[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 51 (Thursday, March 18, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1560-H1563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROTECT DEMOCRACY IN BURMA ACT OF 2021
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1112) to require a report on the military coup in Burma, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1112
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protect Democracy in Burma
Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On March 14, 2005, the House of Representatives agreed
to H. Res. 135, which established the House Democracy
Assistance Commission (later changed to the House Democracy
Partnership, hereafter referred to as ``HDP'') to work
directly with parliaments around the world to support the
development of effective, independent, and responsive
legislative institutions.
(2) HDP approved a legislative strengthening partnership
with Burma in 2016 and organized the first congressional
delegation to meet with the new civilian-led government, led
by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, and civil society
leaders in May 2016.
(3) On February 2, 2021, the U.S. Department of State
assessed that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma's
ruling party, and President Win Myint, the duly elected head
of government, were deposed in a military coup on February 1,
2021.
(4) As part of the military coup, the Burmese military
declared martial law, suspended the civilian-led government,
and detained newly elected Members of Parliament
[[Page H1561]]
in the capitol, Naypyidaw, thereby usurping the role of the
democratically elected government and parliament.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) due to the Burmese military's seizure of government
through the detention of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi,
President Win Myint, and other government leaders, Burma is
not represented by a democratically-elected government;
(2) the inability of newly elected Members of Parliament to
begin their official mandate due to the Burmese military's
actions directly threatens the democratic trajectory of
Burma's Parliament, and thereby the country;
(3) the will and determination of those duly-elected
Members of Parliament who are taking it upon themselves to
continue serving as representatives of the people through
alternative methods of communicating and convening should be
lauded; and
(4) by preventing the Parliament from completing its work,
the Burmese military has rendered impossible and effectively
nullified the international collaborative relationships that
have supported and strengthened the institution, including
the Burmese parliament's partnership with HDP.
SEC. 4. POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES REGARDING BURMA'S
DEMOCRACY.
It is the policy of the United States to--
(1) condemn the military coup in Burma, to urge the
unconditional release of detained democratically-elected
leaders and civil society members, and to support a return to
Burma's democratic transition;
(2) instruct, as appropriate, representatives of the United
States Government to use the voice, vote, and influence of
the United States at the United Nations to hold accountable
those responsible for the military coup in Burma; and
(3) engage with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) and ASEAN member states to promote a return to
Burma's democratic transition and democratic values
throughout Southeast Asia, and support the centrality of
ASEAN within the regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific.
SEC. 5. REPORT.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate a report on the military coup in
Burma, including a description of efforts to implement the
policy specified in section 4.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Meeks) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1112, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I want to start by thanking Mr. Connolly for this
important bill before us today.
The Protect Democracy in Burma Act of 2021 is a timely measure that
ensures the United States is not silent when a military coup supplants
democracy. It also directs strong U.S. engagement with our partners at
the U.N. and ASEAN because we are always stronger when we are united.
In 2015, decades of brutal military rule gave way to what many hoped
would be a new era of reform and democratization in Burma. That hope
was short-lived, and the Tatmadaw began to show its true colors as it
engaged in a genocide of the Rohingya Muslim minority.
Now, a little more than 5 years after the democratic opening that it
helped usher in, the military has halted Burma's democratic experiment.
By all accounts, Burma's November 2020 parliamentary elections were
credible, and claims of widespread fraud have been debunked by
election-monitoring authorities. The United States condemns, in the
strongest possible terms, the actions of the Burmese military and its
violent crackdown and killing of protesters. But we cannot stand alone.
{time} 1545
To be most effective, the United States must work with our partners
in the region in condemning the Tatmadaw's brutal actions in supporting
democracy and respect for the election outcome.
Madam Speaker, that is exactly what this bill sets out to do. It
makes clear where the U.S. stands. It promotes multilateral cooperation
as we work to hold the Burmese military accountable and call for a
return to Burma's democratic transition. It also ensures reporting to
Congress so that we can properly review U.S. policy.
Madam Speaker, this is a very important bill that sends a message to
the people of Burma and to the entire world, and I urge my colleagues
to support this measure.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, on February 1, Burma's military seized power yet
again, ending 5 years of a flawed, but hopeful, democracy, and dragging
Burma back into brutal military rule. Since that day, the world has
watched horrified as pro-democracy protestors are met with brutal
violence in the streets.
The Burmese military has used communications blackouts, curfews, and
mass detentions to stifle opposition. They have used live ammunition
against peaceful protestors. Hundreds have been killed and thousands
detained. At the same time, the lead opposition to the Burmese
military, the National League for Democracy, is facing further
repression. NLD members have been rounded up and charged with baseless
crimes, including NLD's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
Madam Speaker, that is why I am asking my colleagues to join me today
in supporting this resolution. I really want to thank the chairman and
Mr. Connolly of Virginia for bringing this bill forward, to make it
clear that the United States of America condemns this coup. It
encourages engagement with southeast nations to promote Burma's return
to democracy.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Connolly), an esteemed member of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs and author of this important bill.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I thank my distinguished friend for the
wonderful work he is doing as our new chairman of the House Committee
on Foreign Affairs. And I thank my friend, Mr. McCaul, the
distinguished ranking member.
Madam Speaker, this is an important bipartisan statement. Lives are
at stake. It is urgent this House speak with one voice about what is
happening in Myanmar, formerly Burma. The current crisis in the wake of
a military coup in which violence is escalating by the day and
protestors are being killed by the dozens demands a timely response.
I was pleased to introduce this bill in collaboration with the House
Democracy Partnership chairman, Mr. David Price, and our Republican
colleague, Mr. Vern Buchanan of Florida.
On February 1, the Burmese military seized control of Burma's
Government in a coup d'etat by detaining democratically elected leaders
from the National League of Democracy, NLD, just hours before the
country's new parliament was set to meet for its first session. And
that was following an overwhelming election result in that country.
Among those detained were State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi;
President U Win Myint; and other senior NLD leaders. In one fell swoop,
the military plunged this national democracy into renewed political
turmoil just as it was emerging from five decades of military rule and
isolation.
In 2015, more than 30 million voters elected the NLD and its leader,
Aung San Suu Kyi, to power in the country's first general election.
The country's first peaceful transfer of power from military rule to
a civilian government was celebrated around the world. Pictures of
voters proudly raising their ink-stained fingers after the voting in
the country's 2015 and 2020 elections had been replaced tragically by
images of anger and tears and bloodshed.
The military takeover has jeopardized hard-won progress on
everything, from infrastructure or education investments to the
country's fragile peace process. It seeks to snuff out the hopes of the
Burmese people for a better future.
[[Page H1562]]
At least 149 people, including children, have been killed by the
security forces. Mass funerals have been conducted all across the
country. More than 2,100 individuals--civilians, students, journalists,
unionists--have been detained. Millions have poured onto the streets
all across Burma to demand a return to democracy, putting themselves at
grave risk for the sake of their own freedom.
A civil disobedience movement has emerged with medics, bankers,
lawyers, teachers, engineers, factory workers, students, leaving their
jobs and their study as a form of resistance against the coup. Despite
military orders to shoot to kill, they have not backed down.
While we cannot be on the streets of Yangon or Mandalay or Nay Pyi
Taw, we must stand in solidarity with those brave people in their
peaceful protests against this coup.
That is what this bill seeks to do. The Protect Democracy in Burma
Act would establish that it is the policy of the United States
Government to engage with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
and their member states to condemn the coup, urge unconditional release
of detained leaders and civil society members, and support the
immediate return to a democratic transition. It instructs the United
States Government to use its voice, vote, and influence in the U.N. to
hold accountable those responsible for this coup.
Finally, the legislation states, as the sense of Congress, that the
Burmese military has effectively nullified its participation with the
House Democracy Partnership--a partnership here at the House that has
been in place for the past 5 years.
Madam Speaker, I was privileged, along with our chairman, Mr. Price,
to travel to Burma and meet with Aung San Suu Kyi as part of that
partnership delegation back in 2016, a visit that reinforced our
commitment to supporting Burma's democratization and development. The
Burmese military must respect the results of democratic elections and
allow the democratic transition in Burma to continue.
Madam Speaker, with this bill, with one voice, Congress will send a
clear signal to the military junta that its unlawful seizure of power
will not be accepted and there will be hope for the Burmese people.
Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Tenney).
Ms. TENNEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking
member for their leadership.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1112 and H. Res. 134.
Both of these bills support democracy and stand with the people of
Burma, also known as Myanmar.
New York's 22nd District is home to more than 4,000 Burmese refugees
and new Burmese-American citizens. They have been coming to our region
for over 20 years. They are demanding action and a return to civilian
rule in Burma. I stand with them and all of my colleagues in condemning
the atrocious human rights abuses that are taking place at the hands of
the military coup last month.
I am honored to be an original cosponsor on both of these bills on
Burma as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, where they
received strong bipartisan support. Though these bills will not solve
the problem in Burma, this will provide continued pressure on the
military and a strong unified international condemnation will add to
that. However, these bills are a very important step in the right
direction.
The Burmese refugees and American citizens I represent in New York's
22nd District remain resolute in support of their friends and families
who are suffering through this tragic process. In Utica, for example,
they continue to advocate peacefully and protest in solidarity with
those in their home country, displaying signs that read: ``Save
Democracy, Save Burma.''
The passion and courage of the Burmese people both in my district and
in Burma is inspiring. I am honored to provide a voice for them in this
august body.
Madam Speaker, I urge all to remain committed to the Burmese people's
quest for democracy and to oppose the assault on their free and fair
government.
Again, I thank Chairman Meeks, Ranking Member McCaul, and the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) for being so strong on this
initiative. It is critically important to the Burmese refugees in my
community.
To the citizens: We stand with you.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Price), the distinguished chairman of the House
Democracy Partnership.
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I am proud to advocate
the passage of H.R. 1112, the Protect Democracy in Burma Act; and H.
Res. 134, a resolution condemning the military coup taking place in
Burma.
I commend Chairman Meeks and Ranking Member McCaul for their
leadership. As chairman of the House Democracy Partnership, I am happy
to work alongside Representative Connolly to champion this bill, and I
commend Representative Levin for his good work, as well.
What is going on in Burma demands action. The very foundation of
Burmese democracy and, consequently, the country's international
standing now hang in the balance as a result of the Burmese military's
reckless action. The situation is deteriorating rapidly, with Burmese
military and security forces violently attacking and rounding up
peaceful protestors, civil servants, community leaders, journalists,
and even emergency medical personnel. The death toll is now estimated
at 200.
The democratically elected Government of Burma, to be sure, had
serious flaws, but it had made significant progress in improving the
lives of Burmese citizens. The House Democracy Partnership had begun to
work with the democratically elected parliament, as had the National
Democratic Institute. The International Republican Institute had begun
to work on local governance. That progress must be consolidated, built
on, and expanded, not washed away by the greed of a few generals in
fear of losing their wealth, losing the control they exercise at the
expense of the Burmese people.
I strongly support the Biden administration's decision to place
sanctions on senior military leaders and military-owned businesses. The
economic and political pressure must be intense.
We must do more, including working with our friends and allies in the
region, particularly members of the ASEAN community, to keep up the
drumbeat, to keep up the pressure, for the junta to step down and to
restore the democratically elected government.
We must do all we can, and time is not on our side. These two bills
are a beginning. They signify a unified and urgent sense on the part of
the House that this coup simply must be reversed and democratic
government restored in Burma.
Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand with colleagues today in
solidarity, and I urge support of these two bills.
Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the esteemed
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman
for his leadership, and I thank the ranking member as well.
Madam Speaker, I stand here today to recognize the hardworking
Burmese Americans who are here, who are fighting every day for their
friends and their relatives in their native land.
On February 1, 2021, hours before the Burmese Parliament was to
convene in a new session, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the Burma
ruling party; and President Win Myint, the duly-elected head of
government, were deposed in a military coup.
How shameful.
As that coup was done, violence prevailed. And as violence prevailed,
people lost their lives.
{time} 1600
This is a worthy act of condemnation. I also support H. Res. 134, the
resolution condemning the coup in Burma, and condemning the still
detaining of Aung San Suu Kyi to her place of residence. She is in
danger.
So I rise today to support H.R. 1112, which declares: ``It is the
policy of the United States to instruct, as appropriate,
representatives of the United States Government to use the voice, vote,
and influence of the United
[[Page H1563]]
States at the United Nations to hold accountable those responsible for
the military coup in Burma.''
