Washington, DC -- Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today released the following statement commemorating the eighth annual Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day, observed on August 25.

“Today we remember the victims and survivors of the Burmese military's genocide and crimes against humanity against its Rohingya population. I am also thankful to the people of Bangladesh and other nations who are providing refuge to nearly one million Rohingya today. As the Burmese military’s violence against Rohingya continues to this day, we must redouble our pursuit for justice and accountability.

“We have a moral responsibility to support vulnerable Rohingya, find a path to safety and dignity for all the people of Burma, and hold the Burmese military accountable– a task made immensely more challenging as a result of the Trump administration’s cuts to U.S. foreign assistance. I am also deeply concerned by the administration’s lifting of sanctions on several individuals with links to the Burmese military, without explanation and contrary to the BURMA Act and U.S. law. Let today’s anniversary remind us to do better.

“Congress can start by passing my bipartisan bill, the Burma Genocide Accountability and Prevention (GAP) Act (H.R. 4140), which calls for a comprehensive policy to address the crisis facing Rohingya and authorizes $9 million per year to support both Rohingya refugees and those internally displaced in Burma.”