Sponsors (12)
The bill keeps the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom functioning and funded through 2028—supporting continued monitoring of abuses abroad—at the cost of modest additional federal spending and postponing Congressional reassessment of the Commission until year-end 2028.
Religious communities, human-rights organizations, and related U.S. entities: the Commission on International Religious Freedom will continue operating through December 31, 2028 with authorized funding (up to $3.5M in FY2027 and FY2028), preserving ongoing monitoring, reporting, and staff/program stability to track and respond to religious freedom abuses abroad.
Taxpayers and policymakers: the bill delays the Commission's scheduled termination until the end of 2028, postponing a near-term Congressional opportunity to reassess the Commission's mandate, effectiveness, and funding.
Taxpayers: authorizing up to $3.5 million for FY2027 and FY2028 (plus Oct–Dec 2028) increases federal spending commitments, representing a modest budgetary cost.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Extends USCIRF's authorized appropriation years and delays the Commission's termination date through December 31, 2028.
Extends the period during which Congress may appropriate funds for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and delays the Commission's statutory termination date to December 31, 2028. It replaces the previously authorized years (2025–2026) with new authorization language covering 2027 and 2028 and adds a short additional appropriation window from October 1 to December 31, 2028. The bill does not create new duties, change the Commission's substantive authorities, or appropriate funds itself; it only amends the statutory authorization and the termination date so the Commission remains eligible for funding through the end of 2028.
Official title: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Christopher Henry Smith · Last progress June 9, 2026