II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 52 

To halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, encourage a negotiated 

political settlement, and hold Syrian human rights abusers accountable 

for their crimes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 8, 2019 

Mr. RISCH (for himself, Mr. MENENDEZ, and Mr. RUBIO) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

A BILL 

To halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, encourage a negotiated political settlement, and hold Syrian 

human rights abusers accountable for their crimes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Statement of policy. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
2 

•S 52 IS

TITLE I—ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE 

NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA 

Sec. 101. Measures with respect to Central Bank of Syria. 

Sec. 102. Sanctions with respect to foreign persons that engage in certain 

transactions. 

Sec. 103. Strategy relating to areas of Syria in which civilians are subject to 

forced displacement. 

TITLE II—AMENDMENTS TO SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS 

ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012 

Sec. 201. Imposition of sanctions with respect to certain persons who are responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses committed 

against citizens of Syria or their family members. 

Sec. 202. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the transfer of goods or technologies to Syria that are likely to be used to commit human 

rights abuses. 

TITLE III—ASSISTANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA 

Sec. 301. Briefing on monitoring and evaluating of ongoing assistance programs in Syria and to the Syrian people. 

Sec. 302. Assessment of potential methods to enhance the protection of civilians. 

Sec. 303. Assistance to support entities taking actions relating to gathering evidence for investigations into war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria since March 2011. 

Sec. 304. Codification of certain services in support of nongovernmental organizations’ activities authorized. 

Sec. 305. Briefing on strategy to facilitate humanitarian assistance. 

TITLE IV—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Sec. 401. Suspension of sanctions. 

Sec. 402. Waivers and exemptions. 

Sec. 403. Implementation and regulatory authorities. 

Sec. 404. Cost limitation. 

Sec. 405. Authority to consolidate reports. 

Sec. 406. Rule of construction. 

Sec. 407. Sunset. 

1 SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

2 It is the policy of the United States that diplomatic 

3 and coercive economic means should be utilized to compel 

4 the government of Bashar al-Assad to halt its murderous 

5 attacks on the Syrian people and to support a transition 

6 to a government in Syria that respects the rule of law, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
3 

•S 52 IS

1 human rights, and peaceful co-existence with its neigh2 bors. 

3 TITLE I—ADDITIONAL ACTIONS 

4 IN CONNECTION WITH THE 

5 NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH 

6 RESPECT TO SYRIA 

7 SEC. 101. MEASURES WITH RESPECT TO CENTRAL BANK OF 

8 SYRIA. 

9 (a) DETERMINATION REGARDING CENTRAL BANK OF

10 SYRIA.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the en11 actment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 

12 determine, under section 5318A of title 31, United States 

13 Code, whether reasonable grounds exist for concluding 

14 that the Central Bank of Syria is a financial institution 

15 of primary money laundering concern. 

16 (b) ENHANCED DUE DILIGENCE AND REPORTING

17 REQUIREMENTS.—If the Secretary of the Treasury deter18 mines under subsection (a) that reasonable grounds exist 

19 for concluding that the Central Bank of Syria is a finan20 cial institution of primary money laundering concern, the 

21 Secretary, in consultation with the Federal functional reg22 ulators (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach23 Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6809)), shall impose one or more 

24 of the special measures described in section 5318A(b) of 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
4 

•S 52 IS

1 title 31, United States Code, with respect to the Central 

2 Bank of Syria. 

3 (c) REPORT REQUIRED.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

5 making a determination under subsection (a) with 

6 respect to whether the Central Bank of Syria is a 

7 financial institution of primary money laundering 

8 concern, the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit 

9 to the appropriate congressional committees a report 

10 that includes the reasons for the determination. 

11 (2) FORM.—A report required by paragraph (1) 

12 shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may in13 clude a classified annex. 

14 (3) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT15 TEES DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘ap16 propriate congressional committees’’ means— 

17 (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 

18 the Committee on Financial Services of the 

19 House of Representatives; and 

20 (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations 

21 and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

22 Urban Affairs of the Senate. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
5 

•S 52 IS

1 SEC. 102. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN PER2 SONS THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANS3 ACTIONS. 

4 (a) IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—On and after the date that 

6 is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 

7 Act, the President shall impose the sanctions de8 scribed in subsection (b) with respect to a foreign 

9 person if the President determines that the foreign 

10 person, on or after such date of enactment, know11 ingly engages in an activity described in paragraph 

12 (2). 

