; Whereas, on September 3, 2018, Yangon northern district judge Ye Lwin ruled that Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo breached the colonial-era Official Secrets Act and sentenced them each to seven years in prison with hard labor; Whereas 83 Myanmar civil society organizations have signed a statement condemning the verdict; Whereas the people of Myanmar, with assistance from the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development, have successfully grown their cadre of ethical and hard hitting journalists, journalists who are adhering to the utmost professional standards and able to uncover the abuses being committed in their own country, and these journalists deserve the international community's support and praise for taking on the risky job of fostering press freedom in their country, however nascent it is; Whereas United States Agency for International Development Administrator Mark Green released a statement calling the convictions an enormous setback for democracy and the rule of law in Burma and urge[d] the Government of Burma to protect journalists and press freedom, which are the bedrocks of democracy and peace ; Whereas Vice President Mike Pence tweeted his concern over the sentence against Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo for “doing their job reporting on the atrocities being committed on the Rohingya people”; Whereas United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley described the conviction as another terrible stain on the Burmese government and called for their immediate and unconditional release ; Whereas freedom of the press enhances public accountability and transparency and therefore promotes adherence to the rule of law and enforcement of universally recognized human rights by all people; and Whereas freedom of the press is a key component of democratic governance and activism in civil society: Now, therefore, be it