,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ahfj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bc1 #bjae ,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself and ,mr4 ,leahy7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to protect and promote international religious freedom4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,further ,independence of ,religion for ,security and ,tolerance ,freedom ,act of #bjae or the ,,first ,freedom ,act4 #b4 ,findings2 sense of ,congress 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,many of our ,nation's founders fled religious persecution and placed great importance on religious freedom4 ,president ,george ,washington summed up the prevailing view of our founders when he wrote1 in #agic1 in this ,land of equal liberty it is our boast1 that a man's religious tenets will not forfeit the protection of the ,laws4 7#b7 ,in #agia1 the ,first ,amendment to the ,constitution was ratified1 enshrining freedom of religion as the ,first ,freedom of all ,americans and becoming an inspiration to people all over the world who struggle to throw off the yoke of religious persecution4 7#c7 ,throughout our ,nation's history1 the ,united ,states has sought to protect and promote fundamental human rights1 including religious freedom1 in the ,united ,states and throughout the world4 7#d7 ,after ,world ,war ,,ii1 under ,eleanor ,roosevelt's leadership1 the ,united ,states spearheaded the ratification of the ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights1 adopted at ,paris ,december #aj1 #aidh1 which recognized freedom of religion as a fundamental right of all people4 ,article #ah of that treaty states ,everyone has the right to freedom of thought1 conscience and religion2 this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief1 and freedom either alone or in community with others and in public or private1 to manifest his religion or belief in teaching1 practice1 worship and observance44 7#e7 ,the ,international ,covenant on ,civil and ,political ,rights1 adopted at ,new ,york ,december #af1 #aiff1 and which was ratified by the ,united ,states in #aiib1 states1 ,everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought1 conscience and religion4 ,this right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice1 and freedom1 either individually or in community with others and in public or private1 to manifest his religion or belief in worship1 observance1 practice and teaching44 7#f7 ,since the enactment of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7,public ,law #aje-bib71 referred to in this section as ,,irfa1 which established the ,department of ,state's ,office on ,international ,religious ,freedom1 the ,ambassador at ,large for ,international ,religious ,freedom1 and the ,united ,states ,commission on ,international ,religious ,freedom 7referred to in this section as ,,uscirf71 the state of religious freedom throughout the world has significantly worsened4 7#g7 ,in section #b7;a77#d7 of ,,irfa 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #fdja7;a77#d771 ,congress stated1 ,more than one-half of the world's population lives under regimes that severely restrict or prohibit the freedom of their citizens to study1 believe1 observe1 and freely practice the religious faith of their choice44 7#h7 ,according to ,rising ,tide of ,restrictions on ,religion1 the most recent report of the ,pew ,research ,center's ,forum on ,religion ,public ,life1 three-quarters of the world's population lives in countries in which restrictions on religion were high or very high4 7#i7 ,according to the #bjad ,,uscirf ,annual ,report1 ,the past #aj years have seen a worsening of the already-poor religious freedom environment in ,pakistan1 a continued dearth of religious freedom in ,turkmenistan1 backsliding in ,vietnam1 rising violations in ,egypt before and after the ,arab ,spring1 and ,syria's decent sic into sectarian civil war with all sides perpetrating egregious religious freedom violations44 7#aj7 ,under section #djb of ,,irfa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fddb71 the ,president is required to designate a country as a country of particular concern 7referred to in this section as ,,cpc7 if the government of the country has engaged in or tolerated systematic1 ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom4 7#aa7 ,according to the #bjae ,,uscirf ,annual ,report1 since ,october #aiii1 when the first countries were designated as ,c,p,cs1 the list has been largely unchanged4 ,of the nine countries designated as ,c,p,cs in ,july #bjad1 most had been named as ,c,p,cs for over a decade ''' ,since ,,irfa's inception1 only one country has been removed from the ,state ,department's ,,cpc list due to diplomatic activity44 ,this track record calls into serious question the utility of the ,,cpc mechanism and the utility of ,,irfa to improve the state of religious freedom throughout the world4 7#ab7 ,the ,united ,states has a long tradition of