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S 2711 113th Congress Senate International Affairs Advisory bodies Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Executive agency funding and structure Human rights Religion U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2014

Introduced: July 30, 2014 Introduced by: Durbin, Richard J. Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 30, 2014
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5144-5145)
Jul 30, 2014
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5143-5144)
Jul 30, 2014
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom through September 30, 2016.

Directs the Commission, during an initial election, to elect: (1) as Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected official of the political party that is not the political party of the President, and (2) as Vice Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected official of the political party of the President. Sets forth a process for future elections in which the positions of Chair and Vice Chair rotate annually between Commissioners appointed by elected officials of each political party.

Requires the Ambassador at Large to be notified in advance of all Commission meetings. Allows the Ambassador to attend all meetings as a nonvoting member.

Removes authority under which a Commission member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken office.

Requires approval by at least six of the nine members of the Commission before: (1) issuance of a statement on behalf of the Commission, or (2) submittal of policy recommendation reports to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. Permits each member to include individual or dissenting views.

Authorizes elected officials to appoint majority and minority staff directors for the Commission, as well as professional staff for the political parties. (Currently, the Commission appoints a single executive director and is served by nonpartisan staff.)

What's happening now July 30, 2014

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5144-5145)

 Committees of jurisdiction 1