Approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 93) approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The bill before us will renew the import ban on products of Burma. While there can be concerns about the universal effectiveness of unilateral sanctions, Burma clearly presents a unique situation. There is overwhelming evidence that Burma continues to blatantly disregard human rights and suppress democracy, and it is therefore important to continue the import ban for another year.

Under the military regime that rules Burma today, Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest, which the military regime extended yet again in May. She has been detained for 12 of the last 18 years without being charged or tried. The government is also detaining almost 2,000 other civic activists indefinitely and without charge. The detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and these other activists would be reason enough to renew the sanctions. Unfortunately, there are many more examples of human rights abuses in Burma.

Government security forces killed and injured hundreds of demonstrators during their suppression of pro-democracy protests in September. These forces have also committed other extrajudicial killings, as well as disappearances, rape, and torture in the past year.

Regime-supported organizations and militias have harassed, abused and detained human rights and pro-democracy activists. The government regularly tramples on the Burmese people's privacy and their freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, religion and movement.

Violence and discrimination against women and ethnic minorities; recruitment of child soldiers; and trafficking in persons, especially women and girls, persist. Workers' rights remain restricted and forced labor, including that of children, continues to be a problem.

The military regime's handling of tropical cyclone Nargis this past spring also underscores the poor human rights situation in Burma. The regime did little to warn citizens about the calamitous cyclone. Almost 150,000 people are dead or missing. Nor did the regime provide adequate assistance to hundreds of thousands who survived the cyclone.

While dozens of nations, including our Nation, responded immediately to the cyclone and attempted to provide humanitarian assistance, the government initially denied them permission to enter the country. It continues to severely limit their ability to provide assistance.

As a result, the Burmese people unnecessarily suffer. In light of Burma's continuing dismal record and the lack of any concrete steps to provide basic human rights to its citizens or to implement basic democratic reforms, I urge my colleagues to extend the ban on the import of Burmese products for another year.

I also hope the European Union, ASEAN and other nations around the world will continue to work with the U.S. to increase pressure on the Burmese regime. This week's ASEAN meetings in Singapore offer the opportunity to do so.

I would also like to submit the following letters for the Record:

House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, July 9, 2008.

Hon. Howard Berman,

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing regarding H. J. Res. 93,

which renews the import restrictions contained in the Burmese

Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (P. L. No. 108-61). This

legislation was introduced on June 5, 2008.

As you know, the Committee on Ways & Means has jurisdiction

over import matters, such as the import ban imposed by the

Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act. Accordingly, certain

provisions of H. J. Res. 93 fall under the Committee's

jurisdiction.

The import ban imposed by this Act must be renewed annually

by Congress to remain in effect. Last year, the Committee

allowed the renewal legislation to proceed to the floor

without a Committee markup. To again expedite this

legislation for floor consideration, the Committee will forgo

action on this bill and will not oppose its consideration on

the suspension calendar. This is done with the understanding

that it does not in any way prejudice the Committee or its

jurisdictional prerogatives on this, or similar legislation,

in the future.

I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming

our understanding with respect to H.J. Res. 93, and would ask

that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be

included in the Congressional Record.

Sincerely,

Charles B. Rangel,

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield as much time as he shall consume to the lead sponsor of this resolution, the distinguished colleague from New York, a member of our committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time with the hope that we will pass this. And I think Mr. Crowley noted the efforts of our late colleague and close friend, Tom Lantos. He paved the way on this, and I think we need to follow in that path.

I thank my friend from Michigan for yielding me this time. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for expressing their support for what I believe is a very valuable piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the renewal of the sanctions on the Burmese junta. I am proud to follow in the footsteps of the previous author of this important legislation, the late Tom Lantos. It was Tom's drive and energy that ensured that this legislation was passed in the past Congresses, and I am now pleased that I am able to pick up the mantle and to be the lead sponsor of this legislation as it moves forward.

Like Mr. Lantos, I believe that the United States has a moral obligation to stand up for those citizens of the world who cannot stand up for themselves. For many years now, the Burmese military junta has committed endless atrocities toward rival factions and ethnic groups inside their borders. Over 1 million of the Burmese people have been forced to relocate from their homes. More than 2,700 villages have been annihilated while junta leaders deny much-needed humanitarian aid to reach refugees as a result of Cyclone Nargis. Millions have been subjugated into forced labor, what the International Labor Organization calls, and I quote, a modern form of slavery.

The junta is one of the few remaining repressive regimes still in power in the 21st century. The entire world witnessed the repression that existed only last fall in Burma when the military junta smashed a burgeoning democracy movement. Once again, it was demonstrated when the military junta denied humanitarian assistance to its own people during Cyclone Nargis.

President Bush and the First Lady continue to bring attention to the people of Burma's struggle for freedom and democracy, and I congratulate and commend both of them for that.

Most recently, the President signed the Congressional Gold Medal of Freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi, which again further demonstrates the commitment of the President and of Congress in terms of bringing notoriety to her cause. But we need to pressure our allies, specifically the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, known as ASEAN, as well as, I believe, China and India, to do more to clamp down on the junta's finances and international travel.

If we ignore this terrible situation, it will only continue to worsen. The time to act against these Burmese atrocities is upon us. Times such as now are when a strong voice is needed to push the world in the right direction. As a collective group, we can come together to save lives and to save a culture from being swallowed by inhumanity.

I want to again thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who may have some skeptical thoughts about the imposition of sanctions, but I think you've already alluded to other countries and what they're doing now as a result of what we did, maybe unilaterally. But we are making a difference by not ignoring the plight of the people of Burma, who are being held, in many respects, in bondage by their own government.

