S. 3981 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Mar 4, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExtends sanctions on Burma and appoints envoy
This bill keeps in place and strengthens U.S. sanctions on Burma, a country in Southeast Asia. It requires the President to regularly review whether certain Burmese military-linked enterprises and foreign companies should face additional penalties. The bill also creates a new Special Envoy for Burma, a high-ranking State Department official who will coordinate all U.S. policy decisions about the country.
How it affects you
Most Americans won't feel direct effects from this bill. It primarily shapes how the U.S. government interacts with Burma's military and economy. People in the U.S. who do business with Burma or Burmese entities may be affected by the expanded sanctions rules.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Mar 4, 2026)
Bringing Real Accountability Via Enforcement in Burma Act or the BRAVE Burma Act
This bill extends and expands a law imposing sanctions on Burma. The bill also requires the Department of State to appoint a Special Envoy for Burma.
Current law authorizes, and in some cases requires, the President to impose sanctions on certain Burmese state-owned enterprises, Burmese officials and family members, and other foreign persons. The bill extends this law through December 23, 2032. The bill also requires the President to annually determine, for the next seven years, whether the Myanma Economic Bank, any Burmese state-owned enterprise financially benefiting the Burmese military and not operating in the industrial or extractive sectors, or foreign persons operating in Burma's jet fuel sector meet the criteria for required sanctions under (1) the previously mentioned law; or (2) Executive Order 14014 , Blocking Property With Respect to the Situation in Burma .
The U.S. Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) must advocate and vote to limit any increase to Burma's IMF shareholding while Burma's State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) or any successor governing authority is in power. (The SSPC, led by military commander Min Aung Hlaing, existed from July 31, 2025, until April 10, 2026. It was dissolved when a nominally civilian but military-led government was installed, led by now President Min Aung Hlaing.)
The State Department must appoint a Special Envoy for Burma with the rank and status of ambassador and responsibility for coordinating all aspects of U.S. policy regarding Burma.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionS. 3981
A BILL
BRAVE Burma Act
Sponsor: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) · Introduced Mar 4, 2026 · International Affairs · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 4, 2026: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.”