forces and other 
Federal departments and agencies with personnel who are 
stationed overseas, as appropriate, to provide training on— 
‘‘(i) United States religious freedom policies; 
‘‘(ii) religious traditions; 
‘‘(iii) religious engagement strategies; 
‘‘(iv) religious and cultural issues; and 
‘‘(v) efforts to counter violent religious extremism.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘The Secretary of State’’ 
and inserting ‘‘REFUGEES.—The Secretary of State’’; and 
Coordination. 
Consultation. 
Recommenda- 
tions. 
Deadline. 
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130 STAT. 1432 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘The Secretary of State’’ 
and inserting ‘‘CHILD SOLDIERS.—The Secretary of State’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, with the assistance 
of the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, 
and the Director of the Foreign Service Institute, located at the 
George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center, shall 
submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate that contains a plan for undertaking training for Foreign 
Service officers under section 708 of the Foreign Services Act of 
1980, as amended by subsection (a). 
SEC. 104. PRISONER LISTS AND ISSUE BRIEFS ON RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM CONCERNS. 
Section 108 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 
(22 U.S.C. 6417) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘faith,’’ and inserting 
‘‘activities, religious freedom advocacy, or efforts to protect and 
advance the universally recognized right to the freedom of 
religion,’’; 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘, as appropriate, provide’’ 
and insert ‘‘make available’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) VICTIMS LIST MAINTAINED BY THE UNITED STATES COMMIS-
SION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall make publicly 
available, to the extent practicable, online and in official 
publications, lists of persons it determines are imprisoned or 
detained, have disappeared, been placed under house arrest, 
been tortured, or subjected to forced renunciations of faith 
for their religious activity or religious freedom advocacy by 
the government of a foreign country that the Commission rec-
ommends for designation as a country of particular concern 
for religious freedom under section 402(b)(1)(A)(ii) or by a non- 
state actor that the Commission recommends for designation 
as an entity of particular concern for religious freedom under 
section 301 of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious 
Freedom Act and include as much publicly available informa-
tion as practicable on the conditions and circumstances of such 
persons. 
‘‘(2) DISCRETION.—In compiling lists under paragraph (1), 
the Commission shall exercise all appropriate discretion, 
including consideration of the safety and security of, and benefit 
to, the persons who may be included on the lists and the 
families of such persons.’’. 
TITLE II—NATIONAL SECURITY 
COUNCIL 
SEC. 
201. 
SPECIAL 
ADVISER 
FOR 
INTERNATIONAL 
RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM. 
The position described in section 101(k) of the National Security 
Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3021(k)) should assist the Ambassador at 
Large for International Religious Freedom to coordinate inter-
national religious freedom policies and strategies throughout the 
Public 
information. 
Web posting. 
Publications. 
Determination. 
Plan. 
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130 STAT. 1433 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
executive branch and within any interagency policy committee of 
which the Ambassador at Large is a member. 
TITLE III—PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS 
SEC. 301. NON-STATE ACTOR DESIGNATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President, concurrent with the annual 
foreign country review required under section 402(b)(1)(A) of the 
International 
Religious 
Freedom 
Act 
of 
1998 
(22 
U.S.C. 
6442(b)(1)(A)), shall— 
(1) review and identify any non-state actors operating in 
any such reviewed country or surrounding region that have 
engaged in particularly severe violations of religious freedom; 
and 
(2) designate, in a manner consistent with such Act, each 
such non-state actor as an entity of particular concern for 
religious freedom. 
(b) REPORT.—Whenever the President designates a non-state 
actor under subsection (a) as an entity of particular concern for 
religious freedom, the President, as soon as practicable after the 
designation is made, shall submit a report to the appropriate 
congressional committees that describes the reasons for such des-
ignation. 
(c) ACTIONS.—The President should take specific actions, when 
practicable, to address severe violations of religious freedom of 
non-state actors that are designated under subsection (a)(2). 
(d) DEPARTMENT OF STATE ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary 
of State should include information detailing the reasons the Presi-
dent designated a non-state actor as an entity of particular concern 
for religious freedom under subsection (a) in the Annual Report 
required under section 102(b)(1) of the International Religious 
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)). 
(e) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Secretary of State should work with Congress and 
the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom— 
(A) to create new political, financial, and diplomatic 
tools to address severe violations of religious freedom by 
non-state actors; and 
(B) to update the actions the President can take under 
section 405 of the International Religious Freedom Act 
of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6445); 
(2) governments must ultimately be held accountable for 
the abuses that occur in their territories; and 
(3) any actions the President takes after designating a 
non-state actor as an entity of particular concern should also 
involve high-level diplomacy with the government of the country 
in which the non-state actor is operating. 
