,,iv  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #cai  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,may #aa1 #bjag ,mr4  
,hultgr5 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,franks (     
,arizona1 ,mr4 ,jody ,b4 ,hice (        
,georgia1 ,mr4 ,=t5b]ry1 & ,ms4 ,e%oo7  
submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0     
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign        
,affairs  ,,resolution  ,reaffirm+ !    
commitm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to promot+  
religi\s fre$om globally1 & = o!r       
purposes4  ,:]eas religi\s fre$om is a  
fundam5tal "r en%r9$ 9 ! ,am]ican       
,con/itution & critically ti$ to        
,am]ica's f\nd+ & self-und]/&+2 ,:]eas  
int]national religi\s fre$om is a       
univ]sally recogniz$ human "r & !       
protection & promotion globally ( ?is "r
 attracts broad1 bip>tisan support2     
,:]eas e individual's rights to fre$om (
 ?\ght1 consci5ce1 & religion is        
gu>ante$ "u ! ,unit$ ,nations ,univ]sal 
,decl>ation ( ,human ,rights1 adopt$ at 
,p>is ,decemb] #aj1 #aidh1 & !          
,int]national ,cov5ant on ,civil &      

,political ,rights1 adopt$ at ,new ,york
 ,decemb] #af1 #aiff1 :i* recognize t   
,ev]yone has ! "r to fre$om ( ?\ght1    
consci5ce & religion2 ?is "r includes   
fre$om to *ange 8 religion or belief1 & 
fre$om1 ei!r alone or 9 community ) o!rs
 & 9 public or private1 to manife/ 8    
religion or belief 9 tea*+1 practice1   
wor%ip & obs]vance2 ,:]eas accord+ to ! 
bip>tisan ,unit$ ,/ates ,commission on  
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om1 abuses 
committ$ by gov]nm5ts & non-/ate actors 
has increas$ & ! inc>c]ation ( prison]s 
( consci5ce rema9s widespread2 ,:]eas   
accord+ to ! late/ ,pew ,rese>* ,c5t]'s 
,/udy ( ,global ,re/rictions on         
,religion1 :i* survey$ #bjae1 an e/imat$
 #gi p]c5t ( ! _w's population lives 9  
c\ntries :]e fre$om ( religion &        
consci5ce is highly re/rict$1 ei!r by ! 
gov]nm5t or by social gr\ps2 ,:]eas     
accord+ to ! same /udy by ! ,pew ,rese>*
 ,c5t]1 ,paki/an1 ,nig]ia1 ,india1      
,turkey1 ,indonesia1 ,egypt1 ,russia1   
,*9a1 ,iran1 ,burma1 & ,vietnam _h "s ( 

! highe/ levels ( ei!r gov]nm5t         
re/rictions on religion or social       
ho/ilities exp]i5c$ by religi\s gr\ps2  
,:]eas accord+ to ! same ,pew ,rese>*   
,c5t] ,/udy1 ! two geographic regions ) 
! highe/ gov]nm5t re/rictions cont9ue to
 be ! ,middle ,ea/-,nor? ,africa & !    
,asia-,pacific2 ,:]eas ! mo/ rec5t data 
reflects t 9 #bjae ,*ri/ians 7 h>ass$ 9 
#abh ( #aih c\ntries1 m ?an any o!r fai?
 gr\p1 ,muslims 7 h>ass$ 9 #abe         
c\ntries1 & ,jews 7 h>ass$ 9 #gd        
c\ntries2 ,:]eas accord+ to a #bjag     
report by ! ,religi\s ,fre$om ,in/itute 
& ! ,c5t] on ,fai?  ,int]national       
,affairs1 ! scope ( religi\s p]secution 
globally affects _m religi\s            
communities1 x is ,*ri/ian m9orities t  
are curr5tly mo/ at risk1 p>ticul>ly 9 !
 ,middle ,ea/1 :]e anci5t communities   
are 9 dang] ( elim9ation2 ,:]eas        
,congress has recogniz$ t ,yezidis1     
,*ri/ian1 ,%i'a & o!r religi\s & e?nic  
m9orities 9 ,iraq & ,syria h fac$       
g5ocide & o!r crimes aga9/ humanity     

