BURMA Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-4223
Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Bangladesh
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Burma
Child safety and welfare
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Crimes against women
Economic development
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Evidence and witnesses
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Foreign loans and debt
Foreign property
Government liability
Human rights
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Mining
Multilateral development programs
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Sex offenses
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
Trade restrictions
Visas and passports
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 

Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2017 or the BURMA Act of 2017

 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the government of Burma (Myanmar) should ensure the safe and voluntary return of displaced people and fully implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State. 
 
The U.S. Executive Director of each international financial institution shall use U.S. influence to support only projects in Burma that do not partner or contract with or otherwise benefit any enterprise owned or controlled by the Burmese military. 
 
The United States may not supply security assistance or engage in military programs with the Burmese armed forces or security forces until the Department of Defense certifies that such armed forces have demonstrated significant progress in abiding by international human rights standards and are undertaking significant security sector reform.
 
U.S. import restrictions on Burmese jadeite and rubies shall remain in effect until the President certifies that Burma has taken substantial measures to reform its gemstone industry. 
 
The President shall: (1) submit a list of each senior Burmese military or security official who has played a substantial role in the commission of human rights abuses or who has failed to investigate human rights abuses, and (2) exclude any such individual from U.S. entry.
 
The President shall determine whether specified individuals should be included in the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. 
 
The Department of State, Treasury, and the U.S. Agency for International Development shall jointly submit to Congress an assistance strategy to promote broad-based economic development in Burma. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House