Version	Word Count	Changes From Previous Version	Percent Change
Introduced in House	1,947	n/a	n/a
Engrossed in House	5,040	105	81%
Referred in Senate	4,984	5	1%
Engrossed Amendment Senate	3,401	233	92%
Engrossed Amendment House	7,838	193	75%
Enrolled Bill	7,452	11 Show Changes Hide Changes	3%

Display Version Introduced in House Engrossed in House Referred in Senate Engrossed Amendment Senate Engrossed Amendment House Enrolled Bill

HR 3890 EAH

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,July 15, 2008.Resolved, That the House agree to the amendment of the Senate to the text of the bill (H.R.3890CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

) entitled ‘An Act One Hundred Tenth Congress CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To impose sanctions on officials of the State Peace and Development Council in Burma, to amend the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 to impose import sanctions on Burmese gemstones, expand the number of individuals against whom the visa ban is applicable, expand the blocking of assets and other prohibited activities, and for other purposes’, with the followingHOUSE AMENDMENTS TO SENATE AMENDMENTS:In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the amendment of the Senate to the text of the bill, insert the following:exempt humanitarian assistance from United States sanctions on Burma, to prohibit the importation of gemstones from Burma, or that originate in Burma, to promote a coordinated international effort to restore civilian democratic rule to Burma, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Beginning on August 19, 2007, hundreds of thousands of citizens of Burma, including thousands of Buddhist monks and students, participated in peaceful demonstrations against rapidly deteriorating living conditions and the violent and repressive policies of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the ruling military regime in Burma--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) to demand the release of all political prisoners, including 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) to urge the regime to engage in meaningful dialogue to pursue national reconciliation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The Burmese regime responded to these peaceful protests with a violent crackdown leading to the reported killing of approximately 200 people, including a Japanese photojournalist, and hundreds of injuries. Human rights groups further estimate that over 2,000 individuals have been detained, arrested, imprisoned, beaten, tortured, or otherwise intimidated as part of this crackdown. Burmese military, police, and their affiliates in the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA) perpetrated almost all of these abuses. The Burmese regime continues to detain, torture, and otherwise intimidate those individuals whom it believes participated in or led the protests and it has closed down or otherwise limited access to several monasteries and temples that played key roles in the peaceful protests.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The Department of State’s 2006 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices found that the SPDC--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) routinely restricts freedoms of speech, press, assembly, association, religion, and movement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) traffics in persons;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) discriminates against women and ethnic minorities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) forcibly recruits child soldiers and child labor; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) commits other serious violations of human rights, including extrajudicial killings, custodial deaths, disappearances, rape, torture, abuse of prisoners and detainees, and the imprisonment of citizens arbitrarily for political motives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Aung San Suu Kyi has been arbitrarily imprisoned or held under house arrest for more than 12 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) In October 2007, President Bush announced a new Executive Order to tighten economic sanctions against Burma and block property and travel to the United States by certain senior leaders of the SPDC, individuals who provide financial backing for the SPDC, and individuals responsible for human rights violations and impeding democracy in Burma. Additional names were added in updates done on October 19, 2007, and February 5, 2008. However, only 38 discrete individuals and 13 discrete companies have been designated under those sanctions, once aliases and companies with similar names were removed. By contrast, the Australian Government identified more than 400 individuals and entities subject to its sanctions applied in the wake of the 2007 violence. The European Union’s regulations to implement sanctions against Burma have identified more than 400 individuals among the leadership of government, the military, and the USDA, along with nearly 1300 state and military-run companies potentially subject to its sanctions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The Burmese regime and its supporters finance their ongoing violations of human rights, undemocratic policies, and military activities in part through financial transactions, travel, and trade involving the United States, including the sale of petroleum products, gemstones and hardwoods.