115 SRES 4 IS: To constitute the majority party's membership on certain committees for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, or until their successors are chosen.
U.S. Senate
2013-01-24
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		III
		115th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. RES. 4
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			January 3, 2017
			Mr. McConnell submitted the following resolution; which was ordered to lie over, under the rule

		RESOLUTION
		To constitute the majority party's membership on certain committees for the One Hundred Fifteenth
			 Congress, or until their successors are chosen.

 That the following shall constitute the majority party's membership on the following committees for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, or until their successors are chosen:
			Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
 Forestry:Mr. Roberts, Mr. Cochran, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Hoeven, Mrs. Ernst, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Thune, Mr. Daines, Mr. Perdue.
			Committee on
 Appropriations:Mr. Cochran, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Collins, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Graham, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Moran, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Daines, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Rubio.
 Committee on Armed Services:Mr. McCain, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Rounds, Mrs. Ernst, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Graham, Mr. Sasse.
 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs:Mr. Crapo, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Corker, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Heller, Mr. Scott, Mr. Sasse, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Kennedy.
			Committee on Commerce, Science, and
 Transportation:Mr. Thune, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Cruz, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Moran, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Heller, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Lee, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Young.
 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources:Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Risch, Mr. Lee, Mr. Flake, Mr. Daines, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Portman.
 Committee on Environment and Public Works:Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Inhofe, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Moran, Mr. Rounds, Mrs. Ernst, Mr. Sullivan.
 Committee on Finance:Mr. Hatch, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Thune, Mr. Burr, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Portman, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Heller, Mr. Scott, Mr. Cassidy.
 Committee on Foreign Relations:Mr. Corker, Mr. Risch, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Flake, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Young, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Portman, Mr. Paul.
 Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:Mr. Alexander, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Burr, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Paul, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Young, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Roberts, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Scott.
			Committee on
 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:Mr. Johnson, Mr. McCain, Mr. Portman, Mr. Paul, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Daines. Committee on the Judiciary:Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Graham, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Lee, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Sasse, Mr. Flake, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Kennedy.
 Select Committee on Intelligence:Mr. Burr, Mr. Risch, Mr. Rubio, Ms. Collins, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Cornyn. Special Committee on Aging:Ms. Collins, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Flake, Mr. Scott, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Corker, Mr. Burr, Mr. Rubio, Mrs. Fischer.
 Committee on the Budget:Mr. Enzi, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Graham, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Corker, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Boozman.
			Committee on
 Indian Affairs:Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. McCain, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Daines, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Moran.
 Joint Economic Committee:Mr. Lee, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Portman, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Sasse. Committee on Rules and Administration:Mr. Shelby, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Cruz, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Fischer.
			Committee on
 Small Business and Entrepreneurship:Mr. Risch, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Paul, Mr. Scott, Mrs. Ernst, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Young, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Kennedy.
			Committee on
 Veterans' Affairs:Mr. Isakson, Mr. Moran, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Heller, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Sullivan. Select Committee on Ethics:Mr. Isakson, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Risch.


		IV
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. RES. 712
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			July 31, 2009
			Mr. Filner (for
			 himself, Mr. Graves,
			 Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, and
			 Mr. Davis of Tennessee) submitted the
			 following resolution; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Foreign
			 Affairs

		RESOLUTION
		Commending the people of Iraqi Kurdistan
		  for reaffirming in the July 25, 2009, parliamentary elections the region’s
		  dedication to democratic ideals and congratulating all the political slates and
		  candidates that participated in the elections, and for other
		  purposes.

		Whereas at least since Iraq’s liberation in 2003, the
			 people of Kurdistan have fulfilled the dreams of Kurdish movement founders who
			 envisioned a stable democracy in Iraqi Kurdistan;
		Whereas the centerpiece of democracy in Iraqi Kurdistan is
			 its system of fair and free elections;
		Whereas on July 25, 2009, the people of the Kurdistan
			 Region of Iraq—Kurds and non-Kurds, Muslims, and Christians—went to the polls
			 in large numbers in a peaceful election and projections indicate that almost 80
			 percent of eligible voters participated in the elections;
		Whereas Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission, the
			 country’s formal elections organization, said in a statement following the
			 elections in Iraqi Kurdistan that the electoral process took place in
			 accordance with international standards;
		Whereas voters in Iraqi Kurdistan have ensured in the
			 elections representation from every constituency within the region: Turkoman,
			 Christians, and Armenians as well as Kurds will be elected among the candidates
			 who ran from more than 25 political slates participating in the
			 elections;
		Whereas at least 30 percent of the new Kurdistan Region
			 parliament will be women members; and
		Whereas these elections are only the latest example of
			 Iraqi Kurdistan’s commitment to the democratic ideals of freedom and pluralism,
			 values that it shares with the United States: Now, therefore, be it

		That the House of
			 Representatives—
			(1)commends the
			 people of Iraqi Kurdistan for reaffirming in the July 25, 2009, parliamentary
			 elections the region’s dedication to democratic ideals;
			(2)congratulates all the political slates and
			 candidates that participated in the elections; and
			(3)pledges to work
			 with the President of the United States and the newly elected Kurdistan
			 Regional Government (KRG) to strengthen the bonds between the United States and
			 Iraqi Kurdistan and to advance the cause of peace in Iraq.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 1876
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			April 2, 2009
			Ms. Bordallo (for
			 herself and Mr. Bartlett) introduced
			 the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Armed
			 Services

		A BILL
		To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the
		  incorporation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
		  principles in military construction projects carried out in the United States
		  or overseas, to require a specific goal regarding the use of renewable energy
		  sources on all military installations, and for other purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Military LEEDs Act of
			 2009.
		2.Use of Leadership
			 in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles in military
			 constructionSection 2915 of
			 title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 subsection:

				(f)Use of LEED
				principles in new constructionIn the case of each military construction
				project or military housing project authorized after September 30, 2009, the
				Secretary of Defense shall require the incorporation of design criteria
				promulgated in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building
				Rating System, as developed by the United States Green Building Council, to
				achieve not less than the silver
				standard.
				.
		3.Expanded use of
			 sustainable materials in military constructionSection 2915(b) of title 10, United States
			 Code, is amended—
			(1)in the subsection
			 heading, by striking Consideration and inserting
			 Special
			 considerations;
			(2)in paragraph (1),
			 by striking consideration of and all that follows through the
			 end of the paragraph and inserting

					consideration of the
			 following:(A)The incorporation of energy systems using
				solar energy or other renewable forms of energy.
					(B)The use of sustainable construction
				materials.
					;
				and
			(3)by adding at the
			 end the following new paragraph:

					(3)The Secretary concerned shall require that
				contracts for construction resulting from such design include a requirement
				that sustainable construction materials be used if the use of sustainable
				construction materials can be shown to be cost effective. For the purposes of
				evaluating the cost-effectiveness of sustainable construction materials, the
				Secretary concerned shall award weight to cost savings as well as a savings
				through reduced environmental
				impact.
					.
			4.Renewable energy goals
			 in military constructionSection 2911(a) of title 10, United States
			 Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

				(3)The performance goals required by this
				subsection shall include specific goals to increase the use of renewable energy
				sources on all military installations in the United States and
				overseas.
				.


