§6433a Strategic Plan

Summary

Require the Chair and Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to lead a strategic review and planning process. The law says this must start within 60 days after October 16, 2015 and happen at least every two years. It must be done with the Commissioners, the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, staff, and others the Chair and Vice Chair choose. The review must look at the Commission’s duties and powers, make a written list of priority actions to meet the strategic plan, check the yearly report’s scope and schedule, and review personnel rules. The law defines terms briefly: “appropriate congressional committees” means the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Senate and House Appropriations Committees; “Commission” means the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; “Commissioner” means a member; “Vice Chair” means the Vice Chair appointed by an official from a different party than the Chair’s appointer. If all Commissioners cannot agree, the Chair and Vice Chair can approve plan items if a majority of commissioners appointed by the President’s party and a majority of those appointed by the other party both vote yes. By no later than 180 days after December 20, 2019, and every 2 years after that, the Chair and Vice Chair must send a written strategic plan to the appropriate congressional committees showing prioritized actions, any suggested changes to the annual report or personnel rules, and funding needs. The plan may list unresolved issues. The Commission may implement personnel and annual report items in the plan despite sections 6432b(a) and 6533(a). The Commission must provide documents and testimony to the congressional committees if asked.