US Congress House Bill 2037 (Prior Session Legislation)

---

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: Introduced on April 27 2015 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2015-05-20 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015 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 FY2021. Requires the USCIRF as a whole to have expertise on the variety of faiths practiced around the world. Requires appointments to the 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. Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require the Secretary of State to receive assistance from the 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. 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. Revises restrictions on the 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 the USCIRF's annual financial report.

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015

Rep. Christopher Smith [R-NJ]

Rep. Ted Poe [R-TX]

Rep. Robert Aderholt [R-AL]

Date	Chamber	Action
2015-05-20	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
2015-04-27	House	Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
2015-04-27	House	Introduced in House

HB1150 (Related) 2016-12-16 - Became Public Law No: 114-281.
SB1798 (Related) 2015-07-16 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2037/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr2037/BILLS-114hr2037ih.pdf