		IV
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. RES. 312
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			June 16, 2011
			Mr. Lewis of Georgia
			 (for himself, Mr. Moran,
			 Mr. Rangel,
			 Mr. Filner,
			 Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania,
			 Mr. Grijalva,
			 Mr. Stark,
			 Mr. Payne,
			 Mr. Jackson of Illinois,
			 Mr. Blumenauer,
			 Mr. McDermott,
			 Mrs. Christensen,
			 Ms. Norton,
			 Mr. Gutierrez,
			 Ms. Speier,
			 Mr. George Miller of California,
			 Ms. Moore, and
			 Mr. Carson of Indiana) submitted the
			 following resolution; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Foreign
			 Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the
			 Judiciary, 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

		RESOLUTION
		Expressing the sense of the House of
		  Representatives that the United States should become an international human
		  rights leader by ratifying and implementing certain core international
		  conventions.

		Whereas the United States has played a leading role in
			 developing global human rights standards since the country's inception;
		Whereas the United States Bill of Rights, the first ten
			 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, are among the guiding principles which
			 helped develop the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
		Whereas Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin
			 Delano Roosevelt, led the United States delegation and the United Nations (UN)
			 in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
		Whereas, December 10, 2008, marked the 60th anniversary of
			 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
		Whereas the United Nations General Assembly also adopted
			 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the
			 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1966;
		Whereas the world celebrated the 204th anniversary of the
			 abolition of the transatlantic slave trade on May 1, 2011;
		Whereas, on January 1, 2008, the United States recognized
			 the 145th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation;
		Whereas the United States continues to make legislative
			 amendments that improve the rights of all Americans; these include the 13th
			 Amendment in 1865, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the 14th Amendment, the 19th
			 Amendment, the Social Security Act of 1935, the Fair Labor Standards Act of
			 1938, the Housing Act of 1949, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Civil Rights Act
			 of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Elementary and Secondary Education
			 Act of 1965, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the
			 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, the Civil Rights Restoration
			 Act of 1988, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Civil Rights Act
			 of 1991, and the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization of 2006;
		Whereas the development of human and civil rights
			 standards and protections requires constant review and attention;
		Whereas the UN Millennium Development Goals set forth a
			 fifteen-year plan to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental
			 degradation and discrimination;
		Whereas there are as many as 27 million people around the
			 world who remain enslaved;
		Whereas the United States has supported the adoption of
			 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the UN General Assembly and has
			 ratified significant international human rights treaties that include the
			 International Conventions on the Elimination of Racism and Discrimination, on
			 the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and against Torture and
			 other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International
			 Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
		Whereas the United States has ratified two of the eight
			 “fundamental” conventions outlined by the International Labor Organization
			 (ILO) including the Abolition of Forced Labour, and the Prohibition and
			 Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour;
		Whereas the United States has also ratified the Optional
			 Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children,
			 Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and the Optional Protocol to the
			 Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed
			 Conflicts;
		Whereas the United States signed the Convention on the
			 Rights of Persons with Disabilities on July 30, 2009;
		Whereas the United States is expected to be a regional and
			 global leader in the international civil and human rights movement; and
		Whereas the United Nations headquarters are located in New
			 York City, and the Organization of American States is headquartered in
			 Washington, DC: Now, therefore, be it

		That it is the sense of the House of
			 Representatives that—
			(1)the United States recommits to fighting
			 discrimination, xenophobia, human and civil rights abuses in both domestic and
			 foreign policy;
			(2)the United States
			 reaffirms its commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
			(3)the United States
			 should give thorough review to domestic policy and legislative proposals that
			 would improve the economic, social, political, cultural, and civil rights and
			 lives of marginalized communities within the United States;
			(4)the United States
			 Senate should give its advice and consent to the ratification of the UN
			 Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the UN Convention on the
			 Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and its Optional
			 Protocol, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention on
			 the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, the UN
			 Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the
			 First Optional Protocol to the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
			 the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture and other Cruel,
			 Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;
			(5)the United States
			 Senate should give its advice and consent to the ratification of the ILO
			 Convention on Forced or Compulsory Labour, the ILO Convention on Freedom of
			 Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, the ILO Convention on the
			 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, the ILO Convention on Equal
			 Remuneration, the ILO Convention on Discrimination in Respect of Employment and
			 Occupation, and the ILO Convention on the Minimum Age for Admission to
			 Employment;
			(6)the United States
			 should fully support the Inter-American human rights system, especially
			 hemispheric conventions regarding the rights of all persons, women, children,
			 the disabled, marginalized communities, and the right to freedom of expression;
			 and
			(7)it is the policy
			 of the United States to oppose slavery, torture, racism, discrimination, and
			 xenophobia in all forms.


110 HCON 285 IH: Expressing the sense of the Congress that a

U.S. House of Representatives
2008-01-29
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		IV
		110th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. CON. RES. 285
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			January 29, 2008
			Mr. Kanjorski (for
			 himself, Mrs. Capito,
			 Mr. Wilson of Ohio,
			 Mr. Altmire,
			 Mr. Murtha,
			 Mr. Carney,
			 Mr. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania,
			 Mr. Chandler,
			 Mr. Peterson of Pennsylvania,
			 Mr. George Miller of California,
			 Mr. Holden,
			 Mr. Gerlach,
			 Mr. Shimkus,
			 Mr. Shuster,
			 Mr. Wolf, and
			 Mr. Space) submitted the following
			 concurrent resolution; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Oversight and Government
			 Reform

		CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
		Expressing the sense of the Congress that a
		  postage stamp should be issued honoring the Nation’s coal
		  miners.

		Whereas the Nation is greatly indebted to coal miners for
			 the difficult and dangerous work they perform to provide the fuel needed to
			 operate the Nation’s industries and to provide energy to homes and
			 businesses;
		Whereas millions of workers have toiled in the Nation’s
			 coal mines over the last century, risking both life and limb to fuel the
			 Nation’s economic expansion;
		Whereas during the last century, over 100,000 coal miners
			 have been killed in mining accidents in the Nation’s coal mines;
		Whereas thousands of coal miners have contracted black
			 lung disease as a direct result of their toil in the Nation’s coal
			 mines;
		Whereas coal provides 50 percent of the Nation’s
			 electricity and is an essential fuel for industries such as steel, cement,
			 chemicals, food, and paper;
		Whereas the United States has a demonstrated coal reserve
			 of more than 491,000,000,000 tons, with an estimated 263,000,000,000 tons of
			 recoverable reserves which, at current production rates, represents about 275
			 years of recoverable coal reserves;
		Whereas these coal reserves represent about 95 percent of
			 all fossil fuel reserves in the United States, and about one fourth of the
			 world’s known coal reserves;
		Whereas the recoverable coal reserves in the United States
			 have the energy equivalent of about 1,000,000,000,000 barrels of oil, which is
			 comparable to all of the world’s known oil reserves;
		Whereas since the energy crises of the 1970s, United
			 States dependence on foreign oil has grown substantially, with imported oil
			 accounting for 39 percent of all oil consumed in 1973 and about 60 percent
			 today;
		Whereas energy security is an integral component of the
			 Nation’s economy and national security;
		Whereas coal mining continues to be the economic engine
			 for many communities, providing jobs to areas with little economic
			 diversity;
		Whereas coal mining provides economic benefits far beyond
			 its direct revenues, including billions of dollars in economic output and
			 household earnings and hundreds of thousands of jobs in other industries;
			 and
		Whereas issuing a postage stamp to honor the Nation’s coal
			 miners is fitting and proper: Now, therefore, be it

		That it is the sense of Congress
			 that—
			(1)the United States
			 Postal Service should issue a stamp honoring the Nation’s coal miners;
			 and
			(2)the Citizens’
			 Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a
			 stamp be issued.


