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H.R. 3890: Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2007:
California Get Your Representatives to Co-Sponsor!

Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2007 Browse online here,
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h3890: Or Download PDF

Goal: To amend the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 to waive the requirement for annual renewal resolutions relating to import sanctions, impose import sanctions on Burmese gemstones, expand the number of individuals against whom the visa ban is applicable, expand the blocking of assets and other prohibited activities, and for other purposes.

As we mentioned last week, Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA) introduced new sanctions to cut off major revenue from Burma's military junta. The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti- Democratic Efforts) Act of 2007 has the power to force the regime to negotiate with Burma's democracy leaders and Ethnic nationalities. We must show the people of Burma that the U.S. is taking action to support their calls for freedom, democracy and human rights.  Call your Representative today asking them to support the Block Burmese JADE Act! Organize your community to call in as well. Contact details for your Representative below.

What the Act Does:

The regime makes hundreds of millions of dollars each year off the sale of gems.  More than 90 percent of the world's rubies and fine-quality jade comes from Burma.  The new sanctions will crack down on the regime's practice of avoiding U.S. sanctions by laundering gemstones through third countries before they are sold.

Chevron with a large investment in natural gas in Burma, provides the regime with huge cash flows.  They have also escaped sanctions - until now!  This bill will target Chevron's payments to the regime and their ability to claim tax deductions on those payments.   

This Act also freezes the assets of Burmese political and military leaders, prevents Burma from using U.S. financial institutions via third countries to launder the funds of those leaders or their immediate families, and prohibits Burmese officials involved in the violent suppression of protesters from receiving visas to the United States.

 "This legislation will turn off a huge cash spigot for the thuggish Burmese regime," Lantos said. "If my colleagues come together and act quickly to pass these new sanctions, we can put an end to huge profits for the junta and its unscrupulous middle-men. We must ensure that the sale of some of the Earth's most beautiful natural resources does not continue to enable the horrors inflicted upon the people of Burma."

Burma also uses third countries to access the U.S. banking system.  These overseas banks process accounts in and through the United States for Burma's rulers, providing the regime with much-needed hard currency.  The regime uses these funds to purchase weapons and luxury goods, while the bulk of Burma's population lives in poverty.

Lantos' legislation tightens existing sanctions to prevent Burma's military rulers from profiting from sales to the United States, and blocks access to the U.S. financial system not just for Burmese human rights violators but also to those who provide the regime with banking services.

The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2007, if passed, would be the strongest action yet that the U.S. takes to pressure Burma's military regime to negotiate with Burma's democracy leaders and ethnic nationalities.

Contact information:

To find out whom your individual representative is click on this link and type in your zipcode, www.house.gov. Once there, enter your zip code in the "Find your representative" box in the top left corner of the screen.

Once you know whom your representative is - use the list below to contact your representative's Foreign Affairs staffer. If s/he is not there leave a message and ask her/him to call you back. Call today and call every day until you get an answer!

Already a cosponsor:
Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher (Democrat, 10th district)
Congressman Brad Sherman (Democrat, 27th district)
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (Democrat, 35th district)

Need:

