DON'T CALL ME; CALL YOUR SENATORS!

[simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

DON'T CALL ME; CALL YOUR SENATORS!

Friday, July 19, 1996 

This week, I have learnt that the United States Senate does not work on a
strict schedule.  Nobody in Washington is certain when the Foreign
Operations Appropriations Act will come up on the Senate floor for a debate
and vote. It could be on monday; it could later in the week. 

Despite this uncertainty, two needs remain. You need to keep the pressure on
your Senators. You also need to know what is happening.

Consequently, I suggest that next week you call each of your Senators'
offices ONCE A DAY:

1. Ask for the staff person responsible for foreign policy issues. 

2. Ask if the debate and vote on the Burma sanctions amendment (section 569)
of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act has occurred or been scheduled.

3. Stress that you want your Senator to support the economic sanctions on
Burma contained in Section 569 of HR.3540: the "Foreign Operations, Export
Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997". 

4. Ask if your Senator has taken a position on the Burma sanctions amendment.

DON'T FORGET TO ASK YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CO-WORKERS TO CALL THEIR
SENATORS TOO. 

WE NEED TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CALLING THEIR SENATORS

You can call your Senators toll-free at: (800) 972-3524

Happy lobbying!

-----------------------------
Simon Billenness
Franklin Research & Development
(617) 423 6655 x 225
(617) 482 6179 fax
simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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BACKGROUND ON BURMA SANCTIONS

The mandatory sanctions provisions of the "Burma Freedom and Democracy Act"
(S.1511) have been incorporated into HR.3540: the "Foreign Operations,
Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997" as an
amendment (section 569).

H.R.3540
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs
Appropriations Act, 1997 (Reported in the Senate) 

SECTION 569

LIMITATION ON FUNDS FOR BURMA 

     SEC. 569. Until such time as the President determines and certifies
to the Committees on Appropriations that an elected government of Burma has
been allowed to take office, the following sanctions shall be imposed on
Burma :

          (1) No national of the United States shall make any investment
in Burma;
          (2) United States assistance to Burma is prohibited;
          (3) The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States
executive director of each international financial institution to vote
against any loan
or other utilization of the funds of the respective bank to or for Burma ;
and
          (4) Except as required by Treaty obligations, any Burmese national
who formulates, implements, or benefits from policies which hinder the
transition of Burma to a democratic country shall be ineligible to receive a
visa and shall be excluded from admission to the United States.
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For your interest, HR.3540: the "Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and
Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997" also contains the following
language on Burma:

BURMA 

     Of the funds appropriated by this Act to carry out the provisions of
chapter 8 of part I and chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, not less than $2,500,000 shall be made available to support activities
in Burma , along the Burma -Thailand border, and for activities of Burmese
student groups and other organizations located outside Burma , for the
purposes of fostering democracy in Burma , supporting the provision of
medical supplies and other humanitarian assistance to Burmese located in
Burma or displaced Burmese along the borders, and for other purposes:
Provided, That of this amount, not less than $200,000 shall be made available
to support newspapers, publications, and other media activities promoting
democracy inside Burma:

Provided further, That funds made available under this heading may be
made available notwithstanding any other provision of law: Provided further,
That provision of such funds shall be made available subject to the regular
notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations.
----------