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22 U.S.C. § 6442a — Presidential actions in response to violations of religious freedom
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Response to violations of religious freedom**
(1) **In general**
(A) *United States policy* — It shall be the policy of the United States—
(i) to oppose violations of religious freedom that are or have been engaged in or tolerated by the governments of foreign countries; and
(ii) to promote the right to freedom of religion in those countries through the actions described in subsection (b).
(B) *Requirement of Presidential action* — For each foreign country the government of which engages in or tolerates violations of religious freedom, the President shall oppose such violations and promote the right to freedom of religion in that country through the actions described in subsection (b).
(2) **Basis of actions** — Each action taken under paragraph (1)(B) shall be based upon information regarding violations of religious freedom, as described in the latest Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the Annual Report and Executive Summary, and on any other evidence available, and shall take into account any findings or recommendations by the Commission with respect to the foreign country.
**(b) Presidential actions**
(1) **In general** — Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the President, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Ambassador at Large, the Special Adviser, and the Commission, shall, as expeditiously as practicable in response to the violations described in subsection (a) by the government of a foreign country—
(A) take one or more of the actions described in paragraphs (1) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6445/a&num=0&edition=prelim) (or commensurate action in substitution thereto) with respect to such country; or
(B) negotiate and en
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Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-22/section-6442a-presidential-actions-in-response-to-violations-of-religious-freedom--bb3f0e34ea.md
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Source location: Title 22, Chapter 73, § 6442a; chapter-073-international-religious-freedom.md
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**(a) Response to violations of religious freedom**
(1) **In general**
(A) *United States policy* — It shall be the policy of the United States—
(i) to oppose violations of religious freedom that are or have been engaged in or tolerated by the governments of foreign countries; and
(ii) to promote the right to freedom of religion in those countries through the actions described in subsection (b).
(B) *Requirement of Presidential action* — For each foreign country the government of which engages in or tolerates violations of religious freedom, the President shall oppose such violations and promote the right to freedom of religion in that country through the actions described in subsection (b).
(2) **Basis of actions** — Each action taken under paragraph (1)(B) shall be based upon information regarding violations of religious freedom, as described in the latest Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the Annual Report and Executive Summary, and on any other evidence available, and shall take into account any findings or recommendations by the Commission with respect to the foreign country.
**(b) Presidential actions**
(1) **In general** — Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the President, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Ambassador at Large, the Special Adviser, and the Commission, shall, as expeditiously as practicable in response to the violations described in subsection (a) by the government of a foreign country—
(A) take one or more of the actions described in paragraphs (1) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6445/a&num=0&edition=prelim) (or commensurate action in substitution thereto) with respect to such country; or
(B) negotiate and enter into a binding agreement with the government of such country, as described in [section 6445(c) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6445/c&num=0&edition=prelim).
(2) **Deadline for actions** — Not later than September 1 of each year, the President shall take action under any of paragraphs (1) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6445/a&num=0&edition=prelim) (or commensurate action in substitution thereto) with respect to each foreign country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated violations of religious freedom at any time since September 1 of the preceding year, except that in the case of action under any of paragraphs (9) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6445/a&num=0&edition=prelim) (or commensurate action in substitution thereto)—
(A) the action may only be taken after the requirements of sections 6443 and 6444 of this title have been satisfied; and
(B) the September 1 limitation shall not apply.
(3) **Authority for delay of Presidential actions** — The President may delay action under paragraph (2) described in any of paragraphs (9) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6445/a&num=0&edition=prelim) (or commensurate action in substitution thereto) if he determines and certifies to Congress that a single, additional period of time, not to exceed 90 days, is necessary pursuant to the same provisions applying to countries of particular concern for religious freedom under [section 6442(c)(3) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6442/c/3&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(c) Implementation**
(1) **In general** — In carrying out subsection (b), the President shall—
(A) take the action or actions that most appropriately respond to the nature and severity of the violations of religious freedom;
(B) seek to the fullest extent possible to target action as narrowly as practicable with respect to the agency or instrumentality of the foreign government, or specific officials thereof, that are responsible for such violations; and
(C) when appropriate, make every reasonable effort to conclude a binding agreement concerning the cessation of such violations in countries with which the United States has diplomatic relations.