116 S389 RS: FIRST Act
U.S. Senate
2019-02-07
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IICalendar No. 348116th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 389IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 7, 2019Mr. Moran (for himself and Mr. Roberts) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesDecember 17, 2019Reported by Ms. Murkowski, with an amendment and an amendment to the titleStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicA BILLTo authorize the Society of the First Infantry Division to make modifications to the First Division
			 Monument located on Federal land in Presidential Park in the District of
			 Columbia, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the First Infantry Recognition of Sacrifice in Theater Act or the FIRST Act. 2.Modification to First Division Monument (a)Authorization (1)In generalThe Society of the First Infantry Division, an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code, may make modifications, including construction of additional plaques and stone plinths on which to put plaques, to the First Division Monument located on Federal land in Presidential Park in the District of Columbia that was set aside for memorial purposes of the First Infantry Division, to honor the members of the First Infantry Division who made the ultimate sacrifice during United States operations, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
 (2)CollaborationThe First Infantry Division at the Department of the Army shall collaborate with the Department of Defense to provide to the Society of the First Infantry Division the list of names to be added to the First Division Monument under paragraph (1).
 (b)Nonapplicability of Commemorative Works ActSubsections (b) and (c) of section 8903 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the Commemorative Works Act), shall not apply to any activity carried out pursuant to subsection (a). (c)FundingFederal funds may not be used to pay any expense of the activities of the Society of the First Infantry Division authorized by this section.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the First Infantry Recognition of Sacrifice in Theater Act or the FIRST Act. 2.Modification to First Division monument (a)AuthorizationThe Society of the First Infantry Division may make modifications to the First Division Monument located on Federal land in President's Park in the District of Columbia to honor the dead of the First Infantry Division, United States Forces, in—
 (1)Operation Desert Storm; (2)Operation Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn; and
 (3)Operation Enduring Freedom. (b)ModificationsModifications to the First Division Monument may include construction of additional plaques and stone plinths on which to put plaques.
 (c)Applicability of commemorative works actChapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the Commemorative Works Act), shall apply to the design and placement of the commemorative elements authorized by this Act, except that subsections (b) and (c) of section 8903 shall not apply.
 (d)CollaborationThe First Infantry Division of the Department of the Army shall collaborate with the Secretary of Defense to provide to the Society of the First Infantry Division the list of names to be added to the First Division Monument in accordance with subsection (a).
 (e)FundingFederal funds may not be used for modifications of the First Division Monument authorized by this Act.Amend the title so as to read: A bill	to authorize the Society of the First Infantry Division to make modifications to the First
			 Division Monument located on Federal land in President's Park in the
			 District of Columbia, and for other purposes..December 17, 2019Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the title


116 S1186 IS: Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2019
U.S. Senate
2019-04-11
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		II
		116th CONGRESS1st Session
		S. 1186
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			April 11, 2019
			Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Young, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Collins, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Casey, Mr. Markey, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Coons, and Mr. Booker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

