To award a congressional gold medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3890) to amend the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 to waive the requirement for annual renewal resolutions relating to import sanctions, impose import sanctions on Burmese gemstones, expand the number of individuals against whom the visa ban is applicable, expand the blocking of assets and other prohibited activities, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, just a few short months ago, Burma's Saffron Revolution unfolded before the eyes of the world. Buddhist monks draped in crimson robes peacefully marching through the streets of Rangoon. Tens of thousands of Burmese citizens joining the monks, echoing their calls for change. A chorus of world voices asking the Burma's ruling junta to respond peacefully and responsibly to cries for freedom and democracy.

The reaction of the ruling regime to these peaceful demonstrations was equally as unforgettable. Unarmed monks shot in the streets, in full view of the international community. Thousands of peaceful monks hauled off to detention centers to be tortured. Political dissidents tossed in jail, facing years behind bars simply for criticizing the government.

In recent days, loudspeakers across the country warn: ``We have video. We will find you,'' all in an Orwellian effort to intimidate Burma's people and deter them from their aspirations for democracy and a better life.

This crackdown on nonviolent protesters and Buddhist monks by Burma's military thugs sets a new low of brutality even for this regime of military dictators.

These brutal actions demonstrate the moral bankruptcy of the regime. Unfortunately, the regime is not economically bankrupt. It continues to take Burma's vast resources as its own while the vast majority of Burma's people suffer in dire poverty.

The legislation before the House today hits the regime where it hurts, in the wallet. By blocking the import of Burmese gems into the United States and expanding financial sanctions, the legislation will take hundreds of millions out of the pockets of the regime each year.

This legislation is supported by United States industry. The 11,000- store Jewelers of America supports a ban of Burmese gem imports to the United States. Major retailers like Tiffany's and Bulgari have also voluntarily implemented such a ban.

The bill before the House also cuts off tax deductions for Chevron's major gas investment in Burma. By closing this loophole, we can dramatically increase pressure on other civilized nations to similarly demand that their firms divest themselves of Burma holdings.

This bipartisan bill strengthens our goal of a coordinated, multilateral approach to sanctions against Burma. The European Union recently announced a similar ban on the import of Burmese gems, as have the Canadians. I hope our legislation will push other countries to reexamine their financial dealings with the regime and the investment their oil companies make in Burma.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer this legislation to strengthen the sanctions imposed by the 2003 Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act. In doing so, I am again joined by the ranking Republican member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Mr. Peter King of the Homeland Security Committee, both of whom have been strong voices for freedom in Burma.

Let me also express my appreciation to the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Rangel, and the chairman of the Trade Subcommittee, Mr. Levin, as well as their Republican counterparts, Mr. McCrery and Mr. Herger, for their enormous help in moving this bill forward.

Finally, I would like to highlight the indispensable leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi on this legislation. Since the first shots were fired in Rangoon, the Speaker has firmly indicated the intention of House Democrats to significantly tighten sanctions on the ruling Burmese regime. And today, we fulfill that promise.

Mr. Speaker, Burmese freedom fighter and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi memorably asked the world community, ``Use your liberty to promote ours.'' So today, we use our liberty in the United States Congress to dramatically increase the economic pressure on the Burmese regime to move towards freedom, democracy and respect for human rights.

We use our liberty to stop the flow of blood red rubies from Burma into American jewelry stores. The Burmese regime might have washed the blood from the streets of Rangoon, but they have not erased the images of peaceful protesters being shot down from our minds. Today, we act, and we act decisively.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record an exchange of letters between Chairman Rangel and Chairman Lantos on H.R. 3890.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, December 10, 2007.

Hon. Tom Lantos,

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing regarding H.R. 3890, the

Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of

2007, which was reported by the House Foreign Affairs

Committee on October 31, 2007.

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

over import matters, such as the import ban and restrictions

on

imports imposed by the Block Burmese JADE Act of 2007.

Accordingly, certain provisions of H.R. 3890 fall under the

Committee's jurisdiction.

There have been some productive conversations between the

staffs of our committees, during which we have proposed some

changes to H.R. 3890 that I believe help clarify the intent

and scope of the measure. My understanding is that there is

an agreement with regard to these changes.

The following provisions of H.R. 3890 were among those

changed, added, or removed because they fell within the

Committee's jurisdiction:

Section 3(a) (``Annual Renewal of Resolutions No Longer

Required''): This subsection was removed;

Section 3(b) (Import Restrictions on Gemstones): This

subsection was removed and a new Section 3A (``Prohibition on

Importation of Certain Jadeite and Rubies and Articles of

Jewelry Containing Jadeite or Rubies'') was added;

New Section 3A(a) (``Definitions'') contains definitions

for the terms ``Appropriate Congressional Committees,''

``Burmese Covered Article,'' ``Non-Burmese Covered Article,''

``Jadeite; Rubies; Articles of Jewelry Containing Jadeite or

Rubies,'' and ``United States'';

New Section 3A(b) (``Prohibitions on Importation of Burmese

Covered Articles''): Provides that the President shall

prohibit the importation into the United States of any

Burmese covered article and use provided regulatory authority

as necessary; and the President shall take actions to seek a

draft waiver decision by the Council on Trade in Goods of the

World Trade Organization and adoption of a United Nations

General Assembly resolution;

New Section 3A(c) (``Requirements for Importation of Non-

Burmese Covered Articles''): Provides that the President,

beginning 60 days after the date of enactment, shall require

certain actions by the exporting country, exporter and

importer as a condition of importing non-Burmese covered

articles into the United States to ensure that the imported

articles do not contain Burmese jadeite or rubies;

New Section 3A(d) (``Inapplicability''): Exempts certain

imports from the requirements of the Act;

New Section 3A(e) (``Enforcement''): Provides that Burmese

covered articles and non-Burmese covered articles imported

into the United States in violation of the Act are subject to

all applicable laws of the United States;

New Section 3A(f) (``Sense of Congress''): Provides that

the President should take the necessary steps to negotiate an

international agreement similar to the Kimberley Process

Certification Scheme for conflict diamonds; and

New Section 7 (``Waiver of Competitive Need Limitation

Under Generalized System of Preferences For Certain Articles

of India and Thailand''): Provides for the reinstatement of

Generalized System of Preferences (duty-free treatment) for

specified Thai and Indian jewelry.

To 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.R. 3890, and would ask

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

included in the record.

Sincerely,

Charles B. Rangel,

Chairman.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, December 10, 2007.

Hon. Charles B. Rangel,

Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R.

3890, the Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic

Efforts) Act of 2007.

I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this

legislation and the mutually agreed upon text that is being

presented to the House, including the amendments to H.R. 3890

reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as described in

your letter. I recognize that the bill contains provisions

that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways

and Means. I agree that the inaction of your Committee with

respect to the bill does not in any way prejudice the

Committee on Ways and Means or its jurisdictional

prerogatives on this or similar legislation in the future.

I will ensure that our exchange of letters be included in

the Congressional Record.

Cordially,

Tom Lantos,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4286) to award a congressional gold medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of awarding Aung San Suu Kyi the Congressional Gold Medal.

Mr. Speaker, since the founding of our country, this Congress has awarded more than 300 people and organizations the Congressional Gold Medal. We have bestowed this honor on those who have performed outstanding deeds and acts of service. Past recipients include the Dalai Lama, for his contributions to peace, nonviolence, human rights and religious understanding; Elie Wiesel, one of the foremost spokesmen of the victims of the Holocaust; the Reverend Francis X. Quinn, pastor of the Church of the Guardian Angel in New York City, who risked his own life in persuading an armed gunman to surrender to police and free an elderly couple he was holding hostage; Mother Teresa of Calcutta; and Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

Like those who have received this award before, Aung San Suu Kyi embodies the spirit of the Congressional Gold Medal, dedicating her life to the cause of freedom and democracy by fighting to establish peace in her home country of Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi was born in Burma in 1945, and 2 years after her birth her father negotiated Burma's independence from the United Kingdom and was then assassinated by his rivals that very same year.

Like father, like daughter, Ms. Suu Kyi has spent most of her life working to better her native country. Although Burma established democratic rule after becoming an independent republic in 1947, a military coup toppled the government in 1962, and since then the government has been effectively under military control.

For more than 20 years, Ms. Suu Kyi has led the effort to end military rule in her country. In 1988, she helped form the National League for Democracy, also known as the NLD, which advocates nonviolence. She is currently the NLD's general secretary. In 1990, despite being under house arrest, she led her political party to a landslide victory in parliamentary elections, gaining 82 percent of the seats in Parliament. The military junta snubbed the will of the Burmese people by nullifying the results of the election and, subsequently, ruling with an iron fist.

Throughout her political career, Aung San Suu Kyi has been in and out of house arrest, but this has only solidified her determination to secure democracy for the people of Burma. And, when offered the chance to leave the country and live in exile, she said ``no,'' choosing instead to stand with her fellow citizens of Burma.

In August, her struggles and the struggles of the Burmese people were thrust onto the international stage when pictures of monks protesting the military junta were shown all over the world. Despite the junta's violent crackdown on dissidents, protesters have remained committed to peaceful protests, inspired by their rightful leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who met with foreign leaders and junta officials from her home to work for a peaceful way forward after the bloody nationwide crackdown.

Their efforts prompted new calls for democracy within the global community. The United Nations' Secretary was outspoken in calling on the junta to allow for democracy to take place in Burma. And First Lady Laura Bush continues to make public statements in support of the democratic movement in Burma, and we are all grateful to the First Lady's efforts in trying to bring about democratization within Burma; yet, the nation is still under military control and Aung San Suu Kyi's fight for democratic rule continues.

Burma is a nation in the heart of southeast Asia. It is bordered by China, Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India. In a region that is working to establish firm stability, Burma is a cancer whose main exports are illegal drugs, diseases like HIV and AIDS, and refugees pouring into neighboring countries.

The people of Burma and Southeast Asia deserve to live in a stable and thriving region. That is why the United States must continue to support efforts to establish peace and democratic rule in Burma. And it is my hope that by honoring Aung San Suu Kyi with the Congressional Gold Medal, we will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom and democracy to the people of Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi's work on behalf of the Burmese people has already been recognized by many on the international stage. She has won over 60 international awards, including the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought from the European Union, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the United States, and the Nobel Peace Prize. She is also the world's only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient, spending more than 12 of the last 17 years under house arrest.

Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma are leading a courageous nonviolent struggle for human rights and democracy, values we share as Americans. Her passionate, nonviolent approach and commitment to a free democratic Burma has won the hearts and minds of the people of Burma and, I dare say, the rest of the free world. Today I believe we should show her and the rest of the world that she is also in the hearts and minds of the Members of the U.S. Congress.

A number of my colleagues deserve special thanks for helping me bring this message to the floor today, including my good friend from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) for working with me to make this a bipartisan measure. Also, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank and Ranking Member Bachus deserve my thanks and our thanks in helping to ensure speedy consideration of the bill. Additionally, at the staff level, I want to thank Nien Su, Joe Pinder, Jonathan Obee and Greg Sheiowitz from my staff for their help.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as the gentleman may consume to my good friend, Eni Faleomavaega.

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I thank once again Mr. Manzullo for his support and efforts in helping to bring this legislation in a bipartisan spirit to the floor today. I want to thank my friend again Mr. Faleomavaega for his comments and work as well.