p]petuat$ by ,,isis1 & t "s ( ^! m9ority
 fai?s are on ! v]ge ( ext9ction 9      
,iraq2 ,:]eas ,egyptian ,coptic         
,*ri/ians h be5 repeat$ly t>get$ & _!   
aggressors h gone unprosecut$1 includ+  
two suicide bomb+s t kill$ #dd p at     
,coptic *ur*es on ,palm ,sunday #bjag & 
an attack 9 ,decemb] #bjaf kill+ #bd &  
injur+ num]\s o!r ,coptic wor%ip]s1 _m (
 :om 7 wom5 & *ildr52 ,:]eas accord+ to 
! bip>tisan ,unit$ ,/ates ,commission on
 ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om1       
,burmese ,*ri/ians & ,muslim communities
 h fac$ extraord9>y p]secution f bo?    
gov]nm5t & non-/ate actors1 includ+     
incid5ts ( intimidation & viol5ce2 ! =c$
 relocation & de/ruction ( religi\s     
sites2 viol5t attacks by mobs & !       
milit>y2 sexual viol5ce & traffick+ 9   
p]sons2 & an ongo+ campaign ( co]c$     
conv]sion to ,buddhism2 ,:]eas accord+  
to ! #ba/ ,c5tury ,wilb]=ce ,initiative1
 9 ,nig]ia sy/emic discrim9ation &      
impunity has contribut$ to a #fb-p]c5t  
increase ( ,*ri/ians kill+s ov] ! pa/ #c

 ye>s1 result+ 9 ov] #d1jbh dea?s & #bjj
 *ur* attacks1 l$ 9 "p by ! ,islami/    
t]ror gr\p ,boko ,h>am1 ,fulani         
militants1 & o!rs1 result+ 9 mass       
dislocation & fam9e2 ,:]eas ! ,eritrean 
,gov]nm5t cont9ues to t>get ,prote/ant  
,*ri/ians1 includ+ tortur+ religi\s     
prison]s1 arbitr>ily arre/+ & deta9+    
,prote/ant ,*ri/ians )\t *>ges1 & bann+ 
public religi\s activities2 ,:]eas      
apo/asy & blasphemy laws are r\t9ely us$
 across ! ,middle ,ea/ & ,nor? ,africa  
to intimidate & puni% m9ority fai?s & ^?
 :o w\ld leave ,islam2 ,:]eas accord+ to
 ,human ,rights ,wat*1 9 ,paki/an       
,*ri/ians1 ,h9du1 & ,ahmadis are (t5    
t>get$ because ( _! religi\s id5tities  
by viol5t religi\s extremi/s2 =c$       
conv]sion & m>riage ( ,*ri/ian & ,h9du  
girls & "y wom5 into ,islam rema9s a    
sy/emic problem2 :]e blasphemy laws are 
(t5 us$ z an excuse to settle p]sonal   
scores or /ir up religi\s animosity     
aga9/ m>g9aliz$ religi\s m9orities1     
result+ 9 a climate ( fe> & a *ill+     

effect on religi\s expression2 & :]eas1 
accord+ to ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,commission =
 ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om1 !re   
are m p s]v+ on dea? r[ or s]v+ life    
s5t5ces = blasphemy 9 ,paki/an ?an 9 any
 o!r c\ntry 9 ! _w2 ,:]eas ! ,iranian   
gov]nm5t has increas+ly raid$ ,*ri/ian &
 ,baha'i religi\s ga!r+s1 arre/$ &      
imprison$ wor%ip]s & religi\s lead]s1   
imprison$ ,baha'i educators1 confiscat$ 
,*ri/ian & ,baha'i prop]ties1           
significantly increas$ ! numb] (        
physical assaults & beat+s ( ,*ri/ians 9
 prison1 re/rict$ access to education = 
! ,*ri/ian & ,baha'i fai? communities1 &
 =c$ human rights def5d]s :o def5d      
,*ri/ians & ,baha'is 9 c\rt to flee !   
c\ntry or face imprisonm5t2 ,:]eas      
accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate1 !       
,sudanese ,gov]nm5t has sy/ematically   
t>get$ ! ,*ri/ian community1 prosecut+  
,*ri/ian pa/ors on trump$-up *>ges1     
confiscat+ ,*ri/ian-own$ prop]ties1     
bann+ ! con/ruction ( new ,*ri/ian h\ses
 ( wor%ip1 de/roy+ num]\s religi\s      

facilities ?r\gh\t ! c\ntry1 t>get+     
human rights def5d]s = legally repres5t+
 ! ,*ri/ian community1 &1 accord+ to    
,op5 ,doors1 conduct+ bomb+ campaigns ( 
*ur*es & hospitals 9 ! ,nuba m\nta9s2   
,:]eas ! ,nor? ,korean ,gov]nm5t        
cont9ues to be ! mo/ repressive regime1 
res]v+ its mo/ sev]e p]secution =       
,*ri/ians ) e/imates t t5s ( ?\s&s (    
,*ri/ians are curr5tly 9 prison camps   
fac+ h>d labor or execution2 ,:]eas     
limits on religi\s expression & religi\s
 practice are widespread1 includ+ ! use 
( te*nologies & ! ,int]net to t>get &   
sil5ce religi\s m9orities1 re/rict !    
fre$om ( assembly1 & limit access to    
digital religi\s mat]ials2 ,:]eas       
promot+ ,int]net fre$om is a            
co/-effective means ( advanc+ fundam5tal
 fre$oms 9 clos$ & au?orit>ian c\ntries1
 includ+ ! fre$om ( religion2 ,:]eas    
despite increas$ att5tion to religion 9 
,unit$ ,/ates =eign policy 9 rec5t ye>s1
 global levels ( religi\s p]secution1   
viol5t religi\s extremism1 &            

religion-relat$ conflict rema9 dang]\sly
 high2 ,:]eas ! global religi\s fre$om  
crisis we are exp]i5c+ today has creat$ 
millions ( victims & und]m9es lib]ty1   
prosp]ity1 & peace 9 places vital to    
,unit$ ,/ates national int]e/s--pos+    
direct *all5ges to ,unit$ ,/ates int]e/s
 9 ! ,middle ,ea/1 ,russia1 ,*9a1 &     
sub-,sah>an ,africa2 ,:]eas a gr[+ body 
( academic rese>*1 includ+ ! "w ( !     
,religi\s ,fre$om & ,bus9ess ,f\ndation1
 demon/rates t ! abs5ce ( religi\s      
fre$om contributes to p]secution (      
m9orities1 religi\s extremism1 t]rorism1
 & in/ability2 ,:]eas ?is rese>* also   
%[s t :]e religi\s fre$om is protect$ & 
advanc$ z a univ]sally recogniz$ human  
"r !re is great] peace1 political &     
social /ability1 economic developm5t1   
democratization1 wom5's emp[]m5t1 & less
 viol5t religi\s extremism2 & ,:]eas    
,congress rec5tly recogniz$1 ) broad    
bip>tisan support1 9 ! ,frank ,r4 ,wolf 
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act    
7,public ,law #aad-bha7 t because !     

promotion ( int]national religi\s fre$om
 protects human rights1 advances        
democracy abroad1 & advances ,unit$     
,/ates int]e/s 9 /ability1 security1 &  
developm5t globally1 ! promotion (      
int]national religi\s fre$om requires   
new & evolv+ policies1 & diplomatic     
responses t are drawn f ! exp]tise ( !  
national security ag5cies1 ! diplomatic 
s]vices1 & o!r gov]nm5tal ag5cies &     
nongov]nm5tal organizations1 & are      
coord9at$ across & c>ri$ out by ! entire
 range ( ,f$]al ag5cies3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be 
x  ,t ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives-- 7#a7  
reaffirms ! commitm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
to promot+ religi\s fre$om globally &   
calls on ! ,presid5t & ! ,secret>y (    
,/ate1 9 accordance ) ! ,int]national   
,religi\s ,fre$om ,act ( #aiih1 z am5d$ 
by ! ,frank ,r4 ,wolf ,int]national     
,religi\s ,fre$om ,act ( #bjaf 7,public 
,law #aad-bha71 to /r5g!n ,unit$ ,/ates 
religi\s fre$om diplomacy on behalf (   
individuals fac+ re/rictions1           
imprisonm5t1 & viol5ce 9 =eign c\ntries 

on acc\nt ( _! religi\s belief or       
practice2  7#b7 calls on ! ,presid5t to 
appo9t a new ,ambassador-at-,l>ge =     
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om at !    
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate & to "n a ,special    
,advisor = ,int]national ,religi\s      
,fre$om at ! ,national ,security        
,c\ncil1 z urg$ by section #bja ( !     
,frank ,wolf ,int]national ,religi\s    
,fre$om ,act 7,public ,law #aad-bha72   
7#c7 calls on ! ,presid5t1 ! ,secret>y (
 ,/ate1 & ! ,ambassador-at-,l>ge =      
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om to      
develop a national security /rategy on  
int]national religi\s fre$om & to       
integrate t /rategy into ,unit$ ,/ates  
diplomatic1 developm5t1 & national      
security /rategies1 includ+ by          
incorporat+ int]national religi\s fre$om
 policy into ! /rategic plans ( all     
executive ag5cies ) =eign policy        
responsibilities1 includ+ ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,def5se ,quadr5nial ,def5se ,review2    
7#d7 urges ! ,presid5t to incorporate ! 
national security /rategy on            

