PUBLIC LAW 105-292—OCT. 27, 1998 112 STAT. 2797 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) to executive branch officials and Members of Congress in anticipation of bilateral contacts with foreign leaders, both in the United States and abroad. TITLE II—COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION. 22 USC 6431. (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. (b) MEMBERSHIP.— (1) APPOINTMENT.— The Commission shall be composed of— (A) the Ambassador at Large, who shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member of the Commission; and (B) Nine other members, who shall be United States citizens who are not being paid as officers or employees of the United States, and who shall be appointed as follows: (i) Three members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President. (ii) Three members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, of which two of the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the leader in the Senate of the political party that is not the political party of the President, and of which one of the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the leader in the Senate of the other political party. (iii) three members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, of which two of the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the leader in the House of the political party that is not the political party of the President, and of which one of the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the leader in the House of the other political party. (2) SELECTION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Commission shall be selected among distinguished individuals noted for their knowledge and experience in fields relevant to the issue of international religious freedom, including foreign affairs, direct experience abroad, human rights, and international law.
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