Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Vicky Hartzler to Join Christian Persecution Summit

Vicky Hartzler, former U.S. Congresswoman and newly elected Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), will speak at CPAC's Christian Persecution Summit on October 30, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Terrace Theatre. A proud Missourian and faith-driven leader, she brings proven expertise in defending persecuted Christians worldwide.

Hartzler represented Missouri’s Fourth District in Congress from 2011 to 2023, serving on the Armed Services and Agriculture Committees while championing national security, veterans, and rural communities. She authored Running God’s Way, blending Christian principles with public service.

A fierce advocate for religious freedom, Hartzler sponsored the Combatting the Persecution of Christians in China Act to counter church demolitions, pastor imprisonments, and surveillance. She pushed for stronger U.S. action against regimes in North Korea, Iran, and Nigeria—where groups like Boko Haram target believers with violence and abductions. Now leading USCIRF, she calls out underreported crises, such as Azerbaijan’s attacks on Armenian Christians, and urges "Countries of Particular Concern" designations to trigger sanctions and support.

Hartzler unites policymakers and faith leaders to make religious freedom a foreign policy priority, insisting that protecting Christians—from China’s underground churches to war-torn regions—demands bold, bipartisan U.S. leadership.

Register today at cpac.org/summit/christians.