(2) **Guidelines for Presidential actions** — In addition to the guidelines under paragraph (1), the President, in determining whether to take a Presidential action under paragraphs (9) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6445/a&num=0&edition=prelim) (or commensurate action in substitution thereto), shall seek to minimize any adverse impact on—
(A) the population of the country whose government is targeted by the Presidential action or actions; and
(B) the humanitarian activities of United States and foreign nongovernmental organizations in such country.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Cooperation with nongovernmental organizations, the Department of State, and Congress** The Commission shall seek to effectively and freely cooperate with all entities engaged in the promotion of religious freedom abroad, governmental and nongovernmental, in the performance of the Commission’s duties under this subchapter.
**(b) Conflict of interest and antinepotism**
(1) **Member affiliations** — Except as provided in paragraph (3), in order to ensure the independence and integrity of the Commission, the Commission may not compensate any nongovernmental agency, project, or person related to or affiliated with any member of the Commission, whether in that member’s direct employ or not. Staff employed by the Commission may not serve in the employ of any nongovernmental agency, project, or person related to or affiliated with any member of the Commission while employed by the Commission.
(2) **Staff compensation** — Staff of the Commission may not receive compensation from any other source for work performed in carrying out the duties of the Commission while employed by the Commission.
(3) **Exception**
(A) *In general* — Subject to subparagraph (B), paragraph (1) shall not apply to payments made for items such as conference fees or the purchase of periodicals or other similar expenses, if such payments would not cause the aggregate value paid to any agency, project, or person for a fiscal year to exceed $250.
(B) *Limitation* — Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Commission shall not give special preference to any agency, project, or person related to or affiliated with any member of the Commission.
(4) **Definitions** — In this subsection, the term “affiliated” means the relationship between a member of the Commission and—
(A) an individual who hol
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 22 U.S.C. § 6441
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The President of the United States is authorized to designate and empower the head of any department or agency in the executive branch, or any official thereof who is required to be appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to perform without approval, ratification, or other action by the President (1) any function which is vested in the President by law, or (2) any function which such officer is required or authorized by law to perform only with or subject to the approval, ratification, or other action of the President: Provided, That nothing contained herein shall relieve the President of his responsibility in office for the acts of any such head or other official designated by him to perform such functions. Such designation and authorization shall be in writing, shall be published in the Federal Register, shall be subject to such terms, conditions, and limitations as the President may deem advisable, and shall be revocable at any time by the President in whole or in part.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 3 U.S.C. § 301
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Findings** Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The right to freedom of religion undergirds the very origin and existence of the United States. Many of our Nation’s founders fled religious persecution abroad, cherishing in their hearts and minds the ideal of religious freedom. They established in law, as a fundamental right and as a pillar of our Nation, the right to freedom of religion. From its birth to this day, the United States has prized this legacy of religious freedom and honored this heritage by standing for religious freedom and offering refuge to those suffering religious persecution.
(2) Freedom of religious belief and practice is a universal human right and fundamental freedom articulated in numerous international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Helsinki Accords, the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, the United Nations Charter, and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
(3) Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.”. Article 18(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognizes that “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 22 U.S.C. § 6411
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Portions of annual Human Rights Reports** The Ambassador at Large shall assist the Secretary of State in preparing those portions of the Human Rights Reports that relate to freedom of religion and freedom from discrimination based on religion and those portions of other information provided Congress under sections 2151n and 2304 of this title that relate to the right to freedom of religion.
**(b) Annual Report on International Religious Freedom**
(1) **Deadline for submission** — On May 1 of each year or the first day thereafter on which the appropriate House of Congress is in session, the Secretary of State, with the assistance of the Ambassador at Large, and taking into consideration the recommendations of the Commission, shall prepare and transmit to Congress an Annual Report on International Religious Freedom supplementing the most recent Human Rights Reports by providing additional detailed information with respect to matters involving international religious freedom. Each Annual Report shall contain the following:
(A) *Status of religious freedom* — A description of the status of religious freedom in each foreign country, including—
(i) trends toward improvement in the respect and protection of the right to religious freedom and trends toward deterioration of such right;
(ii) violations of religious freedom engaged in or tolerated by the government of that country;
(iii) particularly severe violations of religious freedom engaged in or tolerated by the government of that country as well as the routine denial of visa applications for religious workers;
(iv) particularly severe violations of religious freedom in that country if such country does not have a functioning government or the government of such country does not control its te
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 22 U.S.C. § 6414
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Sense of Congress** To encourage involvement with religious freedom concerns at every possible opportunity and by all appropriate representatives of the United States Government, it is the sense of the Congress that officials of the executive branch of Government should promote increased advocacy on such issues during meetings between foreign dignitaries and executive branch officials or Members of Congress.
