22 U.S.C. § 6433a — Strategic plan

Page 1811 TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE § 6433a 1 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘sections’’. ommendations, if the classification of informa- tion would further the purposes of this chapter. (c) Individual or dissenting views Each member of the Commission may include the individual or dissenting views of the mem- ber. (Pub. L. 105–292, title II, § 205, formerly § 203, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2799; renumbered § 205, Pub. L. 106–55, § 1(b)(2), Aug. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 401.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original ‘‘this Act’’, meaning Pub. L. 105–292, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2787, known as the International Reli- gious Freedom Act of 1998, which is classified prin- cipally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6401 of this title and Tables. PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 205 of Pub. L. 105–292 was renumbered section 207 and is classified to section 6435 of this title. § 6433a. Strategic plan (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com- mittees’’ means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Commission The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom established under section 6431 of this title. (3) Commissioner The term ‘‘Commissioner’’ means a member of the Commission. (4) Vice Chair The term ‘‘Vice Chair’’ means the Vice Chair of the Commission who was appointed to such position by an elected official from the polit- ical party that is different from the political party of the elected official who appointed the Chair of the Commission. (b) Strategic policy and organizational review planning process Not later than 60 days after October 16, 2015, and not less frequently than biennially there- after, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Commis- sion, in coordination with the Commissioners, the Ambassador-at-Large for International Reli- gious Freedom, Commission staff, and others jointly selected by the Chair and Vice Chair, shall carry out a strategic policy and organiza- tional review planning process that includes— (1) a review of the duties set forth in section 6432 of this title and the powers set forth in section 6432a of this title; (2) the preparation of a written description of prioritized actions that the Commission is required to complete to fulfill the strategic plan required under subsection (d); (3) a review of the scope, content, and timing of the Commission’s annual report and any re- quired changes; and (4) a review of the personnel policies set forth in section 6432b of this title and any re- quired changes to such policies. (c) Unanimous agreement (1) In general To the greatest extent possible, the Chair, Vice Chair, and all of the Commissioners shall ensure that this section is implemented in a manner that results in unanimous agreement among the Commissioners with regard to— (A) the strategic policy and organizational review planning process required under sub- section (b); and (B) the strategic plan required under sub- section (d). (2) Alternative approval process If unanimous agreement under paragraph (1) is not possible, items for inclusion in the stra- tegic plan may, at the joint discretion of the Chair and Vice Chair, be approved by an af- firmative vote of— (A) a majority of Commissioners appointed by an elected official from the political party of the President; and (B) a majority of Commissioners appointed by an elected official from the political party that is not the party of the President. (d) Submission of strategic plan Not later than 180 days after December 20, 2019, and every 2 years thereafter, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission shall jointly sub- mit, to the appropriate congressional commit- tees, a written strategic plan that includes— (1) a description of prioritized actions for the Commission for a period of time to be speci- fied by the Commissioners; (2) a description of any changes the Commis- sion considers necessary with regard to the scope, content, and timing of the Commis- sion’s annual report; (3) a description of any changes the Commis- sion considers necessary with regard to per- sonnel matters; and (4) the Commission’s funding requirements for the period covered by the strategic plan. (e) Pending issues The strategic plan required under subsection (d) may identify any issues or proposals that have not yet been resolved by the Commission. (f) Implementation of personnel provisions and annual report Notwithstanding section 1 6432b(a) and 6533(a) of this title, the Commission is authorized to implement provisions related to personnel and the Commission’s annual report that are in- cluded in the strategic plan submitted pursuant to this section. (g) Congressional oversight Upon request, the Commission shall— Page 1812 TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE § 6434 (1) make available for inspection any infor- mation and documents requested by the appro- priate congressional committees; and (2) respond to any requests to provide testi- mony before the appropriate congressional committees. (Pub. L. 114–71, § 4, Oct. 16, 2015, 129 Stat. 563; Pub. L. 116–94, div. J, title VIII, § 807, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3079.