Washington State friends of Burma,

URGENT ACTION ALERT: CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND SENATORS TODAY

1) Description of Action
2) Talking Points
3) Contact Info. for your Senators and Representatives
4) Text of Legislation

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1) Yesterday, both the Senate and House of Representatives introduced
legislation to significantly increase pressure against Burma's brutal
military regime. It comes just days after a nationwide military crackdown
in Burma, during which scores of people were killed and 1991 Nobel Peace
Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi was seriously injured. While this latest
atrocity adds urgency the situation, the legislation is NOT being introduced
in reaction to it. It is being introduced because the military regime
refuses to participate in UN-sponsored talks with Suu Kyi and her party, the
Naitonal League for Democracy. This is an important distinction--because
then in order to escape the legislation the regime would simply have to
release Suu Kyi, and we would be back at square one.

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2) Call your Congressional and Senate offices (listed below) and ask to
speak with the staff member who handles foreign affairs (you can find these
listed below as well). If you get their voicemail, leave a message
explaining that it is very urgent and they need to call you back as soon as
possible.

-If you do have a chance to talk to them, let them know what has happened in
Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi. (You can request recent news from
national papers and/or papers in your area from us).

-Ask for them to co-sponsor the Burma Freedom Act, (if they are a Senator,
they will co-sponsor the Senate version BILL S1182, if they are a House
member, support the House version, HR2330).

-If you are calling a Republican, emphasize that McConnell in the Senate and
Henry Hyde in the House are supporting the bills. If you are calling a
Democrat, emphasize that Tom Daschle in the Senate and Tom Lantos in the
House are supporting the bills.

-Offer to email them a copy of the legislation. They can not give you an
immediate answer, since they need to ask the Senator/Congressman. But do
ask them when they will know--to keep pressure on for a rapid turnaround.
Let them know that the people of your State greatly care about this and that
the ongoing crackdown on democracy in Burma makes the situation very urgent.

-Write down exactly what happened with each call you make--send me an email
and let me know where things stand. Try to be as detailed as possible about
your conversations. That will help us answer any concerns they have.

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3) Senator Patty Murray, Ben McMakin, 224-2621
Senator Maria Cantwell, Travis Sullivan, 224-3441
Rep. Jay Inslee, Roel Vanderlugt, 202-225-6311
Rep. Rick Larsen, Abbie Blake, 202-225-2605
Rep. Brian Baird, Chris Schloesser, 225-3536
Rep. Doc Hastings, Tayler Prout, 202-225-5816
Rep. George R. Nethercutt, Rob Neal, 202-225-5916
Rep. Norman D. Dicks, Colin Sheldon, 202-225-5916
Rep. Jim McDermott, Mariana George, 202-225-3106
Rep. Jennifer Dunn, Elena Zaynberg, 202-225-7761
Rep. Adam Smith, John Mulligan, 202-225-8901
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4) House of Represenatives Version, 108th CONGRESS, 1st Session

H. R. 2330
To sanction the ruling Burmese military junta, to strengthen Burma's
democratic forces and support and recognize the National League of Democracy
as the legitimate representative of the Burmese people, and for other
purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 4, 2003

Mr. LANTOS (for himself, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. HYDE, Mr. SMITH of New
Jersey, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr.
FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. PITTS, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. SHERMAN,
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. HOEFFEL, Mr. BROWN of
Ohio, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr.
OLVER, Mr. FARR, Mr. EVANS, and Mr. ABERCROMBIE) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in
addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Financial Services, and 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

A BILL
To sanction the ruling Burmese military junta, to strengthen Burma's
democratic forces and support and recognize the National League of Democracy
as the legitimate representative of the Burmese people, and for other
purposes.

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 `Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has failed to transfer
power to the National League for Democracy (NLD) whose parliamentarians won
an overwhelming victory in the 1990 elections in Burma .

(2) The SPDC has failed to enter into meaningful, political dialogue with
the NLD and ethnic minorities and has dismissed the efforts of United
Nations Special Envoy Razali bin Ismail to further such dialogue.

(3) According to the State Department's `Report to the Congress Regarding
Conditions in Burma and U.S. Policy Toward Burma' dated March 28, 2003, the
SPDC has become `more confrontational' in its exchanges with the NLD.

