P.L. 109-251, A bill approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003

• This item is from the 109th Congress (2005-2006) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.

H.J. Res. 86 renews for one year the ban of all imports from Burma. The ban was originally enacted as the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-61) and was set to expire on July 28, 2004. Public Law 108-272 renewed the ban for one year through July 28, 2005, and Public Law 109-39 renewed the ban for one additional year through its current expiration date of July 28, 2006.

The President may lift the import restrictions if the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the military regime of Burma, has made substantial and measurable progress to end violations of human rights, implemented a democratic government, and met its obligations under international counter-narcotics agreements. The President also will have the authority to terminate the restrictions upon the request of a democratically elected government in Burma or waive them in the national interest.

The original legislation limited renewals of the ban to a total of three years. H.J. Res 86 increases that limit to six years, thereby allowing three additional one-year bans.