Congressman Mike Thompson (Democrat, 1st district), contact staffer: Tracy Varghese at 202-225-3311
Congressman Wally Herger (Republican, 2nd district), contact staffer: Darren Thacker at 202-225-3076
Congressman Dan Lungren (Republican, 3rd district), contact staffer: Sandra Wiseman at 202-225-5716
Congressman John Doolittle (Republican, 4th district), contact staffer: Evan Goitein at 202-225-2511
Congresswoman Doris Matsui (Democrat, 5th district), contact staffer: Sam Stesanki at 202-225-7163
Congresswoman Woolsey (Democrat, 6th district), contact staffer: Jennifer Goedke at 202-225-5161
Congressman George Miller (Democrat, 7th district), contact staffer: Justin Hamilton at 202-225-2095
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, 8th district), contact staffer: Jonathan Stivers at 202-225-4965
    As Speaker of the House she can not cosponsor but ask her to ensure the bill's passage
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (Democrat, 9th district), contact staffer: Ven Neralla at 202-225-2661
    Remind her staffer that she cosponsored the renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act in previous years and she should continue her support
Congressman Gerald McNerney (Democrat, 11th district), contact staffer: Andrew Horowitz at 202-225-1947
Congressman Fortney 'Pete' Stark (Democrat, 13th district), contact staffer: Yoni Cohen at 202-225-5065
    Remind his staffer that he cosponsored the renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act and he should continue his support
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (Democrat, 14th district), contact staffer: Jared Weaver at 202-225-8104
Congressman Michael Honda (Democrat, 15th district), contact staffer: Ken Takeda at 202-225-2631
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (Democrat, 16th district), contact staffer: Jared Roscoe at 202-225-3072
    Remind her staffer that she cosponsored the renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act earlier this year and she should continue her support
Congressman Sam Farr (Democrat, 17th district), contact staffer: Marc Hanson at 202-225-2861
Congressman Dennis Cardoza (Democrat, 18th district), contact staffer: Sandy Sussman at 202-225-6131
Congressman George Radanovich (Republican, 19th district), contact staffer: Chris Herndon at 202-225-4540
Congressman Jim Costa (Democrat, 20th district), contact staffer: Bret Rumdeck at 202-225-3341
Congressman Devin Nunes (Republican, 21st district), contact staffer: Kendra Fowler at 202-225-2523
Congressman Kevin McCarthy (Republican, 22nd district), contact staffer: Shelby Hagenauer 202-225-2915
Congresswoman Lois Capps (Democrat, 23rd district), contact staffer: Michelle Levy-Benitez 202-225-3601
Congressman Elton Gallegly (Republican, 24th district), contact staffer: Richard Mereu 202-225-5811
Congressman Howard 'Buck' McKeon (Republican, 25th district), contact staffer: Hanz Heinrichsn202-225-1956
Congressman David Dreier (Republican, 26th district), contact staffer: Rachel Leaman 202-225-2305
Congressman Howard Berman (Democrat, 28th district), contact staffer: Doug Campbell 202-225-4695
    Remind his staffer that he cosponsored the renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act earlier this year and in previous years and he should continue his support
Congressman Adam Schiff (Democrat, 29th district), contact staffer: Timothy Bergreen 202-225-4176
    Remind his staffer that he cosponsored the renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act earlier this year and he should continue his support
Congressman Henry Waxman (Democrat, 30th district), contact staffer: Zahava Golman 202-225-3976
Congressman Xavier Becerra (Democrat, 31st district), contact staffer: Wendy Ramirez 202-225-6235
Congresswoman Hilda Solis (Democrat, 32nd district), contact staffer: Laura Marsh 202-225-5464
Congresswoman Diane Watson (Democrat, 33rd district), contact staffer: Bert Hammond 202-225-7084
    Remind her staffer that she cosponsored the renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act in previous years and she should continue her support
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democrat, 34th district), contact staffer: Britt Conroy 202-225-1766
Congresswoman Jane Harman (Democrat, 36th district), contact staffer: Jay Hulings 202-225-8220
Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald (Democrat, 37th district), contact staffer: Alex Russ 202-225-7924
Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (Democrat, 38th district), contact staffer: Victor Ritvo 202-225-5256
Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (Democrat, 39th district), contact staffer: Jose Delgado 202-225-6676
Congressman Ed Royce (Democrat, 40th district), contact staffer: Hunter Strupp 202-225-4111
Congressman Jerry Lewis (Republican, 41st district), contact staffer: Spencer Freebairn 202-225-5861
Congressman Gary Miller (Republican, 42nd district), contact staffer: Dot Toussaint 202-225-3201
Congressman Joe Baca (Democrat, 43rd district), contact staffer: Brenda Villanueva 202-225-6161
Congressman Ken Calvert (Republican, 44th district), contact staffer:Scott Tranter 202-225-1986
Congresswoman Mary Bono (Republican, 45th district), contact staffer: Chris Foster 202-225-5330
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (Republican, 46th district), contact staffer: Tom Berkowitz 202-225-2415
    Remind his staffer that he cosponsored the renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act earlier this year and in previous years and he should continue his support
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (Democrat, 47th district), contact staffer: Kate Riley 202-225-2965
Congressman John Campbell (Republican, 48th district), contact staffer: Caitlan Kaplan 202-225-5611
Congressman Darrell Issa (Republican, 49th district), contact staffer: Laurent Crenshaw 202-225-3906
Congressman Brian Bilbray (Republican, 50th district), contact staffer: Amy Smith 202-225-0508
Congressman Bob Filner (Democrat, 51st district), contact staffer: Karen Foster-Wright 202-225-8045
Congressman Duncan Hunter (Republican, 52nd district), contact staffer: Lorissa Bounds 202-225-5672
Congresswoman Susan Davis (Democrat, 53rd district), contact staffer: Daniel Hazard 202-225-2040
 
To add their name as a cosponsor:
Let them know that to co-sponsor they should contact Eric Richardson at the Committee on Foreign Affairs office at eric.richardson@mail.house.gov or 225-5021.

Talking Points for Staffer:
- Tell the staffer you want your representative to co-sponsor the Block Burmese JADE Act of 2007
- Give her/him proof that this policy works. It cuts off hundreds of millions of dollars to the regime and will specifically target the top generals' finances. 
- Mention that the military junta still deserves sanctions. On top of brutally crushing thousands of peaceful demonstrators, including monks, the military regime has destroyed more than 3,000 villages. It has forcibly displaced more than half a million people inside Burma as well as causing a million refugees to flee across the border to neighboring countries and has made no efforts to move toward democracy.
- Let her/him know it is important to send a strong signal to the regime that the US government will continue to keep American money out the hands of the junta.
- This is not the only action being taken against Burma. On top of many diplomatic efforts, the EU has imposed new sanctions, as well as Australia, and even Japan has decreased aid to Burma. 
- Finally ask the staffer to call you back when your representative has co-sponsored the Block Burmese JADE Act. Important: Leave your phone number!
Let him/her know that his/her constituents care about Burma!

Check up to see if they cosponsor:
It's easy to check and see if they follow through and agree to cosponsor.  THOMAS, the Library of Congress' congressional records database updates a list of all information on legislation.  Click on this link to find out who has signed as cosponsors,

Please let me know when you have contacted your Representative and how it went - thelma@uscampaignforburma.org.  These new sanctions will hit the regime where it hurts. 

Support 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma.
Become a member of the United States Campaign for Burma today.