13 (2) ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.—A foreign person 

14 engages in an activity described in this paragraph if 

15 the foreign person— 

16 (A) knowingly provides significant finan17 cial, material, or technological support to, or 

18 knowingly engages in a significant transaction 

19 with— 

20 (i) the Government of Syria (including 

21 any entity owned or controlled by the Gov22 ernment of Syria) or a senior political fig23 ure of the Government of Syria; 

24 (ii) a foreign person that is a military 

25 contractor, mercenary, or a paramilitary 

26 force knowingly operating in a military caVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:14 Jan 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S52.IS S52

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
6 

•S 52 IS

1 pacity inside Syria for or on behalf of the 

2 Government of Syria, the Government of 

3 the Russian Federation, or the Govern4 ment of Iran; or 

5 (iii) a foreign person subject to sanc6 tions pursuant to the International Emer7 gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 

8 1701 et seq.) with respect to Syria or any 

9 other provision of law that imposes sanc10 tions with respect to Syria; 

11 (B) knowingly sells or provides significant 

12 goods, services, technology, information, or 

13 other support that significantly facilitates the 

14 maintenance or expansion of the Government of 

15 Syria’s domestic production of natural gas, pe16 troleum, or petroleum products; 

17 (C) knowingly sells or provides aircraft or 

18 spare aircraft parts that are used for military 

19 purposes in Syria for or on behalf of the Gov20 ernment of Syria to any foreign person oper21 ating in an area directly or indirectly controlled 

22 by the Government of Syria or foreign forces 

23 associated with the Government of Syria; 

24 (D) knowingly provides significant goods 

25 or services associated with the operation of airVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:14 Jan 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S52.IS S52

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
7 

•S 52 IS

1 craft that are used for military purposes in 

2 Syria for or on behalf of the Government of 

3 Syria to any foreign person operating in an 

4 area described in subparagraph (C); or 

5 (E) knowingly, directly or indirectly, pro6 vides significant construction or engineering 

7 services to the Government of Syria. 

8 (3) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 

9 Congress that, in implementing this section, the 

10 President should consider financial support under 

11 paragraph (2)(A) to include the provision of loans, 

12 credits, or export credits. 

13 (b) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—The sanctions to be imposed 

15 with respect to a foreign person subject to sub16 section (a) are the following: 

17 (A) BLOCKING OF PROPERTY.—The Presi18 dent shall exercise all of the powers granted to 

19 the President under the International Emer20 gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 

21 seq.) to the extent necessary to block and pro22 hibit all transactions in property and interests 

23 in property of the foreign person if such prop24 erty and interests in property are in the United 

25 States, come within the United States, or are or 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
8 

•S 52 IS

1 come within the possession or control of a 

2 United States person. 

3 (B) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, AD4 MISSION, OR PAROLE.— 

5 (i) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.— 

6 An alien who the Secretary of State or the 

7 Secretary of Homeland Security (or a des8 ignee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or 

9 has reason to believe, has knowingly en10 gaged in any activity described in sub11 section (a)(2) is— 

12 (I) inadmissible to the United 

13 States; 

14 (II) ineligible to receive a visa or 

15 other documentation to enter the 

16 United States; and 

17 (III) otherwise ineligible to be 

18 admitted or paroled into the United 

19 States or to receive any other benefit 

20 under the Immigration and Nation21 ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 

22 (ii) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 

23 (I) IN GENERAL.—The issuing 

24 consular officer, the Secretary of 

25 State, or the Secretary of Homeland 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
9 

•S 52 IS

1 Security (or a designee of one of such 

2 Secretaries) shall, in accordance with 

3 section 221(i) of the Immigration and 

4 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), 

5 revoke any visa or other entry docu6 mentation issued to an alien described 

7 in clause (i) regardless of when the 

8 visa or other entry documentation is 

9 issued. 

10 (II) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.— 

11 A revocation under subclause (I)— 

12 (aa) shall take effect imme13 diately; and 

14 (bb) shall automatically can15 cel any other valid visa or entry 

16 documentation that is in the 

17 alien’s possession. 

