Press Release

For Immediate Release
July 22, 2010

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx) applauds the Senate’s passage of H.J. Res. 83. The resolution unanimously passed the House on July, 14, 2010. Led by Reps. Crowley and Peter King (R-NY) in the House and Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in the Senate, the resolution renews the ban on all imports from Burma as part of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act.

“The overwhelming bipartisan support for this measure sends a strong message that the United States stands behind Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma and against the military junta – a regime that is guilty of looting its own country and committing crimes against humanity,” said Congressman Crowley. “Burma’s military regime must stop its brutal campaign against its own people, enact human rights reforms and free from prison Burma’s legitimate leaders, such as Aung San Suu Kyi. Only then will we consider lifting the sanctions.”
 
Congressman Crowley has a long track-record advocating for human rights in Burma, most recently spearheading the effort to award Aung San Suu Kyi the Congressional Gold Medal and to secure passage of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act. He is a six-term member on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs and a member of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. Congressman Crowley is also a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

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