Overview

Title

To extend and authorize annual appropriations for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom through fiscal year 2028.

ELI5 AI

H. R. 1744 is a plan to keep giving money to a group in the U.S. that helps make sure people around the world can practice their religion freely, and it wants to keep this support going until 2028.

Summary AI

H. R. 1744 aims to extend and allow for annual funding to continue for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom through the fiscal year 2028. The bill modifies existing legislation by changing the dates in two sections of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to ensure that the commission's activities can be funded and continue up to September 30, 2028.

Published

2025-02-27
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2025-02-27
Package ID: BILLS-119hr1744ih

Keywords AI

united states commission on international religious freedom appropriations funding extension international religious freedom act fiscal year 2028 reauthorization budget accountability effectiveness of commission financial oversight congress bill 119th session

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
245
Pages:
2
Sentences:
7

Language

Nouns: 83
Verbs: 15
Adjectives: 6
Adverbs: 0
Numbers: 21
Entities: 37

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.52
Average Sentence Length:
35.00
Token Entropy:
4.34
Readability (ARI):
20.62

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

H.R. 1744 is proposed legislation aimed at extending the authority and annual appropriations for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) through fiscal year 2028. This bill amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to update the dates for funding authorization and extend its expiration to September 30, 2028. The bill is structured to merely extend existing provisions without significant changes to the underlying mandate or functions of the USCIRF.

Summary of Significant Issues

One of the significant observations about this bill is its lack of detailed justification or analysis regarding the necessity of the funding extension through 2028. While it provides for an extension, it does not outline any specific programs, activities, or initiatives that the USCIRF would undertake during this period. There is also little to no discussion on the commission's effectiveness or achievements thus far, which could provide a rationale for further investment.

Additionally, the bill does not address any budgetary changes or improvements in financial oversight for the extended duration. This omission could raise questions about accountability and how the funds will be managed and allocated. Transparency in such financial undertakings is crucial for public trust and effective governance.

Impact on the Public

The primary impact of this bill on the general public may not be immediately apparent given the focus on international religious freedom issues, which can seem removed from the daily lives of most citizens. Nevertheless, the work of the USCIRF plays a crucial role in promoting religious freedom globally, which is a fundamental human right and an essential aspect of U.S. foreign policy. By advocating for religious freedoms, the USCIRF helps to support international peace and security, which indirectly benefits the public at large.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Several specific stakeholders are directly involved with or impacted by this bill:

  1. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom: The extension of funding is directly beneficial to the USCIRF as it ensures continuity in their operations and ability to carry out their mission.

  2. Advocacy and Human Rights Organizations: These groups may view the extension positively, as continued support and existence of the USCIRF align with broader efforts to protect religious freedoms worldwide.

  3. Religious Communities and Minority Groups Globally: Indirectly, religious communities and minority groups around the world stand to benefit from the commission's efforts to combat religious persecution and advocate for religious rights.

  4. Congress and Policymakers: Lack of detailed analysis on the commission's effectiveness can be seen as a hindrance for informed decision-making by lawmakers, possibly affecting the level of engagement and support from Congress regarding similar future legislation.

In conclusion, while H.R. 1744 is critical for maintaining the operations of the USCIRF, its limited details and lack of comprehensive justification highlight a need for greater transparency and accountability. This would ensure both continued support and effective use of resources in promoting international religious freedom.

Issues

  • The bill extends the authorization of appropriations for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom through fiscal year 2028 but does not provide justification or analysis on the necessity of this extension or its impact, making it difficult to assess its significance (Section 2).

  • There is a lack of details regarding the specific activities, effectiveness, or achievements of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, raising concerns about whether the extended funding will be used effectively or if it could be considered wasteful (Section 2).

  • The bill lacks information on any changes to budgeting or financial oversight during the extended authorization period, potentially raising concerns about the accountability and transparency of fund usage (Section 2).

  • The amendments proposed do not provide data or analysis on the effectiveness or impact of the commission's work, which could be crucial for informed decision-making by lawmakers and the public (Section 2).

  • The short title section references future legislation as “United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2025”, but without additional context or explanation, the relevance and implications of this reauthorization remain unclear (Section 1).

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of this Act provides its short title, indicating that it can be officially called the “United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2025.”

2. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The bill updates the International Religious Freedom Act by extending the funding authorization for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom to the years 2027 and 2028, and it changes the expiration date to September 30, 2028.