providing safe haven to refugees1 including members of religious minority groups and those fleeing religious persecution4 ,following the international community's tragic failure to shelter ,jewish refugees fleeing the ,nazi genocide1 the ,united ,states played a leadership role in establishing the international legal regime for the protection of refugees4 ,since that time1 the ,american people have generously welcomed millions of refugees fleeing war and totalitarian regimes1 and the ,united ,states traditionally accepts at least #ej percent of resettlement cases handled by the ,office of the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,refugees 7referred to in this section as ,,unhcr74 7#ac7 ,according to the #bjad ,,unhcr ,global ,trends ,report1 more than #ei1ejj1jjj people were forcibly displaced in #bjad-- 7,a7 which is equal to #a displacement for every #abb people worldwide2 7,b7 which is the most displacements in a year in recorded history2 7,c7 including-- 7i7 #ch1bjj1jjj individuals who were internally displaced within their own country2 7ii7 #ai1ejj1jjj refugees2 and 7iii7 #a1hjj1jjj asylum-seekers2 7,d7 many of whom were victims of serious human rights violations1 including religious persecution2 and 7,e7 many are whom are members of vulnerable populations1 including religious minorities4 7#ad7 ,the ongoing conflict in ,syria has led to the world's worst ongoing humanitarian crisis and worst refugee crisis since ,world ,war ,,ii4 ,more than #ej percent of ,syria's #bc1jjj1jjj people have been forcibly displaced from their homes and1 as of #bjae1 #bj percent of the world's refugees are ,syrians4 ,,unhcr is seeking to resettle #acj1jjj ,syrian refugees during #bjae and #bjaf1 with a particular focus on vulnerable individuals such as religious minorities4 ,although the ,united ,states traditionally accepts at least #ej percent of ,,unhcr resettlement cases1 the ,united ,states has only accepted approximately #hjj ,syrian refugees since the beginning of the ,syrian conflict1 which is an unacceptably low number4 7#ae7 ,there are several steps that would facilitate the efforts of the ,united ,states ,government to protect and provide safe haven to refugees from religious persecution4 ,the #bjae ,,uscirf ,annual ,report recommends that ,congress work to provide the ,president with permanent authority to designate as refugees specifically-defined groups based on shared characteristics identifying them as targets for persecution on account of race1 religion1 nationality1 membership in a particular social group1 or political opinion4 7#af7 ,the ,united ,states ,government has limited tools to hold accountable the perpetrators of religious freedom violations4 ,section #fjd of ,,irfa added section #bab7;a77#b77;,g7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahb7;a77#b77;,g771 which made foreign government officials who commit particularly severe violations of religious freedom inadmissible to the ,united ,states1 but it has only been applied once1 to deny entry to ,narendra ,modi1 who was ,chief ,minister of ,gujarat1 ,india4 ,in its #bjae ,annual ,report1 ,,uscirf recommends that the ,state ,department3 ,make greater efforts to ensure foreign government officials are denied entry into the ,united ,states due to their inadmissibility under ,u4,s4 law for their responsibility for religious freedom violations abroad44 ,the effectiveness of this law is also limited because it does not apply to non-state actors1 such as international terrorists1 and it can only be used to deny entry to a perpetrator who has not yet arrived in the ,united ,states1 not to deport a perpetrator who has already entered the country4 7#ag7 ,in the #bjae ,,uscirf ,annual ,report1 ,,uscirf recommended that the ,united ,states ,government should call for or support a referral by the ,,un ,security ,council to the ,international ,criminal ,court to investigate ,,isil violations in ,iraq and ,syria against religious and ethnic minorities1 following the models used in ,sudan and ,libya1 or encourage the ,iraqi government to accept ,,icc jurisdiction to investigate ,,isil violations in ,iraq after ,june #bjad4 ,given the weakness of the international criminal justice system1 particularly that an ,,icc referral is subject to a ,,un ,security ,council veto1 the ,united ,states ,government should have the ability to prosecute members of ,,isil in ,united ,states courts for crimes against humanity1 including religious persecution4 7#ah7 ,under ,united ,states law1 it is a crime for a non-,united ,states national to commit genocide1 torture1 terrorism1 or several other violations of the law of nations1 but it is not a crime under ,united ,states law to commit crimes against humanity1 including religious persecution4 ,since the ,united ,states ,government is unable to prosecute perpetrators of these crimes1 many foreign war criminals have found safe haven in this country4 7#ai7 ,in #bjjf1 the ,united ,states ,government learned that ,marko ,boskic1 a man