be construed to affect the ability of any entity, including United States small businesses, from competing for proposals for USAID-funded civil society and political competition and consensus building programs. (f) Informing the national endowment for democracy The Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State, and the Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, USAID, shall regularly inform the National Endowment for Democracy of democracy programs that are planned and supported by funds made available by this Act and prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs. (g) Protection of civil society activists and journalists Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the headings Economic Support Fund and Democracy Fund , not less than $15,000,000 shall be made available for the Human Rights Defenders Fund to support and protect civil society activists who have been threatened, harassed, or attacked, consistent with the action plan required by section 7032(i)(1) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2018 (division K of Public Law 115–141 ): Provided , That such funds may only be made available following consultation with the Committees on Appropriations: Provided further , That such funds shall be allocated to, and administered by, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State, in consultation, as appropriate, with relevant bureaus and offices of the Department of State and USAID, and are in addition to amounts otherwise made available for such purposes. International Religious Freedom 7033. (a) International religious freedom office and special envoy to promote religious freedom (1) Operations Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading Diplomatic Programs shall be made available for the Office of International Religious Freedom, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State, and the Special