S. 3984In markupSecurity & foreign affairs
Religious freedom watchdog commission gets two more years of funding
Data as of July 16, 2026
This bill extends USCIRF's funding and legal authority from September 2026 to September 30, 2028.40-second read · 4 questions answered below
Decoded
What does this do?
This bill extends the life of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which was set to expire in September 2026. It pushes the expiration date to September 30, 2028 and updates the years Congress can fund the commission to cover 2026 through 2028. It does not change the commission's mission or functions.
Who does it affect?
The commission and its staff are directly affected, since their jobs and funding depend on continued authorization. U.S. foreign policy work on religious freedom, including State Department and congressional decisions informed by the commission's reports, is indirectly affected.
Why does it matter?
Without this extension, the commission's funding and legal authority would have expired in September 2026, halting its monitoring and reporting work. This is a routine reauthorization that keeps an existing agency operating rather than creating new powers or programs.
Where does it stand?
- Introduced
- Senate committee — You are here
- Senate vote
- House
- President's desk
Right now: a Senate committee is reviewing it. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
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Official title
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026
- Introduced:
- March 4, 2026
- Latest action:
- June 17, 2026
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
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