S5710 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2020 Ultimately, repealing China’s most (f) SURVEY.—The State shall prepare a sur- Whereas the National League of Democ- favored nation status would force reg- vey that is satisfactory to the Secretary of racy political party has repeatedly failed to ular votes in Congress, so politicians the exact acreage and legal description of uphold and protect the rights of ethnic and like would have to go on the the Federal land to be conveyed under sub- religious minorities since coming to power section (a). in 2015; record about whom they serve—the (g) COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.—As a condition Whereas, as of March 31, 2020, during the American people or the interests of the on the conveyance under subsection (a), the first four years of ’s civil- Chinese Communist Party. State shall pay all costs associated with the ian government, over 500 lawsuits against conveyance, including the cost of— more than 1,000 individuals have used Bur- By Mr. THUNE (for himself and (1) the appraisal under subsection (c); and ma’s legal system to repress peaceful expres- Mr. ROUNDS): (2) the survey under subsection (f). sions critical of the Tatmadaw, civilian gov- S. 4616. A bill to direct the Secretary (h) PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF LAND.— ernment, and Aung San Suu Kyi, resulting in of Agriculture to transfer certain Na- Any proceeds received by the Secretary from the imprisonment of journalists, such as tional Forest System land to the State the conveyance under subsection (a) shall reporters and , of South Dakota, and for other pur- be— ethnic activists, and student protestors; (1) deposited in the fund established under Whereas the Political Parties Registration poses; to the Committee on Energy and Public Law 90–171 (commonly known as the Law of 2010 limits the right to form and join Natural Resources. ‘‘Sisk Act’’) (16 U.S.C. 484a); and political parties only to full citizens, thereby Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask (2) available to the Secretary until ex- severely curtailing the political participa- unanimous consent that the text of the pended, without further appropriation, for tion of religious and ethnic minorities, in- bill be printed in the RECORD. the maintenance and improvement of land or cluding Rohingya, those of Chinese and In- There being no objection, the text of administration facilities in the Black Hills dian descent, internally displaced popu- the bill was ordered to be printed in National Forest in the State. lations across Rakhine, Kachin, and Shan states, and Burmese refugees in Thailand, the RECORD, as follows: (i) ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.—Notwith- Bangladesh, and elsewhere in the region, S. 4616 standing section 120(h)(3)(A) of the Com- prehensive Environmental Response, Com- many of whom had citizenship documents Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- pensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 canceled and who face multiple hurdles in resentatives of the United States of America in U.S.C. 9620(h)(3)(A)), the Secretary shall not gaining citizenship documentation; Congress assembled, be required to provide any covenant or war- Whereas the Government of Burma insti- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. ranty for the Federal land conveyed to the tuted a blackout, that is still ongoing as of This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gilt Edge State under this Act. September 1, 2020, of mobile internet services Mine Conveyance Act’’. and restricted internet service quality in SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. f Rakhine and Chin States, beginning in June In this Act: SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS 2019, thereby inhibiting the ability to hold (1) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal free and fair elections in these areas and fur- land’’ means all right, title, and interest of ther exacerbating difficulties in aid distribu- the United States in and to approximately SENATE RESOLUTION 701—URGING tion and access to potentially life-saving in- 266 acres of National Forest System land THE GOVERNMENT OF BURMA formation since the onset of COVID–19; within the Gilt Edge Mine Superfund Bound- TO HOLD FREE, FAIR, INCLU- Whereas the Government of Burma con- ary, as generally depicted on the map. tinues to curtail freedom of the press and (2) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map SIVE, TRANSPARENT, civil society—which are critical foundations entitled ‘‘Gilt Edge Mine Conveyance Act’’ PARTICIPATORY, AND CREDIBLE for free and fair elections—as evidenced by and dated August 20, 2020. ELECTIONS ON NOVEMBER 8, 2020 government directives to block independent and ethnic media sites, and the anticipated (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. YOUNG, means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting restrictions by the Union Election Commis- Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. through