Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1186
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2019-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Bangladesh
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Burma
Child safety and welfare
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Economic development
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Evidence and witnesses
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Foreign property
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Law enforcement administration and funding
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military education and training
Military personnel and dependents
Mining
Multilateral development programs
News media and reporting
North Korea
Political movements and philosophies
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Tariffs
Terrorism
Thailand
Trade restrictions
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-11
text: 

Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2019

 
This bill authorizes aid to address the humanitarian crisis in Burma (Myanmar). It also calls for sanctions and reports related to the issue.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes aid for humanitarian assistance and reconciliation activities in Burma and other countries in the region, including assistance to help targeted ethnic minority groups and support voluntary resettlement.
 
The President may not provide security assistance for Burma's armed forces until the Department of State certifies that the Burmese military has made significant progress in abiding by international human rights standards.
 
The bill reinstates trade restrictions on rubies and jadeite from Burma until the President certifies that Burma has passed certain reforms relating to transparency in the gemstone industry.
 
The President shall report to Congress a list of (1) senior military officials known to be directly and significantly involved in gross human rights violations in Burma, and (2) entities owned or controlled by such individuals. The State Department shall deny such individuals visas, and the Department of the Treasury shall impose various property-blocking sanctions against listed entities and individuals. 
 
The State Department shall report to Congress a strategy to promote economic development in Burma.
 
The bill also requires reports on 
 
 
Burma's military, 
 
Burma's eligibility for preferential duty treatment, 
 
whether certain Burmese military officials should be on the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, 
 
U.S. diplomatic efforts to impose coordinated sanctions related to Burma, and 
 
crimes against humanity in Burma. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate