H.J.Res. 83

H.J.Res. 83 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage.  The legislation was introduced by Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) on May 11, 2010.

H.J.Res. 83 would extend through July 2011 the import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act (P.L. 108-61), which prohibits the importation of any article that is a product of Myanmar, the country formerly named Burma.

The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 was enacted in response to human rights abuses and anti-democratic activities of the military regime ruling in Burma. The law prohibits the importation of any article produced, mined, manufactured, grown, or assembled in Burma. The sanctions may be lifted if the president certifies to Congress that a series of conditions inside Burma have been met, including substantial and measurable progress to end human rights violations.

Current restrictions are set to expire on July 26, 2010, under the law’s most recent extension.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) had not produced a cost estimate for this legislation as of press time.