And so I applaud you for recognizing the effects that these sanctions have had and will continue to have and will grow. We're looking for more partners in this effort. And I believe by passing this legislation today, it demonstrates our further commitment towards the people of Burma, who have very few people in the world looking out for them but the United States. So I congratulate you all for supporting this legislation and I urge all my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 93, to extend import sanctions against Burma for another year. Conditions are getting worse, not better, in Burma.

This past year has been particularly repugnant on all fronts. The U.N. General Assembly expressed grave concern with the ongoing systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burma.

In response to peaceful civic protests in August and September of 2007, the regime killed 30 people, according to U.N. estimates. Other sources reported hundreds of deaths. Harassment, beatings and other violent attacks on demonstrators were routine.

The U.N. Human Rights Council strongly deplored these mindless acts, and the U.N. Security Council, which includes China, unanimously condemned them as well. The ASEAN countries, Burma's neighbors, proclaimed their revulsion.

As for promoting democracy, there too Burma went in the wrong direction, ignoring the requests of the U.N. special adviser to release opposition political prisoners. The regime imposed on its people a smoke-and-mirrors democratic process, criminalizing criticism of its sham constitution and forcing an unfair referendum on communities devastated by the cyclone. This is not the scorecard of a country for which we should lift sanctions.

I must say, however, that I seriously question the usefulness of unilateral action. Our Burma import sanctions have been in place for 5 years. During that time, the repressive ruling regime has shown no progress toward democracy and respect for human rights.

That said, in light of the events of the past year, I believe that we have no choice but to continue these sanctions, not only to remind Burma's leaders that their actions are inexcusable, but also to communicate to the impoverished Burmese people that we have not abandoned their cause.

While I am an admitted skeptic when it comes to import sanctions, the Burma sanctions are structured to epitomize their effectiveness. They require the administration to report annually on whether conditions in Burma are improving, and whether U.S. national security, economic and foreign policy interests are being served.

The President may waive the sanctions in the national interest. Finally, they are not self-executing. The sanctions will sunset next July unless Congress votes to extend them. Most importantly, our sanctions, which this Chamber voted last week to strengthen even further, are driving other countries to take a tougher stance.

This past year, Canada imposed new export, import and investment restrictions on Burma. Australia instituted new financial measures, and the EU sharpened its import sanctions, targeting Burma's profitable extractive industries.

We still need to see much more from China, the ASEAN nations and India. For us to force change in Burma, the action must be multilateral, and continued efforts to build international pressure are critical to my future support for these import sanctions. In the meantime, Madam Speaker, I support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote on this and yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H. J. Res. 93, a resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act (P.L. 108-61). I am proud to have once again introduced this legislation; this year with the gentleman from New York, Mr. Crowley.

In 2003 Congress passed the Burmese Freedom & Democracy Act, legislation that I co-authored with my friend, the late Tom Lantos. President Bush signed this bill into law and we have reauthorized these import restrictions every year since. The legislation bans imports from Burma and the issuance of visas to those officials affiliated with the State Peace and Development Council, SPDC, the military junta that rules Burma and brutally represses its people. This law also bans U.S. financial transactions that involve individuals or entities connected with the SPDC.

These sanctions are critically important to keeping the pressure on the Burmese junta. The government continues to have one of the worst human rights records in the world and routinely violates the rights of Burmese citizens, including the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, as well as slave and child labor. The Burmese regime has destroyed more than 3,000 ethnic villages, displaced approximately 2,000,000 Burmese people, more than 500,000 of which are internally displaced, and arrested approximately 1,300 individuals for expressing critical opinions of the government. And it continues to hold Aung San Suu Kyi, the head of the National League for Democracy and the democratically elected leader of Burma, under house arrest.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, it does. In August 2007, after the SPDC cancelled fuel subsidies resulting in skyrocketing fuel prices, student leaders, democracy leaders, and Buddhist monks marched peacefully through the streets to demand human rights, freedom, and democracy. But the military responded by attacking these protestors. Hundreds of innocent people were killed, arrested, imprisoned, or tortured as part of this violent crackdown.

Then in May 2008 came Cyclone Nargis. Hundreds of thousands of Burmese citizens lost their lives because the government did not inform them a storm was approaching and, even worse, delayed and prevented humanitarian aid from reaching its people.

We must continue to stand with the Burmese people and expose the despicable and reprehensible actions of the SPDC. Sanctions are critical to putting pressure on the junta, Just last week the House passed the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act (H.R. 3890) which would ban the importation of Burmese gems into the United States and freeze the assets of Burmese political and military leaders. But we need to urge others to do the same. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, the European Union, EU, and the United Nations Security Council, UNSC, must all impose multilateral sanctions against Burma's military regime including a complete arms embargo.

I urge adoption of the resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 93, which would reauthorize the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act.

The devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis in May has been heart wrenching to watch. Despite the significant progress that has been made over the last three months with the support of the international community and numerous non-governmental organizations, the junta has frustrated our efforts to do more to help the people of Burma. We must continue to assist the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable communities.

As a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, I am particularly concerned about human rights in Burma. The violence against thousands of protesters led by Buddhist monks last September, which was triggered by the unannounced decision of the Burmese military junta to remove fuel subsidies, should be of great concern to everyone.

We must call on the Burmese junta to end its human rights abuses against members of Burma's ethnic minorities immediately, and until then, we should continue to impose tough economic and diplomatic sanctions against Burma.

I urge the support of H.J. Res. 93.