URGENT: Save the US Commission on International Religious Freedom!

If something is good, it is worth fighting for. Well, that maxim has proven to be true — and necessary — over and over again when it comes to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)! Every year there seems to be a battle to keep funding the Commission that was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, which is Public Law.

Not to infer that any U.S. senators have more of the spirit of Old Nick than Saint Nick at this time of year by their considering not including this important watchdog on religious persecution in the one year appropriations extension bill being hammered out TODAY, but persecution is on the increase all over the world, and USCIRF is one tool for defending the freedom of marginalized and persecuted religious minorities.

In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4653, the USCIRF Reauthorization Act of 2014, by voice vote. The bill, that was introduced by U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) had 41 co-sponsors, including 22 Democrats and 19 Republicans. The bill hearkens back to why the USCIRF was created to begin with, but has never fully realized, reauthorizing USCIRF as an independent federal government advisory body through 2019, and also requiring the Secretary of State to receive assistance from USCIRF when establishing training for Foreign Service Officers regarding the role of religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy as well as the connection between religious freedom and security. Pretty sure that the State Department and any of its friends in the Senate are not happy with the idea of this strengthened mandate! That is why pressure is needed immediately.

According to our friends at the International Religious Freedom Roundtable (IRF), we must take action immediately to fight for the survival of USCIRF. The appropriations extension bill is being worked out today, and will probably be filed on Monday. “If funding for USCIRF is not included in this final spending bill, then USCIRF will have to close its doors when its current funding expires on December 11.”

IRF Roundtable continues:

Immediate phone calls are needed to ensure funding for USCIRF is included in the year-end appropriations process:

• If you have relationships with staffers in the offices of Senators Patrick Leahy and/or Barbara Mikulski of the Senate Appropriations Committee, please call and email them now.

• If not, please call the general office numbers and urge these Senators to include funding for USCIRF in the year-end appropriations bill that is being shaped TODAY.
  • Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) – Washington Office: (202) 224-4654
  • Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) – Washington Office: (202) 224-4242

Please take a moment to make the phone calls now, and help save the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.