There is no question that the situation in Burma is complex. One only needs to read today's Washington Post to understand again the complexity of this in terms of the ethnic diversity within Burma. Also, in reading that article today, one could also understand that there's incredible turmoil within that country where there are more child soldiers than any other country today; where every day, daily, young boys are coerced and enslaved by conditions into becoming soldiers as young boys and children. There are over 2,000 political prisoners that we know of today in Burma. And that same article today alluded to the destruction of villages in Burma. Let me just point out that over 200 ethnic minority villages have been destroyed by the military junta, forcing 1.5 million people to flee their homes, some to flee the country, in a country where rape is used as a weapon by the military regime against the ethnic minorities within that country, documented and well known.

Aung San Suu Kyi, if she receives this award this year, will receive the award the same year that we just gave this to the Dalai Lama, the same award, the Gold Medal. She is known in Burma and throughout the world as the Nelson Mandela of Burma. She is known as the Gandhi of Burma.

I think it is appropriate that this year she share the limelight in some way with the Dalai Lama who himself has brought attention to the cause of the people of his own land.

Let me close by saying just one other point about Aung San Suu Kyi and the sacrifices she has had to make, giving up of her personal freedom and opportunity to live in Great Britain, India or elsewhere. She has turned that down to be with her own people who are suffering to the point where she is not permitted to see her family members because of her involvement in human rights activities.

In 1999, when her husband was dying, the military regime refused to allow him to live with her during that time. She had to spend those terrible days in isolation from the person she loved more than anyone else, her dying husband.

It is also important to note that Aung San Suu Kyi received the Nobel Peace Prize. But quite frankly, that was done in 1991, a very long time ago; some 16 years ago she received that award. So I believe that the work that the administration is doing, the work that the First Lady, and again I want to congratulate First Lady Laura Bush for her continued effort to bringing light and attention to this particular issue, I think it is having an effect on the world. I think more of the world is interested in what is happening in Burma and paying attention to it.

I would also like to take this time to ask our friends in India to play more of an active role in bringing about a constructive solution to the issues of Burma. And again to China, a country that I believe has continued to turn its face away from atrocities, no longer should China turn her face away from what is happening in Burma. China, India, Bangladesh, all of the countries in the region need to be concerned about what is happening in Burma today. Again, it is about what makes America America, standing up for those countries that stand up for democracy and human rights.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present this legislation to the House floor and hope my colleagues support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I was unable to travel to Washington, DC, for votes during the week of December 17, 2007.

However, I would have recorded the following votes on the rollcall votes which I missed. They included:

December 17, 2007

(1) H. Res. 856--Rollcall No. 1163--Expressing the heartfelt sympathy for the victims and families of the shootings in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, December 5, 2007--``yes.''

(2) H. Res. 851--Rollcall No. 1164--Honoring local and state first responders, and the citizens of the Pacific Northwest in facing the severe winter storm of December 2 and 3, 2007--``yes.''

(3) Previous Question--Rollcall No. 1165--On ordering the previous question to H. Res. 873--``yes.''

(4) H. Res. 873--Rollcall No. 1166--Waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules--``yes.''

(5) H. Con. Res. 271--Rollcall No. 1167--Providing for the sine die adjournment of the first session of the One Hundred Tenth Congress-- ``no.''

(6) Previous Question--Rollcall No. 1168--On ordering the previous question to H. Res. 878--``yes.''

(7) H. Res. 878--Rollcall No. 1169--Providing for the consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2764) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes-- ``yes.''

(8) H.R. 4286--Rollcall No. 1170--To award a congressional gold medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma--``yes.''

(9) 1st Senate Amendment to H.R. 2764--Rollcall No. 1171--On motion to agree to the Senate amendment with the 1st House amendment--``yes.''

(10) 2nd Senate Amendment to H.R. 2764--Rollcall No. 1172--On motion to agree to the Senate amendment with the 2nd House amendment--``yes.''

(11) H. Con. Res. 254--Rollcall No. 1173--Recognizing and celebrating the centennial of Oklahoma statehood--``yes.''

december 18, 2007

(1) Previous Question--Rollcall No. 1174--On ordering the previous question to H.R. 877--``yes.''

