[Jane Long]

The position stems from the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

This Act was first introduced as H.R. 2431 by Representative Frank Wolf to the House of Representatives on September 9, 1997. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) concurrently introduced the Senate version of the bill, S. 772. The legislation was passed on May 14, 1998, by a vote of 375-41, and was subsequently sent to the Senate. Under consideration, this Act was proposed to be modified by Senator Nickles.

The primary aim of the modification was to allow the president to have more flexibility in responding to countries that violated the Act.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Religious_Freedom_Act_of_1998

More info at above link.

[Texas Eagle]

Thanks for the assist. Unbelievable.

I don't know why I still have trouble believing these things.

[wagglebee]

At the rate things are going, in the near future Americans won't have any more religious freedom than citizens of an Islamic or communist country.

[Scrambler Bob]

This Act was first introduced as H.R. 2431 ...

Now this really does sound like congress making a law promoting religion.