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) In 2006, the Burmese regime earned more than $500 million from oil and gas projects, over $500 million from sale of hardwoods, and in excess of $300 million from the sale of rubies and jade. At least $500 million of the $2.16 billion earned in 2006 from Burma’s two natural gas pipelines, one of which is 28 percent owned by a United States company, went to the Burmese regime. The regime has earned smaller amounts from oil and gas exploration and non-operational pipelines but United States investors are not involved in those transactions. Industry sources estimate that over $100 million annually in Burmese rubies and jade enters the United States. Burma’s official statistics report that Burma exported $500 million in hardwoods in 2006 but NGOs estimate the true figure to exceed $900 million. Reliable statistics on the amount of hardwoods imported into the United States from Burma in the form of finished products are not available, in part due to widespread illegal logging and smuggling.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) The SPDC seeks to evade the sanctions imposed in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003. Millions of dollars in gemstones that are exported from Burma ultimately enter the United States, but the Burmese regime attempts to conceal the origin of the gemstones in an effort to evade sanctions. For example, according to gem industry experts, over 90 percent of the world’s ruby supply originates in Burma but only 3 percent of the rubies entering the United States are claimed to be of Burmese origin. The value of Burmese gemstones is predominantly based on their original quality and geological origin, rather than the labor involved in cutting and polishing the gemstones.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) According to hardwood industry experts, Burma is home to approximately 60 percent of the world’s native teak reserves. More than 1/4 of the world’s internationally traded teak originates from Burma, and hardwood sales, mainly of teak, represent more than 11 percent of Burma’s official foreign exchange earnings.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) The SPDC owns a majority stake in virtually all enterprises responsible for the extraction and trade of Burmese natural resources, including all mining operations, the Myanmar Timber Enterprise, the Myanmar Gems Enterprise, the Myanmar Pearl Enterprise, and the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise. Virtually all profits from these enterprises enrich the SPDC.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) On October 11, 2007, the United Nations Security Council, with the consent of the People’s Republic of China, issued a statement condemning the violence in Burma, urging the release of all political prisoners, and calling on the SPDC to enter into a United Nations-mediated dialogue with its political opposition.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) The United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari traveled to Burma from September 29, 2007, through October 2, 2007, holding meetings with SPDC leader General Than Shwe and democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi in an effort to promote dialogue between the SPDC and democracy advocates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) The leaders of the SPDC will have a greater incentive to cooperate with diplomatic efforts by the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the People’s Republic of China if they come under targeted economic pressure that denies them access to personal wealth and sources of revenue.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(14) On the night of May 2, 2008, through the morning of May 3, 2008, tropical cyclone Nargis struck the coast of Burma, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Burmese.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(15) The response to the cyclone by Burma’s military leaders illustrates their fundamental lack of concern for the welfare of the Burmese people. The regime did little to warn citizens of the cyclone, did not provide adequate humanitarian assistance to address basic needs and prevent loss of life, and continues to fail to provide life-protecting and life-sustaining services to its people.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(16) The international community responded immediately to the cyclone and attempted to provide humanitarian assistance. More than 30 disaster assessment teams from 18 different nations and the United Nations arrived in the region, but the Burmese regime denied them permission to enter the country. Eventually visas were granted to aid workers, but the regime continues to severely limit their ability to provide assistance in the affected areas.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(17) Despite the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis, the junta went ahead with its referendum on a constitution drafted by an illegitimate assembly, conducting voting in unaffected areas on May 10, 2008, and in portions of the affected Irrawaddy region and Rangoon on May 26, 2008.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) ACCOUNT; CORRESPONDENT ACCOUNT; PAYABLE-THROUGH ACCOUNT- The terms ‘account’, ‘correspondent account’, and ‘payable-through account’ have the meanings given the terms in section 5318A(e)(1) of title 31, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- The term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the Committee on Finance of the Senate;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) ASEAN- The term ‘ASEAN’ means the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) PERSON- The term ‘person’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) an individual, corporation, company, business association, partnership, society, trust, any other nongovernmental entity, organization, or group; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) any successor, subunit, or subsidiary of any person described in subparagraph (A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) SPDC- The term ‘SPDC’ means the State Peace and Development Council, the ruling military regime in Burma.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) UNITED STATES PERSON- The term ‘United States person’ means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, juridical person organized under the laws of the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

It is the policy of the United States to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) condemn the continued repression carried out by the SPDC;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) work with the international community, especially the People’s Republic of China, India, Thailand, and ASEAN, to foster support for the legitimate democratic aspirations of the people of Burma and to coordinate efforts to impose sanctions on those directly responsible for human rights abuses in Burma;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) provide all appropriate support and assistance to aid a peaceful transition to constitutional democracy in Burma;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) support international efforts to alleviate the suffering of Burmese refugees and address the urgent humanitarian needs of the Burmese people; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) identify individuals responsible for the repression of peaceful political activity in Burma and hold them accountable for their actions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. SANCTIONS.

(a) Visa Ban-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The following persons shall be ineligible for a visa to travel to the United States:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Former and present leaders of the SPDC, the Burmese military, or the USDA.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Officials of the SPDC, the Burmese military, or the USDA involved in the repression of peaceful political activity or in other gross violations of human rights in Burma or in the commission of other human rights abuses, including any current or former officials of the security services and judicial institutions of the SPDC.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Any other Burmese persons who provide substantial economic and political support for the SPDC, the Burmese military, or the USDA.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) The immediate family members of any person described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) WAIVER- The President may waive the visa ban described in paragraph (1) only if the President determines and certifies in writing to Congress that travel by the person seeking such a waiver is in the national interests of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to conflict with the provisions of section 694 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-161), nor shall this subsection be construed to make ineligible for a visa members of ethnic groups in Burma now or previously opposed to the regime who were forced to provide labor or other support to the Burmese military and who are otherwise eligible for admission into the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Financial Sanctions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) BLOCKED PROPERTY- No property or interest in property belonging to a person described in subsection (a)(1) may be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt with if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the property is located in the United States or within the possession or control of a United States person, including the overseas branch of a United States person; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the property comes into the possession or control of a United States person after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS- Except with respect to transactions authorized under Executive Orders 13047 (May 20, 1997) and 13310 (July 28, 2003), no United States person may engage in a financial transaction with the SPDC or with a person described in subsection (a)(1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES- Activities prohibited by reason of the blocking of property and financial transactions under this subsection shall include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Payments or transfers of any property, or any transactions involving the transfer of anything of economic value by any United States person, including any United States financial institution and any branch or office of such financial institution that is located outside the United States, to the SPDC or to an individual described in subsection (a)(1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) The export or reexport directly or indirectly, of any goods, technology, or services by a United States person to the SPDC, to an individual described in subsection (a)(1) or to any entity owned, controlled, or operated by the SPDC or by an individual described in such subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Authority for Additional Banking Sanctions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General of the United States, and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, may prohibit or impose conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or payable-through account by any financial institution (as that term is defined in section 5312 of title 31, United States Code) or financial agency that is organized under the laws of a State, territory, or possession of the United States, for or on behalf of a foreign banking institution, if the Secretary determines that the account might be used--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by a foreign banking institution that holds property or an interest in property belonging to the SPDC or a person described in subsection (a)(1); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) to conduct a transaction on behalf of the SPDC or a person described in subsection (a)(1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) AUTHORITY TO DEFINE TERMS- The Secretary of the Treasury may, by regulation, further define the terms used in paragraph (1) for purposes of this section, as the Secretary considers appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) List of Sanctioned Officials-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) former and present leaders of the SPDC, the Burmese military, and the USDA;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) officials of the SPDC, the Burmese military, or the USDA involved in the repression of peaceful political activity in Burma or in the commission of other human rights abuses, including any current or former officials of the security services and judicial institutions of the SPDC;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) any other Burmese persons or entities who provide substantial economic and political support for the SPDC, the Burmese military, or the USDA; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) the immediate family members of any person described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) whom the President determines effectively controls property in the United States or has benefitted from a financial transaction with any United States person.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONSIDERATION OF OTHER DATA- In preparing the list required under paragraph (1), the President shall consider the data already obtained by other countries and entities that apply sanctions against Burma, such as the Australian Government and the European Union.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) UPDATES- The President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees updated lists of the persons described in paragraph (1) as new information becomes available.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) IDENTIFICATION OF INFORMATION- The Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury shall devote sufficient resources to the identification of information concerning potential persons to be sanctioned to carry out the purposes described in this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Rule of Construction- Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit any contract or other financial transaction with any nongovernmental humanitarian organization in Burma.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Exceptions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The prohibitions and restrictions described in subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to medicine, medical equipment or supplies, food or feed, or any other form of humanitarian assistance provided to Burma.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REGULATORY EXCEPTIONS- For the following purposes, the Secretary of State may, by regulation, authorize exceptions to the prohibition and restrictions described in subsection (a), and the Secretary of the Treasury may, by regulation, authorize exceptions to the prohibitions and restrictions described in subsections (b) and (c)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) to permit the United States and Burma to operate their diplomatic missions, and to permit the United States to conduct other official United States Government business in Burma;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) to permit United States citizens to visit Burma; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) to permit the United States to comply with the United Nations Headquarters Agreement and other applicable international agreements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Penalties- Any person who violates any prohibition or restriction imposed pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) shall be subject to the penalties under section 6 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as for a violation under that Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Termination of Sanctions- The sanctions imposed under subsection (a), (b), or (c) shall apply until the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the SPDC has--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) unconditionally released all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League for Democracy;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) entered into a substantive dialogue with democratic forces led by the National League for Democracy and the ethnic minorities of Burma on transitioning to democratic government under the rule of law; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) allowed humanitarian access to populations affected by armed conflict in all regions of Burma.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) Waiver- The President may waive the sanctions described in subsections (b) and (c) if the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such waiver is in the national interest of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. AMENDMENTS TO THE BURMESE FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2003.

(a) In General- The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-61; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by inserting after section 3 the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 3A. PROHIBITION ON IMPORTATION OF JADEITE AND RUBIES FROM BURMA AND ARTICLES OF JEWELRY CONTAINING JADEITE OR RUBIES FROM BURMA.

‘(a) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- The term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) BURMESE COVERED ARTICLE- The term ‘Burmese covered article’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) jadeite mined or extracted from Burma;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) rubies mined or extracted from Burma; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) articles of jewelry containing jadeite described in subparagraph (A) or rubies described in subparagraph (B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) NON-BURMESE COVERED ARTICLE- The term ‘non-Burmese covered article’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) jadeite mined or extracted from a country other than Burma;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) rubies mined or extracted from a country other than Burma; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) articles of jewelry containing jadeite described in subparagraph (A) or rubies described in subparagraph (B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) JADEITE; RUBIES; ARTICLES OF JEWELRY CONTAINING JADEITE OR RUBIES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) JADEITE- The term ‘jadeite’ means any jadeite classifiable under heading 7103 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (in this paragraph referred to as the ‘HTS’).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) RUBIES- The term ‘rubies’ means any rubies classifiable under heading 7103 of the HTS.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) ARTICLES OF JEWELRY CONTAINING JADEITE OR RUBIES- The term ‘articles of jewelry containing jadeite or rubies’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) any article of jewelry classifiable under heading 7113 of the HTS that contains jadeite or rubies; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) any article of jadeite or rubies classifiable under heading 7116 of the HTS.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) UNITED STATES- The term ‘United States’, when used in the geographic sense, means the several States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Prohibition on Importation of Burmese Covered Articles-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, until such time as the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that Burma has met the conditions described in section 3(a)(3), beginning 60 days after the date of the enactment of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008, the President shall prohibit the importation into the United States of any Burmese covered article.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) REGULATORY AUTHORITY- The President is authorized to, and shall as necessary, issue such proclamations, regulations, licenses, and orders, and conduct such investigations, as may be necessary to implement the prohibition under paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) OTHER ACTIONS- Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall take all appropriate actions to seek the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) The issuance of a draft waiver decision by the Council for Trade in Goods of the World Trade Organization granting a waiver of the applicable obligations of the United States under the World Trade Organization with respect to the provisions of this section and any measures taken to implement this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) The adoption of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly expressing the need to address trade in Burmese covered articles and calling for the creation and implementation of a workable certification scheme for non-Burmese covered articles to prevent the trade in Burmese covered articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Requirements for Importation of Non-Burmese Covered Articles-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), until such time as the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that Burma has met the conditions described in section 3(a)(3), beginning 60 days after the date of the enactment of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008, the President shall require as a condition for the importation into the United States of any non-Burmese covered article that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the exporter of the non-Burmese covered article has implemented measures that have substantially the same effect and achieve the same goals as the measures described in clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph (2)(B) (or their functional equivalent) to prevent the trade in Burmese covered articles; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the importer of the non-Burmese covered article agrees--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) to maintain a full record of, in the form of reports or otherwise, complete information relating to any act or transaction related to the purchase, manufacture, or shipment of the non-Burmese covered article for a period of not less than 5 years from the date of entry of the non-Burmese covered article; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) to provide the information described in clause (i) within the custody or control of such person to the relevant United States authorities upon request.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) EXCEPTION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- The President may waive the requirements of paragraph (1) with respect to the importation of non-Burmese covered articles from any country with respect to which the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees has implemented the measures described in subparagraph (B) (or their functional equivalent) to prevent the trade in Burmese covered articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) MEASURES DESCRIBED- The measures referred to in subparagraph (A) are the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) With respect to exportation from the country of jadeite or rubies in rough form, a system of verifiable controls on the jadeite or rubies from mine to exportation demonstrating that the jadeite or rubies were not mined or extracted from Burma, and accompanied by officially-validated documentation certifying the country from which the jadeite or rubies were mined or extracted, total carat weight, and value of the jadeite or rubies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) With respect to exportation from the country of finished jadeite or polished rubies, a system of verifiable controls on the jadeite or rubies from mine to the place of final finishing of the jadeite or rubies demonstrating that the jadeite or rubies were not mined or extracted from Burma, and accompanied by officially-validated documentation certifying the country from which the jadeite or rubies were mined or extracted.