The House of Representatives Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs of the International Relations Committee held a hearing on Burma on March 25 to consider whether the U.S. sanctions on the military junta in that country ought to be extended for an additional year. Those present on both sides of the aisle roundly castigated the military regime and its human rights abuses, and there is no question, barring unexpected and radical developments in Burma, that the Congress will so vote the extension. Since then, Secretary of State Colin Powell and indicated to the Congress that he would support continuation of the sanctions.