May 17, 2024

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Welcomes Appointments of New Commissioners

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the new appointments of Maureen Ferguson, Vicky Hartzler, and Asif Mahmood. USCIRF also welcomes the reappointments of Stephen Schneck and Eric Ueland.

Maureen Ferguson was appointed to USCIRF by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA). She is a Senior Fellow with The Catholic Association and co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show Conversations with Consequences. She serves on the Advisory Committee for the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. Ferguson is on the Advisory Board of The Belmont House, an initiative of Belmont Abbey College that seeks to restore civil society, cultivate religious freedom, and reclaim the public square for the common good. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.

Vicky Hartzler was appointed to USCIRF by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA). She served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023 representing the Fourth District of Missouri. While in Congress, Hartzler served on the House Armed Services and Agriculture Committees, as well as the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). Through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s Defending Freedom Project, she advocated for the release of religious prisoners of conscience in China. Hartzler introduced “The Combatting the Persecution of Christians in China Act” and supported multiple pieces of legislation in support of Uyghur Muslims.

Asif Mahmood was appointed to USCIRF by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). He is a practicing physician, human rights activist, interracial and inter-faith community organizer, and philanthropist. He led the advocacy for many human rights campaigns focused on South Asia. Mahmood was a Delegate for the Democratic National Convention from 2008 to 2016 and held many roles in presidential campaigns.  He is also currently the Chair of the Organization for Social Media Safety (OFSSMS) and Board Member of Hope the Mission, one of the largest homeless shelters in California.

Stephen Schneck was reappointed by President Joseph R. Biden and Eric Ueland was reappointed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). In addition to the reappointments, Susie Gelman’s term continues through May 2025. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and leadership of both political parties in the Senate and House of Representatives. Read the full Commissioner biographies here.

USCIRF thanks for their service the former Commissioners whose terms ended on May 14, 2024: Abraham Cooper, David Curry, Frederick Davie, Mohamed Magid, Nury Turkel, and Frank Wolf.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].