(2) H. Res. 877--Rollcall No. 1175--Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 6) to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes--``yes.''

(3) H.R. 3793--Rollcall No. 1176--To amend title 37, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to continue to pay to a member of the Armed Forces who is retired or separated from the Armed Forces due to a combat-related injury certain bonuses that the member was entitled to before the retirement or separation and would continue to be entitled to if the member was not retired or separated--``yes.''

(4) H.R. 6--Rollcall No. 1177--To reduce our Nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources, promoting new emerging energy technologies, developing greater efficiency, and creating a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve to invest in alternative energy, and for other purposes--``yes.''

(5) H.R. 2761--Rollcall No. 1178--To extend the Terrorism Insurance Program of the Department of the Treasury, and for other purposes-- ``yes.''

(6) S. 2271--Rollcall No. 1179--To authorize State and local governments to divest assets in companies that conduct business operations in Sudan, to prohibit United States Government contracts with such companies, and for other purposes--``yes.''

(7) H. Res. 542--Rollcall No. 1180--Expressing the unconditional support of the House of Representatives for the members of the National Guard--``yes.''

(8) H. Res. 884--Rollcall No. 1181--Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendments to H.R. 3997, with an amendment-- ``yes.''

(9) H.R. 3690--Rollcall No. 1182--To provide for the transfer of the Library of Congress police to the United States Capitol Police, and for other purposes--``yes.''

december 19, 2007

(1) H.R. 3996--Rollcall No. 1183--To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes-- ``no.''

(2) S. 2499--Rollcall No. 1184--To amend titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act to extend provisions under the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP programs, and for other purposes--``yes.''

(3) H.R. 4040--Rollcall No. 1185--To establish consumer product safety standards and other safety requirements for children's products and to reauthorize and modernize the Consumer Product Safety Commission--``yes.''

(4) H.R. 2764--Rollcall No. 1186--Making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes--``no.''

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

Mr. Speaker, the world was rightfully shocked and outraged this past fall by reports of midnight raids on temples in Burma and televised images of monks and other peaceful demonstrators being shot down on the streets and arrested.

Appeals for human decency and restraint have fallen on deaf ears with regard to Burma's generals. It is thus time to send them a message that they understand, a message that is loud and clear.

The international community must no longer subsidize the leaders of this immoral regime by trading in the commodities they peddle on international markets. This rainbow coalition of contraband products for sale by the military junta has included red rubies, white opium, green jade and brown timber.

The legislation put forward today sends a simple, but clear and strong message: It will not be business as usual for the people in Rangoon until they stop their suppression of their own people in the nation of Burma.

Is there any Member here today who has any doubts about making economic sanctions against the current Rangoon regime permanent and hard hitting? This legislation has the full support of leaders of the American gem industry. They have seen the necessity of putting principle ahead of money and profit when it comes to the actions of the Burmese rogue regime.

And this legislation also seeks to put the blame squarely on the backs of those who have earned it, the ruling generals and their families, and not on the backs of the Burmese people who have already suffered too much.

It calls for frozen bank accounts for the generals, an ending to money laundering by the ruling junta, and no visas to the United States for those involved in the continuing acts of repression and no visas for their immediate families.

The urgency with which we are here today in view of this issue of the restoration of the democratic rights to the people of Burma is demonstrated by the fact that already over 240 Members of this House of Representatives have agreed to cosponsor legislation giving official Congressional recognition to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Burma democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

H.R. 4286, introduced December 5 by Mr. Manzullo and Mr. Crowley, would award a Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma.

There is no clearer indication than this legislation of the solidarity that exists between the people of the United States and the good people of Burma on the issues of human rights and democracy.

This legislation is also fully in keeping with administration policy. In a statement made on October 19, following the latest series of bloody and tragic events, President Bush announced an executive order imposing additional sanctions on Burmese leaders and entities. The President also instructed the Commerce Department to tighten export control and regulation over Burma. On that occasion, the President noted that ``Burmese leaders continue to defy the world's just demands to stop their vicious persecution. They continue to dismiss calls to begin peaceful dialogue aimed at national reconciliation. Most of all, they continue to reject the clear will of the Burmese people who wish to live in freedom under leaders of their choosing.''

The President concluded with these observations: ``The people of Burma are showing great courage in the face of immense repression. They are appealing for our help. We must not turn a deaf ear to their cries. I believe no nation can forever suppress its own people. And we are confident that the day is coming when freedom's tide will reach the shores of Burma.''

This legislation provides an opportunity to send a strong, bipartisan and loud message that where human freedom is concerned, politics does stop at the water's edge.

I rise today to urge my colleagues to join in voicing their enthusiastic support for a free Burma by supporting the Block Burmese JADE Act of 2007.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Lantos of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the author of this bill, for his efforts in introducing this bill. We have no other speakers at this time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support this very important effort to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi. She is one of the most honorable advocates for democracy and human rights the world will ever know. Ms. Suu Kyi is the world's only Nobel Peace Prize winner to remain a political prisoner. Ironically, the daughter

of Burma's revolutionary hero is herself a captive in the very country that her father freed from colonial rule.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleague and good friend from New York (Mr. Crowley) for being a leader on such an important matter. His drive and commitment to awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Ms. Suu Kyi is not only impressive, but it is a true testament to his character. I am honored that he reached out to me to help drive this measure.

Mr. Speaker, Burma's military junta has held Aung San Suu Kyi captive for most of the 18 years she has spent inside that country. In fact, she was placed under house arrest in 1989, after she formed the National League for Democracy. And even after that party won the decisive election in 1990, with Ms. Suu Kyi elected as Prime Minister, the junta continues to not recognize the election results and the fact that the people have spoken. Except for brief occasions, Ms. Suu Kyi has remained a prisoner. She even was not allowed to attend her husband's funeral and remains separated from her children.

In September of this year, the Burmese people held the largest peaceful protests that country has seen in the past 20 years. They protested the poor economic decisions of the junta as well as the continued denial of democratic and human rights of the Burmese people. An estimated 100,000 people marched through Rangoon, peacefully demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. The world watched and hoped that this time the Saffron Revolution would lead to meaningful change. But, rather than listening to its people, the regime of Than Shwe turned its guns against the people, as they did in 1988. The U.N. Special Envoy for Human Rights reported recently that at least 31 people were killed in September and over 1,000 people remain incarcerated.

Last week, we gathered here in this House to pass a bill sponsored by two champions of freedom, my good friends Mr. Lantos, chairman, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The Block Burmese JADE Act of 2007 can be an important tool to add even more pressure to the regime to change its ways, particularly if our government encourages more countries to adopt similar economic sanctions. I note that the European Union is following a similar approach in response to the killings. Even Burma's immediate neighbors have issued strong statements condemning the massacre.

Mr. Speaker, the American people are outraged and disgusted by the severe use of force on the protestors and the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi. Shortly after the protest, the Subcommittee on Asia, Pacific, and Global Environment, on which I serve as ranking Republican member, with Congressman Eni Faleomavaega as chairman, held a hearing on the situation in Burma. We heard dramatic testimony from experts within the administration and from nongovernmental organizations. All the witnesses agree that Burma's fall from a prosperous country to pariah state was a direct consequence of the dictatorship.

So that is why we are here today, to state for the record that it is time the military junta recognize the will of the Burmese people, and of most countries of the world, and open the door for true reconciliation. By awarding Ms. Suu Kyi the Congressional Gold Medal, we Americans send a strong message that totalitarianism in Burma needs to come to an end.

I urge all Members to support H.R. 4286 so that we can voice our full support for Burma's first daughter and for all the people of Burma. This will remind the military junta of the American people's unwavering support for Aung San Suu Kyi. We need to pass the bill so there can be no mistaking our support.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.