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Week Ending July 29, 2011

H.R.440 To provide for the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia.

The President is directed to establish within the Department of State the position of Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia. The President would appoint the envoy.

The term `Near East' or `countries of the Near East' means Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen; and includes the West Bank and Gaza Strip; and the term `South Central Asia' or `countries of South Central Asia' means Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

The envoy is required to be “a person of recognized distinction in the field of human rights and religious freedom who shall have the rank of ambassador and shall hold the office at the pleasure of the President.”

The envoy duties are:

• Promote the right of religious freedom of religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia, denounce the violation of such right, and recommend appropriate responses by the United States Government when such right is violated.

• Monitor and combat acts of religious intolerance and incitement targeted against religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia.

• Work to ensure that the unique needs of religious minority communities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia are addressed, including the economic and security needs of such communities.

• Work with foreign governments of the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia to address laws that are inherently discriminatory toward religious minority communities in such countries.

• Coordinate and assist in the preparation of that portion of the report required by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 relating to the nature and extent of religious freedom of religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia.

• Coordinate and assist in the preparation of that portion of the report required by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 relating to the nature and extent of religious freedom of religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia.

The envoy will have contacts with foreign governments, intergovernmental organizations, and specialized agencies of the United Nations, the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, and other international organizations of which the United States is a member; and multilateral conferences and meetings relevant to religious freedom in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia.

Sponsor:  Rep. Frank Wolfe (VA-10^th)

Vote: House agreed by voice vote. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 20 (Roll no. 673).

Cost to the taxpayers: “Of the amounts made available for `Diplomatic and Consular Programs' for fiscal years 2011 through 2015, the Secretary of State shall provide to the Special Envoy $1,000,000 for each such fiscal year for the hiring of staff, for the conduct of investigations, and for necessary travel to carry out the provisions of this Act.”

Pay-as-you-go requirements:

Cut-as-you-go requirements:   

Regulatory impact:  

Earmark Certification:  

Constitutional Authority:  H.R. 440.

        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant

     to the following:

       Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the United States

     Constitution, which states: ``The Congress shall have Power

     to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for

     carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other

     Powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the

     United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof''

       Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the United States

     Constitution, which states: ``[The President] shall have

     Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to

     make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present

     concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and

     Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other

     public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court,

     and all other Officers of the United States, whose

     Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which

     shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest

     the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think

     proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in

     the Heads of Departments.''

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