Cox supports cspan is a Public Service along with these her Television Providers giving you a front row seat to democracy. Members of coax talked of religious freedom outside the u. S. At an event commemorating the 25th anniversary of the International Religious freedom act. The discussion included the conflict between israel and hamas advocating against religious persecution and the impact of the legislation. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] good afternoon and welcome. My name is abraham cooper, and im honored to serve as chair of the u. S. Commission on International Religious freedom. Thank you for joining us to mark the 25th anniversary of the International Religious freedom act or irfa. I would like to extend a special thank you to senator chris coons and his staff for reserving this historic room for us. In october 1998, Congress Passed and then president bill clinton signed irfa making the promotion of freedom of religious or beliefs abroad higher priority in u. S. Foreign policy. Irfa established usirf and the state Department Ambassador at large, currently ambassador hussein, as well as the office of International Religious freedom. The law required monitoring and annual reporting on conditions and tlingit consequences for the worst violators. It is also incorporating, incorporated religious freedom concerns into u. S. Diplomacy, programs, training, as well as refugee and asylum policies. 25 years later, religious freedom issues are more integrated than ever before into u. S. Foreign relations. We have seen the benefits of irfa. Violations have been documented and exposed, and violators often sanctioned. Repressive governments have changed laws and policies, and they have released some prisoners. Issues of International Religious freedom now received significant media and public attention, including today for which we are grateful. Importantly, the United States no longer stands alone in recognizing the significance of freedom of religion or belief, or form, and dont worry we will have a quiz on all these abbreviations. For everyone everywhere. Various countries and the European Union have created for ambassador for special envoy positions. These and other countries have established an International Contact group of alliance and upheld regular conferences. Networks of parliamentarians and nongovernment organizations focused on forb but also develop. Usirf is proud to been in the founding of International Parliamentary network in washington, d. C. Based ngo roundtable, and continue to actively engage with both. Usirf remains unique entity in the space. No other country has a similar commission. Usirf is an independent, bipartisan advisory body that monitors conditions abroad based on international standards. Evaluates u. S. Policy and makes independent policy recommendations to the president , secretary of state, and congress. Usirf has nine commissioners. There are three appointed by the president of the United States, three are appointed by the leadership of the senate with each political party, and three are appointed by the leadership of the house from each political party. Usirf has an amazing nonpartisa nonpartisan, young, dynamic professional staff of about 20. Commissioners are private citizen volunteers. We come from different political parties, different faith and professional backgrounds, and different parts of our beloved United States. Yet, we all agree on the importance of freedom of religion or belief for everyone everywhere. We also agree on the need to shine a light on the severe abuses so many individuals of all faiths, and of none, who suffer sin before exercising their fundamental godgiven right to religious freedom. We were among the first to call for recognizing chinas horrific persecution of uyghurs as a genocide. We continue to call out russia for its antisemitic rhetoric and holocaust extortion in an effort to justify russias unprovoked invasion of ukraine. And last week we condemned the brutal terrorist onslaught by hamas whose antisemitic charter justifies violence, and worse, against innocent israelis. And we iterated that invoking any religion to justify taking innocent lives has no place in any society. Today, were going to discuss irfa importance, its accomplishments and steps to take in the years to, our first speakers are two of the key congressional sponsors of what became irfa, Commission Former representatives frank wolf, otherwise to as our commissions moral gps. And former u. S. Senator don nickles, former senator Joseph Lieberman at plan to join us but had a lastminute change in schedule so we have recorded marks from this Great American as well. After that will have a Panel Discussion highlighting the importance of advocating for specific victims of religious freedom violations. And to conclude, commissioners and staff will share the thoughts on irfa and usirf impact and their suggestions for the future. Before we start i would like to thank the former commissioners i see an audience here today. I also want to thank congress for its commitment to advancing International Religious freedom, and continued support of usirf. We expect members of congress to stop by to offer their comments throughout the event as well as their support, we hope. In addition to written and video remarks provided to us. Though i may mention it before, before i give more to my esteemed colleague and friend, fred davie, i would be remiss not to mention again the butchery of the iran backed hamas terrorists, and the special challenge those criminal acts posted people of faith everywhere. Let