and suzanne johnson cook, the u.s. ambassador at large for international religious freedom.omeone i have had the privilege of working with in the state department and my previous incarnations as a senator. chris and bill, two of my top advisers from civil society. i'm grateful for their efforts. and all of the representatives from congress, from embassies, members of the religion and foreign policy working group, and others who recognized and are committed to the importance of this issue and what it represents. earlier today, the state department released its latest international religious freedom report. it opens with the words that guide our work and the work of governments and individuals devoted to freedom of religion around the world. they are the words of article 18 of the universal declaration of human rights. listen to those words again because much of what i will say today is rooted in our constitution and our belief about the importance of the free exercise of religion. but it is important to remember that these words were adopted by the international community, no

great privilege and honor and of working with so quickly with over the last several years, and suzanne johnson cook, the u.s. ambassador at large for u.s. religious freedom, someone i have also had the privilege of working with in the state department and in one of my previous incarnations as a senator from new york. others, two of my top advisers on this issue, i am grateful for their efforts, and all the representatives from congress, and the seas, members of the religion and foreign policy working group and others who recognize and are committed to the importance of this issue and what it represents. earlier today, the state department released its latest international religious freedom report. it opens with the words that guide our work and the work of governments and individuals devoted to freedom of religion around the world. listen to those words, because much of what i will say today is of course bring it in our constitution, and in our belief about the importance of the free exercise your eyes -- free exercise of religion. it is important to remember that these words were adopted by the in