PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2920-2921)
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 11, 2017
Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to promoting religious freedom as a fundamental human right.
Calls for the President to: (1) strengthen U.S. foreign policy on behalf of individuals persecuted in foreign countries on account of religion; (2) develop an action plan on international religious freedom and integrate that plan into U.S. diplomatic, development, and national security strategies; and (3) develop a strategic plan to direct grants for implementing innovative programs in key countries to train and work with local religious leaders on the importance of pluralistic societies, rights guaranteed under international law, and reporting mechanisms available within international institutions.
Urges the State Department to: (1) implement Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act provisions that direct the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center to conduct training on religious freedom for all Foreign Service officers and all outgoing deputy chiefs of mission and ambassadors, and (2) develop a training curriculum for American diplomats in international religious freedom policy.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Urges: (1) the President, the State Department, and relevant agencies to develop a comprehensive response to protect victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes and to provide humanitarian, stabilization, and recovery assistance to affected individuals from religious and ethnic groups in Iraq and Syria; (2) the President and the State Department to reestablish the Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group; and (3) the President, State Department, and U.S. Trade Representative to ensure that trade negotiations include religious freedom conditions mandated by the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015.
People & committees
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] · R–OK
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2920-2921)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze S.Res.162 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine S.Res.162 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine S.Res.162 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine S.Res.162 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.