me now give the floor to usirfs vice chair fred davie who outlined some key irfa and usirf accomplishments and then introduce the first panel. Thank you, ice jerry cooper, i think all of you for joining us today. I am fred davie added to serve as vice chair of got a call you vice chair . They could call chair comer. I do serve as vice chair of this commission. Let me just say in response to chair coopers remarks about the horrible situation in israel, gaza first. I am proud to be able to stand within and with the imam in a statement that we issued our behalf of usirf condemning the horrific attacks of hamas. Also calling for an end to religious incitement and incitement of religious base violence, and then my own sort of commitment and deep concern that a know we all share for the humanitarian situation in the region, particularly in gaza. So i stand with the rabbi. I stand with the imam in this acknowledgment of the horror of that situation. And hoping that for a just and peaceful end to it soon. Let me also say that it would be really important we believe if there were a National Prayer service. Usirf can i think i can speak for my commissioners, we talked about today, would be more than interest in helping to organize and participate in a National Prayer service that called for an acknowledgment of the brutality and the horror and the depravity that is taken place in the region, calling for compassion comp for human life and innocent lives in the region, and calling for a just and peaceful resolution to the horrors that now exist there. So like rabbi cooper i want you know i i stand with you here imam, im really pleased we can all join together as commissioners of usirf and issue the statement that weve issued. Let me now turn to the agenda of the day, and preparing for this event has given us an opportunity to reflect on irfas and usirfs impact both over time and in recent years and we shared some highlights into usirf fact sheet that is viable in the room, and hopefully that you all have. Since we celebrated irfas anniversary in 2018 we have seen robust use of newly available tools in the frank r wolf International Religious freedom act, and the global magnitsky act, including designations of special watch lists and entities of particular concern and imposition of targeted sanctions against religious freedom of abuses. In addition, both President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump nominated their ambassadors at large for irf, for irfa, in record time, six in the each new administration the ambassadors were nominated. Then President Trump also appointed for the first time a director of International Religious freedom act on the National SecurityCouncil Staff and issued an important executive order on the issue which the Biden Administration continues to implement. The first five years also saw the founding of the International Religious freedom for belief allies, or irfa, and as archer said, no one will hold you to a test for these acronyms that we will spout today. Then the launch of regular International Religious freedom or irf, ministry is. Weve also been gratified to see foreign governments make improvements on religious freedom issues in response to u. S. Concerns. To give two recent examples, both sudan during its time of civilian led transitional rule, and uzbekistan engage closely with usirf and the state department in their efforts to a restrictive laws and make other positive changes. This led to progress sufficient for usirf to conclude that country of particular concern, or see d. C. Come , recordato longer awarded for either country in 2020. But will simply government no, no longer in power in sedan in recent backsliding in uzbekistan, usirf continues to closely monitor countries. As we reflect on as reflect today on the past 25 years, many accomplishments, we cannot be complacent. State and nonstate actors around the globe continue to perpetrate or tolerate severe religious persecution. Into many countries individuals and communities are still targeted for the religious beliefs, activity, or identity couple for the religious freedom advocacy. Those individuals and committees are why irfa was enacted. And they are why the global efforts to promote freedom of religion or belief for all remain essential today and for the future. To start our discussion today, we are so pleased to hear from three of the key sponsors of the legislative effort to promote International Religious freedom who will share their personal reflections on irfas creation and trajectory. First, we will see video remarks from senator Joseph Lieberman who sends his regrets as weve heard that hes unable to join us today. He served in the senate from 19892013. Representing the state of connecticut. He is testing new counsel to the law firm castlewood, Vincent Torres in new york. Our next speaker will be our own colleague, friend and as chair cooper said, moral gps, commissioner and former congressman frank wolf, who served in the u. S. House of representatives from 19812015 representing the tenth district of virginia. Commissioner werfel supported to usirf by then House Majority leader Kevin Mccarthy and 2020. And finally we will hear from senator don nickles represented oklahoma in the senate from 19812005. He is currently chairman and ceo of the Nickles Group in washington, d. C. We will now play former senator lieberman prerecorded marks on the screens. So were going to have a slight change in schedule. Im told that rapid gas is here with us and we would love to hear from you congresswoman. [applause] thank you so