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) With respect to exportation from the country of articles of jewelry containing jadeite or rubies, a system of verifiable controls on the jadeite or rubies from mine to the place of final finishing of the article of jewelry containing jadeite or rubies demonstrating that the jadeite or rubies were not mined or extracted from Burma, and accompanied by officially-validated documentation certifying the country from which the jadeite or rubies were mined or extracted.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iv) Verifiable recordkeeping by all entities and individuals engaged in mining, importation, and exportation of non-Burmese covered articles in the country, and subject to inspection and verification by authorized authorities of the government of the country in accordance with applicable law.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(v) Implementation by the government of the country of proportionate and dissuasive penalties against any persons who violate laws and regulations designed to prevent trade in Burmese covered articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(vi) Full cooperation by the country with the United Nations or other official international organizations that seek to prevent trade in Burmese covered articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) REGULATORY AUTHORITY- The President is authorized to, and shall as necessary, issue such proclamations, regulations, licenses, and orders and conduct such investigations, as may be necessary to implement the provisions under paragraphs (1) and (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Inapplicability-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The requirements of subsection (b)(1) and subsection (c)(1) shall not apply to Burmese covered articles and non-Burmese covered articles, respectively, that were previously exported from the United States, including those that accompanied an individual outside the United States for personal use, if they are reimported into the United States by the same person, without having been advanced in value or improved in condition by any process or other means while outside the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) ADDITIONAL PROVISION- The requirements of subsection (c)(1) shall not apply with respect to the importation of non-Burmese covered articles that are imported by or on behalf of an individual for personal use and accompanying an individual upon entry into the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Enforcement- Burmese covered articles or non-Burmese covered articles that are imported into the United States in violation of any prohibition of this Act or any other provision law shall be subject to all applicable seizure and forfeiture laws and criminal and civil laws of the United States to the same extent as any other violation of the customs laws of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Sense of Congress-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- It is the sense of Congress that the President should take the necessary steps to seek to negotiate an international arrangement--similar to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for conflict diamonds--to prevent the trade in Burmese covered articles. Such an international arrangement should create an effective global system of controls and should contain the measures described in subsection (c)(2)(B) (or their functional equivalent).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) KIMBERLEY PROCESS CERTIFICATION SCHEME DEFINED- In paragraph (1), the term ‘Kimberley Process Certification Scheme’ has the meaning given the term in section 3(6) of the Clean Diamond Trade Act (Public Law 108-19; 19 U.S.C. 3902(6)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) Report-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing what actions the United States has taken during the 60-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of such Act to seek--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the issuance of a draft waiver decision by the Council for Trade in Goods of the World Trade Organization, as specified in subsection (b)(3)(A);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly, as specified in subsection (b)(3)(B); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) the negotiation of an international arrangement, as specified in subsection (f)(1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) UPDATE- The President shall make continued efforts to seek the items specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) and shall promptly update the appropriate congressional committees on subsequent developments with respect to these efforts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(h) GAO Report- Not later than 14 months after the date of the enactment of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the effectiveness of the implementation of this section. The Comptroller General shall include in the report any recommendations for improving the administration of this Act.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Duration of Sanctions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) CONTINUATION OF IMPORT SANCTIONS- Subsection (b) of section 9 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 new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- For purposes of this subsection, any reference to section 3(a)(1) shall be deemed to include a reference to section 3A (b)(1) and (c)(1).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) RENEWAL RESOLUTIONS- Subsection (c) of such section is amended by inserting after ‘section 3(a)(1)’ each place it appears the following: ‘and section 3A (b)(1) and (c)(1)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) EFFECTIVE DATE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The amendments made by this subsection take effect on the day after the date of the enactment of 5th renewal resolution enacted into law after the date of the enactment of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, or the date of the enactment of this Act, whichever occurs later.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) RENEWAL RESOLUTION DEFINED- In this paragraph, the term ‘renewal resolution’ means a renewal resolution described in section 9(c) of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 that is enacted into law in accordance with such section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Conforming Amendment- Section 3(b) of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-61; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘prohibitions’ and inserting ‘restrictions’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting ‘or section 3A (b)(1) or (c)(1)’ after ‘this section’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking ‘a product of Burma’ and inserting ‘subject to such restrictions’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE AND POLICY COORDINATOR FOR BURMA.

