President Trump has proven to be an advocate for religious freedom, repeatedly connecting his words with actions.

With the full backing of the faith community, President Trump nominated Kansas Governor Sam Brownback to be the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom at the State Department.

We thank Senator Lankford, co-chair of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, for his efforts on this matter; and agree with his endorsement for President Trump’s excellent pick. This issue has been a priority for Lankford. On April 13, Lankford sent a letter to the President to encourage his administration to take steps to protect international religious freedom by hiring an Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. We join with Senator Lankford who expressed his full support in the following statement,

“I applaud the President for nominating an Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom at the State Department. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s 2017 report claims that numerous countries, including China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, among others, continue to imprison, torture and persecute religious minority communities, including Jews, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Buddhists. As anti-religious freedom regimes expand around the world, the United States should clearly speak out for human rights, including religious liberty. According to the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative, five billion people around the world face religious persecution and one-third live in places where religious freedom is severely restricted. One of America’s greatest exports are our values. Whenever necessary, we should advocate for human rights and the right of any person to live their faith peacefully and freely.”

Pray for our President daily. Take a moment to contact the White House, post on his Facebook page and Twitter account to let him know you appreciate his stand for religious freedom!

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2017

President Donald J. Trump Announces Samuel Dale Brownback of Kansas to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, Department of State. Mr. Brownback has been Governor of Kansas since 2011. Previously, he served as a U.S. Senator (1996-2011) and a U.S. Representative in the House of Representatives (1995-1996) from Kansas. While a member of the Senate, he worked actively on the issue of religious freedom in multiple countries and was a key sponsor of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. He also served as Kansas Secretary of Agriculture (1986-1993) and was a White House Fellow in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (1990-1991). Mr. Brownback was a private attorney in Kansas and taught agricultural law at Kansas State University. He co-authored two books on the subject. He earned a B.S. from Kansas State University and a J.D. from the University of Kansas. He and his wife Mary have five children.