(f) DETERMINATIONS
OF RESPONSIBLE PARTIES.—In order to 
appropriately target Presidential actions under the International 
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.), the Presi-
dent, with respect to each non-state actor designated as an entity 
of particular concern for religious freedom under subsection (a), 
shall seek to determine, to the extent practicable, the specific offi-
cials or members that are responsible for the particularly severe 
violations of religious freedom engaged in or tolerated by such 
non-state actor. 
Designation. 
Review. 
22 USC 6442a. 
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130 STAT. 1434 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘appropriate 
congressional committees’’, ‘‘non-state actor’’, and ‘‘particularly 
severe violations of religious freedom’’ have the meanings given 
such terms in section 3 of the International Religious Freedom 
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6402), as amended by section 3 of this 
Act. 
SEC. 302. PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO PARTICULARLY 
SEVERE VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. 
Section 402 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 
(22 U.S.C. 6442) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date on which each Annual Report is submitted under 
section 102(b), the President shall— 
‘‘(i) review the status of religious freedom in each 
foreign country to determine whether the government 
of that country has engaged in or tolerated particularly 
severe violations of religious freedom in each such 
country during the preceding 12 months or longer; 
‘‘(ii) designate each country the government of 
which has engaged in or tolerated violations described 
in clause (i) as a country of particular concern for 
religious freedom; and 
‘‘(iii) designate each country that engaged in or 
tolerated severe violations of religious freedom during 
the previous year, but does not meet, in the opinion 
of the President at the time of publication of the 
Annual Report, all of the criteria described in section 
3(15) for designation under clause (ii) as being placed 
on a ‘Special Watch List’.’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘prior to Sep-
tember 1 of the respective year’’ and inserting ‘‘before 
the date on which each Annual Report is submitted 
under section 102(b)’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Whenever the President designates 
a country as a country of particular concern for religious 
freedom under paragraph (1)(A)(ii), the President, not later 
than 90 days after such designation, shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees— 
‘‘(i) the designation of the country, signed by the 
President; 
‘‘(ii) the identification, if any, of responsible parties 
determined under paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(iii) a description of the actions taken under sub-
section (c), the purposes of the actions taken, and the 
effectiveness of the actions taken. 
‘‘(B) REMOVAL OF DESIGNATION.—A country that is des-
ignated as a country of particular concern for religious 
freedom under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) shall retain such des-
ignation until the President determines and reports to the 
Determination. 
Reports. 
Deadline. 
Review. 
Determination. 
Time period. 
Deadline. 
Designation. 
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130 STAT. 1435 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
appropriate congressional committees that the country 
should no longer be so designated.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) EFFECT ON DESIGNATION AS COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR 
CONCERN.—The presence or absence of a country from the Spe-
cial Watch List in any given year shall not preclude the designa-
tion of such country as a country of particular concern for 
religious freedom under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) in any such year.’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (c)(5), by striking ‘‘the President must 
designate the specific sanction or sanctions which he determines 
satisfy the requirements of this subsection.’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
President shall designate the specific sanction or sanctions 
that the President determines satisfy the requirements under 
this subsection and include a description of the impact of such 
sanction or sanctions on each country.’’. 
SEC. 303. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
Section 404(a)(4)(A) of the International Religious Freedom Act 
of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6444(a)(4)(A)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iv) the impact on the advancement of United 
States interests in democracy, human rights, and secu-
rity, and a description of policy tools being applied 
in the country, including programs that target demo-
cratic stability, economic growth, and counterter-
rorism.’’. 
SEC. 304. PRESIDENTIAL WAIVER. 
Section 407 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 
(22 U.S.C. 6447) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
section (c)’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, for a single, 180-day period,’’ after 
‘‘may waive’’; 
(C) by striking paragraph (1); and 
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as para-
graphs (1) and (2), respectively; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: 
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.—Subject to subsection (c), the 
President may waive, for any additional specified period of time 
after the 180-day period described in subsection (a), the application 
of any of the actions described in paragraphs (9) through (15) 
of section 405(a) (or a commensurate substitute action) with respect 
to a country, if the President determines and reports to the appro-
priate congressional committees that— 
‘‘(1) the respective foreign government has ceased the viola-
tions giving rise to the Presidential action; or 
‘‘(2) the important national interest of the United States 
requires the exercise of such waiver authority.’’; 
(4) in subsection (c), as redesignated, by inserting ‘‘or (b)’’ 
after ‘‘subsection (a)’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
Time period. 
Determination. 
Reports. 
Designation. 
Determination. 
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130 STAT. 1436 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
‘‘(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 
‘‘(1) ongoing and persistent waivers of the application of 
any of the actions described in paragraphs (9) through (15) 
of section 405(a) (or commensurate substitute action) with 
respect to a country do not fulfill the purposes of this Act; 
and 
‘‘(2) because the promotion of religious freedom is an impor-
tant interest of United States foreign policy, the President, 
the Secretary of State, and other executive branch officials, 
in consultation with Congress, should seek to find ways to 
address existing violations, on a case-by-case basis, through 
the actions described in section 405 or other commensurate 
substitute action.’’. 
SEC. 305. PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER. 
Section 408(a)(1) of the International Religious Freedom Act 
of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6448(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: ‘‘Any designation of a non-state actor as an entity 
of particular concern for religious freedom under section 301 of 
the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act and, if 
applicable and to the extent practicable, the identities of individuals 
determined to be responsible for violations described in subsection 
(f) of such section.’’. 
TITLE IV—PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM 
SEC. 401. ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF ASSISTANCE.—It is the sense of Congress 
that for each fiscal year that begins on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President should request sufficient appro-
priations from Congress to support— 
(1) the vigorous promotion of international religious 
freedom and for projects to advance United States interests 
in the protection and advancement of international religious 
freedom, in particular, through grants to groups that— 
(A) are capable of developing legal protections or pro-
moting cultural and societal understanding of international 
norms of religious freedom; 
(B) seek to address and mitigate religiously motivated 
and sectarian violence and combat violent extremism; or 
(C) seek to strengthen investigations, reporting, and 
monitoring of religious freedom violations, including geno-
cide perpetrated against religious minorities; and 
(2) the establishment of an effective Religious Freedom 
Defense Fund, to be administered by the Ambassador at Large 
for International Religious Freedom, to provide grants for— 
(A) victims of religious freedom abuses and their fami-
lies to cover legal and other expenses that may arise from 
detention, imprisonment, torture, fines, and other restric-
tions; and 
(B) projects to help create and support training of 
a new generation of defenders of religious freedom, 
including legal and political advocates, and civil society 
projects 
which 
seek 
to 
create 
advocacy 
networks, 
strengthen legal representation, train and educate new 
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130 STAT. 1437 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
religious freedom defenders, and build the capacity of reli-
gious communities and rights defenders to protect against 
religious freedom violations, mitigate societal or sectarian 
violence, or minimize legal or other restrictions of the right 
to freedom of religion. 
(b) PREFERENCE.—It is the sense of Congress that, in providing 
grants under subsection (a), the Ambassador at Large for Inter-
national Religious Freedom should, as appropriate, give preference 
to projects targeting religious freedom violations in countries— 
(1) designated as countries of particular concern for reli-
gious freedom under section 402(b)(1) of the International Reli-
gious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442(b)(1)); or 
(2) included on the Special Watch List described in section 
402(b)(1)(A)(iii) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 
1998, as added by section 302(1)(A)(i) of this Act. 
(c) ADMINISTRATION AND CONSULTATIONS.— 
(1) ADMINISTRATION.—Amounts made available under sub-
section (a) shall be administered by the Ambassador at Large 
for International Religious Freedom. 
(2) CONSULTATIONS.—In developing priorities and policies 
for providing grants authorized under subsection (a), including 
programming and policy, the Ambassador at Large for Inter-
national Religious Freedom should consult with other Federal 
agencies, including the United States Commission on Inter-
national Religious Freedom and, as appropriate, nongovern-
mental organizations. 
TITLE V—DESIGNATED PERSONS LIST 
FOR PARTICULARLY SEVERE VIOLA-
TIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
SEC. 501. DESIGNATED PERSONS LIST FOR PARTICULARLY SEVERE 
VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. 
Title VI of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 
(22 U.S.C. 6471 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 605 as section 606; and 
(2) by inserting after section 604 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 605. DESIGNATED PERSONS LIST FOR PARTICULARLY SEVERE 
VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. 
‘‘(a) LIST.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in coordination 
with the Ambassador at Large and in consultation with relevant 
government and nongovernment experts, shall establish and 
maintain a list of foreign individuals to whom a consular post 
has denied a visa on the grounds of particularly severe viola-
tions of religious freedom under section 212(a)(2)(G) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(G)), or 
who are subject to financial sanctions or other measures for 
particularly severe violations of freedom religion. 
