,,iii  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session   
,s4 ,,res4 #afb  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #aa1 #bjag ,mr4  
,lank=d 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,coons1 & ,mr4 
,rubio7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2   
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign  
,relations  ,,resolution  ,reaffirm+ !  
commitm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to promot+  
religi\s fre$om1 & = o!r purposes4      
,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,congress has a  
pr\d hi/ory ( promot+ int]nationally    
recogniz$ human rights2 ,:]eas religi\s 
fre$om is a fundam5tal human "r ( all p2
 ,:]eas ! free ex]cise ( religion mu/ /&
 = ! "r to practice any fai? or to *oose
 no fai? at all2 ,:]eas e individual's  
rights to fre$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*     
recognize1 ,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]vance42 ,:]eas1 
dur+ 8 #aida ,/ate ( ! ,union address1  
,presid5t ,frankl9 ,d4 ,roosevelt not$ !
 8,f\r ,fre$oms0 t ! _w %\ld be f\nd$   
^u1 includ+ ! 8fre$om ( e p]son to      
wor%ip ,god 9 8 own way--ev]y:]e 9 !    
_w02 ,:]eas1 accord+ to ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
,commission on ,int]national ,religi\s  
,fre$om 7,,uscirf71 abuses committ$ by  
gov]nm5ts & non-/ate actors has increas$
 & ! inc>c]ation ( prison]s ( consci5ce 
rema9s widespread2 ,:]eas1 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$1 ei!r by ! gov]nm5t or social  
gr\ps2 ,:]eas ! #bjag report produc$ by 
,,uscirf recomm5d$ t ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate
 designate ! foll[+ c\ntries z ,c\ntries

 ( ,p>ticul> ,conc]n3 ,burma1 ,c5tral   
,african ,republic1 ,*9a1 ,eritrea1     
,iran1 ,nig]ia1 ,nor? ,korea1 ,paki/an1 
,russia1 ,saudi ,arabia1 ,sudan1 ,syria1
 ,tajiki/an1 ,turkm5i/an1 ,uzbeki/an1 & 
,vietnam2 ,:]eas1 9 ! same report1      
,,uscirf categoriz$ z ,ti] #b violators1
 mean+ violations engag$ 9 or tol]at$ by
 ! gov]nm5t are s]i\s & *>act]iz$ by at 
lea/ "o ( ! elem5ts ( ! #8sy/ematic1    
ongo+1 & egregi\s' ,c\ntry ( ,p>ticul>  
,conc]n /&>d1 ,afghani/an1 ,az]baijan1  
,bahra91 ,cuba1 ,egypt1 ,india1         
,indonesia1 ,iraq1 ,kazakh/an1 ,laos1   
,malaysia1 & ,turkey2 ,:]eas ,,uscirf   
also recomm5d$ t ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate    
designate ! foll[+ non-/ate actors z    
entities ( p>ticul> conc]n3 ! ,islamic  
,/ate ( ,iraq & ,syria 7,,isis71 !      
,taliban 9 ,afghani/an1 & al-,%abaab 9  
,somalia2 ,:]eas1 accord+ to ! ,pew     
,rese>* ,c5t] ,/udy1 ! two geographic   
regions ) ! highe/ gov]nm5t re/rictions 
cont9ue to be ! ,middle ,ea/-,nor?      
,africa & ! ,asia-,pacific2 ,:]eas      

,congress has recogniz$ t ,*ri/ians1    
,yezidis1 ,%i'a1 ,turkm51 ,%abak1       
,sabean-,m&eans1 ,kaka'i1 & o!r religi\s
 & e?nic m9orities 9 ,iraq & ,syria h   
fac$ g5ocide & o!r crimes aga9/ humanity
 p]petrat$ by ! ,islamic ,/ate ( ,iraq &
 ! ,levant 7,,isil71 & t ,,isil seeks to
 eradicate ! communities ( ^! m9orities2
 ,:]eas ,egyptian ,coptic ,*ri/ians h   
be5 repeat$ly t>get$ & _! aggressors h  
gone unprosecut$1 includ+ two suicide   
bomb+s conduct$ by ,,isil t kill$ #dd p 
at ,coptic *ur*es on ,palm ,sunday #bjag
 & an attack 9 ,decemb] #bjaf t kill$   
#bi & injur$ num]\s o!r ,coptic         
wor%ip]s1 _m ( :om 7 wom5 & *ildr52     
,:]eas1 accord+ to ,,uscirf1 ,roh+ya    
,muslims & o!r religi\s & e?nic         
m9orities1 includ+ ,*ri/ians1 9 ,burma h
 fac$ ongo+ p]secution f /ate & non-/ate
 actors = decades1 includ+ incid5ts (   
intimidation & viol5ce2 ! =c$ relocation
 & de/ruction ( religi\s sites2 viol5t  
attacks by mobs & ! milit>y2 sexual     
viol5ce & traffick+ 9 p]sons1 & an ongo+

 campaign ( co]c$ conv]sion to          
,buddhism2 ,:]eas1 accord+ to ,,uscirf's
 mo/ rec5t annual report1 conditions =  
fre$om ( religion or belief 9 ,*9a      
cont9ue to decl9e1 ) au?orities t>get+  
anyone consid]$ a ?reat to ! /ate1      
includ+ religi\s believ]s1 & ,*9ese     
au?orities arre/$ ,*ri/ians = display+ !
 cross 9 _! homes & pr9t+ religi\s      
mat]ials1 ?reat5$ p>5ts = br++ _! *ildr5
 to *ur*1 & block$ !m f hold+ c]ta9     
religi\s activities2 ,:]eas1 accord+ to 
,,uscirf1 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,eritrea        
cont9ues to t>get ,evangelical &        
,p5teco/al ,*ri/ians & ,jehovah's       
,witnesses1 suppresses ! religi\s       
activities ( ,muslims1 dom9ates !       
int]nal affairs ( ! ,coptic ,or?odox    
,*ur* ( ,eritrea1 & has engag$ 9 !      
torture ( religi\s prison]s2 ,:]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 ,:]eas1 accord+  
to ,human ,rights ,wat*1 9 ,paki/an1    

