United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1744
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-09: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T12:41:00Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This act extends the authorization and annual funding for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom through December 31, 2028.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Amends Section 207(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, plus the period from October 1, 2028, through December 31, 2028.
- Amends Section 209 of the same act to extend the commission's overall authorization from September 30, 2026, to December 31, 2028.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
- Replaces prior authorization periods ending in 2026 with new periods running through the end of 2028.
- Adds a short transitional funding period at the start of fiscal year 2029 to bridge the extension.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Allows the commission to continue operations without interruption, supporting its role in monitoring religious freedom issues.
- On citizens: Maintains access to reports and recommendations on international religious freedom.
- On international relations: Sustains U.S. government engagement on religious liberty topics abroad through the commission's work.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom itself.
- Executive branch agencies involved in foreign policy and human rights.
- Members of Congress with oversight of international affairs.
- Advocacy groups and individuals focused on global religious freedom.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The measure is a routine extension of an existing commission with no new authorities or restrictions added.
- It involves no apparent changes to constitutional powers or major legal frameworks.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Cosponsors (11)
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-09: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 2026-06-08: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-06-08: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-06-08: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3947)
- 2026-06-08: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3947)
- 2026-06-08: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1744.
- 2026-06-08: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3947-3948)
- 2026-06-08: Mr. Mast moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2026-03-26: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 45 - 0.
- 2026-03-26: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-08 — PDF (4 pages)
- United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (2 pages)
- United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-09 — PDF (2 pages)