‘‘(2) REFERENCE.—The list required under paragraph (1) 
shall be known as the ‘Designated Persons List for Particularly 
Severe Violations of Religious Freedom’. 
‘‘(b) REPORT.— 
Coordination. 
Consultation. 
22 USC 6473a. 
22 USC 6474. 
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130 STAT. 1438 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall submit a 
report to the appropriate congressional committees that con-
tains the list required under subsection (a), including, with 
respect to each foreign individual on the list— 
‘‘(A) the name of the individual and a description of 
the particularly severe violation of religious freedom com-
mitted by the individual; 
‘‘(B) the name of the country or other location in which 
such violation took place; and 
‘‘(C) a description of the actions taken pursuant to 
this Act or any other Act or Executive order in response 
to such violation. 
‘‘(2) SUBMISSION
AND
UPDATES.—The Secretary of State 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees— 
‘‘(A) the initial report required under paragraph (1) 
not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act; 
and 
‘‘(B) updates to the report every 180 days thereafter 
and as new information becomes available. 
‘‘(3) FORM.—The report required under paragraph (1) 
should be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a 
classified annex. 
‘‘(4) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term ‘appropriate 
congressional committees’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
‘‘(C) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs of the Senate; 
‘‘(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives; 
‘‘(E) the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives; and 
‘‘(F) the Committee on Financial Services of the House 
of Representatives.’’. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 601. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 
Title VII of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 
(22 U.S.C. 6481 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘SEC. 702. VOLUNTARY CODES OF CONDUCT FOR UNITED STATES 
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION OUTSIDE THE 
UNITED STATES. 
‘‘(a) FINDING.—Congress recognizes the enduring importance 
of United States institutions of higher education worldwide— 
‘‘(1) for their potential for shaping positive leadership and 
new educational models in host countries; and 
‘‘(2) for their emphasis on teaching universally recognized 
rights of free inquiry and academic freedom. 
‘‘(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 
United States institutions of higher education operating campuses 
outside the United States or establishing any educational entities 
22 USC 6482. 
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130 STAT. 1439 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
with foreign governments, particularly with or in countries the 
governments of which engage in or tolerate severe violations of 
religious freedom as identified in the Annual Report, should seek 
to adopt a voluntary code of conduct for operating in such countries 
that should— 
‘‘(1) uphold the right of freedom of religion of their 
employees and students, including the right to manifest that 
religion peacefully as protected in international law; 
‘‘(2) ensure that the religious views and peaceful practice 
of religion in no way affect, or be allowed to affect, the status 
of a worker’s or faculty member’s employment or a student’s 
enrollment; and 
‘‘(3) make every effort in all negotiations, contracts, or 
memoranda of understanding engaged in or constructed with 
a foreign government to protect academic freedom and the 
rights enshrined in the United Nations Declaration of Human 
Rights. 
‘‘SEC. 703. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NATIONAL SECURITY 
STRATEGY TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM THROUGH 
UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY. 
‘‘It is the sense of Congress that the annual national security 
strategy report of the President required under section 108 of 
the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043)— 
‘‘(1) should promote international religious freedom as a 
foreign policy and national security priority; and 
‘‘(2) should articulate that promotion of the right to freedom 
of religion is a strategy that— 
‘‘(A) protects other, related human rights, and advances 
democracy outside the United States; and 
‘‘(B) makes clear its importance to United States for-
eign policy goals of stability, security, development, and 
diplomacy; 
‘‘(3) should be a guide for the strategies and activities 
of relevant Federal agencies; and 
‘‘(4) should inform the Department of Defense quadrennial 
defense review under section 118 of title 10, United States 
Code, and the Department of State Quadrennial Diplomacy 
and Development Review.’’. 
SEC. 602. CLERICAL AMENDMENTS. 
The table of contents of the International Religious Freedom 
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 note) is amended— 
(1) by striking the item relating to section 605 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘Sec. 606. Studies on the effect of expedited removal provisions on asylum claims.’’; 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 604 the 
following: 
‘‘Sec. 605. Designated Persons List for Particularly Severe Violations of Religious 
Freedom.’’; 
and 
22 USC 6483. 
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130 STAT. 1440 
PUBLIC LAW 114–281—DEC. 16, 2016 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1150: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016): 
May 16, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 9, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Dec. 13, House concurred in Senate amendment. 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘Sec. 702. Voluntary codes of conduct for United States institutions of higher edu-
cation operating outside the United States. 
‘‘Sec. 703. Sense of Congress regarding national security strategy to promote reli-
gious freedom through United States foreign policy.’’. 
Approved December 16, 2016. 
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