[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 51 (Thursday, March 18, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1563-H1567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CONDEMNING MILITARY COUP IN BURMA

  Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 134) condemning the military coup that took 
place on February 1, 2021, in Burma and the Burmese military detention 
of civilian leaders, calling for the release of all those detained and 
for those elected to serve in Parliament to resume their duties, and 
for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 134

       Whereas the military of Burma (hereinafter referred to as 
     the ``Tatmadaw'') held power in Burma between 1962 and 2011;
       Whereas provisions in the 2008 Constitution of Burma, 
     written by the Tatmadaw, allocate 25 percent of parliamentary 
     seats to the Tatmadaw, conferring powers on the Tatmadaw that 
     have been used to suppress basic rights, including freedoms 
     of expression, assembly, and association;
       Whereas, in 2010, Burma conducted its first election, which 
     was neither free nor fair, under the new Constitution, and 
     which was boycotted by the National League for Democracy 
     (NLD);
       Whereas Burma conducted elections in November 2015, in 
     which the NLD came to power;
       Whereas Burma's November 8, 2020, elections resulted in the 
     NLD securing enough seats in Parliament to form the next 
     government, notwithstanding the disenfranchisement of more 
     than 1,500,000 voters, mostly from ethnic minority 
     communities in Kachin, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Shan, and Chin 
     states;
       Whereas the Tatmadaw conducted a coup against the civilian 
     government on February 1, 2021, hours before Parliament was 
     to convene in a new session;
       Whereas the Tatmadaw claimed they had evidence of 
     parliamentary election fraud perpetrated by the NLD and 
     Burma's Union Election Commission, an allegation that 
     contradicted the judgment of several independent election 
     monitoring organizations that the electoral process and 
     outcome were credible despite minor irregularities;
       Whereas the Tatmadaw has detained unlawfully State 
     Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi,

[[Page H1564]]

     President Win Myint, and other leaders of the NLD, as well as 
     prodemocracy activists from the 88 Generation and other civil 
     society leaders;
       Whereas the Tatmadaw has charged State Counselor Aung San 
     Suu Kyi with importing walkie-talkies illegally and President 
     Win Myint with violating prohibitions on gatherings during 
     the COVID-19 pandemic;
       Whereas the Tatmadaw has declared a state of emergency 
     until new elections are held in one year;
       Whereas the Tatmadaw has restricted freedom of movement, 
     telecommunications, and the media, limiting access to 
     information to and from Burma during a political and public 
     health crisis;
       Whereas, on January 31, 2021, the Secretary-General of the 
     United Nations spokesperson released the following 
     condemnation of the coup, which reads, in part, ``The 
     Secretary-General strongly condemns the detention of State 
     Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and 
     other political leaders on the eve of the opening session of 
     Myanmar's new Parliament. He expresses his grave concern 
     regarding the declaration of the transfer of all legislative, 
     executive and judicial powers to the military. These 
     developments represent a serious blow to democratic reforms 
     in Myanmar.'';
       Whereas, on February 1, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, 
     Jr., condemned the coup in a statement that read, in part, 
     ``The military's seizure of power in Burma, the detention of 
     Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials, and the 
     declaration of a national state of emergency are a direct 
     assault on the country's transition to democracy and the rule 
     of law.'';
       Whereas protests opposing the coup have swept Burma;
       Whereas the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 1091 on 
     December 13, 2018, expressing the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that the atrocities committed against the 
     Rohingya by the Tatmadaw and security forces beginning in 
     August 2017 constituted crimes against humanity and genocide; 
     and
       Whereas the United States has sanctioned Tatmadaw officials 
     previously, including Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing, for 
     the atrocities committed against the Rohingya, and the 
     International Court of Justice is investigating the 
     Tatmadaw's conduct: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) condemns the military coup that took place on February 
     1, 2021;
       (2) stands with the people of Burma in their ambition for 
     sustainable peace, a genuine democracy, and the realization 
     of human rights for all, including for ethnic minorities 
     whose human rights have been violated repeatedly and who have 
     been disenfranchised historically;
       (3) condemns any attacks on civilians and supports the use 
     of all diplomatic and development tools to ensure that 
     civilians are safe during conflict;
       (4) calls on the Tatmadaw to--
       (A) release all those currently detained arbitrarily as a 
     result of the February 1st coup;
       (B) restore all forms of communications, including internet 
     services;
       (C) remove all impediments to free travel that have been 
     imposed as a result of the coup, apart from legitimate travel 
     restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
       (D) return to power all members of the civilian government;
       (E) allow for freedom of expression, including the right to 
     protest, press freedom, and freedom of movement;
       (F) allow unfettered reporting from local, national, and 
     international media; and
       (G) refrain from mass evictions; and
       (5) calls on the President of the United States and the 
     Secretary of State to--
       (A) encourage both the return to power of all members of 
     the civilian government and, subsequently, constitutional 
     reforms to address the power conferred to the Tatmadaw in 
     Parliament and the disenfranchisement of ethnic minorities in 
     Burma;
       (B) reinstate sanctions and impose new restrictions aimed 
     at the Tatmadaw and those responsible for the February 1st 
     coup;
       (C) work with the international partners and multilateral 
     institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, 
     to condemn the coup and enact multilateral, targeted 
     sanctions on the military, military-owned businesses, 
     including the Myanmar Economic Corporation and Myanmar 
     Economic Holdings Limited, and others connected to the coup, 
     including an international arms embargo;
       (D) coordinate with international partners and allies, 
     especially those with economic investments in Burma, with 
     respect to planned economic consequences for the coup and 
     ensuring those consequences are tailored to avoid impacting 
     Burmese civilians;
       (E) ensure that targeted sanctions allow all necessary 
     exemptions to permit the delivery of humanitarian assistance 
     to civilians in need;
       (F) ensure that United States-based social media companies, 
     including Facebook, not allow their platforms to be used as 
     vehicles for disinformation campaigns or advocating violence 
     against the Burmese people;
       (G) implement restrictions on diplomatic, economic, and 
     security relations with Burma until a full restoration of 
     civilian-controlled Parliament, and release of those detained 
     in connection with the coup; and
       (H) direct the United States Permanent Representative to 
     the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of 
     the United States to bring about greater international 
     cooperation to pursue justice and accountability in Burma.

