The US Senate voted on June 24, 2004 to renew the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, extending economic sanctions on all imports from Burma. The law was passed last year following the Burmese military regime's attack on pro-democracy activists accompanying democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi on May 30, 2003. The law also faults the junta's abysmal human rights record and its lack of movement toward creating a more democratic society.

According to provisions of the law, Congress must revisit sanctions each year and must vote on renewal annually. This year, the House of Representatives voted 373-2 on June 14 to renew the sanctions, and the Senate supported the decision with a landslide 96-1 vote on June 24.

Despite US sanctions and much international criticism, Burma's ruling military party, called the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), refuses to engage in peace talks with Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Suu Kyi, who was elected president in 1990 democratic elections, has never been able to officially take power. She has been under house arrest since the attack in May 2003 and has spent over nine years in some form of detainment.

The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 prohibits all imports from Burma, freezes the assets of Burmese regime in the United States, extends a visa ban to block SPDC members from entering the US, and declares support for activists working toward Burmese freedom, democracy, and peace.