(a) United States Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma- The President shall appoint a Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Rank- The Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma appointed under subsection (a) shall have the rank of ambassador and shall hold the office at the pleasure of the President. Except for the position of United States Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Special Representative and Policy Coordinator may not simultaneously hold a separate position within the executive branch, including the Assistant Secretary of State, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, the United States Ambassador to Burma, or the Charge d’affairs to Burma.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Duties and Responsibilities- The Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) promote a comprehensive international effort, including multilateral sanctions, direct dialogue with the SPDC and democracy advocates, and support for nongovernmental organizations operating in Burma and neighboring countries, designed to restore civilian democratic rule to Burma and address the urgent humanitarian needs of the Burmese people;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) consult broadly, including with the Governments of the People’s Republic of China, India, Thailand, and Japan, and the member states of ASEAN and the European Union to coordinate policies toward Burma;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) assist efforts by the United Nations Special Envoy to secure the release of all political prisoners in Burma and to promote dialogue between the SPDC and leaders of Burma’s democracy movement, including Aung San Suu Kyi;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) consult with Congress on policies relevant to Burma and the future and welfare of all the Burmese people, including refugees; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) coordinate the imposition of Burma sanctions within the United States Government and with the relevant international financial institutions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. SUPPORT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY IN BURMA.

(a) In General- The President is authorized to assist Burmese democracy activists who are dedicated to nonviolent opposition to the SPDC in their efforts to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2008 to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) provide aid to democracy activists in Burma;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) provide aid to individuals and groups conducting democracy programming outside of Burma targeted at a peaceful transition to constitutional democracy inside Burma; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) expand radio and television broadcasting into Burma.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 9. SUPPORT FOR NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING THE HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OF THE BURMESE PEOPLE.