The legislation also directs that not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this act that Congress gets a report from the
Secretary of State as relates to the military coup in Burma, and
provide a description of the efforts taken by the United States to help
the people of Burma restore their democratic form of government.
I want to cite a constituent in my district--first of all, the people
from Burma who have been generous in their help of Houstonians, their
fellow Houstonians, in Hurricane Harvey, in the freeze, in COVID-19--
Mr. Mouton, who has provided resources to all of the people in the area
representing the community of those from Burma. He has been generous in
his support when people have been in need. That is what people from
Burma here in the United States do.
So this statement that we are making is to say that we are standing
with the freedom fighters. We are standing with those who believe in
democracy.
And I want to salute the Parliament. The Parliament and the duly
elected members of the Burmese Parliament who have taken it upon
themselves to continue serving as representatives of the people through
alternative methods of communicating and convening is courageous and
laudable and inspires the respect of freedom-loving people everywhere.
It is our goal, as we stand on the floor of the House, for the
American peoples' voices to be heard through H.R. 1112, the Protect
Democracy in Burma Act of 2021, and H. Res. 134, the resolution
condemning the coup in Burma, and to support the American-Burmese
community.
Madam Speaker, as a senior member of the Committee on the Judiciary
and the Member of Congress for the Eighteenth Congressional District of
Texas, the home of a large and vibrant Burmese community, I rise in
strong support of H.R. 1112, the ``Protect Democracy In Burma Act of
2021,'' which condemns the military coup in Burma and calls for the
unconditional release of detained democratically-elected leaders and
civil society members and declares it the policy of the United States
to support a return to Burma's democratic transition.
Madam Speaker, on February 1, 2021, hours before Burmese Parliament
was to convene in a new session Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of
Burma's ruling party, and President Win Myint, the duly elected head of
government, were deposed in a military coup on February 1, 2021.
As part of the military coup, the Burmese military declared martial
law, suspended the civilian led government, and detained newly elected
Members of Parliament in the capitol, Naypyidaw, thereby usurping the
role of the democratically elected government and parliament.
The inability of newly elected Members of Parliament to begin their
official mandate due to the Burmese military's actions directly
threatens the democratic trajectory of Burma's Parliament, and thereby
the country.
By preventing the Parliament from completing its work, the Burmese
military has rendered impossible and effectively nullified the
international collaborative relationships that have supported and
strengthened the institution, including the Burmese parliament's
partnership with HDP.
Because of the Burmese military's seizure of government through the
detention of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint,
and other government leaders, Burma is not represented by a
democratically-elected government.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 1112 declares it to be the policy of the United
States to instruct, as appropriate, representatives of the United
States Government to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United
States at the United Nations to hold accountable those responsible for
the military coup in Burma.
The legislation also directs the representatives of the United States
Government to engage with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) and ASEAN member states to promote a return to Burma's
democratic transition and democratic values throughout Southeast Asia
and support the centrality of ASEAN within the regional architecture of
the Indo-Pacific.
Finally, the legislation directs that not later than 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a
report on the military coup in Burma and a description of efforts taken
by the United States to help the people of Burma restore their
democratic form of government.
Madam Speaker, the will and determination of those duly elected
Members of the Burmese Parliament who are taking it upon themselves to
continue serving as representatives of the people through alternative
methods of communicating and convening is courageous, laudable, and
inspires the respect of freedom loving people everywhere.
That is why I strongly support H.R. 1112, the ``Protect Democracy in
Burma Act of 2021,'' and urge my colleagues to join me in voting for
its passage.
Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, Members across the aisle share the same concerns about
Burma's military coup, and the brutal human rights violations it has
caused. This bill ensures that the United States of America's
condemnation of this coup is a matter of record, and it asks the
administration to report to Congress on this critical issue.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume
for the purpose of closing.
Madam Speaker, again, I want to thank Mr. Connolly for introducing
this legislation, and I want to thank Ranking Member McCaul and my
colleagues on the other side of the aisle for making sure that we have
a singular voice going forward.
The world cannot turn a blind eye to the violence perpetrated by the
Burmese military. With this important measure, the United States sends
a clear signal that we stand with the people of Burma in their
longstanding pursuit for democracy, and a strong message to the Burmese
military, or to anyone, for that matter, who fail to uphold the will of
the people.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1112, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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