much. I appreciate it. Thanks very much. I guess this is on. Can you hear me . Okay, very good. Thank you. Im glad to be here again commemorating the 25th anniversary of the International Religious freedom act. I am a representative from the e state of florida and as i stood with the great frank wolf for many years, as did my father, congressman mike lerach is so weve been working on these issues and hes been the leader along with smith in the house. Its a testament to the incredible work again by three, again three true statesman, when you do now, thats for sure, i wish they were in the house and the senate, but we thank them for all their work. I want to thank them directly, my former colleague as a said frank wolf who was here and im sure whose former, is don nickles are . Yes. Okay. And then of course Joe Lieberman who is also a great hero and a true statesman. Thank you for standing up for religious freedom and creating the tools to hold violators accountable for their actions. I strive to continue this work as cochair of the International ReligiousFreedom Caucus in the house and a member of the executive committee for the human rights commission. What a giant he was cut incredible. I served with him as well. Fighting again for a range of persecuted religious minorities such as the following go, the uyghurs, the tibetans in china, the cops, the evs, and other christians in the middle east and africa the evs. And the most money noise around the world such as the hamadi said pakistan. And yet even as a celebrate this remarkable anniversary of the irfa, we know that it is even more important now given the dire situation we could face around the world, and even here in the United States unfortunately. Most on mind is the current war between israel and the radical islamists forces of hamas and hezbollah. At least 1400 innocent israelis were brutally and indiscriminately executed for simply existing, by the terrorist organization hamas. By its own admission it will not stop until it is white israel off the map and has exterminated all jewish people. Thats pure evil, folks. I do know you agree, plain and simple. I stand with israel and the jewish people in the right to defend themselves against the evils seeking their annihilation. The effects of this war are already having global repercussions, as you know, specifically with the shocking and violent rise of antisemitic rhetoric and action, which is mindboggling to imagine given the fact that ive been talking about the rise of antisemitism, as have you, for years now. Back in 2018 we held an International Religious freedom briefing on the global increase of antisemitism. Just two years ago in my own community in the tampa bay area, there was an antisemitic hate crime, and i condemned it, where the Florida Holocaust Museum is in st. Petersburg, florida. It was desecrated with a swastika and the message that read jews are guilty. Let me frankly state, hate and hate groups have no place in our society, which is what im so alarmed by the recent displays of antisemitism on u. S. Campuses. We have seen student groups and organize demonstrations condoning got even celebrating the october 7 terror attack against innocent israelis. Some have even adopted the imagery of a paraglider to advertise the rallies. Others have enthusiastically chanted the death toll from the terror attack. This is utterly disgusting in my opinion, and should be routinely and universally condemned by everyone. I have join my colleagues on numerous congressional efforts to push for accountability for this hate speech and pressure both secretary of education and institutes of Higher Education to follow through with their legal obligation to provide all students, including jewish students, a School Environment free from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics. It is important that we directly and unflinchingly address this scourge, not only for the members of the International Jewish community, but also for minority communities worldwide facing discrimination and hate. History provides us with a clear reminder of what happens when people stand by while hate and intolerance grow. The hesitation of the International Community to act over 100 years ago following the end of the First World War created the conditions for the holocaust where 17 million people, including 6 million jews, were systematically killed. Why the world learned a great lesson lesson and swore never forget, never again, Holocaust Denial and antisemitism are nevertheless, on the rise. Unfortunately, folks, we cant tolerate that. We cannot forget. It is for this reason i am proud that the never again education act which i colead and was signed into law last congress. This law expanded access to holocaust and antihate education to teach children the important lessons of the holocaust and the consequences of bigotry and hate. While the house of representatives was also able to pass the resolution condemning antisemitism and bigotry, as i said, last congress, it is clear from some members recent comments, very few, that the house must act again though in passing a resolution condemning antisemitism and in support of our ally israel. The right to exist in the right to follow your belief should that be controversial, particularly in this country. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to speak and celebrate the historic achievement of the irfas 25th h anniversary. Thank you and god bless. Thank you, congressman. [applause] congressman, we want to note and thank you for your advocacy of two religious prisoners of conscience, one