18 (2) PENALTIES.—The penalties provided for in 

19 subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the Inter20 national Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 

21 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person that violates, 

22 attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a 

23 violation of regulations promulgated under section 

24 403(b) to carry out paragraph (1)(A) to the same 

25 extent that such penalties apply to a person that 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
10 

•S 52 IS

1 commits an unlawful act described in section 206(a) 

2 of that Act. 

3 (3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA4 TIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 

5 under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply with respect 

6 to an alien if admitting the alien into the United 

7 States is necessary to permit the United States to 

8 comply with the Agreement regarding the Head9 quarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Suc10 cess June 26, 1947, and entered into force Novem11 ber 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the 

12 United States, or other applicable international obli13 gations. 

14 SEC. 103. STRATEGY RELATING TO AREAS OF SYRIA IN 

15 WHICH CIVILIANS ARE SUBJECT TO FORCED 

16 DISPLACEMENT. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

18 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall— 

19 (1) identify the areas described in subsection 

20 (b); and 

21 (2) submit to the appropriate congressional 

22 committees the strategy described in subsection (c). 

23 (b) AREAS DESCRIBED.—The areas described in this 

24 subsection are areas in Syria that the President deter25 mines— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
11 

•S 52 IS

1 (1) are under the control of— 

2 (A) the Government of Syria; 

3 (B) the Government of the Russian Fed4 eration; 

5 (C) the Government of Iran; or 

6 (D) a foreign person described in section 

7 102(a)(2)(A)(ii); and 

8 (2) are areas in which civilians have been sub9 ject to forced displacement by— 

10 (A) a government specified in subpara11 graph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1); or 

12 (B) a foreign person described in section 

13 102(a)(2)(A)(ii). 

14 (c) STRATEGY DESCRIBED.—The strategy described 

15 in this subsection is a strategy to deter foreign persons 

16 from entering into contracts related to reconstruction in 

17 the areas described in subsection (b) for or on behalf of— 

18 (1) a government specified in subparagraph 

19 (A), (B), or (C) of subsection (b)(1); or 

20 (2) a foreign person described in section 

21 102(a)(2)(A)(ii). 

22 (d) FORM.—The strategy required by subsection 

23 (a)(2) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may in24 clude a classified annex. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
12 

•S 52 IS

1 (e) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE2 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres3 sional committees’’ means— 

4 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

5 House of Representatives; and 

6 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

7 Senate. 

8 TITLE II—AMENDMENTS TO 

9 SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS AC10 COUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012 

11 SEC. 201. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

12 CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE 

13 FOR OR COMPLICIT IN HUMAN RIGHTS 

14 ABUSES COMMITTED AGAINST CITIZENS OF 

15 SYRIA OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 702 of the Syria Human 

17 Rights Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791) is 

18 amended to read as follows: 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
13 

•S 52 IS

1 ‘‘SEC. 702. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

2 CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE 

3 FOR OR COMPLICIT IN HUMAN RIGHTS 

4 ABUSES COMMITTED AGAINST CITIZENS OF 

5 SYRIA OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. 

6 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose the 

7 sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to each 

8 person on the list required by subsection (b). 

9 ‘‘(b) LIST OF PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

10 OR COMPLICIT IN SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.— 

11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

12 after the date of the enactment of the Caesar Syria 

13 Civilian Protection Act of 2019, the President shall 

14 submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

15 a list of foreign persons that the President deter16 mines are knowingly responsible for or complicit in 

17 serious human rights abuses committed against citi18 zens of Syria or their family members, regardless of 

19 whether such abuses occurred in Syria. 

20 ‘‘(2) INCLUSION OF CERTAIN PERSONS.—In de21 veloping the list required by paragraph (1), the 

22 President shall consider for inclusion on the list, 

23 among others, the following: 

24 ‘‘(A) the President of Syria. 

25 ‘‘(B) The Prime Minister and Deputy 

26 Prime Minister of Syria. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
14 

•S 52 IS

1 ‘‘(C) The Council of Ministers of Syria. 

2 ‘‘(D) The heads of the armed forces of 

3 Syria, including the land forces, air forces, and 

4 intelligence services. 

5 ‘‘(E) The heads of the Ministry of Interior 

6 of Syria, including the Political Security Direc7 torate, the General Intelligence Directorate, and 

8 the National Police Force. 

