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
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 immediately prior to the penultimate sentence the following new sentence: “The freedom of thought, conscience, and religion is understood to protect theistic and non-theistic beliefs as well as the right not to profess or practice any religion.”; 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 influence” after “religious majorities”.
Policy— Section 2(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(6) 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 are drawn from the expertise of the national security agencies, the diplomatic services, and other governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations, and are coordinated across and carried out by the entire range of Federal agencies.”
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 exercises significant political power and is able to exert influence at a national or international level but does not belong to or ally itself to any particular country and often employs illegal 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 contained in the Executive Summary to the Annual Report and described in section 102(b)(1)(F)(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”.