		A BILL
		To promote democracy and human rights in Burma, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2019. 2.FindingsCongress makes the following findings:
 (1)The United States policy of principled engagement since 1988 has fostered positive democratic reforms in Burma, but there remain important structural, societal, and systemic impediments to the realization of a fully democratic civilian government.
 (2)On August 25, 2017, Burmese military forces initiated a violent crackdown in Burma’s Rakhine state, attacking police posts and inciting what was, for an extended period of time, the world’s fastest-growing refugee crisis. Refugee flows have since slowed down significantly, but continue to this day.
 (3)More than 727,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since August 2017, fearing loss of livelihoods and shelter and disproportionate use of force by the military of Burma. As of January 2019, over 900,000 Rohingya reside in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
 (4)In April 2018, the Department of State determined that ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya minority in Rakhine State occurred during the previous year, as documented in the annual Country Report on Human Rights Practices for Burma.
 (5)On December 21, 2017, and August 17, 2018, using the authority granted by the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114–328), the United States Government imposed sanctions on Maung Maung Soe and added Lt. General Aung Kyaw Zaw, Major General Khin Hlaing, Major General Khin Maung Soe, and Brigadier General Thura San Lwin, as well as the 33rd Light Infantry Division and the 99th Light Infantry Division, to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list.
 (6)On August 24, 2018, the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar issued a report stating that there is sufficient information to warrant the investigation and prosecution of senior officials in the Tatmadaw chain of command, so that a competent court can determine their liability for genocide in relation to the situation in Rakhine State.
 (7)On September 24, 2018, the Department of State released a report that laid out a compelling case for crimes against humanity committed by the Burmese military against Burma’s Rohingya population in Rakhine state, while stopping short of a legal determination.
 (8)On September 28, 2018, the United Nations Human Rights Council approved the establishment of an independent mechanism to collect and analyze evidence in regard to the serious international crimes committed in Myanmar against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities since 2011.
 (9)Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported and documented a campaign of violence perpetuated by the security forces of Burma that may amount to crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing and includes indiscriminate attacks on civilians; rape of women and girls; and arbitrary arrest and detention of Rohingya men without charge.
 (10)The Government of Burma continues to block access to northern Rakhine State by United Nations and other humanitarian organizations, preventing hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Rohingya, Rakhine, and other ethnic groups, including children with acute malnutrition, from receiving humanitarian aid.
 (11)The people of Burma continue to suffer from ongoing armed conflict between the military of Burma, known as the Tatmadaw, the Arakan Army, and nearly 20 armed ethnic organizations.
 (12)Corruption and lack of transparency allow Burma’s military junta to use the trade of Burma’s natural resources, in particular jade and rubies, to enrich notorious leaders, including former dictator Than Shwe and United States-sanctioned drug lord Hsueh Kang Wei. Vested interests in jade and rubies undermine prospects for resolving the most intractable armed conflict in Burma.
 (13)Any prospects for a full democracy in Burma are contingent on ending the civil wars and finding a path toward national reconciliation that builds respect for the dignity of Burma’s ethnic and religious minorities.
 3.DefinitionsIn this Act: (1)Appropriate congressional committeesThe term appropriate congressional committees means—
 (A)the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and (B)the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
 (2)Crimes against humanityThe term crimes against humanity includes, when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack—
 (A)murder; (B)deportation or forcible transfer of population;
 (C)torture; (D)rape, sexual slavery, or any other form of sexual violence of comparable severity;
 (E)persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender or other grounds that are universally recognized as impermissible under international law; and
 (F)enforced disappearance of persons. (3)GenocideThe term genocide means any offense described in section 1091(a) of title 18, United States Code.
 (4)Transitional justiceThe term transitional justice means the range of judicial, nonjudicial, formal, informal, retributive, and restorative measures employed by countries transitioning out of armed conflict or repressive regimes—
 (A)to redress legacies of atrocities; and (B)to promote long-term, sustainable peace.
 (5)War crimeThe term war crime has the meaning given the term in section 2441(c) of title 18, United States Code. 4.Statement of policyIt is the policy of the United States that—
 (1)the pursuit of a calibrated engagement strategy is essential to support the establishment of a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Burma that includes respect for the human rights of all its people regardless of ethnicity and religion; and
 (2)the guiding principles of such a strategy include— (A)support for meaningful legal and constitutional reforms that remove remaining restrictions on civil and political rights and institute civilian control of the military, civilian control of the government, and the constitutional provision reserving 25 percent of parliamentary seats for the military, which provides the military with veto power over constitutional amendments;
 (B)the establishment of a fully democratic, pluralistic, civilian controlled, and representative political system that includes regularized free and fair elections in which all people of Burma, including the Rohingya, can vote;
 (C)the promotion of genuine national reconciliation and conclusion of a credible and sustainable nationwide ceasefire agreement, political accommodation of the needs of ethnic Shan, Kachin, Chin, Karen, and other ethnic groups, safe and voluntary return of displaced persons to villages of origins, and constitutional change allowing inclusive permanent peace;
 (D)independent and international investigations into credible reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, including sexual and gender-based violence and genocide, perpetrated against ethnic minorities like the Rohingya by the government, military, and security forces of Burma, violent extremist groups, and other combatants involved in the conflict;
 (E)accountability for determinations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, including sexual and gender-based violence and genocide perpetrated against ethnic minorities like the Rohingya by the Government, military, and security forces of Burma, violent extremist groups, and other combatants involved in the conflict;
 (F)strengthening the government’s civilian institutions, including support for greater transparency and accountability;
 (G)the establishment of professional and nonpartisan military, security, and police forces that operate under civilian control;
 (H)empowering local communities, civil society, and independent media; (I)promoting responsible international and regional engagement;
 (J)strengthening respect for and protection of human rights and religious freedom; (K)addressing and ending the humanitarian and human rights crises, including by supporting the return of the displaced Rohingya to their homes and granting or restoring full citizenship for the Rohingya population; and
 (L)promoting broad-based, inclusive economic development and fostering healthy and resilient communities.
 5.Authorization of appropriations for humanitarian assistance and reconciliationThere is authorized to be appropriated not less than $220,500,000 for fiscal year 2020 for humanitarian assistance and reconciliation activities for ethnic groups and civil society organizations in Burma, Bangladesh, Thailand, and the region. The assistance may include—
 (1)assistance for the victims of the Burmese military’s crimes against humanity targeting Rohingya and other ethnic minorities in Rakhine State, Kachin, and Shan States, including those displaced in Burma, Bangladesh, Thailand, and the region;
 (2)support for voluntary resettlement or repatriation in Burma, pending a genuine repatriation agreement that is developed and negotiated with Rohingya involvement and consultation;
 (3)assistance to promote ethnic and religious tolerance, to combat gender-based violence, and to support victims of violence and destruction in Rakhine, Kachin, and Shan States, including victims of gender-based violence and unaccompanied minors;
 (4)support for formal education for children currently living in the camps, and opportunities to access higher education in Bangladesh;
 (5)support for programs to investigate and document allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including sexual and gender-based violence and genocide committed in Burma;
 (6)assistance to ethnic groups and civil society in Burma to help sustain ceasefire agreements and further prospects for reconciliation and sustainable peace; and
 (7)promotion of ethnic minority inclusion and participation in Burma’s political processes. 6.Multilateral assistanceThe Secretary of the Treasury should instruct the United States executive director of each international financial institution to use the voice and vote of the United States to support projects in Burma that—
 (1)provide for accountability and transparency, including the collection, verification, and publication of beneficial ownership information related to extractive industries and on-site monitoring during the life of the project;
 (2)will be developed and carried out in accordance with best practices regarding environmental conservation, cultural protection, and empowerment of local populations, including free, prior, and informed consent of affected indigenous communities;
 (3)do not provide incentives for, or facilitate, forced displacement; and (4)do not partner with or otherwise involve enterprises owned or controlled by the armed forces.
			7.Sense of Congress on right of returnees and freedom of movement
 (a)Right of returnIt is the sense of Congress that the Government of Burma, in collaboration with the regional and international community, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, should—
 (1)ensure the dignified, safe, sustainable, and voluntary return of all those displaced from their homes, especially from Rakhine State, without an unduly high burden of proof, and the opportunity to obtain appropriate compensation to restart their lives in Burma;
 (2)ensure that those returning are granted or restored full citizenship and all the rights that adhere to citizenship in Burma;
 (3)offer to those who do not want to return meaningful opportunity to obtain appropriate compensation or restitution;
 (4)not place returning Rohingya in internally displaced persons camps or model villages, but instead make efforts to reconstruct Rohingya villages as and where they were; (5)facilitate the return of any funds collected by the Government by harvesting the land previously owned and tended by Rohingya farmers for them upon their return;
 (6)fully implement all of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State; and (7)ensure there is proper consultation, buy-in, and confidence building from the Rohingya refugee community on decisions being made on their behalf.
 (b)Freedom of movement of refugees and internally displaced personsCongress recognizes that the Government of Bangladesh has provided long-standing support and hospitality to people fleeing violence in Burma, and calls on the Government of Bangladesh—
 (1)to ensure all refugees, including Rohingya persons living in camps in Bangladesh and in internally displaced persons camps in Burma, have freedom of movement, including outside of the camps, and under no circumstance are subject to unsafe, involuntary, or uninformed repatriation;
 (2)to ensure the dignified, safe, sustainable, and voluntary return of those displaced from their homes, and offer to those who do not want to return meaningful means to obtain compensation or restitution; and
 (3)to ensure the rights of refugees are protected, including through allowing them to build more permanent shelters, and ensuring equal access to healthcare, basic services, education, and work.
				8.Military cooperation
 (a)ProhibitionExcept as provided under subsection (b), the President may not furnish any security assistance or engage in any military-to-military programs with the armed forces of Burma, including training or observation or participation in regional exercises, until the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the Burmese military has demonstrated significant progress in abiding by international human rights standards and is undertaking meaningful and significant security sector reform, including transparency and accountability to prevent future abuses, as determined by applying the following criteria:
 (1)The military adheres to international human rights standards and institutes meaningful internal reforms to stop future human rights violations.
 (2)The military supports efforts to carry out meaningful and comprehensive independent and international investigations of credible reports of abuses and is holding accountable those in the Burmese military responsible for human rights violations.
 (3)The military supports efforts to carry out meaningful and comprehensive independent and international investigations of reports of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence and is holding accountable those in the Burmese military who failed to prevent, respond to, investigate, and prosecute violence against women, sexual violence, or other gender-based violence.
 (4)The Government of Burma, including the military, allows immediate and unfettered humanitarian access to communities in areas affected by conflict, including Rohingya and other minority communities in Rakhine, Kachin, and Shan States, specifically to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant United Nations agencies.
 (5)The Government of Burma, including the military, cooperates with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant United Nations agencies to ensure the protection of displaced persons and the safe and voluntary return of Rohingya and other minority refugees and internally displaced persons.
 (6)The Government of Burma, including the military, takes steps toward the implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State.
				(b)Exceptions
 (1)Certain existing authoritiesThe Department of Defense may continue to conduct consultations based on the authorities under section 1253 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. Buck McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 22 U.S.C. 2151 note).
 (2)HospitalityThe United States Agency for International Development and the Department of State may provide assistance authorized by part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) to support ethnic armed groups and the Burmese military for the purpose of supporting research, dialogues, meetings, and other activities related to the Union Peace Conference, Political Dialogues, and related processes, in furtherance of inclusive, sustainable reconciliation.
 (c)Military reformThe certification required under subsection (a) shall include a written justification in classified and unclassified form describing the Burmese military’s efforts to implement reforms, end impunity for human rights violations, and increase transparency and accountability.
 (d)Rule of constructionNothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize Department of Defense assistance to the Government of Burma except as provided in this section.
			(e)Report
 (1)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report, in both classified and unclassified form, on the strategy and plans for military-to-military engagement between the United States Armed Forces and the military of Burma.
 (2)ElementsThe report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following elements: (A)A description and assessment of the Government of Burma’s strategy for—
 (i)security sector reform, including as it relates to an end to involvement in the illicit trade in jade, rubies, and other natural resources;
 (ii)reforms to end corruption and illicit drug trafficking; and
 (iii)constitutional reforms to ensure civilian control of the Government.
 (B)A list of ongoing military activities conducted by the United States Government with the Government of Burma, and a description of the United States strategy for future military-to-military engagements between the United States and Burma’s military forces, including the military of Burma, the Burma Police Force, and armed ethnic groups.
 (C)An assessment of the progress of the military of Burma towards developing a framework to implement human rights reforms, including—
 (i)cooperation with civilian authorities to investigate and prosecute cases of human rights violations;
 (ii)steps taken to demonstrate respect for internationally recognized human rights standards and implementation of and adherence to the laws of war; and
 (iii)a description of the elements of the military-to-military engagement between the United States and Burma that promote such implementation.
 (D)An assessment of progress on the peaceful settlement of armed conflicts between the Government of Burma and ethnic minority groups, including actions taken by the military of Burma to adhere to ceasefire agreements, allow for safe and voluntary returns of displaced persons to their villages of origin, and withdraw forces from conflict zones.
 (E)An assessment of the Burmese military recruitment and use of children as soldiers. (F)An assessment of the Burmese military’s use of violence against women, sexual violence, or other gender-based violence as a tool of terror, war, or crimes against humanity.
 (f)Civilian channelsAny program initiated under this section shall use appropriate civilian government channels with the democratically elected Government of Burma.
 (g)Regular consultationsAny new program or activity in Burma initiated under this section shall be subject to prior consultation with the appropriate congressional committees.
			9.Trade restrictions
			(a)Reinstatement of import restrictions on jadeite and rubies from burma
 (1)In generalSection 3A of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–61; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 (i)TerminationNotwithstanding section 9, this section shall remain in effect until the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the Government of Burma has taken measures to reform the gemstone industry in Burma, including measures to require—
 (1)the disclosure of the ultimate beneficial ownership of entities in that industry; and (2)the publication of project revenues, payments, and contract terms relating to that industry..
 (2)Conforming amendmentsSection 3A of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 is further amended— (A)in subsection (b)—
 (i)in paragraph (1), by striking until such time and all that follows through 2008 and inserting beginning on the date that is 15 days after the date of the enactment of the Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2019; and (ii)in paragraph (3), by striking the date of the enactment of this Act and inserting the date of the enactment of the Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2019; and
 (B)in subsection (c)(1), by striking until such time and all that follows through 2008 and inserting beginning on the date that is 15 days after the date of the enactment of the Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2019. (3)Effective dateThe amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the date of the enactment of this Act.
				(b)Review of eligibility for generalized system of preferences
 (1)In generalNot later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the committees specified in paragraph (2) a report that includes a detailed review of the eligibility of Burma for preferential duty treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences under title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.).
 (2)Committees specifiedThe committees specified in this paragraph are— (A)the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
 (B)the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.
					10.Visa ban and economic sanctions with respect to military officials responsible for
			 human rights
			 violations
			(a)List required
 (1)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of—
 (A)senior officials of the military and security forces of Burma that the President determines have knowingly played a direct and significant role in the commission of gross violations of human rights, war crimes, or crimes against humanity (including sexual or gender-based violence), in Burma, including against the Rohingya minority population; and
 (B)entities owned or controlled by officials described in subparagraph (A). (2)InclusionsThe list required by paragraph (1) shall include—
 (A)each senior official of the military and security forces of Burma— (i)in charge of a unit that was operational during the so-called clearance operations that began during or after October 2016; and
 (ii)who— (I)knew, or should have known, that the official’s subordinates were committing gross violations of human rights, war crimes, or crimes against humanity (including sexual or gender-based violence); and
 (II)failed to take adequate steps to prevent such violations or crimes or punish the subordinates responsible for such violations or crimes; and
 (B)each entity owned or controlled by an official described in subparagraph (A). (3)UpdatesNot later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than every 180 days thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an updated version of the list required by paragraph (1).
				(b)Sanctions
 (1)Visa banThe Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall exclude from the United States, any individual included in the most recent list required by subsection (a).
				(2)Blocking of property
 (A)In generalThe Secretary of the Treasury shall, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of a person included in the most recent list required by subsection (a) if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person.
 (B)Inapplicability of national emergency requirementThe requirements of section 202 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply for purposes of this paragraph.
 (3)Authority for additional financial sanctionsThe Secretary of the Treasury may, in consultation with the Secretary of State, prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that the President determines has, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, knowingly conducted or facilitated a significant transaction or transactions on behalf of a person included in the most recent list required by subsection (a) or included on the SDN list pursuant to subsection (c).
 (4)Rule of constructionNothing in this subsection may be construed to apply with respect to any transaction with a nongovernmental humanitarian organization in Burma.
				(c)Consideration of inclusions in SDN list
 (1)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall— (A)determine whether the individuals specified in paragraph (2) should be included on the SDN list; and
 (B)submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report, in classified form if necessary, on the procedures for including those individuals on the SDN list under existing authorities of the Department of the Treasury.
 (2)Individuals specifiedThe individuals specified in this paragraph are— (A)the head of a unit of the military or security forces of Burma that was operational during the so-called clearance operations that began during or after October 2016, including—
 (i)Senior General Min Aung Hlaing; (ii)Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Vice Senior-General Soe Win;
 (iii)the Commander of the 33rd Light Infantry Division, Brigadier-General Aung Aung; and (iv)the Commander of the 99th Light Infantry Division, Brigadier-General Than Oo; and
 (B)any senior official of the military or security forces of Burma for which the President determines there are credible reports that the official—
 (i)aided, participated in, or is otherwise implicated in gross violations of human rights, war crimes, or crimes against humanity (including sexual or gender-based violence), in Burma;
 (ii)(I)knew, or should have known, that the official’s subordinates were committing such violations or crimes; and
 (II)failed to take adequate steps to prevent such violations or crimes or punish the subordinates responsible for such violations or crimes; or
 (iii)took significant steps to impede the investigation or prosecution of such violations or crimes. (d)Termination of sanctionsThe President may terminate the application of sanctions under this section with respect to an individual placed on the list required by subsection (a) under paragraph (1)(A) of that subsection, or an entity placed on that list because the entity is owned or controlled by such an individual, if the President determines and reports to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 15 days before the termination of the sanctions that—
 (1)the individual has— (A)publicly acknowledged the role of the individual in committing past gross violations of human rights, war crimes, or crimes against humanity (including sexual or gender-based violence);
 (B)cooperated with independent efforts to investigate such violations or crimes; (C)been held accountable for such violations or crimes; and
 (D)demonstrated substantial progress in reforming the individual’s behavior with respect to the protection of human rights in the conduct of civil-military relations; and
 (2)removing the individual or entity from the list is in the national interest of the United States. (e)Exceptions (1)Humanitarian assistanceA requirement to impose sanctions under this section shall not apply with respect to the provision of medicine, medical equipment or supplies, food, or any other form of humanitarian or human rights-related assistance provided to Burma in response to a humanitarian crisis.
 (2)United nations headquarters agreementSubsection (b)(1) shall not apply to the admission of an individual to the United States if such admission is necessary to comply with United States obligations under the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, or under the Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967, or other international obligations of the United States.
				(3)Exception relating to importation of goods
 (A)In generalThe authority to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property under this section shall not include the authority to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
 (B)Good definedIn this paragraph, the term good means any article, natural or man-made substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data.
 (f)WaiverThe President may waive a requirement of this section if the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines and reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the waiver is important to the national security interest of the United States.
			(g)Implementation; penalties
 (1)ImplementationThe President may exercise all authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out this section.
 (2)PenaltiesA person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (b) or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry out either such paragraph shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section.
 (h)Report to congress on diplomatic engagementNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on diplomatic efforts to impose coordinated sanctions with respect to persons sanctioned under—
 (1)section 10; or (2)section 1263 of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114–328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note) for activities described in subsection (a) of that section in or with respect to Burma.
 (i)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)Account; correspondent account; payable-through accountThe terms account, correspondent account, and payable-through account have the meanings given those terms in section 5318A of title 31, United States Code.
 (2)KnowinglyThe term knowingly, with respect to conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the circumstance, or the result.
 (3)SDN listThe term SDN list means the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury.
 (4)United states personThe term United States person has the meaning given that term in section 595.315 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act).
				11.Strategy for promoting economic development
 (a)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to support sustainable, inclusive, and broad-based economic development, in accordance with the priorities of disadvantaged communities in Burma and in consultation with relevant civil society and local stakeholders, and to improve economic conditions and government transparency.
 (b)ElementsThe strategy required by subsection (a) shall include a roadmap— (1)to assess and recommend measures to diversify control over and access to participation in key industries and sectors, including efforts to remove barriers and increase competition, access, and opportunity in sectors dominated by officials of the Burmese military, former military officials, and their families, and businesspeople connected to the military of Burma, with the goal of eliminating the role of the military in the economy of Burma;
 (2)to increase transparency disclosure requirements in key sectors of the economy of Burma to promote responsible investment, including through efforts—
 (A)to provide technical support to develop and implement policy reforms related to public disclosure of the beneficial owners of entities in key sectors identified by the Government of Burma, specifically by—
 (i)working with the Government of Burma to require— (I)the disclosure of the ultimate beneficial ownership of entities in the ruby industry; and
 (II)the publication of project revenues, payments, and contract terms relating to that industry; and
 (ii)ensuring that reforms complement disclosures due to be put in place in Burma as a result of its participation in the Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative; and
 (B)to identify the persons seeking or securing access to the most valuable resources of Burma; and
 (3)to promote universal access to reliable, affordable, energy efficient, and sustainable power, including leveraging United States assistance to support reforms in the power sector and electrification projects that increase energy access, in partnership with multilateral organizations and the private sector.
				12.Report	on crimes against humanity and serious human rights abuses in Burma
 (a)In generalNot later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing the credible reports of crimes against humanity and serious human rights abuses committed against the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities in Burma, including credible reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, and on potential transnational justice mechanisms in Burma.
 (b)ElementsThe reports required under subsection (a) shall include— (1)a description of credible reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, including sexual and gender-based violence, and genocide perpetrated against the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities in Burma, including—
 (A)incidents that may constitute such crimes committed by the Burmese military, and other actors involved in the violence;
 (B)the role of the civilian government in the commission of such crimes; (C)incidents that may constitute such crimes committed by violent extremist groups or antigovernment forces;
 (D)any incidents that may violate the principle of medical neutrality and, if possible, identification of the individual or individuals who engaged in or organized such incidents; and
 (E)to the extent possible, a description of the conventional and unconventional weapons used for such crimes and the origins of such weapons;
 (2)a description and assessment by the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of Justice, and other appropriate Federal departments and agencies of programs that the United States Government has already or is planning to undertake to ensure accountability for credible reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, including sexual and gender-based violence, and genocide perpetrated against the Rohingya and other ethnic minority groups by the Government, security forces, and military of Burma, violent extremist groups, and other combatants involved in the conflict, including programs—
 (A)to train investigators within and outside of Burma and Bangladesh on how to document, investigate, develop findings of, and identify and locate alleged perpetrators of such crimes in Burma;
 (B)to promote and prepare for a transitional justice process or processes for the perpetrators of such crimes in Burma; and
 (C)to document, collect, preserve, and protect evidence of reports of such crimes in Burma, including support for Burmese and Bangladeshi, foreign, and international nongovernmental organizations, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s investigative team, and other entities; and
 (3)a detailed study of the feasibility and desirability of potential transitional justice mechanisms for Burma, including a hybrid or ad hoc tribunal as well as other international justice and accountability options. The report should be produced in consultation with Rohingya representatives and those of other ethnic minorities who have suffered grave human rights abuses.
 (c)Protection of witnesses and evidenceThe Secretary shall take due care to ensure that the identification of witnesses and physical evidence are not publicly disclosed in a manner that might place such persons at risk of harm or encourage the destruction of evidence by the Government of Burma.
			13.Technical assistance authorized
 (a)In generalThe Secretary of State, in consultation with the Department of Justice and other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, is authorized to provide appropriate assistance to support entities that, with respect to credible reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, including sexual and gender-based violence, and genocide perpetrated by the military, security forces, and Government of Burma, Buddhist militias, and all other armed groups fighting in Rakhine State—
 (1)identify suspected perpetrators of such crimes; (2)collect, document, and protect evidence of crimes and preserve the chain of custody for such evidence;
 (3)conduct criminal investigations; and (4)support investigations by third-party states, as appropriate.
 (b)Additional assistanceThe Secretary of State, after consultation with appropriate Federal departments and agencies and the appropriate congressional committees, and taking into account the findings of the transitional justice study required under section 12(b)(3), is authorized to provide assistance to support the creation and operation of transitional justice mechanisms for Burma.
 14.Sense of Congress on press freedomIn order to promote freedom of the press in Burma, it is the sense of Congress that— (1)Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo should be immediately released and should have access to lawyers and their families; and
 (2)the Government of Burma should repeal the Official Secrets Act, a colonial-era law that was used to arrest these journalists, as well as other laws that are used to arrest journalists and undermine press freedom around the world.
			15.Measures relating to military cooperation between Burma and North Korea
			(a)Imposition of sanctions
 (1)In generalThe President may, with respect to any person described in paragraph (2)— (A)impose the sanctions described in paragraph (1) or (3) of section 10(b); or
 (B)include that person on the SDN list (as defined in section 10(i)). (2)Persons describedA person described in this paragraph is an official of the Government of Burma or an individual or entity acting on behalf of that Government that the President determines purchases or otherwise acquires defense articles from the Government of North Korea or an individual or entity acting on behalf of that Government.
 (b)Restriction on foreign assistanceThe President may terminate or reduce the provision of United States foreign assistance to Burma if the President determines that the Government of Burma does not verifiably and irreversibly eliminate all purchases or other acquisitions of defense articles by persons described in subsection (a)(2) from the Government of North Korea or individuals or entities acting on behalf of that Government.
 (c)Defense article definedIn this section, the term defense article has the meaning given that term in section 47 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794). 16.No authorization for the use of military forceNothing in this Act shall be construed as an authorization for the use of force.


