Sens. Cruz, Budd, Coons, Risch, Shaheen Introduce Bill to Reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced legislation to reauthorize the independent, bipartisan United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The bipartisan bill would ensure the commission, set to expire on September 30, 2026, can continue its work to monitor religious freedom around the world.

Sen. Cruz said, "Countless people around the world face persecution, violence, and execution for practicing their faith. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom exposes these abuses and helps hold oppressive regimes accountable. I am proud to join Senator Budd in introducing bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the commission."

Sen. Budd said, "Since its inception in 1998, USCIRF has played an indispensable role in exposing violations of religious freedom around the world through reporting and providing recommendations to strengthen U.S. foreign policy. Every day, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other religious minorities face brutal and unjust persecution, imprisonment, terrorism, and even death for practicing their faith. These assaults on religious freedom, impacting religious minorities in countries such as China, Nigeria, Iran, Syria, North Korea, and Russia, cannot go unaddressed. Alongside Senator Coons, I am proud to lead a strong bipartisan coalition to reauthorize this vital commission and ensure their work continues at this pivotal moment."

Sen. Coons said, "As co-chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, I know far too many people around the world are unfairly and brutally targeted for their beliefs. The right to worship whomever you want - or no one at all - is fundamental to democracy and stability around the world. I'm proud to once again lead this bipartisan effort to highlight the importance of promoting international religious freedom everywhere and for all persons, regardless of belief or non-belief, sexual orientation, gender, race, or other protected classes."

Sen. Risch said, "Religious freedom is the cornerstone of American society and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom helps to safeguard this most inherent right. I'm proud to work with my colleague, Senator Budd, to reauthorize this important commission and ensure religious freedom is protected around the globe."

Click here to read the full bill text.

BACKGROUND
USCIRF was created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), as amended, to provide the U.S. government with policy recommendations to promote the universal right to religious freedom across the globe. USCIRF has nine Commissioners, appointed by either the President or Congressional leaders, and is supported by non-partisan professional staff.

In 2025, the commission released its most recent annual report, exposing global violations of religious freedom and providing recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress:

• In China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cracked down on the religious practices of Catholics, Protestant Christians, Muslims, and other religious groups, destroying religious sites, censoring religious texts, and continuing to unjustly detain or imprison pastors and other religious leaders.
• In Iran, the authoritarian regime and its proxies were responsible for a continued widespread assault on religion, following a brutal terrorist attack on October 7th, where Hamas slaughtered innocent Jews and took hostages, invoking mass reports of increased antisemitic violence and harassment of Jewish communities worldwide.
• In Nigeria, nonstate actors instigate brutal attacks on Christians and other religious minorities, killing thousands.
• In Syria, the Kurds, Druze, Christians, and other religious minorities were subjected to violence, death, detention, and torture