,,iv #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #ajbd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bd1 #bjah,mr4 ,smith of ,new ,jersey submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,,resolution ,reaffirming the commitment of the ,united ,states to promote international religious freedom and marking the #bjth anniversary of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih4 ,whereas religious freedom is a universally recognized human right and the protection and promotion of this right globally attracts broad support2 ,whereas the ,united ,states has a long tradition of advancing and protecting religious freedom1 understanding that this fundamental right is critical for a flourishing society and essential to protect human dignity and national stability2 ,whereas religious freedom includes the right of an individual to worship1 think1 speak1 and act1 including in public and in private1 in accordance with the beliefs of the individual2 ,whereas the free exercise of religion must stand for the right to practice any faith or to choose no faith at all2 ,whereas this year marks the #gjth anniversary of the ,united ,nations ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights1 which recognizes that ,everyone has the right to freedom of thought1 conscience and religion2 this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief1 and freedom1 either alone or in community with others and in public or private1 to manifest his religion or belief in teaching1 practice1 worship and observance2 ,whereas this year also marks the #bjth anniversary of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq471 which made religious freedom a ,united ,states foreign policy priority and created the position of ,ambassador-at-,large for ,international ,religious ,freedom at the ,department of ,state and the bipartisan ,united ,states ,commission on ,international ,religious ,freedom2 ,whereas given the ,united ,states commitment to advance religious freedom and to the international covenants that guarantee it as the inalienable right of every human being1 ,united ,states foreign policy is committed to-- 7#a7 promoting freedom of religion globally as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability and prosperity for all countries2 7#b7 assisting emerging democracies to implement freedom of religion and to protect individual conscience2 7#c7 assisting nongovernment organizations to promote religious freedom and to sponsor reconciliation and other programs in disputes which divide groups along the lines of religious identity2 and 7#d7 identifying countries and nonstate actors that are severe persecutors on the basis of religious belief and undertaking diplomatic or other actions to address religious freedom violations1 in order to protect fundamental national interests2 ,whereas despite efforts to advance and protect religious freedom over the past two decades1 the world is experiencing a religious freedom crisis1 creating millions of victims and undermining liberty1 prosperity1 and peace in places vital to the national interests of the ,united ,states and our allies and posing direct challenges in the ,middle ,east1 ,russia1 ,china1 ,south and ,southeast ,asia1 and sub-,saharan ,africa2 ,whereas an estimated #hc percent of the world's population lives in countries where freedom of religion and conscience is highly restricted1 either by the government or by social groups1 according to the latest ,pew ,research ,center's ,study of ,global ,restrictions on ,religion2 ,whereas the absence of fundamental human rights1 including religious freedom1 contributes to political instability1 violence against religious and ethnic minorities1 religious extremism1 and terrorism2 ,whereas research demonstrates that where religious freedom is protected and advanced as a universally recognized human right there is greater peace1 political and social stability1 economic innovation and development1 democratization1 women's empowerment1 and less violent religious extremism and terrorism2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,congress affirmed in #bjaf1 with passage of the ,frank ,r4 ,wolf ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act 7,public ,law #aad-bha71 that because the promotion of international religious freedom protects human rights1 advances democracy abroad1 and advances ,united ,states interests in stability1 security1 and development globally1 the promotion of international religious freedom requires new and evolving policies and diplomatic responses that are drawn from the expertise of the national security agencies1 the diplomatic services1 and other governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations1 and are coordinated across and carried out by the entire range of ,federal agencies2 ,whereas the #bjah ,national ,security ,strategy of the ,united ,states recognized the strategic importance of international religious freedom1 making the advancement of religious freedom and the protection of religious minorities from violence a priority of the ,administration's foreign policy2 ,whereas in the annual proclamation recognizing ,religious ,freedom ,day on ,january #af1 #bjah1 ,president ,trump affirmed that the ,united ,states is ''' the paramount champion for religious freedom around the world because we do not believe that conscience rights are only for ,americans4 ''' ,we will be undeterred in our commitment to monitor religious persecution and implement policies that promote religious freedom4 ,through these efforts1 we strive for the day when people of all faiths can follow their hearts and worship according to their consciences42 and ,whereas ,secretary of ,state ,mike ,pompeo1 announced a first ever ,ministerial to ,advance ,religious ,freedom which will be held from ,july #bd to ,july #bf1 #bjah1 as foreign ministers1 civil society1 and parliamentarians will convene to discuss shared strategies to advance and protect international religious freedom3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 marks the #bjth anniversary of the passage of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq47 by reaffirming the commitment of the ,united ,states to advance religious freedom as a fundamental part of ,united ,states foreign policy2 7#b7 commends the ,administration for its strong commitment to protect religious freedom globally and efforts to prioritize the protection of religious minorities from violence and other serious human rights abuses2 7#c7 commends the ,department of ,state1 the ,secretary of ,state1 and the ,ambassador-at-,large for ,international ,religious ,freedom for hosting the ,ministerial to ,advance ,international ,religious ,freedom from ,july #bd to ,july #bf1 #bjah1 and for all their efforts to engage like-minded allies globally to advance religious freedom and protect vulnerable religious minorities2 7#d7 commends ,united ,states allies that are working to protect religious freedom globally and those providing humanitarian aid and technical assistance to vulnerable religious minorities2 7#e7 calls on the ,president1 the ,secretary of ,state1 the ,ambassador-at-,large for ,international ,religious ,freedom1 and ,members of ,congress to leverage the growing network of foreign religious freedom focused institutions and parliamentary groups including such bodies as the ,international ,contact ,group on ,freedom of ,religion or ,belief1 the ,panel of ,experts on ,freedom of ,religion or ,belief at the ,,osce ,office for ,democratic ,institutions and ,human ,rights1 the ,european ,parliament ,intergroup on ,freedom of ,religion or ,belief and ,religious ,tolerance1 the ,international ,panel of ,parliamentarians for ,freedom of ,religion or ,belief1 and the ,commonwealth ,initiative for ,freedom of ,religion or ,belief1 among others2 7#f7 calls on the ,president and the ,secretary of ,state1 in accordance with the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih1 as amended by the ,frank ,r4 ,wolf ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #bjaf 7,public ,law #aad-bha71 to continue strengthening ,united ,states religious freedom diplomacy and the training of ,united ,states diplomats in religious freedom2 7#g7 reaffirms the commitment of ,congress to work with the ,administration to carry out the religious freedom priorities made in the #bjah ,national ,security ,strategy of the ,united ,states and develop a coordinated strategy to advance international religious freedom and protect vulnerable religious minorities globally2 7#h7 calls on the ,president1 the ,secretary of ,state1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 the ,ambassador-at-,large for ,international ,religious ,freedom1 and other relevant agencies1 and working closely with like-minded allies1 to develop a comprehensive response plan to protect and assist the victims of genocide1 crimes against humanity1 forced dislocations1 mass detentions1 and violence from extremist actors or terrorists1 including in1 among other places1 ,iraq1 ,syria1 ,china1 ,burma1 ,north ,korea1 ,nigeria1 and ,somalia2 and 7#i7 calls on the ,president1 the ,secretary of ,state1 and the ,united ,states ,trade ,representative to ensure that trade negotiations include religious freedom conditions as mandated by the ,bipartisan ,congressional ,trade ,priorities and ,accountability ,act of #bjae 7title ,i of ,public ,law #aad-bf74