‘BRAVE Burma’ Bill to Increase Pressure on Junta Passed by US House of Representatives

The bill titled “BRAVE Burma Act,” introduced to increase pressure on Myanmar’s military junta to bring them under accountability and to further strengthen Washington’s support for the country’s pro-democracy movement, has been passed in the lower house of the US Congress.

The bipartisan bill, introduced jointly by lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties, was passed on Monday, according to two Myanmar-focused news outlets, Mizzima and The Irrawaddy.

In May last year, Michigan Republican lawmaker Bill Huizenga introduced the “Bringing Real Accountability via Enforcement in Burma Act,” or BRAVE Burma Act.

After being passed in the House of Representatives, it will now go to the upper chamber, the Senate. If approved there, it will go to the President’s desk, and once he signs it, it will become law.

In that case, the US President will be able to decide each year whether to further tighten sanctions on Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, Myanmar Economic Bank, and the country’s jet fuel sector. He will have the authority to make such decisions for the next seven years.

Under current law, the US administration already has the authority to impose restrictions on specific state-owned enterprises of Myanmar, officials, their family members, and foreign individuals or entities working on their behalf. According to Huizenga’s office, the new law would pave the way to extend and further strengthen sanctions until December 23, 2032.

Under the BRAVE Burma Act, the US President would also be able to coordinate sanctions policy, initiatives to restrict arms purchases and sales, humanitarian assistance, and diplomatic engagement by appointing a Special Envoy to Myanmar with the rank of ambassador.

If the bill becomes law, the US Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will oppose and vote against any effort to increase Myanmar’s participation in the global institution as long as the State Administrative Council remains in power.

The State Administrative Council refers to the junta government that seized power in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup. Elections were recently held in the Southeast Asian country. However, the international community has rejected the election, as most pro-democracy parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, were not allowed to participate.

One of the bill’s co-sponsors, New York Democratic lawmaker Tim Kennedy, said that the aim of the BRAVE Burma Act is to block the junta’s access to financial resources and to reaffirm the United States’ support for human rights and democratic aspirations.