  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 in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 134.
  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 thank Representative Levin for sponsoring 
this resolution, which condemns the military coup that occurred in 
Burma on February 1, 2021.
  It has been more than 45 days since the Burmese military, also known 
as the Tatmadaw, arrested several democratically-elected members of 
government, including the President Win Myint, and the State Counselor, 
Aung San Suu Kyi, and declared a year-long state of emergency, and 
nullified the results of Burma's November 8, 2020, elections.
  Despite Tatmadaw claims of election fraud, several independent 
election monitoring organizations found that the electoral process and 
outcome were credible, even despite minor irregularities.
  Since the coup took place, we have seen thousands of protesters take 
to the streets to make sure that their voices were heard; voices in 
opposition to the coup and in support of democracy. And as those 
protests continued, we have seen security forces increasingly use 
violence in an attempt to quell the demonstrations.
  The U.N. estimates that 149 people have been killed since the coup 
occurred on February 1. Fifty-seven people were killed this past 
weekend alone.
  It is imperative that democracies around the world speak out in 
condemnation of this coup and the arrest of democratically-elected 
government officials. It is vital that we speak in support of 
democracy, of all of those members of civil society who have been 
arrested, and those in Burma who are protesting for the restoration of 
democracy. And it is important that we make it clear to the Tatmadaw, 
including through additional targeted sanctions that leverage sources 
of income for the military, that these actions are absolutely 
unacceptable.
  We are sadly, in this body, all too familiar with the rippling 
effects of attempts to undo democratic elections. We have an obligation 
to speak up and speak out wherever democracy is threatened.
  Madam Speaker, this is a very important resolution. I support it and 
urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, the House has always come together to condemn human 
rights violations around the world, whether it is in Rwanda or 
Xinjiang; or as we discuss here today, in Burma.
  Only 3 years ago, the House overwhelmingly passed Mr. Chabot's 
resolution to label the Burmese military's crimes against the Rohingya 
Muslim population as genocide.
  Unfortunately, we are once again facing shocking violence in Burma as 
a pro-democracy movement pushes back against the recent military coup. 
Hundreds are reported dead, with many more injured. And more than 2,000 
people have been arrested, simply for peacefully asking for freedom. 
America cannot stand idly and silently by while atrocities like this 
happen.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution. With over 60 Republican and Democrat cosponsors, this 
resolution, and this issue, is truly bipartisan. I want to thank Mr. 
Levin for introducing this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), a

