§ 6417. — Prisoner lists and issue briefs on religious freedom concerns.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC6417]
TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
CHAPTER 73--INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
SUBCHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIVITIES
Sec. 6417. Prisoner lists and issue briefs on religious freedom
concerns
(a) Sense of Congress
To encourage involvement with religious freedom concerns at every
possible opportunity and by all appropriate representatives of the
United States Government, it is the sense of the Congress that officials
of the executive branch of Government should promote increased advocacy
on such issues during meetings between foreign dignitaries and executive
branch officials or Members of Congress.
(b) Prisoner lists and issue briefs on religious freedom concerns
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Ambassador at
Large, the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and
Labor, United States chiefs of mission abroad, regional experts, and
nongovernmental human rights and religious groups, shall prepare and
maintain issue briefs on religious freedom, on a country-by-country
basis, consisting of lists of persons believed to be imprisoned,
detained, or placed under house arrest for their religious faith,
together with brief evaluations and critiques of the policies of the
respective country restricting religious freedom. In considering the
inclusion of names of prisoners on such lists, the Secretary of State
shall exercise appropriate discretion, including concerns regarding the
safety, security, and benefit to such prisoners.
(c) Availability of information
The Secretary shall, as appropriate, provide religious freedom issue
briefs under subsection (b) of this section to executive branch
officials and Members of Congress in anticipation of bilateral contacts
with foreign leaders, both in the United States and abroad.
(Pub. L. 105-292, title I, Sec. 108, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2796.)
