Congressional Accountability and Oversight in Syria Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Accountability and 
Oversight in Syria Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
        mandates that no security assistance may be provided to any 
        country the government of which engages in a consistent pattern 
        of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.
            (2) Section 523 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
        states that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
        available pursuant to this Act shall be obligated to finance 
        indirectly any assistance or reparations to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, 
        Iran, Syria, North Korea, or Sudan, unless the President of the 
        United States certifies that the withholding of these funds is 
        contrary to the national interest of the United States.
            (3) Under the terms of Resolution 2043 of April 21, 2012, 
        the United Nations Security Council established a United 
        Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), for an initial 
        period of 90 days, under the command of a Chief Military 
        Observer, comprising an initial deployment of up to 300 unarmed 
        military observers as well as an appropriate civilian component 
        to fulfill the following mandate: To monitor a cessation of 
        armed violence in all its forms by all parties and to monitor 
        and support the full implementation of the UNSMIS' six-point 
        plan.
            (4) On June 15, 2012, UNSMIS suspended its activities owing 
        to an intensification of armed violence across the country.
            (5) On July 20, 2012, the Security Council extended UNSMIS 
        for a final period of 30 days. According to Resolution 2059, 
        the Council would only consider further extensions to the 
        mission ``in the event that the Secretary-General reports and 
        the Security Council confirms the cessation of the use of heavy 
        weapons and a reduction in the level of violence sufficient by 
        all sides'' to allow UNSMIS to implement its mandate.
            (6) As the conditions set by the Security Council had not 
        been met, UNSMIS mandate ended at midnight on August 19, 2012.
            (7) The al-Nusrah Front is designated by the Department of 
        State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Government of Syria should immediately cease the 
        use of heavy weapons in population centers;
            (2) all parties within Syria should bring about a cessation 
        of armed violence in all its forms;
            (3) the Secretary of State should continue to list Syria as 
        a state sponsor of terrorism;
            (4) in accordance with international law, the Government of 
        Syria should immediately cease the use of chemical weapons; and
            (5) if the President considers initiating military action, 
        including imposition of a ``no fly'' zone or other military 
        operations on Syrian territory, airspace, or waters--
                    (A) according to article I, section 8, of the 
                United States Constitution, ``The Congress shall have 
                Power To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and 
                Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land 
                and Water.'';
                    (B) according to the War Powers Resolution, ``The 
                constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-
                Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into 
                hostilities, or into situations where imminent 
                involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the 
                circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a 
                declaration of war, (2) specific statutory 
                authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by 
                attack upon the United States, its territories or 
                possessions, or its armed forces.''; and
                    (C) the President should adhere to the War Powers 
                Resolution and obtain specific statutory authorization 
                for the use of the United States Armed Forces in 
                response to the war in Syria.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE TO CONDUCT MILITARY OR PARAMILITARY 
              OPERATIONS IN SYRIA.

    (a) Authorization.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
assistance of any kind may be provided by any United States Government 
agency for the purpose, or which would have the effect, of promoting, 
augmenting, directly or indirectly, the capacity of any nation, group, 
organization, movement, or individual to conduct military or 
paramilitary operations in Syria, unless and until Congress expressly 
authorizes such assistance by law enacted after the date of enactment 
of this section.
    (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) does not apply to assistance that is 
solely provided for humanitarian purposes.

Summary: Congressional Accountability and Oversight in Syria Act - Prohibits assistance for the purpose, or which would have the effect, of promoting the capacity of any nation, group, organization, movement, or individual to conduct military or paramilitary operations in Syria, unless and until Congress expressly authorizes such assistance by law.