Foreign Affairs Committee Condemns Ethnic Cleansing in Burma

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), passed nine measures, including H. Con. Res. 90, which condemns ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya and calls for an end to the attacks and immediate restoration of humanitarian access to Burma.

On H. Con. Res. 90, Chairman Royce said: “In recent months, we’ve heard horrific stories of young Rohingya mothers torn from their burning homes, drowned children, and mass executions. Many consider the Rohingya the most persecuted minority in the world. This resolution calls for an end to all violence in Burma, and for the military and government to allow refugees to return home. I thank Congressman Crowley and Ranking Member Engel for their work on this measure.”

Additionally, the Committee passed the following measures:

• H. Res. 336, introduced by Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), which reaffirms a strong commitment to the United States-Mexico Partnership;
• As amended, H. Res. 401, introduced by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), which urges China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, India, and all nations to outlaw the dog and cat meat trade and to enforce existing laws against the trade;
• As amended, H. Res. 407, introduced by Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), which condemns the persecution of Christians around the world;
• As amended, H.R. 1164, Taylor Force Act, introduced by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), which conditions assistance to the West Bank and Gaza on steps by the Palestinian Authority to end violence and terrorism against Israeli citizens;
• As amended, H.R. 1415, End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), which facilitates effective research on and treatment of neglected tropical diseases, including Ebola, through coordinated domestic and international efforts;
• As amended, H.R. 2712, Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), which imposes sanctions with respect to foreign support for Palestinian terrorism;
• As amended, H.R. 3542, Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), which imposes sanctions against Hamas for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights by reason of the use of civilians as human shields; and
• As amended, H.R. 3776, Cyber Diplomacy Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), which supports United States international cyber diplomacy.

A summary of the Committee action, including adopted amendments, will be available HERE.

View the original press release HERE.