Ocean County Leader

Legislation (HR 7025) authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is headed to the House Floor after winning unanimous support from the House Foreign Affairs Committee in a markup session today.

Smith’s bill—which would extend the independent commission for an additional two years through September 2026—has already been endorsed by more than 160 organizations and individuals representing scholars, religious and secular leaders, and human rights advocates.

“USCIRF is the linchpin program Congress created to promote religious freedom,” said Smith, the author of multiple enacted laws to promote religious freedom, including the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act.

“Its high-quality reporting and high-profile commissioners influence the State Department, making its own work more honest and effective,” Smith said.

Established in 1998, the Commission is tasked with defending the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad, reviewing reports of religious freedom violations, and making policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.

“USCIRF in recent years has been more effective than at any point in its history and is one of the most effective tools we have for defending religious freedom,” said Smith. “Now more than ever its success must continue.”