(a) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the international community should increase support for nongovernmental organizations attempting to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of the Burmese people.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Licenses for Humanitarian or Religious Activities in Burma- Section 5 of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by inserting ‘(a) Opposition to Assistance to Burma- ’ before ‘The Secretary’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Licenses for Humanitarian or Religious Activities in Burma- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue multi-year licenses for humanitarian or religious activities in Burma.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Authorization of Appropriations-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there are authorized to be appropriated $11,000,000 to the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2008 to support operations by nongovernmental organizations, subject to paragraph (2), designed to address the humanitarian needs of the Burmese people inside Burma and in refugee camps in neighboring countries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) LIMITATION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided under subparagraph (B), amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may not be provided to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) SPDC-controlled entities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) entities run by members of the SPDC or their families; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) entities providing cash or resources to the SPDC, including organizations affiliated with the United Nations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) WAIVER- The President may waive the funding restriction described in subparagraph (A) if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such waiver is in the national interests of the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) a description of the national interests need for the waiver is submitted to the appropriate congressional committees; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) the description submitted under clause (ii) is posted on a publicly accessible Internet Web site of the Department of State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10. REPORT ON MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE AID TO BURMA.

(a) In General- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report containing a list of countries, companies, and other entities that provide military or intelligence aid to the SPDC and describing such military or intelligence aid provided by each such country, company, and other entity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Military or Intelligence Aid Defined- For the purpose of this section, the term ‘military or intelligence aid’ means, with respect to the SPDC--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the provision of weapons, weapons parts, military vehicles, or military aircraft;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the provision of military or intelligence training, including advice and assistance on subject matter expert exchanges;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the provision of weapons of mass destruction and related materials, capabilities, and technology, including nuclear, chemical, or dual-use capabilities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) conducting joint military exercises;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) the provision of naval support, including ship development and naval construction;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) the provision of technical support, including computer and software development and installations, networks, and infrastructure development and construction; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) the construction or expansion of airfields, including radar and anti-aircraft systems.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Form- The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex and the unclassified form shall be placed on the Department of State’s website.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 11. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL ARMS SALES TO BURMA.

It is the sense of Congress that the United States should lead efforts in the United Nations Security Council to impose a mandatory international arms embargo on Burma, curtailing all sales of weapons, ammunition, military vehicles, and military aircraft to Burma until the SPDC releases all political prisoners, restores constitutional rule, takes steps toward inclusion of ethnic minorities in political reconciliation efforts, and holds free and fair elections to establish a new government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 12. REDUCTION OF SPDC REVENUE FROM TIMBER.

(a) Report- Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, and other Federal officials, as appropriate, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on Burma’s timber trade containing information on the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Products entering the United States made in whole or in part of wood grown and harvested in Burma, including measurements of annual value and volume and considering both legal and illegal timber trade.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Statistics about Burma’s timber trade, including raw wood and wood products, in aggregate and broken down by country and timber species, including measurements of value and volume and considering both legal and illegal timber trade.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) A description of the chains of custody of products described in paragraph (1), including direct trade streams from Burma to the United States and via manufacturing or transshipment in third countries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Illegalities, abuses, or corruption in the Burmese timber sector.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) A description of all common consumer and commercial applications unique to Burmese hardwoods, including the furniture and marine manufacturing industries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Recommendations- The report required under subsection (a) shall include recommendations on the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Alternatives to Burmese hardwoods for the commercial applications described in paragraph (5) of subsection (a), including alternative species of timber that could provide the same applications.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Strategies for encouraging sustainable management of timber in locations with potential climate, soil, and other conditions to compete with Burmese hardwoods for the consumer and commercial applications described in paragraph (5) of subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The appropriate United States and international customs documents and declarations that would need to be kept and compiled in order to establish the chain of custody concerning products described in paragraphs (1) and (3) of subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Strategies for strengthening the capacity of Burmese civil society, including Burmese society in exile, to monitor and report on the SPDC’s trade in timber and other extractive industries so that Burmese natural resources can be used to benefit the majority of Burma’s population.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 13. REPORT ON FINANCIAL ASSETS HELD BY MEMBERS OF THE SPDC.

(a) In General- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of the Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report containing a list of all countries and foreign banking institutions that hold assets on behalf of senior Burmese officials.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Definitions- For the purpose of this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) SENIOR BURMESE OFFICIALS- The term ‘senior Burmese officials’ shall mean individuals covered under section 5(d)(1) of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) OTHER TERMS- Other terms shall be defined under the authority of and consistent with section 5(c)(2) of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Form- The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex. The report shall also be posted on the Department of Treasury’s website not later than 30 days of the submission to Congress of the report. To the extent possible, the report shall include the names of the senior Burmese officials and the approximate value of their holdings in the respective foreign banking institutions and any other pertinent information.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 14. UNOCAL PLAINTIFFS.

(a) Sense of Congress- It is the Sense of Congress that the United States should work with the Royal Thai Government to ensure the safety in Thailand of the 15 plaintiffs in the Doe v. Unocal case, and should consider granting refugee status or humanitarian parole to these plaintiffs to enter the United States consistent with existing United States law.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate Congressional committees a report on the status of the Doe vs. Unocal plaintiffs and whether the plaintiffs have been granted refugee status or humanitarian parole.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 15. SENSE OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO INVESTMENTS IN BURMA’S OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

(a) Findings and Declarations- Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Currently United States, French, and Thai investors are engaged in the production and delivery of natural gas in the pipeline from the Yadana and Sein fields (Yadana pipeline) in the Andaman Sea, an enterprise which falls under the jurisdiction of the Burmese Government, and United States investment by Chevron represents approximately a 28 percent nonoperated, working interest in that pipeline.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The Congressional Research Service estimates that the Yadana pipeline provides at least $500,000,000 in annual revenue for the Burmese Government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The natural gas that transits the Yadana pipeline is delivered primarily to Thailand, representing about 20 percent of Thailand’s total gas supply.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The executive branch has in the past exempted investment in the Yadana pipeline from the sanctions regime against the Burmese Government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Congress believes that United States companies ought to be held to a high standard of conduct overseas and should avoid as much as possible acting in a manner that supports repressive regimes such as the Burmese Government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Congress recognizes the important symbolic value that divestment of United States holdings in Burma would have on the international sanctions effort, demonstrating that the United States will continue to lead by example.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Statement of Policy-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Congress urges Yadana investors to consider voluntary divestment over time if the Burmese Government fails to take meaningful steps to release political prisoners, restore civilian constitutional rule and promote national reconciliation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Congress will remain concerned with the matter of continued investment in the Yadana pipeline in the years ahead.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Congress urges the executive branch to work with all firms invested in Burma’s oil and gas sector to use their influence to promote the peaceful transition to civilian democratic rule in Burma.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that so long as Yadana investors remain invested in Burma, such investors should--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) communicate to the Burmese Government, military and business officials, at the highest levels, concern about the lack of genuine consultation between the Burmese Government and its people, the failure of the Burmese Government to use its natural resources to benefit the Burmese people, and the military’s use of forced labor;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) publicly disclose and deal with in a transparent manner, consistent with legal obligations, its role in any ongoing investment in Burma, including its financial involvement in any joint production agreement or other joint ventures and the amount of their direct or indirect support of the Burmese Government; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) work with project partners to ensure that forced labor is not used to construct, maintain, support, or defend the project facilities, including pipelines, offices, or other facilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Resolved further, That the House agree to the amendment of the Senate to the title of the aforesaid bill with the following: In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the amendment of the Senate to the title of the bill, amend the title so as to read: ‘An Act to impose sanctions on officials of the State Peace and Development Council in Burma, to amend the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 to exempt humanitarian assistance from United States sanctions on Burma, to prohibit the importation of gemstones from Burma, or that originate in Burma, to promote a coordinated international effort to restore civilian democratic rule to Burma, and for other purposes.’. Attest: Clerk.

110th CONGRESS 2d Session H.R. 3890 HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO SENATE AMENDMENTS Speaker of the House of Representatives. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Vice President of the United States andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

President of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink