Washington D.C., Dec 14, 2016 / 16:03 pm
After almost 20 years, a landmark religious freedom bill may finally be getting a big upgrade.
And it wouldn't come too soon, said Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-sponsor of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act. "From China and Vietnam to Syria and Nigeria, we are witnessing a tragic, global crisis in religious persecution, violence and terrorism, with dire consequences for religious believers and for U.S. national security," he said.
"Ancient Christian communities in Iraq and Syria are on the verge of extinction, and other religious minorities in the Middle East face a constant assault from the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria."
The Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act passed the House on Tuesday afternoon and will be heading to the president's desk to be signed. It is bipartisan, with Rep. Smith, chair of the House Global Human Rights subcommittee, and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) as the co-sponsors.