Ahead of next week’s International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, DC, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chair of the House Global Human Rights Subcommittee, has introduced bipartisan legislation (HR 7025) to reauthorize the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)—which is set to expire later this year—through September 2026. Smith’s bill is cosponsored by Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX).

             “The US Commission on International Religious Freedom is the US government’s strongest and most respected voice for victims of religious persecution worldwide,” said Rep. Smith, who has authored dozens of laws on foreign policy and human rights and four laws specifically promoting religious freedom, including in Iraq and Syria and globally (the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act). Smith, who chaired the first hearing in the House on antisemitism and has chaired 14 additional hearings to expose and combat antisemitism to date, is the author of the law that created the Office to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism at the US State Department, as well as the law that established ambassadorial-level leadership of the fight against antisemitism abroad.

             Established in 1998, the independent 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 Commissioners are appointed by the President and the congressional leadership of both political parties.

             “As the daughter of immigrants who fled religious persecution abroad, I believe the U.S. has a special responsibility to stand up for the rights of religious minorities around the world,” said Rep. Eshoo. “That’s why I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an organization that plays a vital role in ensuring that freedom of religion remains a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy.”

             “The darkest moments in human history have come when people remain silent in the face of oppression, violence, bigotry and injustice. We must eradicate its presence around the globe,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “The US Commission on Religious Freedom plays a vital role in helping us work toward this moral imperative.”

             “Freedom of religion is a basic human right and an integral part of democracy,” said Rep. Cuellar. “The U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom plays a key role in spreading this truth and does important work investigating religious-based persecutions across the world. I am pleased to join my colleagues on this bipartisan bill to continue supporting their noble efforts.”

              “USCIRF reports are the gold standard of religious freedom reporting,” Smith added. “At a time when religious freedom is under siege throughout the world, Congress must ensure that the United States has all of the tools at its disposal to prioritize this fundamental human right in talks with other nations,” said Smith.

             “We cannot retreat from the necessary and noble fight to protect victims of religious persecution,” Smith said.

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