# 119-hres-220: Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, and for other purposes.

119-hres-220, Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, and for other purposes., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] (R-NJ); status introduced (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-220
- As of: 2025-12-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hres-220
- Congress: 119
- Title: Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, and for other purposes.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-03-11
- Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] (R-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 23
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## Summary

**Designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern** would be urged to spotlight systemic, religiously motivated violence. It would press for targeted sanctions, increased U.S. diplomacy, and assistance for displaced people amid widespread attacks on worship sites. - Religious minorities and local communities would be the primary focus of U.S. pressure after years of mass killings, kidnappings, and destruction of places of worship. - The Nigerian government would be urged to prosecute perpetrators, protect constitutional religious freedom, and assist internally displaced persons. - U.S. policy tools recommended include stepped-up diplomacy, targeted sanctions, and tracking of extremist financing. The resolution cites over $3.5 billion in non-military U.S. aid and about $83.5 million in defense assistance to Nigeria since FY2020.

## Cosponsors (23)

- Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2] (R-AR), 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1] (R-NE), 2025-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12] (R-FL), 2025-06-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3] (R-TX), 2025-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27] (R-FL), 2025-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1] (R-MD), 2025-07-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6] (R-NC), 2025-07-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3] (R-MO), 2025-07-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4] (R-MI), 2025-07-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6] (R-TN), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2] (R-KS), 2025-08-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6] (R-AL), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3] (R-MS), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] (R-NE), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1] (R-TN), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] (R-GA), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3] (R-AR), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8] (R-NC), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2] (R-IN), 2025-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14] (R-NC), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1] (R-AL), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1] (R-ID), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4] (R-IN), 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Urge Particular Concern label for Nigeria: benefit, medium. If adopted, this resolution would urge the Secretary of State to label Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" under the 1998 religious freedom law. It would urge targeted sanctions on people and groups who commit severe abuses. It would urge more U.S. diplomacy with Nigeria to protect religious…

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- 119-hres-719: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles Charlie James Kirk.
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## Sources
- [119-hres-220 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/220)

## Related
- [119-hres-719: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles Charlie James Kirk.](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-719)
- [119-hr-452: Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-452)
- [119-hr-21: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-21)
- [119-hr-979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-979)
- [119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1628)
- [119-hr-7: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-220 (as of 2025-12-21).