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT December 20, 2019, referred to in subsec. (d), was in the original ‘‘the date of the enactment of this Act’’, and was translated as referring to the date of enact- ment of Pub. L. 116–94, which amended subsec. (d), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 2019 Amendment note below. CODIFICATION Section was enacted as part of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reau- thorization Act of 2015, and not as part of the Inter- national Religious Freedom Act of 1998 which com- prises this chapter. AMENDMENTS 2019—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–94, in introductory pro- visions, substituted ‘‘Not later than 180 days after De- cember 20, 2019, and every 2 years thereafter’’ for ‘‘Not later than 180 days after October 16, 2015, and not less frequently than biennially thereafter’’. § 6434. Applicability of other laws Chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to the Commission. (Pub. L. 105–292, title II, § 206, formerly § 204, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2799; renumbered § 206, Pub. L. 106–55, § 1(b)(2), Aug. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 401; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(172), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4324.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 206 of Pub. L. 105–292 was renumbered section 209 and is classified to section 6436 of this title. AMENDMENTS 2022—Pub. L. 117–286 substituted ‘‘Chapter 10 of title 5’’ for ‘‘The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)’’. § 6435. Authorization of appropriations (a) In general There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission $3,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to carry out the provisions of this chapter and section 6433a of this title. (b) Availability of funds Amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a) shall remain available until the earlier of— (1) the date on which they have been ex- pended; or (2) the date on which the Commission is ter- minated under section 6436 of this title. (c) Limitation In each fiscal year, the Commission shall only be authorized to expend amounts that have been appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) if the Commission— (1) complies with the requirements set forth in section 6433a of this title; and (2) submits the annual financial report re- quired under section 6435a(e) of this title to the appropriate congressional committees. (Pub. L. 105–292, title II, § 207, formerly § 205, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2800; renumbered § 207 and amended Pub. L. 106–55, § 1(b)(2), (4), Aug. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 401, 403; Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title VI, § 681(e), Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1409; Pub. L. 112–75, § 4, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1273; Pub. L. 113–271, § 1(1), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2951; Pub. L. 114–71, § 5, Oct. 16, 2015, 129 Stat. 565; Pub. L. 116–94, div. J, title VIII, § 808, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3079; Pub. L. 117–181, § 2(a), Sept. 30, 2022, 136 Stat. 2177; Pub. L. 118–90, § 2(a), Sept. 30, 2024, 138 Stat. 1559.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original ‘‘this Act’’, meaning Pub. L. 105–292, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2787, known as the International Reli- gious Freedom Act of 1998, which is classified prin- cipally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6401 of this title and Tables. AMENDMENTS 2024—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–90 substituted ‘‘2025 and 2026’’ for ‘‘2023 and 2024’’. 2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–181 substituted ‘‘2023 and 2024’’ for ‘‘2019 through 2022’’. 2019—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–94 substituted ‘‘2019 through 2022’’ for ‘‘2016 to 2019’’. 2015—Pub. L. 114–71 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section authorized appropriations for fiscal years 2012 through 2015. 2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–271 substituted ‘‘2015’’ for ‘‘2014’’. 2011—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–75 substituted ‘‘for each of the fiscal years 2012 through 2014’’ for ‘‘for the fiscal year 2003’’. 2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–228 inserted ‘‘for the fis- cal year 2003’’ after ‘‘$3,000,000’’. 1999—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–55, § 1(b)(4), substituted ‘‘to carry out the provisions of this subchapter’’ for ‘‘for each of the fiscal years 1999 and 2000 to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.’’ Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2014 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 113–271, § 2, Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2951, pro- vided that: ‘‘The amendments made by this Act [amending this section and section 6436 of this title] shall take effect as if enacted on December 10, 2014.’’ § 6435a. Standards of conduct and disclosure (a) Cooperation with nongovernmental organiza- tions, 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, govern- mental and nongovernmental, in the perform- ance of the Commission’s duties under this sub- chapter. (b) Conflict of interest and antinepotism (1) Member affiliations Except as provided in paragraph (3), in order to ensure the independence and integrity of