H.R. 5824 — Introduced in House

I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5824 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 14, 2016Mr. Brat introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To provide that it shall be unlawful for foreign nationals of a country that limits the free exercise of religion in that country to make any expenditure in the United States to promote a religion in the United States, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Religious Freedom International Reciprocity Enhancement Act or the Religious FIRE Act. 2. Reciprocity Enforcement Regarding Religious Freedom (a) In general It shall be unlawful for a foreign national of a country that limits the free exercise of religion in that country to make any expenditure in the United States to promote a religion. (b) Forfeiture Any asset consisting of such an expenditure or the proceeds of such an expenditure is subject to forfeiture to the United States. The Attorney General may, upon probable cause, seize any such asset and in a civil action obtain its forfeiture to the United States. (c) Definitions In this section— (1) the term country that limits the free exercise of religion means a country designated as such by the Secretary of State acting through the Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; and (2) the term expenditure to promote a religion includes the funding and practice of religious services, religious education, evangelical outreach, and publication and dissemination of religious literature.