Crowley Burma Sanctions Bill Signed Into Law 7/30/2008 Contact: (202) 225-3965 Foreign Affairs press release Crowley-authored law renews sanctions against Burma for one year *** Click here to view Congressman Crowley’s floor speech on the Burma sanctions bill *** (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) applauded the enactment of H.J. Res. 93, the Crowley-authored bill to extend for one year the expiring import restrictions on Burma. The Crowley-authored bill received wide bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and was signed into law yesterday in a West Wing ceremony with President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, and several key supporters from the House and Senate. “I believe that the United States has a moral obligation to stand up for those citizens of the world who cannot stand up for themselves and I am proud to have authored the bill signed into law today that continues to put significant pressure on the brutal Burmese military junta,” said Congressman Crowley. “The Burmese junta is one of the few remaining repressive regimes still in power in the 21st century and we must act against their atrocities now.” According to international reports, over one million of the Burmese people have been forced to relocate from their homes in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. More than 2,700 villages have been razed while junta leaders have blocked much needed humanitarian aid from reaching refugees. Millions have been subjugated into forced labor – what the International Labor Organization calls a "modern form of slavery." Crowley added, “While the U.S. continues to be on the forefront of bringing global attention to the people of Burma and their struggle for freedom and democracy, we need our allies – especially the European Union and the Association of South East Asian Nations – to step up and join our efforts to do even more to clamp down on junta finances and international travel.” As a ten-year member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman Crowley has been a steadfast proponent of democratic reforms in Burma and author several key bills relating to the region. Prior to the sanctions bill, Congressman Crowley recently authored legislation signed into law in May to award a Congressional Gold Medal to imprisoned Burmese Nobel Peace Prize-winning democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi. # # #   Washington 2404 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202)225-3965 Queens 74-09 37th Ave Suite 306-B Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (718)779-1400 Co-op City 177 Dreiser Loop Bronx, NY 10475 (718)320-2314 Bronx 2800 Bruckner Blvd Bronx, NY 10465 (718)931-1400