Introduced on February 10, 2014 Public Law Pub.L. 113–154 | Number of co-sponsors 0 | |
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Full title To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to include the desecration of cemeteries among the many forms of violations of the right to religious freedom. Introduced in 113th United States Congress Sponsored by Rep. Grace Meng (D, NY-6) | ||
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Contents
- Background
- Provisions of the bill
- Congressional Budget Office report
- Procedural history
- Debate and discussion
- References
The bill was introduced in the United States House of Representatives during the 113th United States Congress. It was signed into law on August 8, 2014 by President Barack Obama.
Background
The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (Pub.L. 105–292, as amended by Public Law 106–55, Public Law 106–113, Public Law 107–228, Public Law 108–332, and Public Law 108–458) was passed to promote religious freedom as a foreign policy of the United States, and to advocate on the behalf of the individuals viewed as persecuted in foreign countries on the account of religion. The Act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on October 27, 1998.
Provisions of the bill
This summary is based largely on the summary provided by the Congressional Research Service, a public domain source.
H.R. 4028 would amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to include the desecration of cemeteries among the forms of violations of the right to religious freedom in many countries around the world.
Congressional Budget Office report
This summary is based largely on the summary provided by the Congressional Budget Office, a public domain source.
H.R. 4028 would amend the findings of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 by including the desecration of cemeteries among the various violations of the right to religious freedom. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that implementing H.R. 4028 would have no effect on the federal budget. Pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to this legislation because it would not affect direct spending or revenues.
Procedural history
H.R. 4028 was introduced into the United States House of Representatives on February 10, 2014 by Rep. Grace Meng (D, NY-6). It was referred to the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. On May 28, 2014, the bill passed the House in a voice vote. The United States Senate voted on July 29, 2014 to pass the bill by unanimous consent and President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on August 8, 2014.
Debate and discussion
Rep. Meng, who sponsored the bill, said that "this legislation would be a new and important tool in our fight against the desecration of cemeteries" because it would "combat religiously-motivated vandalism of cemeteries and also prevent developers from building over cemeteries, a new and emerging threat in places where there are no Jewish communities left to protect burial grounds."