int]national religi\s fre$om into !     
,national ,security ,/rategy ( ! ,unit$ 
,/ates2  7#e7 urges ! ,presid5t1 !      
,secret>y ( ,/ate1 & !                  
,ambassador-at-,l>ge = ,int]national    
,religi\s ,fre$om to provide /rong      
support = int]national religi\s fre$om 9
 exi/+ ,unit$ ,nations in/itutions t h a
 specializ$ exp]tise on ! issue &       
lev]age ! gr[+ network ( =eign          
int]national religi\s fre$om focus$     
in/itutions includ+ su* bodies z !      
,int]national ,contact ,gr\p on ,fre$om 
( ,religion or ,belief1 ! ,panel (      
,exp]ts on ,fre$om ( ,religion or       
,belief at ! ,,osce ,(fice = ,democratic
 ,in/itutions & ,human ,rights1 !       
,european ,p>liam5t ,int]gr\p on ,fre$om
 ( ,religion or ,belief & ,religi\s     
,tol]ance1 ! ,int]national ,panel (     
,p>liam5t>ians = ,fre$om ( ,religion or 
,belief1 & ! ,commonweal? ,initiative = 
,fre$om ( ,religion or ,belief2  7#f7   
calls on ! ,presid5t1 9 collaboration ) 
! ,secret>y ( ,/ate1 !                  

,ambassador-at-,l>ge = ,int]national    
,religi\s ,fre$om1 & ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national    
,developm5t1 9 accordance ) section #ajf
 ( ! ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om    
,act ( #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdae71 to  
develop a /rategic plan = ,unit$ ,/ates 
diplomatic missions to promote & protect
 int]national religi\s fre$om & to      
direct grants to civil society1         
nongov]nm5tal organizations1 & bo?      
majority & m9ority religi\s gr\ps t are 
engag$ 9 innovative programs to build & 
/r5g!n plurali/ic societies1 protect !  
univ]sally gu>ante$ "r to ! fre$om (    
religion1 r$uce conflict1 & c\nt] viol5t
 religi\s extremism & t]rorism2  7#g7   
urges ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate to implem5t ! 
requirem5ts ( section #ajc ( ! ,frank   
,wolf ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om   
,act 7,public ,law #aad-bha7 & develop a
 tra9+ curriculum = all ,am]ican        
diplomats 9 int]national religi\s fre$om
 policy2  7#h7 calls on ! ,presid5t1 9  
collaboration ) ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate1 !  

,ambassador-at-,l>ge = ,int]national    
,religi\s ,fre$om1 ! ,*ief ,executive   
,(fic] ( ! ,broadca/+ ,bo>d ( ,gov]nors1
 & ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates     
,ag5cy = ,int]national ,developm5t1 to  
develop a compreh5sive & multiye>       
/rategy t p>tn]s ) civil society1       
bus9esses1 key te*nology indu/ries1     
religi\s lead]s1 & human rights def5d]s 
to a*ieve rapid levels ( clos$ society  
access to ! ,int]net 9 promotion (      
democracy & human rights1 includ+       
religi\s fre$om2  7#i7 urges t n less   
?an #e p]c5t ( funds appropriat$ = !    
,broadca/+ ,bo>d ( ,gov]nors is us$ to  
support ,int]net firewall & c5sor%ip    
circumv5tion activities2  7#aj7 urges ! 
,presid5t1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate1 !       
,secret>y ( ,def5se1 & o!r relevant     
ag5cies to develop a compreh5sive       
response to protect ! victims ( g5ocide1
 crimes aga9/ humanity1 & w> crimes & to
 provide humanit>ian1 /abilization1 &   
recov]y assi/ance to all individuals f  
religi\s & e?nic gr\ps s effect$ 9 ,iraq

 & ,syria2 &  7#aa7 urges ! ,secret>y ( 
,/ate to ree/abli% ! ,religion & ,=eign 
,policy ,work+ ,gr\p )9 ! ,dep>tm5t (   
,/ate's ,f$]al ,advisory ,committee     
e/abli%$ by ! previ\s adm9i/ration1 br++
 toge!r exp]ts f gov]nm5t1 univ]sities1 
religi\s & o!r nongov]nm5t organizations
 to develop an effective multiye> plan  
to address religi\s p]secution globally 
& protect & promote int]national        
religi\s fre$om4