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H.R. 2037 114th Congress House

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015

Official title: To reauthorize the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 27, 2015 Introduced by: Christopher H. Smith Republican · New Jersey See on congress.gov
International Affairs Advisory bodiesDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel management
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Human rightsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationReligionSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsU.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 20, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
Apr 27, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Apr 27, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 20, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015

Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) as an independent federal government advisory body through FY2021.

Requires the USCIRF as a whole to have expertise on the variety of faiths practiced around the world.

Requires appointments to the USCIRF to be made within 90 days of a vacancy. Removes authority under which a USCIRF member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken office.

Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require the Secretary of State to receive assistance from the USCIRF when establishing training for Foreign Service officers in the field of internationally recognized human rights, including instruction regarding the relationship between religious freedom and security, as well as the role of religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy.

Encourages the Department of State to allow classified information to be accessed by USCIRF Commissioners and staff with the appropriate security clearance.

Requires discrimination on the basis of religion to be treated as a category of employment discrimination for purposes of the employment protections for USCIRF employees.

Revises restrictions on the USCIRF's acceptance of gifts and donations to permit sponsoring private parties to provide compensation and benefits to interns, fellows, and volunteers. Requires the number, duration, and funding source of any such internship, fellowship, or volunteer programs to be described in the USCIRF's annual financial report.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2037: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2037/
MLA
"H.R. 2037: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2037/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2037, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2037/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2037: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2037/)
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