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117th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard

A Project of 21Wilberforce

116th Congress
Scorecard
Key Takeaways
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ViewKey Takeaways

S.3744 Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020

The Chinese government is engaged in cultural genocide. At least one million Uyghurs are being held in counter-extremism centers and another two million Uyghurs and Turkic Muslim minorities have been forced into “education camps” for political and cultural indoctrination.

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S.Res.684 and H.Res.358

In Cameroon, the rise of Christian revivalist (born again) and Muslim fundamentalist movements is rapidly changing the religious landscape and paving the way for religious intolerance.

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S.1838 Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 S.Res.608, H.R.8428, and H.Res.994

The Chinese Communist Party's National Security Law that took effect July 2020 in Hong Kong attempts to suppress religious freedom. Authorities can interpret terms like "subversion" or "collusion" to persecute people of faith and increase pressure on religious leaders.

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S.Res.303, H.Res.141, H.R.8428

Religious freedom conditions in North Korea are among the worst in the world. Anyone caught practicing religion or even suspected of harboring religious views in private is subject to severe punishment, including arrest, torture, imprisonment, and execution. (USCIRF country report)

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Introduction

Advancing international religious freedom is a major foreign policy priority of the United States with bipartisan support. The U.S. seeks to reduce levels of religious bias, discrimination, and persecution; reduce faith-related violent extremism and terrorism; and track and prevent potential mass atrocities through early warning systems. The International Religious Freedom Congressional Scorecard is an important tool that is used to advance human rights by serving as a model of proactive engagement for legislators.

Since its inception, the IRF Congressional Scorecard has earned recognition as being nonpartisan and it is the only known comprehensive and trusted tool that measures current U.S. legislative action on IRF. Information on the Scorecard is distributed to every Congressional office; shared with international parliamentarians; used as an academic course supplement; and accessed by faith groups as a resource. The Scorecard has been endorsed by members of Congress, and leaders of non-governmental organizations working in human rights and religious freedom. In previous years, three biannual IRF Congressional Scorecards have been published. They can be accessed in the dropdown menu on the top right of this page.

IRF Secretariat is the Presenting Sponsor of the 117th Congressional IRF Scorecard. We are grateful for their generous support. 

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Purpose Statement

International religious freedom issues are growing worldwide in urgency and importance. The IRF Congressional Scorecard seeks to: increase Congressional awareness of international religious freedom issues; encourage legislators to take even bolder actions in support of this freedom; and provide citizens with a nonpartisan, concise summary of public actions taken by Congress on issues related to international religious freedom.

The International Religious Freedom Congressional Scorecard highlights the voting records of members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for bills, resolutions, and amendments that support international religious freedom. It also tracks sponsorship and co-sponsorship of bills and membership in international religious freedom-related caucuses. The International Religious Freedom Congressional Scorecard is an educational tool and should not be perceived as an effort to support or endorse specific legislation, issues, or candidates.

  • The need to protect and promote religious freedom is more critical now than ever. I am hopeful the International Religious Freedom Congressional Scorecard will spur Congress to more proactively address the continuing and escalating religious freedom crisis worldwide.

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    Frank Wolf
    Former VA Congressman

  • I am grateful that the Scorecard is highlighting the essential role of Congress in advancing international religious freedom.

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    Chris Smith
    Congressman (R-NJ)

  • The International Religious Freedom Congressional Scorecard has an incredibly important story to tell. As religious freedom abuses have proliferated around the world, America's efforts to advocate for this bedrock human right have not kept pace. This vital tool tells us who in our Congress is leaning forward in defense of the First Freedom and who is leaning back. This is information we need to know so that all of us can better protect the conscience rights of people across the globe.

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    Katrina Lantos Swett
    President Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice

  • My concern is not only religious freedom around the world, but the lack of leadership on this issue which has been America’s birthright, its lack of leadership today, and that’s why I welcome this particular scorecard initiative.

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    Os Guinness
    Author and Social Critic

  • The International Religious Freedom Congressional Scorecard is an invaluable tool that measures the progress of federal legislative efforts to promote and advance international religious freedom. Equally important, it encourages members of Congress to engage and strengthen U.S. advocacy on behalf of individuals persecuted in foreign countries for their religious beliefs—including the non-religious.

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    Greg Mitchell
    Founder and CEO, IRF Secretariat

  • Historically, the United States has been seen as a beacon for religious freedom. I trust that the IRF Congressional Scorecard helps monitor Congress’ performance in standing up for the oppressed religious minorities in every part of the world.

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    Farahnaz Ispahani
    Author and former Member, Pakistan Parliament, Global Fellow, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

  • This is a critically important initiative. We’re seeing the greatest peril posed to religious freedom since the rise of Nazism and communism.

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    Nina Shea
    International Human Rights Lawyer,
    Senior Fellow, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute

  • As the international religious freedom situation worsens, the Scorecard is a credible, timely mechanism to encourage and inspire U.S. lawmakers to advance religious freedom for all.

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    Bob Fu
    Founder & President, ChinaAid

  • At a time when our world is wracked with the suffering of those enduring persecution for their faith, I am so thankful for the Religious Freedom Scorecard. The scorecard illumines those heroes in the U.S. Congress who are fighting for international religious freedom; celebrates the non-partisan character of this battle; and challenges others in Congress to ‘go and do thou likewise.’

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    Faith J. H. McDonnell
    Director of Advocacy, Katartismos Global

  • The International Religious Freedom Congressional Scorecard is a valuable resource that religious freedom advocates in the United States and beyond can use as both a navigational map and a Who's Who directory. Clearly, we need to work harder on advocacy and get more members of Congress to speak out on behalf of those being persecuted in different parts of the world because of their faith.

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    Nguyen Dinh Thang, PhD
    CEO & President of BPSOS,
    Laureate of 2011 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award

  • Religious minorities around the world continue to face increasing levels of persecution as religious freedom continues to decline in various regions and countries. This fundamental human right and core American freedom must be championed by Members of the United States Congress. The Congressional Scorecard is a fantastic tool that helps track how the U.S. Congress is championing this freedom and encouraging its growth on a global scale.

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    Matias Perttula

  • The International Religious Freedom scorecard is a tool for Members of Congress and advocates to look at and ask, 'how are we doing, where could we do more?' That's critically important. We aren't a movement that is just about talk. We are about advancing religious freedom through action.

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    Sam Brownback

    Former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom

  • I am so grateful  to have served as the 3rd US Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, and for the work we did together to shine the light on International Religious Freedom issues worldwide. The International Religious  Freedom Score Card is a valuable tool in seeing to it that this important work continues. 

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    Hon. Suzan Johnson Cook
    Former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, the Obama Administration

115th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard

To find legislation and scores from the 115th session of Congress, (January 2017-December 2018), download the Scorecard here.
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114th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard

To find legislation and scores from the 114th session of Congress, (January 2015- December 2016), download the Scorecard here.
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IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

We hope the IRF Congressional Scorecard is a model for tracking legislative engagement for legislators in other countries. If you are reading this from outside the United States, we encourage you to discuss with your government officials about how they can work to further this most fundamental of human rights.
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IF YOU ARE A CURRENT MEMBER OF CONGRESS OR STAFF

If you have questions or want additional information on the most critical issues of international religious persecution and how you can be a champion, we would be glad to visit with you. Please send an email and we will respond promptly.
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IF YOU ARE A JOURNALIST

If you are a member of the media, contact us to discuss the Scorecard or the issues addressed in the Scorecard more fully.
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Apr / 2021

115th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard

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Apr / 2021

114th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard

Apr / 2021

Outsie the United States

Apr / 2021

Current Member of Congress or Staff

Apr / 2021

Media / Comments / Speaker Request

Sponsor of 117th Congress Scorecard

IRF Secretariat is an international non-governmental organization established to lead the way to better religious freedom outcomes by focusing on cooperative engagement (that respects and protects each other's human dignity and freedom of conscience) and coordination of actions between civil society sectors and governments to achieve greater impact.

In addition to convening the IRF Roundtable in Washington, DC, The IRF Secretariat is building a global infrastructure to serve the religious freedom movement. To achieve this, we convene global events to empower the establishment of regional secretariats that will facilitate the creation and coordination of regional, national, and local roundtables.

By putting religious freedom into practice, we build mutual understanding, respect, trust, and reliance, which builds social cohesion and civil societies, which support security and stability, all of which help promote economic growth and development. This is the road to sustainable peace and prosperity.

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Above Photo: Over 200 participants gathered at the IRF Roundtable on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC in January 2024, representing multiple governments and dozens of faith communities and civil society organizations. Left Photo: Nadine Maenza and Kaylee Fisher at IRF Summit 2024. Center Photo: Founder and CEO, Greg Mitchell. Right Photo: Wade Kusack, Chris Seiple, Simran Stuelpnagel, Greg Mitchell at a reception hosted by Kazakhstan Embassy.

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Washington, DC | IRFSecretariat.org | [email protected]