Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act
A BILL
To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to improve the ability of the United States to advance religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and foreign assistance efforts, and through stronger and more flexible political responses to religious freedom violations and violent extremism worldwide, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Findings; policy; sense of Congress
Findings— Section 2(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (3), by inserting “The freedom of thought, conscience, and religion is understood to protect theistic and non-theistic beliefs and the right not to profess or practice any religion.” before “Governments”;
in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following: “A policy or practice of routinely denying applications for visas for religious workers in a country can be indicative of a poor state of religious freedom in that country.”; and
in paragraph (6)—
by inserting “and the specific targeting of non-theists, humanists, and atheists because of their beliefs” after “religious persecution”; and
by inserting “and in regions where non-state actors exercise significant political power and territorial control” before the period at the end.
Policy— Section 2(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(b)) is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E);
by striking the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as redesignated, and inserting the following:
“(1) In general—The following shall be the policy of the United States:”
by adding at the end the following:
“(2) Evolving policies and coordinated diplomatic responses—Because the promotion of international religious freedom protects human rights, advances democracy abroad, and advances United States interests in stability, security, and development globally, the promotion of international religious freedom requires new and evolving policies and diplomatic responses that—
“(A) are drawn from the expertise of the national security agencies, the diplomatic services, and other governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations; and
“(B) are coordinated across and carried out by the entire range of Federal agencies.”
Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that—
a policy or practice by the government of any foreign country of routinely denying visa applications for religious workers can be indicative of a poor state of religious freedom in that country; and
the United States Government should seek to reverse any such policy by reviewing the entirety of the bilateral relationship between such country and the United States.
Sec. 3 Definitions
Section 3 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6402) is amended—
by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (16);
by redesignating paragraphs (10), (11), and (12) as paragraphs (12), (13), and (14), respectively;
by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
“(10) Institution of higher education—The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
“(11) Non-state actor—The term non-state actor means a nonsovereign entity that—
“(A) exercises significant political power and territorial control;
“(B) is outside the control of a sovereign government; and
“(C) often employs violence in pursuit of its objectives.”
by inserting after paragraph (14), as redesignated, the following:
“(15) Special watch list—The term Special Watch List means the Special Watch List described in section 402(b)(1)(A)(iii).”
in paragraph (16), as redesignated—
in subparagraph (A)—
by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (v) and (vi), respectively; and
by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
“(iv) not professing a particular religion, or any religion;”
in subparagraph (B)—
by inserting “conscience, non-theistic views, or” before “religious belief or practice”; and
by inserting “forcibly compelling non-believers or non-theists to recant their beliefs or to convert,” after “forced religious conversion,”.