9 ‘‘(F) The commanders and deputy com10 manders of the Fourth Armored Division of the 

11 armed forces of Syria. 

12 ‘‘(G) The commander of the Republican 

13 Guard of Syria. 

14 ‘‘(H) The Advisor for Strategic Affairs to 

15 the President of Syria. 

16 ‘‘(I) The director and deputy director of 

17 the Scientific Studies and Research Center of 

18 Syria. 

19 ‘‘(J) The heads of prisons under the con20 trol of the Government of Syria. 

21 ‘‘(K) The governors and other heads of the 

22 security branches of the 14 provinces of Syria 

23 who are appointed by the President of Syria. 

24 ‘‘(3) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall 

25 submit to the appropriate congressional committees 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
15 

•S 52 IS

1 an updated list under paragraph (1) not later than 

2 300 days after the date of the enactment of the Cae3 sar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and annu4 ally thereafter for a period of 5 years. 

5 ‘‘(4) FORM.—The list required by paragraph 

6 (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 

7 include a classified annex. 

8 ‘‘(c) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.— 

9 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The sanctions to be im10 posed with respect to a foreign person under sub11 section (a) are the following: 

12 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The President shall 

13 exercise all powers granted by the International 

14 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 

15 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block 

16 and prohibit all transactions in all property and 

17 interests in property of a person on the list re18 quired by subsection (b) if such property and 

19 interests in property are in the United States, 

20 come within the United States, or are or come 

21 within the possession or control of a United 

22 States person. 

23 ‘‘(B) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, AD24 MISSION, OR PAROLE.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
16 

•S 52 IS

1 ‘‘(i) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.— 

2 An alien who the Secretary of State or the 

3 Secretary of Homeland Security (or a des4 ignee of one of such Secretaries) identifies 

5 as on the list required by subsection (b) 

6 is— 

7 ‘‘(I) inadmissible to the United 

8 States; 

9 ‘‘(II) ineligible to receive a visa 

10 or other documentation to enter the 

11 United States; and 

12 ‘‘(III) otherwise ineligible to be 

13 admitted or paroled into the United 

14 States or to receive any other benefit 

15 under the Immigration and Nation16 ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 

17 ‘‘(ii) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 

18 ‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—The issuing 

19 consular officer, the Secretary of 

20 State, or the Secretary of Homeland 

21 Security (or a designee of one of such 

22 Secretaries) shall, in accordance with 

23 section 221(i) of the Immigration and 

24 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), 

25 revoke any visa or other entry docuVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:14 Jan 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S52.IS S52

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
17 

•S 52 IS

1 mentation issued to an alien who the 

2 Secretary of State or the Secretary of 

3 Homeland Security (or a designee of 

4 one of such Secretaries) identifies as 

5 on the list required by subsection (b), 

6 regardless of when the visa or other 

7 documentation is issued. 

8 ‘‘(II) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.— 

9 A revocation under subclause (I)— 

10 ‘‘(aa) shall take effect imme11 diately; and 

12 ‘‘(bb) shall automatically 

13 cancel any other valid visa or 

14 entry documentation that is in 

15 the alien’s possession. 

16 ‘‘(2) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, at17 tempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a 

18 violation of paragraph (1)(A) or any regulation, li19 cense, or order issued to carry out paragraph (1)(A) 

20 shall be subject to the penalties set forth in sub21 sections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the Inter22 national Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 

23 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that 

24 commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) 

25 of that section. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
18 

•S 52 IS

1 ‘‘(3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA2 TIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 

3 under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply with respect 

4 to an alien if admitting the alien into the United 

5 States is necessary to permit the United States to 

6 comply with the Agreement regarding the Head7 quarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Suc8 cess June 26, 1947, and entered into force Novem9 ber 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the 

10 United States, or other applicable international 

11 agreements. 

12 ‘‘(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec13 tion shall be construed to limit the authority of the Presi14 dent pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 

15 Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), relevant Executive 

16 orders, regulations, or other provisions of law.’’. 

17 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con18 gress that the President should impose sanctions under 

19 section 702 of the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act 

20 of 2012, as amended by subsection (a), for— 

21 (1) the deliberate targeting of civilian schools, 

22 hospitals, or markets; and 

23 (2) the deliberate diversion, hindering, or block24 ing of access for humanitarian purposes, including 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
19 

•S 52 IS

1 access across borders and conflict lines, with the in2 tent to inflict suffering on civilians. 

3 SEC. 202. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

4 THE TRANSFER OF GOODS OR TECH5 NOLOGIES TO SYRIA THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE 

6 USED TO COMMIT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. 

7 Section 703(b)(2)(C) of the Syria Human Rights Ac8 countability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8792(b)(2)(C)) is 

9 amended— 

10 (1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; 

11 (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the 

12 end and inserting a semicolon; and 

13 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

14 ‘‘(iii) any article— 

15 ‘‘(I) designated by the President 

16 for purposes of the United States Mu17 nitions List under section 38(a)(1) of 

18 the Arms Export Control Act (22 

19 U.S.C. 2778(a)(1)); and 

20 ‘‘(II) that the President deter21 mines is significant for purposes of 

22 the imposition of sanctions under sub23 section (a); or 

24 ‘‘(iv) other goods or technologies that 

25 the President determines are used by the 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
20 

•S 52 IS

1 Government of Syria to commit human 

2 rights abuses against the people of Syria.’’. 

3 TITLE III—ASSISTANCE FOR THE 

4 PEOPLE OF SYRIA 

5 SEC. 301. BRIEFING ON MONITORING AND EVALUATING OF 

6 ONGOING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN SYRIA 

7 AND TO THE SYRIAN PEOPLE. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

9 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 

10 and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 

11 International Development shall brief the Committee on 

12 Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 

13 Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the 

14 monitoring and evaluation of ongoing assistance programs 

15 in Syria and for the Syrian people, including assistance 

16 provided through multilateral organizations. 

17 (b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The briefing re18 quired by subsection (a) shall include a description of— 

19 (1) the specific project monitoring and evalua20 tion efforts, including measurable goals and per21 formance metrics for assistance in Syria; 

22 (2) the memoranda of understanding entered 

23 into by the Department of State, the United States 

24 Agency for International Development, and their re25 spective Inspectors General, and the multilateral orVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:14 Jan 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S52.IS S52

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
21 

•S 52 IS

1 ganizations through which United States assistance 

2 will be delivered that formalize requirements for the 

3 sharing of information between such entities for the 

4 conduct of audits, investigations, and evaluations; 

5 and 

6 (3) the major challenges to monitoring and 

7 evaluating such programs. 

8 SEC. 302. ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL METHODS TO EN9 HANCE THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

11 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall brief 

12 the appropriate congressional committees on the potential 

13 effectiveness, risks, and operational requirements of mili14 tary and non-military means to enhance the protection of 

15 civilians inside Syria, especially civilians who are in be16 sieged areas, trapped at borders, or internally displaced. 

17 (b) CONSULTATION.—The briefing required by sub18 section (a) shall be informed by consultations with the De19 partment of State, the United States Agency for Inter20 national Development, the Department of Defense, and 

21 international and local humanitarian aid organizations op22 erating in Syria. 

23 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE24 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres25 sional committees’’ means— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
22 

•S 52 IS

1 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

2 Committee on Armed Services of the House of Rep3 resentatives; and 

4 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 

5 the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate. 

6 SEC. 303. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT ENTITIES TAKING AC7 TIONS RELATING TO GATHERING EVIDENCE 

8 FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO WAR CRIMES OR 

9 CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN SYRIA SINCE 

10 MARCH 2011. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

12 (b), the Secretary of State, after consultation with the At13 torney General and the heads of other appropriate Federal 

14 agencies, is authorized, consistent with the national inter15 est, to provide assistance to support entities that are con16 ducting criminal investigations, supporting prosecutions, 

17 or collecting evidence and preserving the chain of custody 

18 for such evidence for eventual prosecution, against those 

19 who have committed war crimes or crimes against human20 ity in Syria, including the aiding and abetting of such 

21 crimes by foreign governments and organizations sup22 porting the Government of Syria, since March 2011. 

23 (b) LIMITATION.—No assistance may be provided 

24 under subsection (a) while President Bashar al-Assad re25 mains in power— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
23 

•S 52 IS

1 (1) to build the investigative or judicial capac2 ities of the Government of Syria; or 

3 (2) to support prosecutions in the domestic 

4 courts in Syria. 

5 (c) BRIEFING.—Not later than one year after the 

6 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 

7 shall brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 

8 of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Rela9 tions of the Senate on assistance provided under sub10 section (a). 

