Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Senate passage of H.R. 5816, authored by Chairman Royce, which extends the work of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for one year:
 
“Today, freedom of religion is under threat from extremists and authoritarian governments.  This Commission speaks out on behalf of those persecuted around the world and has aggressively warned of the dangers of abusive laws that threaten religious freedom.  I would have liked to see a longer authorization, but I am pleased that this legislation now heads to the President’s desk to become law.”
 
Note: Congress established the Commission in 1998 out of concern that the fundamental freedom of religion was under siege in many places around the world, yet did not receive adequate attention in U.S. foreign policy.

###