[[Page H1565]]

valued member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and author of 
this important resolution.
  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Meeks and 
Ranking Member McCaul for their support in bringing this resolution to 
the floor today.
  Last month, the Burmese military, Tatmadaw, staged a coup and quashed 
Burma's fragile experiment with democracy.
  Burma had struggled during that time to enfranchise its minority 
population, and to respect their human rights. The genocide of the 
Rohingya is perhaps the best known example, but it is far from the only 
one.
  In fact, when Burma's November 8, 2020, elections resulted in the 
National League for Democracy winning an overwhelming victory and 
securing enough seats in Parliament to form the next government, it was 
notwithstanding the disenfranchisement of more than 1,500,000 voters, 
mostly from ethnic minority communities in Kachin, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, 
Shan, and Chin states.
  The resolution before us today condemns the February 1st coup 
unequivocally and calls on the Tatmadaw to free all those they have 
detained arbitrarily and return members of the civilian government to 
power.
  We are considering this resolution at a critical time. More than 
2,100 people have been arrested, charged, or sentenced in relation to 
the coup. The military and police have been ordered to fire on 
protesters. More than 200 people have been killed in cold blood in 
these violent crackdowns.
  On top of mobile data blackouts, there is now concern that the 
Tatmadaw could cut off WiFi as well, and even reports of fiber lines 
being cut, which would cut off access to the internet altogether.
  Clearly, there is no time to waste. The junta's rule must end. But it 
will not be enough simply to return to the status quo ante. This 
resolution calls on President Biden and Secretary Blinken to encourage 
not just the return to power of the civilian government, but also, 
subsequently, constitutional reforms to address the undemocratic power 
reserved for the Tatmadaw in Parliament, and the disenfranchisement of 
Burma's ethnic minorities.

  Democracy is something we must ever defend and nurture. That is why 
we who believe that all people are created equal and must be treated as 
such, whether here in America or anywhere else around the globe, must 
speak up, not only for full civilian control in Burma, but also for 
democracy, not for some, but for all.
  And so this resolution makes clear that Congress stands with all of 
the people of Burma in their ambition for sustainable peace, a genuine 
democracy, and the realization of human rights for all.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Ranking Member Chabot for authoring this 
resolution with me, as well as Subcommittee Chairman Bera, Chairman 
Meeks, Ranking Member McCaul, and all of my colleagues who have 
cosponsored this important resolution, which I am proud to say, on a 
completely bipartisan basis, we passed through the House Foreign 
Affairs Committee unanimously.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for 
yielding, and I thank the chairman for his leadership.
  I would especially like to thank Mr. Levin for his resolution 
condemning the military coup in Burma, and calling for release of all 
those who have been detained, as well as restoring those elected to 
serve in Parliament to a position that allows them to fulfill their 
important duties.
  I would also like to thank Mr. Connolly for his Protect Democracy in 
Burma Act, H.R. 1112, and the important report that it will authorize.
  Mr. Speaker, 24 years ago, in 1997, I chaired my first hearing on 
Burmese human rights abuse, and chaired additional hearings after that, 
including in 1998 and 2006. I also introduced several resolutions 
addressing the ongoing egregious crisis, including H. Res. 1710, which 
decried the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, and called on the Burmese 
military regime to end its campaign of religious and ethnic persecution 
of the Rohingya people, amounting to crimes against humanity.