**(b) Prisoner lists and issue briefs on religious freedom concerns** The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Ambassador at Large, the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, United States chiefs of mission abroad, regional experts, and nongovernmental human rights and religious groups, shall prepare and maintain issue briefs on religious freedom, on a country-by-country basis, consisting of lists of persons believed to be imprisoned, detained, or placed under house arrest for their religious activities, religious freedom advocacy, or efforts to protect and advance the universally recognized right to the freedom of religion, together with brief evaluations and critiques of the policies of the respective country restricting religious freedom. In considering the inclusion of names of prisoners on such lists, the Secretary of State shall exercise appropriate discretion, including concerns regarding the safety, security, and benefit to such prisoners.
**(c) Availability of information** The Secretary shall make available religious freedom issue briefs under subsection (b) to executive branch officials and Members of Congress in anticipation of bilateral contacts with foreign leaders, both in the United States and abroad.
**(d) Victims list maintained by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom**
(1) *
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 22 U.S.C. § 6432
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In general** The President, concurrent with the annual foreign country review required under section 402(b)(1)(A) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ([22 U.S.C. 6442(b)(1)(A)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6442/b/1/A&num=0&edition=prelim)), shall—
(1) review and identify any non-state actors operating in any such reviewed country or surrounding region that have engaged in particularly severe violations of religious freedom; and
(2) designate, in a manner consistent with such Act [[22 U.S.C. 6401](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6401&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], each such non-state actor as an entity of particular concern for religious freedom.
**(b) Report** Whenever the President designates a non-state actor under subsection (a) as an entity of particular concern for religious freedom, the President, as soon as practicable after the designation is made, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the reasons for such designation.
**(c) Actions** The President should take specific actions, when practicable, to address severe violations of religious freedom of non-state actors that are designated under subsection (a)(2).
**(d) Department of State annual report** The Secretary of State should include information detailing the reasons the President designated a non-state actor as an entity of particular concern for religious freedom under subsection (a) in the Annual Report required under section 102(b)(1) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ([22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6412/b/1&num=0&edition=prelim)).
**(e) Sense of Congress** It is
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 22 U.S.C. § 6444
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In general** Subject to subsection (b), the President shall cause to be published in the Federal Register the following:
(1) **Determinations of governments, officials, and entities of particular concern** — Any designation of a country of particular concern for religious freedom under [section 6442(b)(1) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6442/b/1&num=0&edition=prelim), together with, when applicable and to the extent practicable, the identities of the officials or entities determined to be responsible for the violations under [section 6442(b)(2) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6442/b/2&num=0&edition=prelim). Any designation of a non-state actor as an entity of particular concern for religious freedom under [section 6442a of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6442a&num=0&edition=prelim) and, if applicable and to the extent practicable, the identities of individuals determined to be responsible for violations described in subsection (f) of such section.
(2) **Presidential actions** — A description of any Presidential action under paragraphs (9) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6445/a&num=0&edition=prelim) (or commensurate action in substitution thereto) and the effective date of the Presidential action.
(3) **Delays in transmittal of Presidential action reports** — Any delay in transmittal of a Presidential action report, as described in [section 6444(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6444/b&num=0&edition=prelim).
(4) **Waivers** — Any waiver unde
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 22 U.S.C. § 6450
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 1817
TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
§ 6442a
(ii) in anticipation that corrective action
will be taken by the foreign country during
the 90-day period,
then the President shall not be required to
take action until the expiration of that period
of time.
(4) Exception for ongoing Presidential action
under this chapter
The President shall not be required to take
action pursuant to this subsection in the case
of a country of particular concern for religious
freedom, if with respect to such country—
(A) the President has taken action pursu-
ant to this chapter in a preceding year;
(B) such action is in effect at the time the
country is designated as a country of par-
ticular concern for religious freedom under
this section; and
(C) the President reports to Congress the
information described in section 6444(a)(1),
(2), (3), and (4) of this title regarding the ac-
tions in effect with respect to the country.
(5) Exception for ongoing, multiple, broad-
based sanctions in response to human
rights violations
At the time the President determines a
country to be a country of particular concern,
if that country is already subject to multiple,
broad-based sanctions imposed in significant
part in response to human rights abuses, and
such sanctions are ongoing, the President may
determine that one or more of these sanctions
also satisfies the requirements of this sub-
section. In a report to Congress pursuant to
section 6444(a)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of this title,
and, as applicable, to section 6448 of this title,
the President shall designate the specific sanc-
tion or sanctions that the President deter-
mines satisfy the requirements under this sub-
section and include a description of the impact
of such sanction or sanctions on each cou
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 22 U.S.C. § 6442a
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