the Chief of the Forest Service. sion on voter education and election observa- DURBIN, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. (4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means State tion activities; of South Dakota. MERKLEY, Mr. WYDEN, Mrs. GILLI- Whereas Burma’s 2015 election saw the dis- SEC. 3. LAND CONVEYANCE. BRAND, and Mr. MARKEY) submitted the enfranchisement of significant segments of (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the terms and following resolution; which was re- the population, particularly of Rohingya conditions described in this Act, if the State ferred to the Committee on Foreign ethnicity, but also including those of Chi- submits to the Secretary an offer to acquire Relations: nese and Indian descent, Muslims, and other the Federal land for the market value, as de- internally displaced persons; S. RES. 701 termined by the appraisal under subsection Whereas ongoing conflict in 2015 was used (c), the Secretary shall convey the Federal Whereas the Union Election Commission of to justify the cancellation of elections in 7 land to the State. Burma announced that the country will hold townships and more than 400 ward and vil- (b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The convey- general elections on November 8, 2020; lage tracts, mostly in Kachin, Shan, and ance under subsection (a) shall be— Whereas Burma’s previous elections were Kayin states; (1) subject to valid existing rights; characterized by controversy, conflict, and Whereas Burma’s 1982 citizenship law (2) made by quitclaim deed; and disenfranchisement instigated by the mili- stripped Rohingya of their Burmese citizen- (3) subject to any other terms and condi- tary of Burma (the ‘‘Tatmadaw’’), including ship and subsequent policies rendered them tions as the Secretary considers appropriate in May 1990, November 2010, the April 2012 stateless and disenfranchised, despite having to protect the interests of the United States. special elections, and November 2015; the right to vote as recently as 2010 and abil- (c) APPRAISAL.— Whereas the ongoing Tatmadaw offensives ity to serve in parliament as recently as 2015; (1) IN GENERAL.—Before submitting an offer in Rakhine, southern Chin, Kachin, and Whereas in 2017, the Tatmadaw commenced under subsection (a), the State shall com- northern Shan states continue to cause sig- a genocide against Rohingya civilians in plete an appraisal to determine the market nificant displacement of ethnic groups, cre- , causing over 740,000 Rohingya value of the Federal land. ating substantial challenges for the Union refugees to flee into Bangladesh, joining over (2) STANDARDS.—The appraisal under para- Election Commission to generate a verified 200,000 who had been previously displaced in graph (1) shall be conducted in accordance comprehensive voter list and set up polling prior waves of anti-Rohingya violence, re- with— stations in conflict affected areas; sulting in more than 1,000,000 Rohingya refu- (A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Whereas provisions in the 2008 Constitu- gees not present in Burma for the election; Federal Land Acquisitions; and tion of Burma allocate 25 percent of par- Whereas the Government of Burma has not (B) the Uniform Standards of Professional liamentary seats to the military, conferring created conditions conducive to repatriation Appraisal Practice. exceptional powers to the Tatmadaw and and political and electoral participation of (d) MAP.— thereby affording the Tatmadaw consider- Rohingya refugees and has not made (1) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map shall able power to suppress basic rights, includ- progress on the most crucial of the 88 rec- be kept on file and available for public in- ing freedoms of expression, assembly, and as- ommendations of the Rakhine Advisory spection in the appropriate office of the For- sociation; Commission identified by Rohingya refugees est Service. Whereas constitutional amendments pro- as prerequisites to voluntary repatriation, (2) CORRECTION OF ERRORS.—The Secretary posed by the Union Parliament’s Charter including freedom of movement, provision of may correct any errors in the map. Amendment Committee that aimed to de- civil documentation, and a transparent path- (e) CONSIDERATION.—As consideration for mocratize the Burmese Constitution and en- way to restoration of full citizenship; the conveyance under subsection (a), the sure equal rights, including voting rights, for Whereas the Tatmadaw’s senior generals State shall pay to the Secretary an amount all citizens of Burma were defeated by mili- have been sanctioned by the United States equal to the market value of the Federal tary lawmakers, further enabling the mili- Government for perpetrating gross human land, as determined by the appraisal under tary to exercise outsized power and influence rights violations and are subject to ongoing subsection (c). the country’s electoral processes; investigations into their conduct by both the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:44 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.023 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5711 International Criminal Court and the Inter- Credible Elections (PACE), and the Carter Whereas educating people in the United national Court of Justice; and Center, to ensure that the general elections States, including health care providers, Whereas the United Nations Special in Burma meet international standards of about prostate cancer and early detection Rapporteur on the Situation of Human free and fair elections, including by seeking strategies is crucial to saving the lives of Rights in stated on July 13, 2020, full and unimpeded access to all aspects of men and preserving and protecting families: ‘‘The people of Myanmar deserve a free and the electoral process for international and Now, therefore, be it fair election this November and this includes domestic observers; and Resolved, That the Senate— respect for the right to vote regardless of (6) calls on the President to consider sanc- (1) designates September 2020 as ‘‘National one’s race, ethnicity or religion, freedom of tioning individuals within the Government Prostate Cancer Awareness Month’’; expression and assembly, and access to infor- of Burma, the Tatmadaw, and among mili- (2) declares that steps should be taken— mation and a free press. It will also require tary associated businesses and (A) to raise awareness about the impor- that steps are taken now to assure that ultranationalist groups, whom the United tance of screening methods for, and treat- those in conflict areas will be able to exer- States Government determines undermine ment of, prostate cancer; cise their rights.’’: Now, therefore, be it free, fair, inclusive, transparent, (B) to encourage research— Resolved, That the Senate— participatory, and credible elections in (i) to improve screening and treatment for (1) recognizes the importance of free, fair, Burma or the safety of such elections. prostate cancer; inclusive, transparent, participatory, and f (ii) to discover the causes of prostate can- credible elections in Burma and that the 2020 cer; and elections mark a critical juncture in Bur- SENATE RESOLUTION 702—DESIG- (iii) to develop a cure for prostate cancer; ma’s democratic process; NATING SEPTEMBER 2020 AS and (2) stands with the people of Burma in ‘‘NATIONAL PROSTATE CANCER (C) to continue to consider ways to im- their ambition for sustainable peace, a gen- AWARENESS MONTH’’ prove access to, and the quality of, health uine democracy, and the realization of fun- care services for detecting and treating pros- damental human rights for all; Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. (3) calls upon the President and the Sec- CRAPO, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. tate cancer; and (3) calls on the people of the United States, retary of State to— CARDIN, Mr. KING, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, interest groups, and affected persons— (A) support Burma’s democratic transition, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. COONS, Mr. BOOK- (A) to promote awareness of prostate can- including by emphasizing the importance to ER, Mr. HAWLEY, and Mrs. CAPITO) sub- that transition of this election as well as of cer; mitted the following resolution; which (B) to take an active role in the fight to the Government of Burma undertaking a was considered and agreed to: credible and sustainable process of genuine end the devastating effects of prostate can- national and ethnic reconciliation; S. RES. 702 cer on individuals, families, and the econ- (B) support free, fair, inclusive, trans- Whereas more than 3,100,000 men in the omy; and parent, participatory, and credible elections United States are living with prostate can- (C) to observe National Prostate Cancer in Burma, including by working to ensure cer; Awareness Month with appropriate cere- that the Tatmadaw and its affiliates do not Whereas 1 in 9 men in the United States monies and activities. interfere with vigorous public debate or the will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in mechanism of the electoral process and that their lifetimes and 1 in 41 men in the United f other government officials do not use official States will die from prostate cancer; resources for electioneering; Whereas prostate cancer is the most com- (C) call for a ceasefire in all Burmese monly diagnosed non-skin cancer and the SENATE RESOLUTION 703—DESIG- states and localities to ensure that conflict second-leading cause of cancer-related NATING THE WEEK BEGINNING is not used as an excuse to deny people the deaths among men in the United States; SEPTEMBER 14 , 2020, AS NA- right to vote; Whereas the American Cancer Society esti- TIONAL HISPANIC-SERVING IN- (D) support the right to vote for internally mates that, in 2020, 191,930 men will be diag- STITUTIONS WEEK displaced persons, refugees, and other Bur- nosed with, and more than 33,330 men will mese communities outside of Burma, with die of, prostate cancer; Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. specific