The 2026 International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit concluded yesterday with Capitol Hill Advocacy Day, which began with a breakfast titled, “Defending Religious Freedom Around the World.” RFI President David Trimble spoke during the event commending Chairman Chris Smith‘s impactful work on the “Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act” signed into law in December 2018. Trimble compared provisions of that bill, which authorizes direct funding to faith-based organizations in contexts of persecution, with the exemplary work of the Hungary Helps Program under the leadership of Hungarian State Secretary Tristan Azbej. Trimble then introduced the State Secretary, who spoke about the program and the importance of strengthening ties with the United States to address the challenges of persecution around the world. 

Members of Congress, administration officials, and other high-profile figures in the IRF space also made remarks, including: 

• Sam Brownback, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom (2018-2021) and co-chair of IRF Summit
• Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice and is co-chair of IRF Summit
• Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director, Armenian Assembly of America
• Congressman Gus Bilirakis
• Congressman Andy Harris
• Congressman French Hill
• Congressman Chris Smith
• Senator James Lankford
• Mark Walker, Principal Advisor for Global Religious Freedom, U.S. Department of State
• Tristan Azbej, State Secretary at Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade responsible for assisting persecuted Christians and overseeing the Hungary Helps Program

Following the breakfast, the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing on “Defending Religious Freedom Around the World.” Witnesses included Mark Walker; Sam Brownback; Grace Drexel, daughter of Pastor Ezra Jin; and Stephen Schneck, Former Chair, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Other formal and informal meetings were held on Capitol Hill throughout the day that highlighted the plight of the persecuted across the globe and a number of policy proposals intended to offer relief.