,*ri/ians1 ,h9dus1 & ,ahmadis are (t5 ! 
victims ( viol5t extremi/s2 =c$         
conv]sion & m>riage ( ,*ri/ian & ,h9du  
girls & "y wom5 rema9s a sy/emic        
problem2 & 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 
! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's #bjae             
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,report1
 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,iran cont9ues to repress
 religi\s m9orities1 includ+ ,baha'is1  
,*ri/ians1 ,sunnis1 ,sufis1 ,y>sanis1 & 
,zoroa/rians1 by raid+ religi\s ga!r+s  
s]vices1 arre/+ & imprison+ wor%ip]s &  
religi\s lead]s1 imprison+ educators1   
confiscat+ prop]ties1 & execut+         
dissid5ts2 ,:]eas1 accord+ to !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's #bjae ,int]national 
,religi\s ,fre$om ,report1 ! ,gov]nm5t (
 ,sudan 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 community2 ,:]eas1 accord+  
to ! ,febru>y #bjad report ( ! ,unit$   
,nations ,commission ( ,inquiry on !    
,human ,rights ,situation ( !           
,democratic ,p's ,republic ( ,korea     
7,,dprk71 !re is 8an almo/ complete     
d5ial ( ! "r to fre$om ( ?\ght1         
consci5ce1 & religion10 & ! ,gov]nm5t ( 
! ,,dprk 8consid]s ! spread (           
,*ri/ianity a p>ticul>ly s]i\s ?reat0 & 
en=ces sev]e puni%m5ts = ! practice (   
,*ri/ianity2 ,:]eas ! global religi\s   
fre$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 ! abs5ce ( fundam5tal human      

rights1 includ+ religi\s fre$om1        
contributes to p]secution ( m9orities1  
religi\s extremism1 t]rorism1 &         
in/ability2 ,:]eas !re is great] peace1 
political & social /ability1 economic   
developm5t1 democratization1 & wom5's   
emp[]m5t :5 human rights1 includ+       
religi\s fre$om1 are protect$ & advanc$2
 & ,:]eas ,congress rec5tly recogniz$1 )
 broad bip>tisan support1 9 ! ,frank ,r4
 ,wolf ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om  
,act 7,public ,law #aad-bha71 enact$ on 
,decemb] #af1 #bjaf1 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$]al ag5cies3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be 
x  ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 reaffirms !       
commitm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to promot+  
religi\s fre$om z a fundam5tal human "r 
& calls on ! ,presid5t & ! ,secret>y (  
,/ate1 9 accordance ) ! ,int]national   
,religi\s ,fre$om ,act ( #aiih 7,public 
,law #aje-bib71 z am5d$ by ! ,frank ,r4 
,wolf ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om   
,act 7,public ,law #aad-bha71 to /r5g!n 
,unit$ ,/ates =eign policy on behalf (  
individuals p]secut$ 9 =eign c\ntries on
 acc\nt ( religion2  7#b7 calls on !    
,presid5t1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate1 & !     
,ambassador-at-,l>ge = ,int]national    
,religi\s ,fre$om to develop an action  
plan on int]national religi\s fre$om &  
to integrate t plan into ,unit$ ,/ates  
diplomatic1 developm5t1 & national      
security /rategies2  7#c7 9 accordance )
 section #ajf ( ! ,int]national         
,religi\s ,fre$om ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4   
#fdae71 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 to develop a /rategic plan 
to direct grants fund$ by ! ,unit$      
,/ates ,gov]nm5t t[>ds civil society t  
are implem5t+ innovat$ programs 9 key   
c\ntries to tra9 & "w ) local religi\s  
lead]s ( all religi\s communities1      
includ+ m9orities1 on ! importance (    
plurali/ic societies1 rights gu>ante$ "u
 int]national law1 & report+ me*anisms  
available to !m )9 int]national         
in/itutions2  7#d7 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#e7 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 /abilization & recov]y    
assi/ance to all individuals f religi\s 
& e?nic gr\ps s effect$ 9 ,iraq &       
,syria2  7#f7 calls on ! ,presid5t & !  
,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]nm5tal organizations to develop 
an effective multiye> plan to address   
religi\s p]secution globally & protect &
 promote int]national religi\s fre$om2 &
  7#g7 calls on ! ,presid5t1 ! ,secret>y
 ( ,/ate & ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,trade       
,repres5tative to ensure t trade        
negotiations include religi\s fre$om    
conditions z m&at$ by ! ,bip>tisan      
,congressional ,trade ,priorities &     
,acc\ntability ,act ( #bjae 7title ,i ( 
,public ,law #aad-bf74