and foreign relations and has led to the easing of trade and other economic sanctions that had been imposed by the European Union and the United States. There is, however, continuing criticism of the government's treatment of the largely Muslim ethnic Rohingya minority and its poor response to the religious clashes that have occurred throughout the nation, described by various human rights organizations as a policy of ethnic cleansing. Provisions of the resolution This summary is based largely on the summary provided by the Congressional Research Service, a public domain source. The resolution would call on: (1) Burma to end the persecution and discrimination of the Rohingya people and ensure respect for internationally recognized human rights for all ethnic and religious minority groups, and (2) the United States and the international community to put consistent pressure on Burma to end such persecution and discrimination. Procedural history was introduced into the United States House of Representatives on November 18, 2013 by Rep. James P. McGovern (D, MA-2). The resolution was referred to the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, and the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. The resolution was scheduled to be voted on under suspension of the rules on May 7, 2014. On May 7, 2014, the House voted in a voice vote to pass the resolution. Debate and discussion The resolution's sponsor, Rep. McGovern, argued that "the Burmese government needs to recognize the Rohingya as an ethnic group. The situation is dire and rapidly deteriorating." Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) agreed, saying "let's all send a message that the current state of human rights in Burma is unacceptable." The Council on American-Islamic Relations supported the bill, describing the resolution as being "in response to the ongoing campaign of violence and attempted ethnic cleansing by Burmese national extremists of the minority Rohingya Muslim community. This campaign of violence has taken the lives of more than 1,000 Rohingya and other Muslims and left more than 140,000 displaced, living in makeshift camps both in Burma and in neighboring states." See also List of bills in the 113th United States Congress Persecution of Muslims in Burma References External links Library of Congress - Thomas H.Res. 418 beta.congress.gov H.Res. 418 GovTrack.us H.Res. 418 OpenCongress.org H.Res. 418 WashingtonWatch.com H.Res. 418 United States