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USCIRF Unanimously Elects New Chair and Vice Chair
On June 3, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) unanimously elected Commissioner Stephen Schneck to serve as chair of the bipartisan government agency charged with monitoring and reporting on the state of religious freedom abroad. Commissioners also unanimously elected Commissioner Eric Ueland as vice chair. Their terms will run through 2025.
Chair Schneck said, “I am honored to serve as Chair of the Commission. I will dedicate the next year to leading this team with Vice Chair Ueland to further promote freedom of religion or belief abroad. Vice Chair Ueland has a breadth of experience in the Legislative and Executive branches and is an invaluable member of USCIRF. International religious freedom is not a Republican or Democratic issue, but rather a bipartisan concern where we must all work together.”
“I am eager to continue our shared efforts to call out foreign governments perpetrating or tolerating severe violations of the fundamental, universal right to religious freedom.”
Chair Schneck also took time to thank outgoing chair Abraham Cooper, under whose watch USCIRF ramped up its advocacy for prisoners of conscience, pushed for more U.S. government sanctions against countries repressing freedom of belief and recommended the 12 worst offenders to be designated CPCs, or Countries of Particular Concern, and thus liable for such sanctions.
Chair Schneck brings a wealth of advocacy and experience to his position. As USCIRF commissioner, he conducted hearings and led delegations in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. He serves on the governing boards of both the Catholic Climate Covenant and the Catholic Mobilizing Network, is a past member of the White House Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and founded and directed the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at Catholic University.
Vice Chair Ueland is a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a member of the board of advisors at the Center for Constitutional Liberty at Benedictine College. He earlier served as the Acting Undersecretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights at the U.S. Department of State and as the director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance Resources at the State Department.
Vice Chair Ueland said, “I am eager to continue our shared efforts to call out foreign governments perpetrating or tolerating severe violations of the fundamental, universal right to religious freedom. USCIRF will remain diligent in providing recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief abroad.”
USCIRF’s congressional authorization expires later this year. Chair Schneck and Vice Chair Ueland urged Congress to swiftly pass the USCIRF Reauthorization Act of 2024 “so we can continue the vital work of the Commission.”
