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United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011
Legislative Progress
Momentum (last 30 days)
0
score
0 actions · 0 new cosponsors · 0 votes
Speed vs cohort
90pct
106d open
vs 6,662 other HR bills in the 112th — cohort avg 39d
No CRS summary is available for this bill yet. The source title, actions, sponsors, and text versions below come from Congress.gov.
These links require the bill number to appear in the filing's source-reported specific issue text. Client expenses and lobbying-firm income are separate disclosure fields.
Filing registrants (3)
2011 · fourth_quarter · Foreign Relations
Circulated a letter that was signed by 21 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, which was addressed and sent to the Secretary of State and Members of Congress. Made official contacts to express our deep concern about legislation in Belgium that contains provisions that will undoubtedly result in official discrimination against religious minorities. The legislation contradicts opinions of the Belgian Council of State, given on 10 May 2006 and 16 March 2009, which were based on Article 12.2 of the Belgian Constitution, Article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and Article 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The legislation contradicts the rule of law and violates fundamental rights to freedom of religion and conscience, and to freedom of association. The legislation contravenes the duty of neutrality of the State in religious matters, which has been constantly affirmed by the European Court of Human Rights. Worked with the client to sign a letter that was signed by 24 human rights and religious organizations, which was addressed and sent to the Secretary of State to express our deep concern for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Christian pastor who had been convicted of apostasy and sentenced to death. On behalf of Pastor Nadarkhani, and others persecuted for their faith in Iran, we urged the Secretary to use all diplomatic efforts to call for his immediate and unconditional release. Circulated a letter that was signed by 21 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, which was addressed and sent to the Secretary of State and members of Congress. Made official contacts to express our deep concern about rising government restrictions on religion in France. In particular, we are increasingly concerned about the French governments program against sectarian drifts, which represses religious minorities, and its efforts to export this anti-sect model of repression to all of Europe and beyond. We urged U.S. leaders to press French authorities on this, for it is time for the international community to pressure the French government to dismantle this program, disband the governments Inter-ministerial Mission for Vigilance and Combating Sectarian Drifts (MIVILUDES), and end all efforts to export this repressive model. Sent a letter that was signed by 23 religious and human rights leaders of varying faiths to members of Congress. Made official contacts to express our deep concern about a new religion law in Hungary. This law represents a serious setback for religious freedom in Hungary as it contravenes standards of the OSCE, European Union, Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights and United Nations by discriminating against minority religious groups. The law will de-register targeted minority faiths that have been registered as religions in Hungary since the adoption of the 1990 Religion Law, while allowing favored religious organizations to maintain their registered religious status and enjoy all the rights and privileges that flow to religious organizations. Made official contacts regarding H.R. 2867, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011. H.R. 2867 passed the House on September 19, 2011. An amended version of the bill then passed the Senate on December 13, 2011. The House passed this amended version on December 16, 2011. Made official contacts to discuss the need for a new bill to amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) in order to strengthen the promotion of religious freedom in United States foreign policy. There are two compelling reasons to amend IRFA. First, religious freedom is perhaps the most personal and fundamental of all human rights, as it goes to the very core and dignity of a human being. Second, the advance of international religious freedom is a national security imperative for the American people. Religious freedom strengthens culture and provides the foundation for a stable democracy and its components, including civil society, economic growth, and social harmony. Its absence is associated with religious conflict, instability, extremism and terrorism. History and modern scholarship make it clear that religious freedom is an effective counterweight that undermines religious extremism.
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Sources: Congress.gov
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
2011 · fourth_quarter · Religion
International Religious Freedom (H.R. 440/S. 1245 & H.R. 2867), Religious Freedom/Free Speech on New Media Platforms (NRB's John Milton Project), Religious Liberty of Faith-Based Grantees (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Grants)
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2011 · third_quarter · Foreign Relations
Circulated a letter that was signed by 51 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, addressed to leaders and members of the House, and made contacts with House offices to urge them to act quickly to cosponsor, mark-up and pass H.R. 1856, the International Religious Freedom Amendments of 2011, a bill to amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) to strengthen the promotion of religious freedom in the United States foreign policy and to reauthorize the U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Worked with several human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths to make contacts to urge members of Congress to pass H.R. 2867, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011. H.R. 2867 was a bill introduced with bipartisan support by Congressman Frank Wolf, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Ranking Member Howard Berman. The bill passed the House on vote 391 21 on September 15. Made one contact to express concerns about a bill in Belgium which will "extend the protection of vulnerable persons against mistreatment." Human rights attorneys and advocates are concerned about two articles in the legislation that will criminalize the manifestation of religious beliefs by labeling the rites or practices of targeted faiths as psychological subjection or techniques susceptible to alter ones capacity of discernment. This could be applied to any religion, and injecting governmental authorities into the manifestation of religion or belief process regarding targeted faiths on the grounds that their beliefs and practices are considered as psychological subjection contradict the rule of law, violate fundamental rights to freedom of religion and conscience, and to freedom of association. We urged them to raise the issue with European Union Parliamentarians. Worked with other human rights organizations to circulate a letter that was signed by 23 religious and human rights leaders of varying faiths, addressed to the Secretary of State, and made contacts to express our deep concern about a new religion law in Hungary. This law represents a serious setback for religious freedom in Hungary as it contravenes standards of the OSCE, European Union, Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights and United Nations by discriminating against minority religious groups. The law will de-register targeted minority faiths that have been registered as religions in Hungary since the adoption of the 1990 Religion Law, while allowing favored religious organizations to maintain their registered religious status and enjoy all the rights and privileges that flow to religious organizations. Worked with the client to sign a letter that was signed by 10 human rights and religious organizations, addressed to members of the Senate, to oppose the provision of U.S. taxpayer-funded military or police assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan. Uzbek authorities continue to silence civil society activists, independent journalists, and all political opposition; severely curtail freedom of expression and religion; and organize forced child labor on a massive scale. The U.S. government should make clear to the Uzbek government that direct assistance to its armed forces and security services will not be made available absent meaningful human rights improvements, including the release of imprisoned pro-democracy activists, an end to harassment of civil society groups, and effective steps to end torture.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
2011 · third_quarter · Foreign Relations
Endorse resolution opposing Palestinian Unilateral Declaration of Independence (H.Res.268/S.Res.185); Opposition to unilateral recognition of Palestinian state at UN (UDI); Support Iran Transparency and Accountability Act of 2011(H.RES.134/S.RES.80); Concerns regarding Gaza Flotilla/BDS Movements; Support Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011(H.R.1905); Concerns regarding extremist Islamism in Latin America; Support United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011 (H.R. 2867); Support Syria Sanctions Act (S.1472); Support for Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act (H.R.890/S.466); Support for international affairs funding in FY12 appropriations and FY13 budget; Support for enhanced sanctions against Iran and Iranian officials, including Menendez-Kirk amendment to Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2011(S.1547); Opposition to proposed USAID regulations allowing for funding of religious structures and activities; Support for nomination of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs; Concerns regarding US and Israel relations with Turkey; Issues regarding funding of UN; funding of Palestinian Authority
Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), White House Office
| Republican |
| FL |
| Jesse L. Jackson Jr. | Democratic | IL |