                              {time}  1615

  Thus, after decades of abuse, rape, torture, and murder, it is 
incredibly tragic as to how little has changed in that country.
  As H. Res. 134 points out, the Burmese Government's unlawful 
detention of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as the crackdown 
on democracy advocates and the squelching of free expression and other 
fundamental civil and political rights, is outrageous and begs 
immediate reform and correction.
  The United States must, and I believe will, in a bipartisan way, and 
with the executive branch taking the lead, do its part. Every sanction 
of leverage must be deployed, and we must call on all of our 
international partners to join us in those efforts.
  The most glaring example of basic religious persecution, Mr. Speaker, 
is the oppression of Burma's Muslim Rohingya population. This 
persecution has been aided and abetted in part by religious and 
nationalist extremists such as the Buddhist monk Wirathu and the 969 
movement.
  We also see religious persecution intertwined with ethnic 
persecution, as in the case of the Karen, Kachin, and Shan people, many 
of whom are Christians. I have met many of them over the years.
  Many of you have seen the riveting image of a Catholic nun, Sister 
Ann Rose Nu Tawang, kneeling before a group of militarized police, 
pleading that they do not shoot the protesters. Sadly, at least two 
protesters lost their lives that day. But what gives us at least a 
glimmer of hope is that opposite Sister Ann Rose, two of the officers, 
who are presumably Buddhists, also got down on their knees in response 
that this ought to be peaceful and not violent.
  It is an image which gives one some hope that the people of Burma can 
overcome their differences and unite for peace and justice and for the 
benefit of all Burmese, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political 
affiliation.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished chairman and the ranking member 
for their leadership on this.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Chabot).
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I 
thank the ranking member for his leadership on this issue and so many 
issues that are so significant across the globe. Fortunately, our 
committee usually works in a bipartisan manner, so I want to thank my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle, especially the chairman, for 
his leadership on this as well.
  As the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee's Asia, the 
Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation Subcommittee, I rise today 
in support of H.R. 134, legislation that Congressman Levin and I 
introduced condemning the Burmese military's February 1 coup against 
the civilian government. The military's decision to seize control and 
detain top political leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President 
Win Myint, was a brazen assault on Burma's fledgling democracy.
  Self-government is not some sort of temporary arrangement or a gift 
from the military. Burma's generals cannot simply back out of democracy 
when it no longer serves their purposes.
  The situation has only gotten worse since the coup began. To date, 
the military has killed hundreds of people and has detained thousands 
of innocent people as political prisoners, and the conditions in many 
instances are horrible.
  What the military is doing here is just unconscionable. These murders 
and detentions are blatant violations of the rights of the Burmese 
people who, after all, only want to have what so many other countries 
have across the globe, and that is the ability to determine their own 
leadership and their own course of action for their own families and 
their children and grandchildren.
  We should honor--the whole world really should honor--the courage of 
the Burmese people who have been peacefully protesting for quite some 
time

[[Page H1566]]

now. Their bravery and determination are recognized and supported 
across the globe. America and the world stand with them in their 
struggle against tyranny.
  Unfortunately, the PRC in this case and in so many other cases across 
the globe, whether it is Cambodia or other areas where they tend, their 
actions are malevolent. They are undermining democracy; they are 
undermining freedom; and they are undermining legitimate governments. 
They are rewarding bad behavior, as they are doing in this case, and 
that is too bad because the PRC wants to be a major force and wants to 
be a country that other countries can look up to.
  Unfortunately, they are doing all the wrong things too often, and 
that is what they are doing here as well. Rather than putting pressure 
on the military in Burma, they are essentially looking the other way or 
supporting them in what they are doing.
  The bravery and determination of the people must be recognized across 
the globe.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).
  Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a report from the 
Associated Press detailing the detention of AP reporter Thein Zaw by 
Burmese authorities.

                      [From the AP, Mar. 12, 2021]

