Time and again, violators of religious freedom are given a pass in the Department's country of some particular concern.

I am convinced that there is more the United States can do to protect and promote the freedom of religion worldwide.

I remain deeply concerned, along with my colleagues for Bishop Alvarez, who was recently released, only to be rearrested for bravely refusing to leave his country.

I wrote the language into the bill that you have a right to believe or not to believe.

You are there to protect our rights. It is not from the state.

A robust U.S. freedom agenda... should generally respect the sincerely held religious convictions of foreign societies.

In May of this year, I reintroduced the Vietnam Human Rights Act, which parenthetically passed the House four times in the past, only to die in the Senate.

China continues to be one of the worst abusers of human rights in the world.

USCIRF has recommended designating India as a CPC in its past four annual reports.

I am especially grateful you put India on the list of countries that ought to be CPC.

I urge the Department to do more to hold the Taliban accountable for its gross violations of human rights, including religious freedom.