Date: 2011-09-14
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 2867. "United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011." This legislation mandates the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (Commission) compliance with federal antidiscrimination laws. restricts the Commissioner to two consecutive terms. and requires the Commissioner to attend 75 percent of Commission meetings. H.R. 2867. extends the Commissions sunset date by two years. and appropriates $4.29 million for FY12 and FY13. In addition. H.R. 2867 requires study to determine the Commissions effectiveness to ensure that the act is being implemented properly. As a senior Member of the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees. I understand the importance of protecting the religious rights of men. women. and children throughout the world. By advocating for religious stability. we in turn decrease the likelihood of religious extremism and advance the growth of healthy nations. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom serves as an essential fact finder and impartial advisor on these matters. The 18th District of Texas is home to many different faiths and religious backgrounds and welcomes a variety of views on religion. This reflects the principles of freedom of religion upon which our nation was founded. The founding fathers understood the importance of freedom of religion and the perils of religious persecution. Respect for the religious practices of others is woven into the very fabric of the United States. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom is an independent. bipartisan commission. The Commissioners are appointed by the President and Congress. The Commissions core mission is to review international violations of religion freedom and make policy recommendations to the President. the Secretary of State and Congress. These recommendations impact the lives of millions of people of faith around the world. I believe in the importance of protecting those who are being persecuted based upon their religious beliefs. According to a Pew Research Study released in December 2009. 198 countries. containing 70 percent of the worlds population. severely restrict religious freedom. The study found that 101 governments used force against religious groups or individuals. Christians and Muslims. who make up more than half of the worlds population. were harassed in more countries than other religions. although the study does not reflect the intensity of the persecution. This study was conducted prior to the Arab Spring. Many of the nations with increasing religious restrictions are the very nations that have seen popular uprisings and subsequent crackdownsamong them Egypt. Yemen. Syria and Libya. a clear indication that we need this Commission more than eve r. I firmly believe that the Commission has a positive impact on the lives of millions of people of faith throughout the world. especially at a time when many governments continue to repress religious freedom and persecute persons on the basis of their religion. Such repression only stands to marginalize vulnerable populations. emboldens extremists. fuels sectarian tensions. and robs societies of the moral and charitable contributions of faith communities. Repression of religious freedom runs contrary to shared universal values and undermines genuine stability. In the words of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton "Religious freedom provides a cornerstone for every healthy society. It empowers faithbased service. It fosters tolerance and respect among different communities. And it allows nations that uphold it to become more stable. secure. and prosperous. The Commission monitors religious freedom through the lens of international human rights standards. such as those found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Fortyfive years ago the nations of the world signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). which codified in international law the right to religious freedom. The ICCPR affirmed under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that "everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought. conscience and religion. this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom. either individually or in community with others and in public or private. to manifest his religion or belief in worship. observance. practice and teaching." The Commission is not a tool to advance religious beliefs or any specific values. It is focused on addressing the religious climate in each country based upon the ICCPR. By relying on international human rights standards as specified in ICCPR. The Commission guards against any attempts to impose American values on other nations. but rather examines the actions of foreign governments against these universal standards and by their freely undertaken international commitments. This Commission is a vital resource in learning to address conflicts between religious groups. especially in the wake of the Arab Spring. As the Commission serves to address the violations of religious freedom abroad. Congress is charged with ensuring the Commission itself is in compliance with laws that protect the rights of workers and those they serve. H.R. 2867 reflects the principle that discrimination has no place within our government and will ensure that the commission itself complies with all federal antidiscrimination laws. This is an essential distinction from the current law. which lacks these robust discrimination protections. This legislation further underscores the importance of this Commission by expending the sunset date of the Commission by 2 years to September 30. 2013. Lastly. the amount of appropriations allotted for the Commission would be amended by striking $3.000.000 for the fiscal year 2003. to $4.291.000 for fiscal years 2012 and 2013. I firmly believe that H.R. 2867 will allow the Commission to continue to address international religious persecution. provide much needed discrimination protections. and will garner the appropriate amount of oversight to ensure that the Commission operates as effectively.