Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following Thursday on the need to pass the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act:

I am extremely disappointed the Senate was unable to come to an agreement on the annual renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act. Today I offered to call up BFDA and pass it as a standalone measure. Though I support passing the other trade measures reported out of the Finance Committee, I believe this is a fair resolution in order to respond to the expiring sanctions, and one that would help Congress continue to move forward on passing BFDA while differences on other unrelated trade matters could be resolved.  Unfortunately, passing BFDA as a freestanding measure was objected to by a Democrat colleague. I am unaware of any Republican Senator concerns to passing BFDA while negotiations continue on the other trade bills.