(4) On May 30, 2003, the SPDC, threatened by continued support for the NLD
throughout Burma , brutally attacked NLD supporters, killed and injured
scores of civilians, and arrested democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi and
other activists.

(5) The SPDC continues egregious human rights violations against Burmese
citizens, uses rape as a weapon of intimidation and torture against women,
and forcibly conscripts child-soldiers for the use in fighting indigenous
ethnic groups.

(6) The SPDC has demonstrably failed to cooperate with the United States in
stopping the flood of heroin and methamphetamines being grown, refined,
manufactured, and transported in areas under the control of the SPDC serving
to flood the region and much of the world with these illicit drugs.

(7) The SPDC provides safety, security, and engages in business dealings
with narcotics traffickers under indictment by United States authorities,
and other producers and traffickers of narcotics.

(8) The International Labor Organization (ILO), for the first time in its
82-year history, adopted in 2000, a resolution recommending that
governments, employers, and workers organizations take appropriate measures
to ensure that their relations with the SPDC do not abet the
government-sponsored system of forced, compulsory, or slave labor in Burma ,
and that other international bodies reconsider any cooperation they may be
engaged in with Burma and, if appropriate, cease as soon as possible any
activity that could abet the practice of forced, compulsory, or slave labor.

(9) The SPDC has integrated the Burmese military and its surrogates into all
facets of the economy effectively destroying any free enterprise system.

(10) Investment in Burmese companies and purchases from them serve to
provide the SPDC with currency that is used to finance its instruments of
terror and repression against the Burmese people.

(11) On April 15, 2003, the American Apparel and Footwear Association
expressed its `strong support for a full and immediate ban on U.S. textiles,
apparel and footwear imports from Burma' and called upon the United States
Government to `impose an outright ban on U.S. imports' of these items until
Burma demonstrates respect for basic human and labor rights of its citizens.

(12) The policy of the United States, as articulated by the President on
April 24, 2003, is to officially recognize the NLD as the legitimate
representative of the Burmese people as determined by the 1990 election.

SEC. 3. BAN AGAINST TRADE THAT SUPPORTS THE MILITARY REGIME OF BURMA .

(a) GENERAL BAN-

(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, until such time
as the President determines and certifies to Congress that Burma has met the
conditions described in paragraph (3), no article may be imported into the
United States that is produced, mined, manufactured, grown, or assembled in
Burma .

(2) BAN ON IMPORTS FROM CERTAIN COMPANIES- The import restrictions contained
in paragraph (1) shall apply to, among other entities--

(A) the SPDC, any ministry of the SPDC, a member of the SPDC or an immediate
family member of such member;

(B) known narcotics traffickers from Burma or an immediate family member of
such narcotics trafficker;

(C) the Union of Myanmar Economics Holdings Incorporated (UMEHI) or any
company in which the UMEHI has a fiduciary interest;

(D) the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) or any company in which the MEC
has a fiduciary interest;

(E) the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA); and

(F) any successor entity for the SPDC, UMEHI, MEC, or USDA.

(3) CONDITIONS DESCRIBED- The conditions described in this paragraph are the
following:

(A) The SPDC has made substantial and measurable progress to end violations
of internationally recognized human rights including rape, and the Secretary
of State, after consultation with the ILO Secretary General and relevant
nongovernmental organizations, reports to the appropriate congressional
committees that the SPDC no longer systematically violates workers rights,
including the use of forced and child labor, and conscription of
child-soldiers.

(B) The SPDC has made measurable and substantial progress toward
implementing a democratic government including--

(i) releasing all political prisoners;

(ii) allowing freedom of speech and the press;

(iii) allowing freedom of association;

(iv) permitting the peaceful exercise of religion; and

(v) bringing to a conclusion an agreement between the SPDC and the
democratic forces led by the NLD and Burma's ethnic nationalities on the
transfer of power to a civilian government accountable to the Burmese people
through democratic elections under the rule of law.

