The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China announced the release of its 2005 Annual Report on Oct. 11. The findings in the human rights report report express continued concern over religious freedom in China. In part, the Report said: "The Chinese government continues to harass, abuse, and detain religious believers who seek to practice their faith outside state-controlled religious venues. Religious believers who worship within state-controlled channels are subject to government regulation of all aspects of their faith. In 2005, the government and Party launched a large-scale implementation campaign for the new Regulation on Religious Affairs to strengthen control over religious practice, particularly in ethnic and rural areas, violating the guarantee of freedom of religious belief found in the new Regulation."
Congress created the Commission in 2000 to monitor human rights and the development of the rule of law in China. It is made up of nine Senators, nine House members and five senior Administration officials appointed by the President. The Commission chairman in Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel.
