Dear Emgage advocates,

We have some breaking news for you. A bill for the Rohingya was introduced on Tuesday and we need YOUR help to pass it

This week, Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY-5) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) finally reintroduced the "Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act," or BURMA Act, in the House of Representatives and Senate.

Tell your elected officials to co-sponsor the BURMA Act

If passed, this bill will ensure humanitarian assistance and civil society support for the people of Burma, who have been subjected to countless atrocities committed by the military. It condemns the Burmese military’s violent persecution of ethnic/religious minorities and the killings of over 1000 protestors following the February 1 coup d’etat, holding them accountable through targeted sanctions.

This legislation has bipartisan support, with overwhelming support from Democratic Representatives and co-sponsorship by the following Republican Representatives - Steve Chabot [OH-1], Michael McCaul [TX-10], Brian Fitzpatrick [PA-1], Young Kim [CA-39], Claudia Tenney [NY-22], and Peter Meijer [MI-3].

Read the full bill here. Key elements of the legislation include:

Requiring the Secretary of State to make a determination whether the persecution of the Rohingya in Burma constitutes genocide.
Authorization to impose sanctions on individuals and entities who helped stage the February 1 coup d’état and are responsible for the subsequent repression of fundamental freedoms, human rights abuses, use of indiscriminate violence towards civilians, and other gross atrocities.
Authorization to prohibit the import of precious and semi-precious gemstones from Burma into the United States.
Authorization for support to civil society and for humanitarian assistance in Burma, Bangladesh, Thailand, and the surrounding region.
Calling for the United States to pressure the United Nations to take more decisive action with regards to Burma.

Tell your elected officials to co-sponsor the BURMA Act

In light of this growing crisis, the BURMA Act calls upon the Biden administration and State Department to uphold its commitment to human rights and democracy, by labeling the persecution of the Rohingya genocide.

Take the next 5 minutes to urge your Representative & Senators to co-sponsor the BURMA ACT.

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