who participated in the ,srebrenica massacre in the ,bosnian conflict1 was living in ,massachusetts4 ,rather than charging him with crimes against humanity1 or religious persecution1 ,mr4 ,boskic was charged with visa fraud and sentenced to only #e years in prison4 7#bj7 ,there is bipartisan agreement about the need for the ,united ,states ,government to promote and protect international human rights1 including religious freedom4 ,,uscirf is1 by design1 a bipartisan organization1 with ,commissioners appointed by the ,president and ,congressional leaders4 ,,uscirf can most effectively promote religious freedom on a bipartisan basis4 7#ba7 ,in its #bjad ,annual ,report entitled ,additional ,opportunities to ,reduce ,fragmentation1 ,overlap1 and ,duplication and ,achieve ,other ,financial ,benefits1 which identifies unnecessary duplication in the ,federal ,government1 the ,government ,accountability ,office 7referred to in this section as ,,gao7-- 7,a7 highlighted the lack of coordination and overlapping missions of ,,uscirf and the ,office of ,international ,religious ,freedom in the ,department of ,state2 7,b7 found that the lack of a definition regarding how ,state and the ,commission are to interact has sometimes created foreign policy tensions that ,state has had to mitigate42 and 7,c7 concluded that the lack of coordination between the ,,uscirf and the ,department of ,state may undermine the efforts of the ,united ,states ,government to promote international religious freedom by sending mixed messages to foreign governments and human-rights activists who are fighting to defend religious freedom in their countries4 7#bb7 ,congress1 which is responsible for overseeing the work of ,,uscirf and ensuring that it is effectively pursuing its mission1 should provide greater oversight of ,,uscirf's practices1 including addressing concerns regarding financial irregularities and the work environment for religious minorities4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the protection and promotion of international human rights1 including religious freedom1 should be an important priority for the ,united ,states ,government2 and 7#b7 the ,united ,states ,government should pursue new strategies for protecting and promoting religious freedom throughout the world1 including-- 7,a7 the creation of new tools-- 7i7 to deter and punish the perpetrators of particularly severe violations of religious freedom1 including non-state actors2 and 7ii7 to protect the victims of such violations2 and 7,b7 increased diplomatic engagement that does not focus primarily on ,,cpc designations4 #c4 ,enhanced protections for refugees and asylees fleeing religious persecution 7a7 ,authority ,to designate certain groups of refugees for consideration ,section #bjg7;c77#a7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeg7;c77#a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting 7,a7 before ,subject to the numerical limitations2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7,b7 7i7 ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 may designate specifically defined groups of aliens-- 7,i7 whose resettlement in the ,united ,states is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest2 and 7,,ii7 who-- 7aa7 share common characteristics that identify them as targets of persecution on account of race1 religion1 nationality1 membership in a particular social group1 or political opinion2 or 7bb7 having been identified as targets under item 7aa71 share a common need for resettlement due to a specific vulnerability4 7ii7 ,an alien who establishes membership in a group designated under clause 7i7 to the satisfaction of the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall be considered a refugee for purposes of admission as a refugee under this section unless the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security determines that such alien ordered1 incited1 assisted1 or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race1 religion1 nationality1 membership in a particular social group1 or political opinion4 7iii7 ,a designation under clause 7i7 is for purposes of adjudicatory efficiency and may be revoked by the ,secretary of ,state at any time after notification to ,congress4 7iv7 ,categories of aliens established under section #eii;,d7b7 of the ,foreign ,operations1 ,export ,financing1 and ,related ,programs ,appropriations ,act1 #aiij 7,public ,law #aja-afg2 #h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeg note7-- 7,i7 shall be designated under clause 7i7 until the end of the first fiscal year commencing after the date of the enactment of the ,,first ,freedom ,act2 and 7,,ii7 shall be eligible for designation thereafter at the discretion of the ,secretary of ,state1 considering1 among other factors1 whether a country under consideration has been designated as a country of particular concern under section #djb of ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fddb7 for engaging in or tolerating systematic1 