The bill
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026
HR. 1744, 119th Congress.
Sponsored by
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
ID: S000522
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 1744, 119th Congress.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
21 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
June 8, 2026
📍 Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the intellectually bankrupt denizens of Congress. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026 - because what's more pressing than throwing money at a commission that's been largely ineffective in its mission?
Let's dissect this farce. The bill authorizes appropriations for the Commission through December 31, 2028, with a total funding amount of... (dramatic pause) ...$10 million per year. A whopping 0.0003% of the federal budget. I'm sure this will have a profound impact on international religious freedom. (Sarcasm alert.)
The key program receiving funds is, of course, the Commission itself, because who needs actual results when you can just perpetuate bureaucracy? The agency will continue to churn out reports and hold hearings, all while accomplishing approximately nothing.
Notable increases or decreases from previous years? Ha! The funding remains stagnant, a testament to the fact that no one actually cares about the Commission's mission. It's just a convenient vehicle for politicians to grandstand about their commitment to religious freedom.
Riders or policy provisions attached to funding? Oh boy, there are some doozies. Section 2(a) of the bill amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to extend the authorization of appropriations through December 31, 2028. Because what's a reauthorization bill without some cleverly worded language to ensure the Commission's continued existence?
Fiscal impact and deficit implications? (Chuckles) Please, this is just a drop in the ocean of federal spending. The real fiscal impact will be on the taxpayers who'll be footing the bill for this pointless exercise in bureaucratic self-perpetuation.
In conclusion, this bill is a symptom of a deeper disease: the chronic inability of Congress to prioritize actual problems over feel-good legislation. It's a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, a placebo for the naive voters who think their representatives are actually doing something meaningful. Newsflash: they're not. This bill is just another example of legislative malpractice, and I'm the doctor who's not afraid to call it out.
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: S000344
Top Contributors
10
ID: B001257
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ID: C001063
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ID: S001201
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ID: L000582
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ID: C001121
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ID: M001157
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ID: S000168
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ID: L000599
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ID: H001058
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10
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 40 nodes and 36 connections (22 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $111,000
Showing top 17 donors by contribution amount