attention to the disenfranchised Whereas 40.9 percent of newly diagnosed CORNYN, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. BEN- ; prostate cancer cases occur in men under the NET, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. CASEY, Ms. (E) condemn any action taken by the gov- age of 65; DUCKWORTH, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. FEIN- ernment, political parties, military, or Whereas the odds of developing prostate STEIN, Mr. GARDNER, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. Union Election Commission to limit civil so- cancer rise rapidly after age 50; ciety participation in the election, including Whereas African-American men suffer HEINRICH, Mr. KAINE, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, prohibitions on voter education and election from a prostate cancer incidence rate that is Mrs. LOEFFLER, Ms. MCSALLY, Ms. observation, or otherwise restrict civil soci- significantly higher than that of White men ROSEN, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. ety or humanitarian space in the lead up to and have more than double the prostate can- TILLIS, Mr. UDALL, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, the election or in the post-election period; cer mortality rate than that of White men; Mr. WYDEN, and Mr. BOOKER) submitted (F) ensure that United States-based social Whereas having a father or brother with the following resolution; which was media companies, including Facebook, not prostate cancer more than doubles the risk considered and agreed to: allow their platforms to be used as vehicles of a man developing prostate cancer, with a for spreading misinformation or advocating higher risk for men who have a brother with S. RES. 703 violence or voter intimidation to suppress the disease and the highest risk for men with Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are voter participation; and several affected relatives; degree-granting institutions that have a full- (G) ensure that the Department of State’s Whereas screening by a digital rectal ex- time equivalent undergraduate enrollment of 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Prac- amination and a prostate-specific antigen at least 25 percent Hispanic students; tices includes an extensive evaluation of the blood test can detect the disease at the ear- Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions Burmese election, including an assessment lier, more treatable stages, which could in- play an important role in educating many of inclusivity, participation, and inter- crease the chances of survival for more than underprivileged students and helping those ference; 5 years to nearly 100 percent; students attain their full potential through (4) calls upon the United States Govern- Whereas only 31 percent of men survive higher education; ment, in partnership with the international more than 5 years if diagnosed with prostate Whereas 539 Hispanic-Serving Institutions community, to ensure that the Union Elec- cancer after the cancer has metastasized; operate in the United States; tion Commission functions as an inde- Whereas there are typically no noticeable Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions rep- pendent electoral management body that es- symptoms of prostate cancer in the early resent 17 percent of all nonprofit institutions tablishes a regulatory framework that fos- stages, making appropriate screening crit- of higher education, yet serve 26.8 percent of ters fair, open, and transparent electoral ical; all students and 67 percent of all Hispanic processes, and that the Tatmadaw publicly Whereas, in fiscal year 2020, the Director of students, enrolling 2,533,333 Hispanics; affirms that it will honor the results of such the National Institutes of Health will sup- Whereas, as of September 2020, the number elections; port approximately $287,000,000 in research of ‘‘emerging Hispanic-Serving Institu- (5) calls upon the Secretary of State and projects focused specifically on prostate can- tions’’, defined as institutions that do not the Administrator of the United States cer; yet meet the threshold of 25 percent Hispanic Agency for International Development to Whereas, in fiscal year 2020, Congress ap- full-time equivalent enrollment but serve a work with like-minded regional and inter- propriated $110,000,000 for the Prostate Can- Hispanic student population of between 15 national organizations, such as the Inter- cer Research Program of the Department of and 24.9 percent, stands at 352 institutions national Foundation for Electoral Systems, Defense; operating in 34 States and Puerto Rico; the International Institute for Democracy Whereas ongoing research promises further Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are and Electoral Assistance, the Asian Network improvements in prostate cancer prevention, located in 25 States, the District of Colum- for Free Elections, People’s Alliance for early detection, and treatment; and bia, and Puerto Rico;

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