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Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008

Public Law 110-286 · H.R. 3890 · 110th Congress · began in the House

Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Jul 29, 2008 · International Affairs

Sponsor: Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA-12)

Cosponsors (40): Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,

Passage votes

  • HouseMethod not stated
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) condemn the repression carried out by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of Burma; (2) support a peaceful transition to constitutional democracy in Burma; (3) support international efforts to alleviate the suffering of Burmese refugees and address the urgent humanitarian needs of the Burmese people; and (4) hold accountable individuals responsible for the repression of peaceful political activity in Burma.

(Sec. 5) Subjects the following persons to a U.S. entry visa prohibition and financial sanctions (blocked property, financial transaction prohibitions, prohibited activities, and banking sanctions), including: (1) former and present leaders of the SPDC, the Burmese military, or the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA); (2) officials of the SPDC, the Burmese military, or the USDA involved in political repression in Burma or other gross violations of human rights abuses; (3) other Burmese SPDC, Burmese military, and USDA supporters; and (4) immediate family members of any such persons.

Directs the President to submit to Congress a list of such sanctioned persons.

Exempts medical and humanitarian assistance and certain financial transactions from such restrictions. Authorizes additional waivers for diplomatic, official U.S. Government, and travel purposes. Subjects persons who violate such prohibitions to certain civil and criminal penalties.

Terminates such sanctions upon a presidential certification to Congress that the SPDC has: (1) unconditionally released all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League for Democracy (NLD); (2) entered into a dialogue with democratic forces led by the NLD and the ethnic minorities of Burma on transitioning to democratic government; and (3) allowed humanitarian access to populations affected by armed conflict in all regions of Burma.

Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions if it is in the national interests of the United States.

(Sec. 6) Amends the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (BFDA) to prohibit the importation into the United States of jadeite and rubies, including jewelry containing such articles (covered articles) from Burma until the President certifies to Congress that Burma has met certain conditions concerning human rights and democratic reforms and has implemented certain counternarcotics measures.

Directs the President to require certain conditions for the importation into the United States of such articles from other countries (non-Burmese covered articles) in order to prevent trade in Burmese covered articles. Subjects Burmese covered articles and non-Burmese covered articles that are imported into the United States to seizure and forfeiture and to U.S. criminal and civil laws.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should take the necessary steps to negotiate an international arrangement (similar to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for conflict diamonds) to prevent the trade in Burmese covered articles.

Requires the President to report to Congress on what U.S. actions have been taken to seek: (1) the issuance of a draft waiver decision by the Council for Trade in Goods of the World Trade Organization (WTO) granting the United States a waiver under the WTO with respect to the provisions of this Act; (2) the adoption of a United Nations (U.N.) resolution calling for the creation and implementation of a certification scheme for non-Burmese covered articles to prevent trade in Burmese covered articles; and (3) the negotiation of an international arrangement to prevent the trade in Burmese covered articles. Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the effectiveness of this Act.

Extends import sanctions upon enactment of a renewal resolution by Congress.

(Sec. 7) Directs the President to appoint a Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma.

(Sec. 8) Authorizes the President to assist nonviolent democracy activists in their efforts to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008.

(Sec. 9) Declares the sense of Congress that the international community should increase support for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) attempting to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of the Burmese people.

Amends the BFDA to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to issue multi-year licenses for humanitarian or religious activities in Burma. Authorizes appropriations, with a limitation, for FY2008.

(Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary of State to report to Congress on countries, companies, and other entities that provide military or intelligence aid to the SPDC.

(Sec. 11) Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should lead UN Security Council efforts to impose an international arms embargo on Burma.

(Sec. 12) Directs the Secretary of State to report annually to Congress on Burma's timber trade, including recommendations on alternative imports to Burmese hardwoods.

(Sec. 13) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to Congress on all countries and foreign banking institutions that hold assets on behalf of senior Burmese officials.

(Sec. 14) Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should work with the Royal Thai Government to ensure the safety of the 15 plaintiffs in the Doe v. Unocal case. Urges the United States to grant plaintiffs refugee status or humanitarian parole to enter the United States.

(Sec. 15) Urges: (1) U.S., French, and Thai investors to voluntarily divest in the Burmese Yadana gas pipeline project if the Burmese Government fails to take steps to release political prisoners, restore civilian constitutional rule, and promote national reconciliation; and (2) Yadana investors that remain invested in Burma to communicate certain criticisms to the Burmese government, disclose transparently their role in Burmese investment, and work with project partners to ensure forced labor is not used on the project.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Related bills

3 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.

  • H.Res. 1341Procedurally-related

    Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008

  • S. 2172Related bill

    Saffron Revolution Support Act of 2007

  • S. 2257Related bill

    Burma Democracy Promotion Act of 2007

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 31 actions.

  1. Jul 29, 2008Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 110-286.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jul 25, 2008FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. Jul 23, 2008FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  5. Jul 22, 2008Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendments (substitute and title) by Unanimous Consent.
  6. OtherOther · Cleared for White House.
  7. OtherOther · Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments (substitute and title) by Unanimous Consent.
  8. Jul 17, 2008FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate amendments.
  9. Jul 16, 2008FloorFloor · The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 3890.
  10. Jul 15, 2008FloorFloor · House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments pursuant to H.Res. 1341.
  11. OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments pursuant to H.Res. 1341.
  12. Dec 19, 2007FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  13. FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
  14. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  15. CommitteeCommittee · Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
  16. Dec 12, 2007CommitteeCommittee · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  17. Dec 11, 2007FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  18. FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  19. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  20. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3890.
  21. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  22. FloorFloor · Mr. Meeks (NY) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  23. Dec 7, 2007CommitteeCommittee · House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Dec. 12, 2007.
  24. Nov 15, 2007CommitteeCommittee · House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Dec. 7, 2007.
  25. Oct 31, 2007CommitteeCommittee · House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Nov. 16, 2007.
  26. CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Judiciary discharged.
  27. CommitteeCommittee · Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 110-418, Part I.
  28. Oct 23, 2007CommitteeCommittee · Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
  29. CommitteeCommittee · Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  30. Oct 18, 2007CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con…
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

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Amendments

2 amendments offered to the bill, with the last recorded step of each.

  • S.Amdt. 3889SenateSen. Joseph BidenD-DE· offered Dec 19, 2007Agreed to

    To amend the title.

    Dec 19, 2007: Amendment SA 3889 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

    Agreed to
  • S.Amdt. 3888SenateSen. Joseph BidenD-DE· offered Dec 19, 2007Agreed to

    In the nature of a substitute.

    Dec 19, 2007: Amendment SA 3888 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

    Agreed to
Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

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Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.