USCIRF Reauthorization Act of 2026Smith bill promoting international religious freedom becomes law

On the same day that Americans throughout the country headed to the polls, Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) critical legislation to advance international religious freedom became law in Washington. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Reauthorization Act of 2026 ( HR 1744/PL 119-137 ), signed into law by President Trump on November 3 rd , extends and authorizes annual appropriations for the USCIRF board through fiscal year 2028. “The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is the U.S. government’s most effective, unbiased, and respected voice for victims of religious persecution throughout the globe. I am grateful to President Trump, as well as my colleagues in both chambers of Congress, for recognizing the timeliness and importance of this critical legislation,” said Smith, who has chaired countless congressional hearings on international religious freedom issues. “Persecuted believers from all faiths have found USCIRF to be one of their most reliable and effective allies. USCIRF is important to millions of our constituents of all faiths,” Smith continued. “Since its founding, USCIRF has issued 27 annual reports and recommended that 26 countries be designated CPCs – 18 of them have ultimately been designated by the State Department.” Smith noted that the USCIRF board is also a leading force in the global fight against antisemitism: “Since its inception, the Commission has chaired countless hearings and issued numerous reports on the rise of antisemitism throughout the globe. “USCIRF also provides recommendations to the State Department for how to best confront and combat antisemitism, both at home and abroad, including by briefing and working closely with the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism—an ambassador-rank official established by my law, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Act ( PL 116-323 ).” When Smith’s HR 1744 overwhelmingly passed the House in June, it received broad bipartisan support, with Reps. Brad Sherman (D‑CA), Gus Bilirakis (R‑FL), and Henry Cuellar (D‑TX) signing on as original cosponsors. It was also backed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), who wrote a letter in support of USCIRF and urged lawmakers to vote “yes” on the legislation: “The Catholic Church has long viewed religious freedom as a basic human right since it is rooted in the dignity of the human person and is critical to the health of societies. Over the years, USCCB has advocated strongly for the mission of USCIRF because of its critical role in promoting human rights around the world by monitoring and promoting religious freedom. At a time when international religious freedom is increasingly imperiled, it is vital that USCIRF be reauthorized so that it can continue to highlight the need to protect those who are discriminated against, harassed and even killed for their faith.” The Commission was initially established by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998 ( PL 105-292 ), of which Smith was a leading cosponsor. Smith later authored the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016 ( PL 114-281 ), which updated the IRFA to strengthen and expand U.S. efforts to promote religious freedom worldwide. “History has shown that when the U.S. elevates religious freedom and that priority is conveyed to Countries of Particular Concern, conditions often change for the better, prisoners of conscience gain their freedom, and progress is made toward freer exercise of religious liberty,” said Smith. Established in 1998, USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency charged with defending the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad. It reviews reports of religious freedom violations and provides policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. ###