114 SRES 263 ATS: Supporting the goals and ideals of National Retirement Security Week, including raising public awareness of the various tax-preferred retirement vehicles, increasing personal financial literacy, and engaging the people of the United States on the keys to success in achieving and maintaining retirement security throughout their lifetimes.
U.S. Senate
2015-09-22
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		III
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. RES. 263
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			September 22, 2015
			Mr. Enzi (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Wyden, and Ms. Collins) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

		RESOLUTION
		Supporting the goals and ideals of National Retirement Security Week, including raising public
			 awareness of the various tax-preferred retirement vehicles, increasing
			 personal financial literacy, and engaging the people of the United States
			 on the keys to success in achieving and maintaining retirement security
			 throughout their lifetimes.

 Whereas people in the United States are living longer, and the cost of retirement is increasing significantly;
 Whereas Social Security remains the bedrock of retirement income for the great majority of the people of the United States but was never intended by Congress to be the sole source of retirement income for families;
 Whereas recent data from the Employee Benefit Research Institute indicates that, in the United States—
 (1)only approximately 2/3 of workers or the spouses of the workers are saving for retirement; and (2)the amount that workers have saved for retirement is much less than the amount the workers need to adequately fund their retirement years;
 Whereas the financial literacy of workers in the United States is important for the workers to understand the need to save for retirement;
 Whereas saving for retirement is a key component of overall financial health and security during retirement years, and the importance of financial literacy in planning for retirement must be advocated;
 Whereas many workers may not— (1)be aware of the various options in saving for retirement; or
 (2)have focused on the importance of, and need for, saving for retirement and successfully achieving retirement security;
 Whereas, although many employees have access through their employers to defined benefit and defined contribution plans to assist the employees in preparing for retirement, many of the employees may not be taking advantage of those plans at all or to the full extent allowed by Federal law;
 Whereas saving for retirement is necessary even during economic downturns or market declines, which makes continued contributions all the more important;
 Whereas all workers, including public and private sector employees, employees of tax-exempt organizations, and self-employed individuals, can benefit from developing personal budgets and financial plans that include retirement savings strategies that take advantage of tax-preferred retirement savings vehicles;
 Whereas effectively and sustainably withdrawing retirement resources throughout the retirement years of an individual is as important and crucial as saving and accumulating funds for retirement; and
 Whereas the week of October 18 through October 24, 2015 has been designated as National Retirement Security Week: Now, therefore, be it

 That the Senate— (1)supports the goals and ideals of National Retirement Security Week, including raising public awareness of the importance of saving adequately for retirement;
 (2)acknowledges the need to raise public awareness of a variety of tax-preferred retirement vehicles that are used by many people in the United States but could be used by more; and
 (3)calls on States, localities, schools, universities, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, and the people of the United States to observe National Retirement Security Week with appropriate programs and activities, with the goal of increasing the retirement savings and personal financial literacy of all people in the United States, thereby enhancing the retirement security of the people of the United States.


114 HR 1307 IH: Global Free Internet Act of 2015
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-03-04
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1307
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 4, 2015
Ms. Lofgren (for herself, Ms. Eshoo, and Mr. Honda) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, the Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce, 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

A BILL
To combat trade barriers that threaten the maintenance of an open Internet, that mandate unique technology standards as a condition of market access and related measures, and to promote online free expression and the free flow of information.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Global Free Internet Act of 2015. 2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
(1)A single, open, global Internet is a vital tool for facilitating the free and secure flow of information and products without regard to distances or national boundaries. (2)The goal of a single, open, global Internet is best supported by policies that—
(A)encourage utilization on a global basis of technology standards set by international standards-setting organizations, including industry-led and other voluntary bodies, and selected by the market; (B)respect the security of information, privacy, and speech of Internet users;
(C)promote investment in Internet-related innovation; (D)refrain from compelling Internet service providers and other intermediaries to restrict the free flow of information on the Internet; and
(E)allow trade in Internet-related goods, services, information, and content. (3)Certain governments and international bodies are adopting or considering policies contrary to the goal of a free, open Internet, including—
(A)mandating unique technology standards favoring domestic producers as a condition of market access or pursuing related policies regarding standard-setting that are discriminatory and subvert the open, global nature of the Internet; (B)sponsoring or tolerating the use of Internet-related tools to gain unauthorized access to public-sector and private-sector networks in the United States to disrupt their operation;
(C)blocking, filtering, or otherwise restricting Internet communications in a manner that discriminates against Internet-based services and content originating in other countries; (D)monitoring Internet use and communications in a manner that restricts individual privacy and freedom; and
(E)imposing market access requirements or liabilities that discriminate against or otherwise impede Internet-related goods, services and content from other countries. (4)Such actions threaten the interests of the United States by—
(A)facilitating attempts by foreign governments to restrict or disrupt the free flow of information on the Internet; (B)promoting national Internets in conflict with the underlying rationale and architecture of the Internet as originally envisioned and constructed, thereby compromising the Internet’s full functionality and promise;
(C)harming United States workers and businesses, undermining a strong United States industrial base, and putting foreign competitors at an advantage; and (D)putting at risk the utility of the Internet as a tool of open communication, assembly, and commerce, and the individuals who seek to use it for such purposes.
3.Task force on the Global Internet
(a)Establishment
(1)In generalThere is established within the executive branch a Task Force on the Global Internet (in this Act referred to as the Task Force), hosted by the Department of Commerce. (2)ChairpersonThe President shall select from among the members of the Task Force under subsection (b)(1) to serve as Chairperson.
(b)CompositionThe Task Force shall consist of the following: (1)Four United States persons with substantial expertise in Internet policy who are not employees or officers of Federal, State, local, or tribal governments and who—
(A)are nominated by the public through a process managed by the Department of Commerce that solicits public recommendations through the Internet and are appointed by the President, acting through the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology; and (B)shall serve on the Task Force for renewable terms not to exceed 3 years.
(2)The leader of the majority party in the Senate and the leader of the minority party in the Senate shall each appoint one United States person with substantial expertise in Internet policy to serve on the Task Force for renewable terms not to exceed 3 years. (3)The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives shall each appoint one United States person with substantial expertise in Internet policy to serve on the Task Force for renewable terms not to exceed 3 years.
(4)The United States Trade Representative, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Chair of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies as determined to be appropriate by the President, acting through their respective designees. (c)Staff of Federal agenciesUpon request of the Task Force, the head of any Federal department or agency or other Federal official described in subsection (b)(4) may detail, with or without reimbursement, any of the personnel or services of the relevant Federal department or agency to the Task Force to assist it in carrying out its functions.
(d)FunctionsIn addition to such other responsibilities the President may assign, the Task Force shall— (1)develop and implement strategies in response to foreign and domestic government policies that—
(A)unjustifiably or unreasonably burden or restrict international trade in Internet-related goods, services, and content; (B)mandate or otherwise preference Internet-related technology standards and related measures;
(C)impede the free flow of information on the Internet; or (D)otherwise threaten the open, global nature of the Internet, the interests of Internet users and the United States in Internet-related international trade and discourse;
(2)consult and share timely information with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers; (3)consult and share timely information with civil society groups with expertise in Internet policy;
(4)coordinate the activity of all Federal departments and agencies as necessary to implement the strategies developed in accordance with paragraph (1); (5)prepare a report and action plan in accordance with section 4;
(6)hold public hearings and solicit public comment through the Federal Register and the website for the Task Force as appropriate; and (7)appoint a Task Force member, responsible for serving as a point of contact for correspondence and inquiries related to the activities of the Task Force.
4.Report and action plan to the President and Congress
(a)In generalNot later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Task Force shall transmit to the President and the appropriate congressional committees a report and action plan that— (1)identifies acts, policies, or practices of the United States, foreign governments, or international bodies, and related measures that—
(A)deny fair and equitable market access to or otherwise unjustifiably or unreasonably burden or restrict discourse or trade in Internet-related goods, services, and content; (B)mandate, give preference to, or promote Internet-related technology standards that diverge from widely adopted international standards, or otherwise lead to the adoption of discriminatory or trade-restrictive technology standards or conformity assessment procedures; or
(C)otherwise threaten the interests of the United States in the technical operation, security, and free flow of global Internet communications; (2)estimates the trade-distorting impact or extent of suppression of free expression of measures identified under paragraph (1) on United States commerce, the interests of Internet users, and the functioning of the Internet;
(3)designates which measures identified under paragraph (1) are priority concerns; (4)sets forth a strategy and actions to be taken by Federal departments and agencies in response to measures identified under paragraph (1); and
(5)provides information with respect to any action taken (or the reasons if no action is taken) in response to any such measures identified in prior years’ reports, including such actions as are required under section 5. (b)Form of reportsThe reports and action plans required under subsection (a) may contain a classified annex if the Task Force determines that such is appropriate.
(c)Coordination and noticeIn preparing each annual report and action plan required under subsection (a), the Task Force shall— (1)seek public participation by—
(A)publishing a notice in the Federal Register that includes instructions on how the public may submit comments on the report and plan; (B)holding at least one public hearing; and
(C)establishing a website for the Task Force that publishes timely information regarding the Task Force’s activities and provides an opportunity for the public to submit comments to the Task Force; (2)consult and coordinate with all relevant executive branch departments and agencies;
(3)consult and share timely information with civil society groups with expertise in Internet policy; and (4)take into account information from such sources as may be available to the United States Trade Representative and such information as may be submitted to the Trade Representative by interested persons, including information contained in reports submitted under section 181(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2241(b)) and petitions submitted under section 302 of such Act (19 U.S.C. 2412).
(d)PublicationThe Task Force shall publish in the Federal Register the report and action plan transmitted to Congress under subsection (a), but shall omit information transmitted to Congress under subsection (b). (e)DefinitionIn this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(1)the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and (2)the Committee on Finance, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
5.Section 301 investigation and potential sanctionsNot later than 30 days after the transmission of each annual report and action plan required under section 4, the United States Trade Representative shall, in accordance with the requirements of sections 301 through 304 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2411 through 2414), initiate an investigation, make any determinations required, and take any actions specified under such sections with respect to any acts, policies, or practices of a foreign government or international body that are identified in each such annual report and action plan as priority concerns, including restrictions on sale in the United States of products developed and manufactured in countries implementing such acts, policies, or practices. 6.Review and investigation by Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice (a)Review and investigationThe Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General shall—
(1)review each act, policy, or practice described in paragraph (1) of section 4(a) that is contained in a report or an action plan transmitted under such section to Congress; and (2)investigate whether such act, policy, or practice (or any related action by a nongovernmental entity) violates the antitrust laws of the United States.
(b)DefinitionFor purposes of this section, the term antitrust laws has the meaning given it in subsection (a) of the first section of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12(a)), except that such term includes section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45) to the extent such section 5 applies to unfair methods of competition. 7.Report to President and Congress on international trade agreements (a)ReportNot later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall submit to the President and the appropriate congressional committees a report that—
(1)assesses the sufficiency of existing multilateral and bilateral trade agreements in— (A)promoting international trade in Internet-related goods, services, and content;
(B)encouraging the utilization on a global basis of technology standards set by international standard-setting organizations; (C)protecting the security and functioning of the Internet;
(D)facilitating the free flow of information on the Internet; and (E)protecting the interests of Internet users; and
(2)recommends, as appropriate, modifications of existing agreements or the negotiation of new agreements to advance the objectives identified in paragraph (1). (b)Sense of congressIt is the sense of Congress that the negotiating objectives of the United States for future bilateral and multilateral trade agreements should include the goals specified in subsection (a)(1).
(c)Form of reportsThe report required under subsection (a) may contain a classified annex if the Task Force determines that such is appropriate. (d)Coordination and noticeIn preparing each report required under subsection (a), the Task Force shall—
(1)seek public participation by— (A)publishing a notice in the Federal Register that includes instructions on how the public may submit comments on the report and plan;
(B)holding at least one public hearing; and (C)establishing a website for the Task Force that publishes timely information regarding the Task Force’s activities and provides an opportunity for the public to submit comments to the Task Force;
(2)consult and coordinate with all relevant Federal departments and agencies; (3)consult and share timely information with civil society groups with expertise in Internet policy; and
(4)take into account information from such sources as may be available to the United States Trade Representative and such information as may be submitted to the Trade Representative by interested persons, including information contained in reports submitted under section 181(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2241(b)) and petitions submitted under section 302 of such Act (19 U.S.C. 2412). (e)PublicationThe Task Force shall publish in the Federal Register the report transmitted to Congress under subsection (a), but shall omit information transmitted to Congress under subsection (c).
(f)DefinitionIn this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1)the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and
(2)the Committee on Finance, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 8.Standards-related trainingThe Task Force shall coordinate with intergovernmental, national government, and private sector entities, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Patent and Trademark Office, the Trade and Development Agency, the United States Telecommunications Training Institute, the United States Agency for International Development, the Federal Trade Commission, and any other appropriate entities, for the purpose of organizing training of foreign and domestic government officials and national standard-setting and conformity assessment bodies with respect to best practices, including coordination with nongovernmental international and domestic standards bodies, in accordance with the annual report and action plan required under section 4.
9.Outside consultationThe Task Force shall establish a regularized process to receive and respond to timely input from businesses, organizations, experts, and other interested parties regarding the fulfillment of its functions.


117 S2127 IS: Children's Budget Act
U.S. Senate
2021-06-17
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2127IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJune 17, 2021Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. Casey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the BudgetA BILLTo amend title 31, United States Code, to require that Federal children’s programs be separately displayed and analyzed in the President’s budget, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Children's Budget Act.2.Amendment to
 title 31Section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:(40)(A)A detailed, separate analysis for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted, and the ensuing fiscal year identifying—(i)the amounts of gross and net appropriations or obligational authority and outlays that are directed to children within the United States and territories including—(I)summaries of the total amount of such appropriations or new obligational authority and outlays requested for children and children’s programs;(II)an estimate of levels of spending on children and children’s programs; and(III)a detailed breakdown of spending on children and children’s programs by agency and initiative; and(ii)the amount of tax expenditures relating to children.(B)In this paragraph—(i)the term children means individuals under 19 years of age;(ii)the term spending on children includes—(I)Federal entitlement spending that goes directly to children;(II)outlays for programs and initiatives that, consistent with their mission, deliver services exclusively to children;(III)outlays for programs and initiatives that, while not serving children directly, have as a core mission goal the improvement of children’s health, education, welfare, or general well-being; and(IV)the share of funding for Federal programs and initiatives that deliver services to both children and adults that is consistent with the share of program benefits for children based on the best available data; and(iii)the term tax expenditures has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622).(C)In implementing this paragraph, including determining what Federal activities or accounts constitutes spending on children or children’s programs and tax expenditures relating to children, the Office of Management and Budget shall consult periodically with the Committee on the Budget and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on the Budget and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Congressional Budget Office..