116th Live Scorecard Page

The Burmese government and military continue to commit widespread and egregious religious freedom violations, particularly against Rohingya Muslims – nearly one million of whom have been driven out of the country into refugee camps in Bangladesh. S.4659 Rohingya Genocide Determination Act of 2020 and H.R. 8744 Rohingya Genocide Determination Act of 2020

Easter Sunday 2019, ISIS claimed responsibility for eight attacks by suicide bombers. These were attacks fomenting religious hatred by attacking multiple churches on a high religious holiday.S.Res.176, S.Res.184, H.Res.336, H.Res.346. H.Res.442

For more than 15 years, USCIRF has documented the Saudi government’s failure to address intolerant content in official textbooks sufficiently. Despite progress in recent years, Saudi textbooks have seen some backsliding regarding language inciting hatred and violence toward non-Muslims. (Source: USCIRF 2020 Country Report)S.357, S.2351, S.Res.169, H.R.554 and H.R.2037

India is the world’s largest democracy. In recent years state-sanctioned persecution and discrimination have sharply escalated for millions of Indian citizens who are Muslim, Christian, and other minority faiths.H.Res.408 and H.Res.745

Thousands of Iranians are subject to discrimination and persecution because of their religious beliefs. Tehran harasses, interrogates and arrests religious minorities, including Muslims, that do not agree with its Shi'ite regime.S.Con.Res.21, S.Res.578, H.Con.Res.50, H.Res.374, H.Res.752, and H.Res.823

S.357, S.2351, S.Res.169, H.R.554 and H.R.2037

Introduction to the 116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard

The International Religious Freedom Congressional Scorecard measures the progress of federal legislative efforts regarding international religious freedom. Information on this page is presented in multiple formats for easy access. Photos on this page (and the opening page) were selected to highlight countries that represent legislative activity during the 116th Congress. Notable leaders recognize 12% of the 535 members of Congress who scored A or A+. Click the View Key Takeaways button to access topline analysis of the 116th Congress IRF legislative activity. View the entire scorecard as a Flipbook that reads like a magazine (left to right) or as a PDF with hyperlinks that you can view or download. Review a summary of IRF items scored for the Senate and the House (with links to original text and cosponsor list.) Search the interactive table of votes on IRF items by legislator, state, and item scored. See Senate and House Scores and Grades by State in a downloadable PDF.

Notable Leaders

21Wilberforce celebrates these members of the 116th Congress who worked diligently to protect and advance international religious freedom. Selection criteria for Notable Leaders in the Senate is a score of 23 points or higher and in the House a score of 35 points or higher. Bold signifies top scores.

SENATE

Marco Rubio, R-FL

Marsha Blackburn R-TN
Cory A. Booker D-NJ
Mike Braun R-IN
Benjamin L. Cardin D-MD
Christopher Coons D-DE
John Cornyn R-TX
Tom Cotton R-AR
Ted Cruz R-TX

Richard J. Durbin D-IL
Diane Feinstein D-CA
Cory Gardner R-CO
Josh Hawley R-MO
Tim Kaine D-VA
James Lankford R-OK
Edward J. Markey D-MA
Robert Menendez D-NJ

Jeff Merkley D-OR
James E. Risch R-ID
Marco Rubio R-FL
Jeanne Shaheen D-NH
Thom Tillis R-NC
Chris Van Hollen D-MD
Ron Wyden D-OR
Todd C. Young R-IN

HOUSE

Brad Sherman, D-CA

Ami Bera D-CA
Gus M. Bilirakis R-FL
Steve Chabot R-OH
David N. Cicilline D-RI
Steve Cohen D-TN
Gerald E. Connolly D-VA
Jim Costa D-CA
Ted Deutch D-FL
Eliot L. Engel D-NY
Anna G. Eshoo D-CA
Adriano Espaillat D-NY
Brian Fitzpatrick R-PA
Glenn Grothman R-WI

Vicky Hartzler R-MO
Marcy Kaptur D-OH
Ro Khanna D-CA
Doug Lamborn R-CO
Ted Lieu D-CA
Zoe Lofgren D-CA
Alan S. Lowenthal D-CA
Tom Malinowski D-NJ
Michael T. McCaul R-TX
James P. McGovern D-MA
Gregory Meeks D-NY
Ilhan Omar D-MN
Dean Phillips D-MN

Jamie Raskin D-MD
Janice Schakowsky D-IL
Brad Sherman D-CA
Albio Sires D-NJ
Christopher H. Smith R-NJ
Jackie Speier D-CA
Thomas Suozzi D-NY
David Trone D-MD
Ann Wagner R-MO
Randy Weber R-TX
Joe Wilson R-SC
Ron Wright R-TX
Ted S. Yoho R-F

ViewKey Takeaways

flipbook

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard

pdf

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard

senate

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard Legislation List Senate

house

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard Legislation List House

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard Senate and House IRF Voting Records

pdf

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard Senate and House Scores & Grades

pdf

Senate and House See How They Voted

pdf

Senate and House Scores & Grades

Key Takeaways

Scoring Methodology

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.
Frank Wolf
Former VA Congressman
I am grateful that 21Wilberforce—named in honor of William Wilberforce, a British Lawmaker who was key in the abolition of slavery in the British Empire—is highlighting the essential role of Congress in advancing international religious freedom.
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.
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.
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.
Greg Mitchell
Co-Chair International Religious Freedom Roundtable
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.
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.
Nina Shea
International Human Rights Lawyer,
Senior Fellow, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute
We are grateful to 21Wilberforce for publishing the IRF Congressional Scorecard. 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.
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 21Wilberforce's International 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.’
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.
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.
Matias Perttula
Director of Advocacy, International Christian Concern, Co-chair, IRF Roundtable Congressional Working Group
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.
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 21Willberforce International Religious Freedom Score Card is a valuable tool in seeing to it that this important work continues.
Hon. Suzan Johnson Cook
Former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, the Obama Administration

Introduction to the 116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard

Notable Leaders

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard Legislation List Senate

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard Legislation List House

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard Senate and House IRF Voting Records

116th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard Senate and House Scores & Grades

Senate and House See How They Voted

Senate and House Scores & Grades

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.

I am grateful that 21Wilberforce—named in honor of William Wilberforce, a British Lawmaker who was key in the abolition of slavery in the British Empire—is highlighting the essential role of Congress in advancing international religious freedom.

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.

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.

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

We are grateful to 21Wilberforce for publishing the IRF Congressional Scorecard. 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.

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.