Young, Van Hollen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen U.S. Response to Situation in Burma, Hold Burmese Military Junta Accountable for Rampant Abuses

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the U.S. response to the current situation in Burma, including by cracking down on the repressive Burmese military junta as its ongoing violence and gross violations of human rights worsen the humanitarian disaster in Burma and the region. Building on the2022 BURMA Act, the Bringing Real Accountability Via Enforcement in (BRAVE)Burma Act would block funding to the junta by authorizing stronger sanctions on the entities that finance its operations and strengthen mechanisms to implement these sanctions while countering the growing influence of China and Russia in the region.

“The United States should do more to protect the Burmese people from the oppression being committed by the military junta,” said Senator Young. “This legislation will help cut off the primary source of funding that is making it possible for airstrikes to be conducted against Burmese civilians. Indiana is home to one of the largest Burmese communities in America, and I stand with the people of Burma as they seek the restoration of a legitimate government.”

“The Burmese military junta has devastated the country through a relentless campaign of bloodshed, repression, and persecution of vulnerable communities. This bipartisan legislation will strengthen our ability to starve the junta of the resources that finance its reign of terror and, in turn, support future peace and democracy for the people of Burma,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Throughout my career, I have been proud to champion the democratic aspirations of the people of Burma. The BRAVE Burma Act comes at a particularly critical moment, as the military junta’s sham elections threaten to deepen the PRC’s influence in a critical region. It’s as important as ever that the United States continue to lead the West in turning the screws on this oppressive regime and standing firmly with the long-suffering people of Burma,” said Senator McConnell.

“I’ll never forget the painful stories I heard during my travels to Burma and Bangladesh in 2017—stories of brutal crimes against humanity against Rohingya and other vulnerable communities that are part of decades of violence, discrimination, and marginalization. I remain steadfast in my belief that American action is needed to achieve lasting peace,” said Senator Merkley. “Our bipartisan BRAVE Burma Act makes clear: the Burmese military’s brutality will not be forgotten.”

U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga (R-MI-4) led the BRAVE Burma Act in the House of Representatives, which passed by voice vote last month.

The BRAVE Burma Act would:

• Require the President to make an annual determination on whether to impose stronger sanctions on Burmese state-owned enterprises such as Myanma Economic Bank and foreign entities supporting the country’s jet fuel sector, which are known to finance the junta’s operations
• Direct the U.S. Treasury Secretary to use its leverage at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restrict Burma’s ability to borrow money from the IMF; and
• Establish a Special Envoy for Burma at the State Department, at ambassador rank, responsible for coordinating all aspects of U.S. policy toward Burma: increasing focus on implementing America’s diplomatic tools to help end the violence, protecting human rights, and facilitating democratic governance in Burma

This legislation is supported by the Burmese American Community Institute in Indianapolis, Burma Research Institute, and Campaign for a New Myanmar.

“We welcome and endorse the BRAVE Burma Act which will help Myanmar achieve real change. I am grateful to Senator Todd Young for his unwavering support and leadership. The political crisis in Myanmar can only be resolved by political means, through open and sincere dialogue that will result in constitutional and institutional arrangements based on freedom, equality and self-determination for all ethnic groups of the country. The Special Envoy created through the BRAVE Burma Act would coordinate policy and strategies to achieve these objectives,” said Elaisa Vahnie, President and CEO of the Burmese American Community Institute.