Published on June 30, 2024, 12:35 am

Image source: Fox News

The former Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, a Republican from Missouri, asserts her dedication to use her new appointment as a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to amplify the voices of persecuted believers and tirelessly advocate for the advancement of Christianity around the globe. Hartzler was nominated for this role by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and proudly embraces this commision after her tenure in Congress from 2011-2023.

Hartlzer’s nomination comes following her unsuccessful venture into seeking an open U.S. Senate seat in Missouri after retiring more than a year ago. Despite losing the Republican primary to Eric Schmitt, who was then serving as Attorney General for Missouri, Hartzler remains optimistic about landing significant efforts towards supporting those facing religious persecution across various nations.

Holding dear Christian values since accepting Christ at the young age of nine, she envisions using this platform bestowed upon her to allow other individuals globally express their faith freely without fear or repercussions. Recognizing her potential contribution within USCIRF commission comes with great responsibilities; she hopes to affect people positively and garner further support within administration circles and among fellow congress members.

Picked by Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., for this two-year term at USCIRF Hartzler believes that it offers an immense opportunity to alter drastically the harsh realities faced by Christians all over the world but also believers of all faiths enduring hostility because of their convictions.

Her career path has always been highly concerned with China’s oppressive treatment towards various faith groups like Christians, Uyghur Muslims, Falun Gong practitioners amongst others when serving on Armed Services Committee at House level. She lamented China’s continuous incarceration of Underground Church pastors alongside worrisome reports showcasing organ harvesting operations targeted primarily against Falun Gong devotees.

Amidst demonstrating keen interest in advocating for Nigeria’s Christian community due to the gruesome killing of 80% Christians in 2021 and the concerning numbers since, she expressed her uneasiness about the Biden administration’s decision to take off Nigeria from the State Department’s critical nations list. Hartzler remains deeply hopeful about President Biden or possibly President Trump re-officializing Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ during the following term.

Further expressing her primary focus as USCIRF commissioner, she identifies it as advocating for prisoners across different countries jailed purely because of their faith and quelling hostility against Christianity within America while respecting other ideologies.

Finally, alongside former Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, two other commissioners – Maureen Ferguson and Asif Mahmood have also been chosen last month by political leaders to join USCIRF. All three will join incumbent members Stephen Schneck and Eric Ueland who were recently installed for new two-year terms by President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell respectively. The sixth commissioner Susie Gelman will remain active until her term ends next year.