            Myanmar Court Extends Detention of AP Journalist

       Yangon, Myanmar (AP).--A court in Myanmar extended on 
     Friday the pretrial detention of an Associated Press 
     journalist who was arrested while covering demonstrations 
     against a coup. He is facing a charge that could send him to 
     prison for three years.
       Thein Zaw, 32, was one of nine media workers taken into 
     custody during a protest on Feb. 27 in Yangon, the country's 
     largest city, and has been held without bail. His next 
     hearing at the Kamayut Township court will be on March 24.
       Friday's hearing, which Thein Zaw attended via 
     videoconference, came at the end of his initial remand 
     period.
       Thein Zaw and at least six other members of the media have 
     been charged with violating a public order law, according to 
     his lawyer, Tin Zar Oo, and the independent Assistance 
     Association for Political Prisoners. Separate hearings were 
     held Friday for the other detained journalists.
       Tin Zar Oo and one of Thein Zaw's brothers were allowed 
     into the courtroom to take part in the 10-minute 
     videoconference. Tin Zar Oo said she was able to submit 
     documents giving her power of attorney for the case, but only 
     at the next hearing might be allowed to submit a bail 
     application.
       A representative of the U.S. Embassy was also present, said 
     Aryani Manring, a spokeswoman for the mission.
       Thein Zaw had not been seen by his lawyer or any of his 
     family members since his arrest. Tin Zar Oo said visits at 
     lnsein Prison, where her client is being held, are not 
     allowed because of coronavirus concerns, so his family has 
     been dropping off food and supplies for him at the gate.
       Tin Zar Oo said that her client looked healthy during 
     Friday's hearing, but he suffers from asthma at night. She 
     said Thein Zaw's brother noted that he had lost weight.
       Thein Zaw was arrested as he was photographing police, some 
     of them armed, charging down a street at anti-coup 
     protesters. A video shows that although he stepped to the 
     side of the street to get out of their way, several police 
     rushed over and surrounded him. One put him in a chokehold as 
     he was handcuffed and then taken away.
       According to the Assistance Association for Political 
     Prisoners, 38 journalists have been detained since the 
     military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on 
     Feb. 1. Nineteen are still incarcerated.
       The group says it has verified the detentions of more than 
     2,000 people as well as 69 deaths.
       On Friday, local media in Shan State in eastern Myanmar 
     reported that a freelance journalist from Poland had been 
     beaten and arrested by security forces.
       The online Kanbawza Tai News said a foreign photojournalist 
     was arrested Thursday while taking pictures of a protest in 
     the city of Taunggyi. A photo provided to the news site shows 
     a man trapped against a wall with one arm raised as he is 
     surrounded by about 10 soldiers.
       Germany's dpa news agency said the man, Robert Bociaga, 30, 
     has been working for the news service, and it has not been 
     able to contact him.
       ``We are deeply shocked by the arrest and apparent 
     mistreatment of Robert Bociaga,'' said the agency's editor-
     in-chief, Sven Goesmann. ``This is an intolerable and 
     unacceptable attack on the freedom of the press and, even in 
     this brutal form, is unfortunately not an isolated case.''
       The Polish Foreign Ministry confirmed the arrest of a 
     Polish journalist and said it was trying to contact the 
     detained man and obtain information about his health and 
     legal situation.
       Earlier this week, Myanmar authorities canceled the 
     licenses of five local outlets that had extensively covered 
     the protests. Mizzima, Democratic Voice of Burma, Khit Thit 
     Media, Myanmar Now and 7Day News have continued operating 
     despite being barred from broadcasting or publishing on any 
     media platform.
       The Associated Press and many press freedom organizations 
     have called for the release of Thein Zaw and the other 
     detained journalists.
       The U.S. government, in addition to criticizing the coup 
     and the violence of Myanmar's security forces, has condemned 
     the crackdown on the press in the Southeast Asian nation.
       ``We are deeply concerned about the increasing attacks on 
     the freedom of expression, including for members of the 
     press. We call for the release of journalists and for all 
     others who have been unjustly detained,'' U.S. State 
     Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters in 
     Washington on Thursday.
       Even during Suu Kyi's time in office, journalists were 
     often sued for their reporting.
       In the highest-profile case, two journalists working for 
     the Reuters news agency were arrested in 2017 while working 
     on a story about military violence directed at Myanmar's 
     Rohingya minority. They were accused of illegally possessing 
     official documents and sentenced to seven years behind bars 
     before being freed in 2019 in a mass presidential pardon.
  Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Zaw has been jailed for covering the violence 
leveled against anti-coup demonstrators in Burma.
  Thanks to Mr. Zaw and other journalists on the ground, we know what 
is going on in Burma is pure evil. The autocratic strongmen leading 
this coup are using deadly force to crack down on all dissenting 
speech. Burmese authorities, under the direction of these military 
thugs, are actively murdering demonstrators, arresting thousands, and 
imprisoning international reporters covering the situation.
  Senseless violence, military rule, and imprisoning political 
opponents all fly directly in the face of the democratic values we 
cherish as Americans.
  Today, this Chamber has the opportunity to condemn the hostile 
takeover of the Burmese Government, defend the demonstrators looking 
for peace, and stand up for democracy in Burma.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support both H. 
Res. 134 and H.R. 1112.
  Mr. MEEKS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, the Burmese military is using brutal violence to drag 
Burma back into repression and isolation. We should condemn this coup 
with one united voice as the United States of America through its 
Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that the Burmese military respect the 
will of the Burmese people and, one, return power to those 
democratically elected; and, two, release civilian leaders taken into 
custody.
  Daily protests against the military coup continue to occur in towns 
and cities throughout Burma, and the security forces are using 
increasing brutality to crack down against those demonstrating.
  We must make it clear that the United States is watching and that we 
support the restoration of democracy.
  Again, I want to thank Mr. Levin, the ranking member, and my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together so that the 
Burmese people know that the Congress of the United States of America 
stands together in their fight for democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ruiz). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 134.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

[[Page H1567]]

  

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