I think that the United States, the world, has to work together forcefully, aggressively, and creatively to address these just massive violations of human rights injustice.

The people of Burma need to know that the people of the United States and the world are with them not only in word but in deed.

It is my sincere hope that the United States and the international community will rise to the occasion of this historic moment.

We need to have a very aggressive, strong, principled stand and not just words but action that can mobilize the region and the world with us.

The people of Burma are rising up from all walks of life, every ethnic and religious background, and from every corner of the nation as a diverse yet powerfully unified whole.

This is a security issue, if I have ever seen one, and it demands the attention of the world at the highest levels.

Just yesterday, a 7-year-old girl was shot and killed by Burmese security forces.

We did not declare it a genocide and we did not immediately lead the world in action and response.

I sincerely hope that the United States and the international community will rise to the occasion of this historic moment.

Burma is now being controlled by a ruthless brutal illegal military junta.

There are strong indications that the Burmese junta is engaging in crimes against humanity.

This is the single largest source of revenue flowing into the hands of these criminals. So I think it is critical that we cut it off.

I think what needs to happen is a very tough clear sanctions policy, but more importantly, on top of that a coordinated focused diplomatic initiative and emergency summit.

We have not called him on this. We have not exercised the various tools that we have available to hold this government accountable.

I think that Congressman Crowley's call for action-for-action approach is exactly what is needed and is exactly what is missing.

There was a great battle here in the halls of Congress, as you recall, when those of us who believe that economic and diplomatic pressure should be exerted upon the military regime of Burma.

The good news is, is that we overcame those obstacles and we demonstrated that with pressure you can see progress.

Yes. There have been. In fact, it was only until the United States took the lead in exerting diplomatic and economic pressure that the Europeans then followed.

In fact, they are re-arresting or arresting new political prisoners for speaking out.

the impunity has to stop. Those who have committed these gross human rights violations, and they're very well documented, need to be held to account.

We need U.S. leadership.

I think it is extremely important for any aid package that goes to Burma... should be very, very clearly directed that it goes directly to the people and the services that are needed.

Sanctions, I believe, need to remain in place and that only when clear progress is demonstrated should we incrementally and very, very prudently begin to make reversible changes.

But reforms that President Thein Sein has announced should indeed be recognized, but we should also recognize that Burma, the progress that we have seen in Burma can easily be reversed.