United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026
Summary
What This Bill Does
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends USCIRF's statutory life. It amends the International Religious Freedom Act authorization provision by replacing 2025 and 2026 with 2027 and 2028. It also amends the termination date for the Commission from September 30, 2026, to September 30, 2028. The bill does not rewrite USCIRF's mission; it keeps the independent commission operating for two additional years so it can continue monitoring international religious freedom and making policy recommendations.
Who Benefits and How
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom benefits from continued statutory authority through September 30, 2028. Religious freedom advocates benefit because the independent commission can continue reporting on persecution and recommending policy responses. Congress benefits from continued USCIRF reports and expert advice on countries and entities of concern. Religious minorities abroad benefit indirectly if USCIRF monitoring and recommendations support diplomatic pressure. State Department religious freedom officials benefit from continued independent analysis that can inform international religious freedom policy debates.
Who Bears the Burden and How
USCIRF commissioners and staff must continue producing reports, recommendations, and oversight materials through the extended period. Congressional appropriators must decide funding levels for the reauthorized years. Foreign governments criticized by USCIRF may face continued scrutiny and reputational pressure. State Department officials may need to respond to USCIRF recommendations. Congressional committees must continue receiving and reviewing the commission's work.
Key Provisions
- Amends the International Religious Freedom Act authorization years.
- Replaces 2025 and 2026 with 2027 and 2028.
- Extends USCIRF's termination date from September 30, 2026, to September 30, 2028.
- Preserves the commission's international religious freedom monitoring role.
- Creates no new commission program beyond the reauthorization.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Reauthorizes the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom by extending International Religious Freedom Act authorization years from 2025 and 2026 to 2027 and 2028 and moving the Commission termination date from September 30, 2026, to September 30, 2028.
Key Policy Areas
Religious Freedom, Foreign Affairs, Human Rights
Primary Purpose
Reauthorizes the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom by extending International Religious Freedom Act authorization years from 2025 and 2026 to 2027 and 2028 and moving the Commission termination date from September 30, 2026, to September 30, 2028.
Policy Domains
House resolution provisions
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
- Religious freedom advocates
- Congress
- Religious minorities abroad
- State Department religious freedom officials
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- USCIRF commissioners
- USCIRF staff
- Congressional appropriators
- Foreign governments criticized by USCIRF
- State Department officials
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to …
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign …
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without …
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, …
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules …
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate …
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3947-3948)
Mr. Mast moved to suspend the rules and pass the …
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without …
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: …
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "state"
- → Department of State
- "uscirf"
- → United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology