Rubio files international religious freedom bill

WASHINGTON—Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., today introduced legislation that would make international religious freedom (IRF) a more integral part of U.S. foreign policy.

“Religious freedom has rightly been called America’s first freedom and must be given priority in our foreign policy agenda,” Rubio said in a statement.

The Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act gives the State Department several new or enhanced tools to promote religious freedom abroad. Among the changes: a floor of 25 full-time employees at State’s IRF office; requiring the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom to report directly to the secretary of state; new IRF training for foreign service officers; clarifying that the State Department will designate “countries of particular concern” (CPCs) every year; a modified CPC designation for non-state actors such as Boko Haram and ISIS; and a “special watch list” that automatically turns into a CPC designation if a country or entity appears on it three straight years.

“This legislation brings the historic International Religious Freedom Act into the 21st century by giving this administration and future administrations the tools needed to defend this most basic human right,” Rubio said.

The bill mirrors legislation the House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously passed last week after negotiations between Democrats, Republicans, and the State Department. According to Rubio, the only difference is the addition of language to make investigating and monitoring genocide a higher priority.

Rubio introduced the bill with two cosponsors, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has not yet taken a public position on the proposal. His support will determine whether the bill is considered in committee.

The measure, sponsored in the House by Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., is a top priority for the international religious freedom community, including a wide range of groups in the International Religious Freedom Roundtable.