Bipartisan lawmakers on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee joined forces Thursday to advance legislation adding new sanctions on Myanmar's leaders for what was described as its violent purge of ethnic minorities, The Hill reported.

The proposal, sponsored by Reps. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), is designed to punish Myanmar's leaders for their long-running campaign against the Rohingya, the report said

Supporters are hoping the new restrictions — including trade, travel and financial sanctions against Myanmar's top leaders — will check the violence and ultimately lead to war crimes charges against those behind the attacks.