She’s advocating for the voiceless.
Former Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, now a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), aims to use her new role to advocate for persecuted believers globally, particularly advancing the cause of Christianity. Appointed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, Hartzler brings her experience from serving in Congress and her commitment to religious freedom issues to USCIRF, an independent body that advises the U.S. State Department and Congress on global religious freedom matters.
In an interview with The Christian Post, Hartzler emphasized her personal faith journey and expressed a desire to speak up for those who are persecuted for their beliefs, citing Hebrews 13:3 as a guiding principle. She accepted the appointment after being approached by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Speaker Johnson, viewing it as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact for Christians and people of all faiths facing persecution worldwide.
With a background on the House Armed Services Committee, Hartzler has voiced concerns about religious freedom violations in China, where she highlighted the plight of Christians, Uyghur Muslims, and Falun Gong practitioners. She noted previous U.S. government actions under the Trump administration, such as designating China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims as genocide, and expressed a commitment to continuing advocacy on such issues.
Hartzler also expressed worries about religious persecution in Nigeria, noting significant violence against Christians and the recent removal of Nigeria from the U.S. State Department’s list of countries of particular concern under the Biden administration. She hopes to influence future U.S. policy to reevaluate Nigeria’s status and to leverage America’s global influence to protect religious freedoms.
As part of USCIRF, Hartzler joins two other new commissioners appointed alongside her, Maureen Ferguson and Asif Mahmood, bringing diverse backgrounds and perspectives to the commission’s work. Together with reappointed members, they will shape USCIRF’s recommendations and advocacy efforts in the coming years, focusing on promoting religious freedom and supporting individuals persecuted for their faith worldwide.