Washington, DC – House Foreign Affairs Lead Republican Michael McCaul spoke on the House Floor in support of the Protect Democracy in Burma Act of 2021.

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-Opening Remarks as Delivered- 

“Thank you, Madam Speaker. On February 1st Burma’s military seized power yet again, ending 5 years of a flawed – but a hopeful – democracy, and dragging Burma back into brutal military rule. And since that day, the world has watched. Horrified as pro-democracy protestors are met with brutal violence in the streets.

The Burmese military has used communications blackouts, curfews, and mass detentions to stifle opposition. And, they have used live ammunition against peaceful protestors. Hundreds have been killed and thousands detained.

At the same time the lead opposition to the Burmese military, the National League for Democracy, is facing further repression. NLD members have been rounded up and charged with baseless crimes, including the NLD’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

That’s why I’m asking my colleagues to join me today in supporting this resolution. And I really want to thank the Chairman and Mr. Connolly from Virginia for bringing this bill forward to make it clear the United States of America condemns this coup. It encourages engagement with Southeast Asian nations to promote Burma’s return to democracy.

I urge my colleagues to support it and I reserve the balance of my time.”

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House Foreign Affairs Lead Republican Michael McCaul spoke on the House Floor in support of a resolution condemning the recent military coup in Burma.

-Opening Remarks as Delivered- 

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“Madam Speaker, the House has always come together to condemn human rights violations around the world, whether it’s in Rwanda, or Xinjiang. Or – as we discuss here today – in Burma.  

Only three years ago, the House overwhelmingly passed Mr. Chabot’s resolution to label the Burmese military’s crimes against the Rohingya Muslim population as genocide. Unfortunately, we are once again facing shocking violence in Burma as a pro-democracy movement pushes back against the recent military coup.

Hundreds are reported dead, with many more injured. And more than 2,000 people have been arrested – simply for peacefully asking for freedom. America cannot stand idly by and silently by while atrocities like this happen.

So, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. With over 60 Republican and Democrat cosponsors, this resolution – and this issue – is truly bipartisan. I want to thank Mr. Levin for introducing this resolution. And with that, I reserve the balance of my time.”

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