And i would also remind this body that were only willing to give opec a shoverple extension by redirecting it to focus on an area that lacks investment and will have a major impact on the longterm growth of the country, and that is electricity. I cab assure the gentleman from california that this committee will continue its opec oversight but i should note that opec is not a free service. Opec charges fee this is a generate a financial return for the u. S. Treasury. To ensure that opec is not crowding out the private sector, they must demonstrate that no commercial bank is willing to provide the financing package requested directly from opec and this is the case in doing business in africa. The temporary authorization for opec, by the way, was included in the introduced version of the electry fie africa act and has remined in remain nevered following version. I would also point out that this bill includes the significant reforms, additional reforms, that i and others have been trying to get into opec. For example, opecs operations will finally be transparent to the public as the agency will be required to post specific information about all of its projects online, including each projects financing. The location. The partners. The bill also creates an opec inspector general. It forces opecs board to become for the first time in history, bipartisan. This ensure this is a organizations interested in working with opec will be able to get a balanced perspective when reaching out to the agency. I will also close in response by noting that opecs last multiyear authorization expired in 2007. The agency has been extended 28 times on Appropriations Bills and continuing resolutions with zero reforms. So we come to the floor here in an open process to try to this opec and to give it mission. Thing legislation accomplishes a great deal on both fronts. I continue to resthemb balance of my time, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california reserves. The gentleman from noverbing is ecognized. Mr. Engel thank you, mr. Speaker. This bill had and continues to have strong bipartisan support. One of the cosponsors on the bill is our Ranking Member on the african subcommittee, ms. Bass of california and i yield her such time as she may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for such time as she may consume. Ms. Bass i rise in strong support of h. R. 2548, the electrify africa act of 2014, a bill that directs the president to expand electrify case in subsahara after chasm i would like to thank my good subsahara africa. I would like to thank chairman royce and my colleagues for all the work theyve done on this bill. H. R. 2548 directs the president to establish a multiyear trategy to assist countries in Subsaharan Africa to develop Power Solutions to provide lectricity to electricity to people in rural areas. With greater access to electricity, africa has the capacity to grow its economies and grow trade. Greater access to electricity also enables africa to expand Human Capacity and address critical choofpbles underemployment. Access to additional power will help additional countries address infrastructure challenges related to things like roads, rails and ports, all of which contributes to increase in capacity of african nations and the continent as a whole. Greater access to electricity improves the quality of life for not only urban but rural communities. Even though were well into the 2 st semplery its difficult to imagine 2 3 of the population of Subsaharan Africa lives without electricity including 85 without electricity. Children study by candlelight and doctors and midwifes are delivering babies while relying on flats. Life on flashlights. A life without electricity means millions of africans suffer. I think were taking a strong step in the right direction. This bill provides an opportunity to work with the governments and private sectors of african countries anxious to increase their individual and combined Regional Access to electricity. We all know that seven of the 10 Fastest Growing economies are on the african continent and this is a great step forward toward addressing poverty and changing the paradigm in u. S. Africa relations. I agree with the chair of the committee who talked about reforms to opec. I would differ with my colleague from california, though, because i do believe that as the economies of africa strengthen that increases the ability for those countries and businesses on the continent to do business with u. S. Companies which in my opinion also increases jobs in the United States. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting h. Reform 2548 the electrify africa act of 2014 and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back the gentleman from new york reserves. The gentleman from california. I continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Engel thank you, mr. Speaker. In closing id like to once again point out that this is a bipartisan bill. The four original cosponsors, chairman royce and chairman smith on the republican side, myself as the Ranking Member and ms. Bass as the Ranking Member on the africa subcommittee on the democratic side system of this is truly a bipartisan collaboration that is very important, well thought out and i agree with everything the chairman said. This bill will reform opec and reform how this kind of aid is done. So id like to again thank chairman royce for being an outstanding partner in drafting this legislation and for his leadership in passing the bill out of our committee unanimously. Thats another thing that i think is so important to what we do on the committee, we tried to pass things in consensus and tried to let everybody put his or her thoughts into the bill this passed unanimously out of the committee that doesnt happen lightly or easily. Its done because lots of concerns were taken into consideration, things were ameliorated, things were changed and what sweff a very, very good product. As has been said, this legislation has the potential o impact millions of people in Subsaharan Africa, a doctor in kenya will be able to treat a patient without worrying that her equipment will shut theyve bottom line is that reliable access to electricity will help build african economies and reduce their reliance on foreign aid, saving the United States money. I hope the senate will also take action on this bill which has broad bipartisan support in the senate and i urge my colleagues to support this positive piece of legislation and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york yields back. The gentleman from california. Mr. Rohrabacher thank you mr. Speaker. I want to thank Ranking Member engel of new york and Ranking Member karen bass of the africa subcommittee for working osely with me to craft the elect mr. Royce thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank Ranking Member engel and Ranking Member karen bass of the africa subcommittee for working close he with me to craft this bill. China has stepped in and we are speaking at a time when the premiere of china son the ground premier of china is on the ground right now in africa. China is directing 2 billion to africa. This bill will counter chinas growing influence. What else will the bill do . Unlocking the constraint on African Economic growth means a continent less reliant on aid. The bill promotes an all of the above approach to electricity that includes natural gas and clean coal and hide row. The c. B. O. Estimates that and hydro. The c. B. O. Estimate this is a this bill will save the u. S. Treasury 86 million. Electrify africa imposes permanent reforl on the overseas corporation, focuses opec on promoting electricity in africa, forces oversight, demands transparency on the institution, lays that out and makes the opec board bipartisan. There is every reason to support effort this is a encourage economic independence, that strengthen trading partners and that compete with chinese influence in a vital region, as someone once said. I also want to recognize the wide range of enthusiasm for this bill. We have received letters of support from 35 africa ambassadors, the chamber of commerce, the Corporate Counsel of after character the National Rural electric cooperative association, the American Academy of pediatrics, and we know from karen bass testimony why they are in support. And from the one campaign. Many of these supporters have joined us today in the house gallery to watch this landmark vote. The United States has economic and National Security interests in the continued development of the african continent. This bill sets out a comprehensible a comprehensive, sustainable, marketbased plan to bring close to 600 million africans out of the dark and into the global economy, benefiting american businesses and workers at the same time. So mr. Speaker, i urge members to support h. R. 2548, the electrify africa act. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass h. R. 2548 as amended . Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Royce i ask for a recorded vote. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman asks for the yeas and nays. I ask for the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. Those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceed thonings question will be postponed. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Royce i move that the house suspend the rules and pass House Resolution 418 as amended. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the resolution. The clerk House Resolution 418, resolution urging the government of burma to end the rohingya n of the people and respect internationally recognized human rights for all ethnic and religious groups within burr massachusetts the speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Royce i ask that all members have fife legislative days to revise and extend their remark and include extraneous material in the record. The speaker pro tempore without objection, ord. Mr. Royce i yield myself such time as i might consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for such time as he may consume. Mr. Royce thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Resolution 418. This is a bipartisan resolution offered by the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. Mcgovern, calling on the government of burma to end its persecution of the Rohingya Muslims and respect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups within burr massachusetts the Rohingya Muslims are one of the most persecuted groups in the world. According to burmas 1996 law, allowed to are not hold burmese citizenship despite living in burma for generations. The government has denied them the most basic of human rights, while subjecting them to unspeakable abuses. Since 2012, 140,000 rohingya and other muslims in burma have been displaced by violence with hundreds killed. On january 13, unknown assailants entered a village and killed 48 people while they slept. This is what happens when a government refuses to recognize its own people. In fact a Nongovernmental Organization based in Southeast Asia recently disclosed credible documents detailing the full extent of state involvement in persecuting rohingyas. Not long ago the government of burma expelled Doctors Without Borders from the country denying once again the most basic of human rights. The government of burma cannot claim progress toward meeting its goals for reform if it does not improve the treatment of Rohingya Muslims and other minority groups. The United States must prioritize the protection of human rights in its in its engagement with burr masm i urge the state department to take off the rose colored glasses and recognize the progress on human rights in burma is indeed limited. Now is the time for the state department to bring additional leverage to bear in this and this resolution will help us do that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from york is ecognized. Mr. Engel thank you, mr. Speaker. I urning in support of this resolution i urge in i rise in support of this resolution, urging the burmese government to protect these people. I would like to thank my good friend and cochairman of the tom lantos human rights commission, mr. Mcgovern, the gentleman from massachusetts, for authoring this important resolution. H. Res. 418 calls on the government of burma to end its persecution of the rohingya people and to respect the human rights of all ethnic and religious minority groups. The polite of rohingya gets very plight of rohingya gets very little attention. The state departments 2013 country of reports on human rights practices acknowledged, and i quote, credible reports of extra judicial killings, rape and sexual violence, arbitrary detentions and torture and mistreatment in detention, deaths in custody and systemic denial of due process and fair trial rights, overwhelmingly perpetrated against the rohingya, unquote. Last month the u. N. Special repertoire on human rights in burma stated that the recent developments in burma reflect a, quote, long history of discrimination and persecution against the Rohingya Muslim community which could amount to crimes against humanity. Unquote. The u. N. Is also describe has also described the Rohingya Community as virtually friendless because they are denied citizenship and face severe restrictions on marriage, employment, health care, education and daily movement. In february the burmese government expelled Doctors Without Borders and since then deaths due to preventable complications during pregnancy have occurred on an almost daily basis in rohingya camps. Where pregnant women make up 1 4 of the groups emergency referrals. Mr. Speaker, the government of burma transitioned from decadeslong military rule to a civilian government, it is important to hold it accountable for persistent human rights abuses. The killings, arbitrary detentions and destruction of homes have caused 140,000 people to be internally displaced and hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee to neighboring countries including thailand, bangladesh and malaysia. If burma truly seeks to rejoin the International Community, the manner in which it treats its own people will be a key marker of the governments sincerity. Burma must abide by human rights principles of equality and Human Dignity and this resolution calls upon the burmese government to do just that. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting h. Res. 418 and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york reserves. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Royce mr. Speaker, i yield five minutes to the gentleman from ohio, mr. Chabot. He is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on asia and the pacific. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from ohio is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Chabot i thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise today as a strong supporter and cosponsor of h. Res. 418, urging the government of burma to end the persecution of the ro hingea people rohingya people and respect internationally recognized human rights for all ethnic and religious minority groups within burma. And i want to commend the gentleman from massachusetts, my friend and colleague, mr. Mcgovern, for offering this legislation which is certainly timely and we appreciate his leadership on this. As chairman of the subcommittee on asia and the pacific, i believe its imperative that the u. S. And the International Community raise awareness of this ongoing crisis in burma. And the need for its government to respect the human rights of all its ethnic and religious minority groups. Which its clearly not doing at this time. Last year we held two hearings in my subcommittee to examine the deteriorating human rights situation and ethnic unrest in burma. Its become abundantly clear, the political and social situation there is extremely fragile. And the continuing persecution of the minority rohingya population is just as was said, a profound crisis. Some 140,000 displaced rohingya have been forced to live in camps described as openair prisons. Doctors without borders was forced out by the burmese government and since then nearly 150 rohingya have died of medically related causes. This particular photo illustrates the Doctors Without Borders clinic, its shuttered, theyre gone, the people are not getting the medical care that theyre entitled to and people are literally dying as a result of this. Further, mob violence has made a number of other international n. G. O. s evacuate burma, for fear, and being essentially excluded by the government and they were doing good work for people who really needed it. Were in dire straits. The burmese government has taken few, if any, steps to fornl a peaceful, harmoan rosie forge a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous future for the rohingya state. It is explicit in extrajudicial killings, rape, arbitrary detention, torture, deaths in detention and for denial of due process and fair trial rights for the rohingya. As these horr