ongoing1 and egregious violations of religious freedom4 7v7 ,a designation under clause 7i7 shall not influence decisions to grant1 to any alien1 asylum under section #bjh1 protection under section #bda7;b77#c71 or protection under the ,convention ,against ,torture and ,other ,cruel1 ,inhuman or ,degrading ,treatment or ,punishment1 done at ,new ,york ,december #aj1 #aihd4 7vi7 ,a decision to deny admission under this section to an alien who establishes to the satisfaction of the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security that the alien is a member of a group designated under clause 7i7 shall-- 7,i7 be in writing2 and 7,,ii7 state1 to the maximum extent feasible1 the reason for the denial4 7vii7 ,refugees admitted pursuant to a designation under clause 7i7-- 7,i7 shall be subject to the numerical limitations under subsection 7a72 and 7,,ii7 shall be admissible under this section4 4 7b7 ,time limits for filing for asylum ,section #bjh7;a77#b7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeh7;a77#b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting or the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security after ,attorney ,general both places such term appears2 7#b7 by striking subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,d72 7#c7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,c7 as subparagraph 7,b72 7#d7 in subparagraph 7,b71 as redesignated1 by striking subparagraph 7,d7 and inserting subparagraphs 7,c7 and 7,d72 and 7#e7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,b71 as redesignated1 the following3 7,c7 ,changed circumstances ,notwithstanding subparagraph 7,b71 an application for asylum of an alien may be considered if the alien demonstrates1 to the satisfaction of the ,attorney ,general or the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 the existence of changed circumstances that materially affect the applicant's eligibility for asylum4 7,d7 ,motion to reopen certain meritorious claims ,notwithstanding subparagraph 7,b7 or section #bdj7;c77#g71 an alien may file a motion to reopen an asylum claim during the #b-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the ,,first ,freedom ,act if the alien-- 7i7 was denied asylum based solely upon a failure to meet the #a-year application filing deadline in effect on the date on which the application was filed2 7ii7 was granted withholding of removal pursuant to section #bda7;b77#c7 and has not obtained lawful permanent residence in the ,united ,states pursuant to any other provision of law2 7iii7 is not subject to the safe third country exception under subparagraph 7,a7 or a bar to asylum under subsection 7b77#b7 and should not be denied asylum as a matter of discretion2 and 7iv7 is physically present in the ,united ,states when the motion is filed4 4 7c7 ,conditions for granting asylum ,section #bjh7;b77#a77;,b77i7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeh7;b77#a77;,b77i77 is amended by striking at least one central reason for persecuting the applicant and inserting a factor in the applicant's persecution or fear of persecution4 7d7 ,study on the effect of expedited removal and processing delays on asylum claims 7#a7 ,study 7,a7 ,definitions ,in this paragraph-- 7i7 the term immigration officer means an officer of the ,department of ,homeland ,security performing duties under section #bce7;b7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abbe7;b77 with respect to aliens who-- 7,i7 are apprehended after entering the ,united ,states2 and 7,,ii7 may be eligible to apply for asylum under section #bjh or #bce of such ,act2 and 7ii7 the term improper conduct means conduct whereby an immigration officer-- 7,i7 improperly encourages an alien described in clause 7i7 to withdraw or retract claims for asylum2 7,,ii7 incorrectly fails to refer such an alien for an interview by an immigration officer to determine whether the alien has a credible fear of persecution 7as defined in section #bce7;b77#a77;,b77v7 of such ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abbe7;b77#a77;,b77v7772 7,,iii7 incorrectly removes such an alien to a country in which the alien may be persecuted2 or 7,,iv7 detains such an alien improperly or under inappropriate conditions4 7,b7 ,authorization ,the ,united ,states ,commission on ,international ,religious ,freedom 7referred to in this section as the ,commission7 is authorized to conduct a study to determine-- 7i7 whether immigration officers are engaging in improper conduct2 and 7ii7 the impact of delays in interviews by immigration officers and immigration court hearings on asylum claims4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date on which the ,commission initiates the study under subsection 7a71 the ,commission shall submit a report containing the results of the study to-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,senate2 7,c7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 7,d7 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,e7 the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,f7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#c7 ,staff 7,a7 ,from other agencies 7i7 ,identification ,the ,commission may identify employees of the ,department of ,homeland ,security1 the ,department of ,justice1 and the ,government ,accountability ,office who have significant expertise and knowledge of refugee and asylum issues4 7ii7 ,designation ,at the request of the ,commission1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 the ,attorney ,general1 and the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall authorize staff identified under subparagraph 7,a7 to assist the ,commission in conducting the study under paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 ,additional staff ,the ,commission may hire additional staff and consultants to conduct the study under paragraph 7#a74 7,c7 ,access to proceedings 7i7 ,in general ,except as provided in clause 7ii71 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security and the ,attorney ,general shall provide staff designated under subparagraph 7,a7 or hired under subparagraph 7,b7 with unrestricted access to all stages of all proceedings conducted under section #bce7;b7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abbe7;b774 7ii7 ,exceptions ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security and the ,attorney ,general may not permit unrestricted access under clause 7i7 if-- 7,i7 the alien subject to a proceeding under such section #bce7;b7 objects to such access2 or 7,,ii7 the ,secretary or ,attorney ,general determines that the security of a particular proceeding would be threatened by such access4 #d4 ,accountability for severe violations of international religious freedom 7a7 ,particularly severe violations of religious freedom 7#a7 ,inadmissibility ,section #bab7;a77#b77;,g7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahb7;a77#b77;,g77 is amended to read as follows3 7,g7 ,aliens who have committed particularly severe violations of religious freedom ,any alien who was responsible for1 or directly carried out1 at any time1 particularly severe violations of religious freedom 7as defined in section #c of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdjb77 is inadmissible4 4 7#b7 ,removability ,section #bcg7;a77#d77;,e7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abbg7;a77#d77;,e77 is amended to read as follows3 7,e7 ,aliens who have committed particularly severe violations of religious freedom ,any alien who was responsible for1 or directly carried out1 at any time1 particularly severe violations of religious freedom 7as defined in section #c of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdjb77 is deportable4 4 7b7 ,religious persecution ,chapter #aah of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #bddc4 ,religious persecution 7a7 ,offense ,any person who outside the ,united ,states commits1 or attempts or conspires to commit1 religious persecution-- 7#a7 shall be fined under this title1 imprisoned for not more than #bj years1 or both2 and 7#b7 if the death of any person results from the violation of this subsection1 shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for any term of years or for life4 7b7 ,jurisdiction ,there is jurisdiction over an offense under subsection 7a71 and any attempt or conspiracy to commit such an offense1 if-- 7#a7 the victim is a ,united ,states person2 7#b7 the offender is a ,united ,states person or an alien residing in the ,united ,states1 regardless of whether the alien is lawfully admitted for permanent residence2 7#c7 the offender is a stateless person whose habitual residence is in the ,united ,states2 or 7#d7 after the conduct required for the offense occurs1 the offender is brought into or found in the ,united ,states1 even if the conduct required for the offense occurs outside the ,united ,states4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,admission to the united states2 alien2 immigrant2 lawfully admitted for permanent residence2 nonimmigrant ,the terms admission to the ,united ,states1 alien1 immigrant1 lawfully admitted for permanent residence1 and nonimmigrant have the meanings given such terms in section #aja7;a7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a774 7#b7 ,religious persecution ,the term religious persecution means conduct that-- 7,a7 is intended-- 7i7 to obstruct any person in the free exercise of religious belief or practice2 or 7ii7 to terrorize or coerce any person because of the actual or perceived religion of any person2 and 7,b7 if the conduct described in subparagraph 7,a7 occurred in the ,united ,states or in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the ,united ,states1 would violate-- 7i7 section #ha 7relating to arson72 7ii7 section #aaaa 7relating to murder72 7iii7 section #abja7;a7 7relating to kidnapping71 regardless of whether the offender is the parent of the victim2 7iv7 section #abjc 7relating to hostage taking71 notwithstanding any exception under subsection 7b7 of such section2 7v7 section #aeha7;a7 7relating to peonage72 7vi7 section #aehc7;a77#a7 7relating to kidnapping or carrying away individuals for involuntary servitude or slavery72 7vii7 section #aehd7;a7 7relating to sale into involuntary servitude72 7viii7 section #aehi7;a7 7relating to forced labor72 7ix7 section #aeij7;a7 7relating to trafficking with respect to peonage1 slavery1 involuntary servitude1 or forced labor72 7x7 section #aeia7;a7 7relating to sex trafficking of children or by force1 fraud1 or coercion72 7xi7 section #bbda7;a7 7relating to aggravated sexual abuse by force or threat72 7xii7 section #bbdb 7relating to sexual abuse72 or 7xiii7 section #bcdj;,a 7relating to torture71 regardless of whether the offender is acting under color of law4 7#c7 ,united ,states person ,the term ,united ,states person has the meaning given such term in section #cjgg4 4 7c7 ,statute of ,limitations ,chapter #bac of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ccjb4 ,religious persecution ,no person may be prosecuted1 tried1 or punished for a violation of section #bddc unless the indictment or the information is filed not later than #aj years after the commission of the offense4 4 7d7 ,clerical amendments ,title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in the table of sections for chapter #aah1 by adding at the end the following3 #bddc4 ,religious persecution4 2 and 7#b7 in the table of sections for chapter #bac1 by adding at the end the following3 #ccjb4 ,religious persecution4 4 #e4 ,reform and reauthorization of ,united ,states ,commission on ,international ,religious ,freedom 7a7 ,establishment and composition 7#a7 ,leadership ,section #bja7;d7 of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdca7;d77 is amended to read as follows3 7d7 ,election of chair ,at the first meeting of the ,commission after ,may #cj of each year1 a majority of the members of the ,commission present and voting shall elect the ,chair and ,vice ,chair of the ,commission1 subject to the following requirements3 7#a7 ,initial elections ,at the first meeting of the ,commission after ,may #cj1 #bjaf1 the members of the ,commission shall elect-- 7,a7 as ,chair1 a member of the ,commission who was appointed by an elected official of the political party that is not the political party of the ,president2 and 7,b7 as ,vice ,chair1 a member of the ,commission who was appointed by an elected official of the political party of the ,president4 7#b7 ,future elections 7,a7 ,next election ,at the first meeting of the ,commission after ,may #cj1 #bjag1 the members of the ,commission shall elect-- 7i7 as ,chair1 a member of the ,commission who was appointed by an elected official of the political party of the ,president2 and 7ii7 as ,vice ,chair1 a member of the ,commission who was appointed by an elected official of the political party that is not the political party of the ,president4 7,b7 ,subsequent elections ,after the election described in subparagraph 7,a71 the positions of ,chair and ,vice ,chair shall continue to rotate on an annual basis between members of the ,commission appointed by elected officials of each political party4 7#c7 ,term limits ,no member of the ,commission is eligible to be elected as-- 7,a7 ,chair of the ,commission for a second term2 or 7,b7 ,vice ,chair of the ,commission for a second term4 4 7#b7 ,attendance at meetings of ambassador at large for international religious freedom ,section #bja7;f7 of such ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdca7;f77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,the ,ambassador at ,large shall be given advance notice of all ,commission meetings and may attend all ,commission meetings as a nonvoting member of the ,commission44 7#c7 ,appointments in cases of vacancies ,section #bja7;g7 of such ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdca7;g77 is amended by striking the second sentence4 7b7 ,powers of the commission ,section #bjc7;e7 of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdcb;a7e77 is amended to read as follows3 7e7 ,views of the ,commission 7#a7 ,private speech ,members of the ,commission may speak in their capacity as private citizens4 ,a member of the ,commission may be identified as a member of the ,commission when making oral or written statements in their private or other professional capacity if the member states clearly that the statement-- 7,a7 is not on behalf of the ,commission2 and 7,b7 does not necessarily reflect the views of the ,commission4 7#b7 ,official statements 7,a7 ,written statements ,all statements on behalf of the ,commission shall be issued in writing over the names of the members of the ,commission4 7,b7 ,statutory authority ,in its written statements1 the ,commission shall clearly describe its statutory authority1 distinguishing that authority from that of appointed or elected officials of the ,united ,states ,government4 ,oral statements of the ,commission shall include a similar description1 to the extent practicable4 7,c7 ,consensus ,members of the ,commission shall make every effort to reach consensus on all oral or written statements on behalf of the ,commission4 7,d7 ,approval ,all views of the ,commission on pending legislation or any other matter under the jurisdiction of the ,commission shall be approved by an affirmative vote of at least #f of the #i members of the ,commission4 ,each member of the ,commission may include the individual or dissenting views of the member4 7,e7 ,accuracy ,all oral or written statements by members or staff of the ,commission on behalf of the ,commission1 including testimony1 press releases1 articles1 and public or private correspondence1 shall accurately reflect approved views of the ,commission in accordance with subparagraph 7,d74 4 7c7 ,commission personnel matters ,section #bjd of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdcb;b7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by striking or terminate an ,executive ,director and inserting an ,executive ,director and additional personnel2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 ,the decision to terminate an ,executive ,director and additional personnel shall be made by an affirmative vote of at least #e of the #i members of the ,commission42 7#b7 by redesignating subsections 7b7 through 7g7 as subsections 7c7 through 7h72 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7a7 the following3 7b7 ,executive ,director 7#a7 ,appointment ,not later than #fj days after the date of the enactment of the ,,first ,freedom ,act1 the ,commission shall appoint an ,executive ,director by an affirmative vote of at least #f of the #i members of the ,commission4 7#b7 ,term of service ,each ,executive ,director-- 7,a7 may serve for a #d-year term2 and 7,b7 may serve an additional1 consecutive #d-year term if reappointed by the ,commission by an affirmative vote of at least #f of the #i members of the ,commission4 2 7#d7 in subsection 7d71 as redesignated1 by striking and the ,executive ,director2 7#e7 in subsection 7g71 as redesignated1 by striking the commission1 for the executive director1 and inserting the ,commission1 for the ,executive ,director12 and 7#f7 in subsection 7h71 as redesignated-- 7,a7 by striking ,for purposes and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,in general ,for purposes 2 7,b7 by inserting 7including discrimination on the bases of race1 color1 religion1 sex1 national origin1 age1 or disability7 after employment discrimination2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 ,treatment of discrimination on basis of sexual orientation or gender identity ,in applying paragraph 7#a7 to rights and protections that pertain to employment discrimination on the basis of sex1 and the remedies and procedures available to address alleged violations of such rights and protections1 the laws1 rules1 and regulations that provide such rights and protections to employees whose pay is disbursed by the ,secretary of the ,senate or the ,chief ,administrative ,officer of the ,house of ,representatives shall be deemed to recognize discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity as forms of discrimination on the basis of sex and shall treat such discrimination in the same manner as discrimination on the basis of sex4 4 7d7 ,report of ,commission ,section #bje of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdcc7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by striking ,not later than ,may #a of each year1 and inserting ,each year1 between #cj and #ij days after the publication of the ,department of ,state's ,annual ,report on ,international ,religious ,freedom12 and 7#b7 by amending subsection 7c7 to read as follows3 7c7 ,individual or dissenting views ,members of the ,commission shall make every effort to reach consensus on the report under this section4 ,when such consensus is not possible1 the report shall be approved by an affirmative vote of at least #f of the #i members of the ,commission4 ,each member of the ,commission may include the individual or dissenting views of the member in the report4 4 7e7 ,applicability of the ,freedom of ,information ,act 7#a7 ,section #bjf of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdcd7 is amended-- 7,a7 by inserting 7a7 ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act4-- before ,the2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7b7 ,freedom of ,information ,act ,notwithstanding section #eea of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 the ,commission shall be considered to be an agency for purposes of section #eeb of such title4 4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,section #bjg7;a7 of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdce7;a77 is amended by striking #bjae and inserting #bjag4 7g7 ,termination ,section #bji of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdcf7 is amended by striking ,september #cj1 #bjae and inserting ,september #cj1 #bjag4