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H.R. 5497: BURMA Act of 2021

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H.R. 5497: BURMA Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-10-05 · International Affairs · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-10-05 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

BURMA Act of 2021

Plain summary

Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2022 or the BURMA Act of 2022 This bill imposes sanctions pertaining to Burma (Myanmar) and addresses related issues. The President must impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on certain foreign persons (i.e., an individual or entity), including those that (1) knowingly operate in Burma's defense sector, (2) are responsible for or complicit in undermining Burma's democratic processes, or (3) are senior leaders in Burma's military or government. The Department of the Treasury must prohibit or impose strict conditions on certain accounts used to facilitate transactions for such sanctioned persons. The President may impose sanctions on Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise if such sanctions would support certain objectives, including reducing the Burmese military's ability to undermine democracy in Burma. Before removing certain foreign persons from a list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons (commonly known as the SDN list), the President must certify to Congress that the person in question has not knowingly engaged in certain activities, such as supporting terrorism. The bill authorizes Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development activities in Burma and the surrounding region to support democracy activists, humanitarian assistance, and reconciliation efforts. The State Department may (1) continue to assist organizations supporting political prisoners in Burma, and (2) provide assistance to entities investigating crimes against humanity. The President must direct U.S. representatives to the United Nations to vote and advocate for certain actions related to Burma, such as cutting off assistance to Burma's government.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

BURMA Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] · 84 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5497, Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2021 (2022-02-14)

Cosponsors on this site

Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Ami Bera (D-CA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Young Kim (R-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Lois Frankel (D-FL), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Judy Chu (D-CA), Ed Case (D-HI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Brad Sherman (D-CA), William R. Keating (D-MA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), John R. Curtis (R-UT), Andy Barr (R-KY), Ronny Jackson (R-TX), André Carson (D-IN) and 24 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] reported raising $2.3 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr5497 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117