(C) Pursuant to section 706(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act,
Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228), Burma has not been designated as a
country that has failed demonstrably to make substantial efforts to adhere
to its obligations under international counternarcotics agreements and to
take other effective counternarcotics measures, including, but not limited
to (i) the arrest and extradition of all individuals under indictment in the
United States for narcotics trafficking, (ii) concrete and measurable
actions to stem the flow of illicit drug money into Burma's banking system
and economic enterprises, and (iii) actions to stop the manufacture and
export of methamphetamines.

(4) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- In this subsection, the term
`appropriate congressional committees' means the Committees on Foreign
Relations and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on
International Relations and Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

(b) WAIVER AUTHORITIES- The President may waive the prohibitions described
in this section for any or all products imported from Burma to the United
States if the President determines and notifies the Committees on
Appropriations and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committees on
Appropriations, International Relations, and Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives that to do so is in the national security interest of the
United States.

(c) DURATION OF TRADE BAN- The President may terminate the restrictions
contained in this Act upon the request of a democratically elected
government in Burma , provided that all the conditions in subsection (a)(3)
have been met.

SEC. 4. FREEZING ASSETS OF THE BURMESE REGIME IN THE UNITED STATES.

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall direct, and promulgate regulations to the
same, that any United States financial institution holding funds belonging
to the SPDC or the assets of those individuals who hold senior positions in
the SPDC or its political arm, the Union Solidarity Development Association,
shall promptly report those assets to the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The Secretary of the Treasury may take such action as may be necessary to
secure such assets or funds.

SEC. 5. LOANS AT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive
director to each appropriate international financial institution in which
the United States participates, to oppose, and vote against the extension by
such institution of any loan or financial or technical assistance to Burma
until such time as the conditions described in section 3(a)(3) are met.

SEC. 6. EXPANSION OF VISA BAN.

(a) IN GENERAL-

(1) VISA BAN- The President is authorized to deny visas and entry to the
former and present leadership of the SPDC or the Union Solidarity
Development Association.

(2) UPDATES- The Secretary of State shall coordinate on a biannual basis
with representatives of the European Union to ensure that an individual who
is banned from obtaining a visa by the European Union for the reasons
described in paragraph (1) is also banned from receiving a visa from the
United States.

(b) PUBLICATION- The Secretary of State shall post on the Department of
State's website the names of individuals whose entry into the United States
is banned under subsection (a).

SEC. 7. CONDEMNATION OF THE REGIME AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.

Congress encourages the Secretary of State to highlight the abysmal record
of the SPDC to the international community and use all appropriate fora,
including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and
Asian Nations Regional Forum, to encourage other states to restrict
financial resources to the SPDC and Burmese companies while offering
political recognition and support to Burma's democratic movement including
the National League for Democracy and Burma's ethnic groups.

SEC. 8. SUPPORT DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS IN BURMA .

(a) IN GENERAL- The President is authorized to use all available resources
to assist Burmese democracy activists dedicated to nonviolent opposition to
the regime in their efforts to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights
in Burma , including a listing of constraints on such programming.

(b) REPORTS-

(1) FIRST REPORT- Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State shall provide the Committees on
Appropriations and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committees on
Appropriations and International Relations of the House of Representatives a
comprehensive report on its short- and long-term programs and activities to
support democracy activists in Burma , including a list of constraints on
such programming.

(2) REPORT ON RESOURCES- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of State shall provide the Committees on
Appropriations and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committees on
Appropriations and International Relations of the House of Representatives a
report identifying resources that will be necessary for the reconstruction
of Burma , after the SPDC is removed from power, including--

(A) the formation of democratic institutions;

(B) establishing the rule of law;

(C) establishing freedom of the press;

(D) providing for the successful reintegration of military officers and
personnel into Burmese society; and

(E) providing health, educational, and economic development.

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Senate Version

S. 1182. A bill to sanction the ruling Burmese military junta, to strengthen
Burma's democratic forces and support and recognize the National League of
Democracy as the legitimate representative of the Burmese people, and for
other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Mr.MCCONNELL introduced the following bill; which was read twice and re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

[Co-Sponsors, Dianne Feinstein, John McCain, Sam Brownback, Tom Daschle,
Rick Santorum,
Edward Kennedy, Jon Kyl, Patrick Leahy, Barbara Mikulski, Arlen
Specter]