11 SEC. 304. CODIFICATION OF CERTAIN SERVICES IN SUP12 PORT OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZA13 TIONS’ ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

15 (b), section 542.516 of title 31, Code of Federal Regula16 tions (relating to certain services in support of nongovern17 mental organizations’ activities authorized), as in effect on 

18 the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, 

19 shall— 

20 (1) remain in effect on and after such date of 

21 enactment; and 

22 (2) in the case of a nongovernmental organiza23 tion that is authorized to export or reexport services 

24 to Syria under such section on the day before such 

25 date of enactment, apply to such organization on 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
24 

•S 52 IS

1 and after such date of enactment to the same extent 

2 and in the same manner as such section applied to 

3 such organization on the day before such date of en4 actment. 

5 (b) EXCEPTION.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 542.516 of title 31, 

7 Code of Federal Regulations, as codified under sub8 section (a), shall not apply with respect to a foreign 

9 person that has been designated as a foreign ter10 rorist organization under section 219 of the Immi11 gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189), or oth12 erwise designated as a terrorist organization, by the 

13 Secretary of State, in consultation with or upon the 

14 request of the Attorney General or the Secretary of 

15 Homeland Security. 

16 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Paragraph (1) shall 

17 apply with respect to a foreign person on and after 

18 the date on which the designation of that person as 

19 a terrorist organization is published in the Federal 

20 Register. 

21 SEC. 305. BRIEFING ON STRATEGY TO FACILITATE HUMANI22 TARIAN ASSISTANCE. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

24 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall brief 

25 the appropriate congressional committees on the strategy 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
25 

•S 52 IS

1 of the President to help facilitate the ability of humani2 tarian organizations to access financial services to help fa3 cilitate the safe and timely delivery of assistance to com4 munities in need in Syria. 

5 (b) CONSIDERATION OF DATA FROM OTHER COUN6 TRIES AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.—In 

7 preparing the strategy required by subsection (a), the 

8 President shall consider credible data already obtained by 

9 other countries and nongovernmental organizations, in10 cluding organizations operating in Syria. 

11 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE12 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres13 sional committees’’ means— 

14 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

15 Committee on Financial Services of the House of 

16 Representatives; and 

17 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 

18 the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af19 fairs of the Senate. 

20 TITLE IV—GENERAL 

21 PROVISIONS 

22 SEC. 401. SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The President may suspend in 

24 whole or in part the imposition of sanctions otherwise re25 quired under this Act or any amendment made by this 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
26 

•S 52 IS

1 Act for periods not to exceed 180 days if the President 

2 determines that the following criteria have been met in 

3 Syria: 

4 (1) The air space over Syria is no longer being 

5 utilized by the Government of Syria or the Govern6 ment of the Russian Federation to target civilian 

7 populations through the use of incendiary devices, 

8 including barrel bombs, chemical weapons, and con9 ventional arms, including air-delivered missiles and 

10 explosives. 

11 (2) Areas besieged by the Government of Syria, 

12 the Government of the Russian Federation, the Gov13 ernment of Iran, or a foreign person described in 

14 section 102(a)(2)(A)(ii) are no longer cut off from 

15 international aid and have regular access to humani16 tarian assistance, freedom of travel, and medical 

17 care. 

18 (3) The Government of Syria is releasing all po19 litical prisoners forcibly held within the prison sys20 tem of the regime of Bashar al-Assad and the Gov21 ernment of Syria is allowing full access to the same 

22 facilities for investigations by appropriate inter23 national human rights organizations. 

24 (4) The forces of the Government of Syria, the 

25 Government of the Russian Federation, the GovernVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:14 Jan 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S52.IS S52

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
27 

•S 52 IS

1 ment of Iran, and any foreign person described in 

2 section 102(a)(2)(A)(ii) are no longer engaged in de3 liberate targeting of medical facilities, schools, resi4 dential areas, and community gathering places, in5 cluding markets, in violation of international norms. 

6 (5) The Government of Syria is— 

7 (A) taking steps to verifiably fulfill its 

8 commitments under the Convention on the Pro9 hibition of the Development, Production, Stock10 piling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on 

11 their Destruction, done at Geneva September 3, 

12 1992, and entered into force April 29, 1997 

13 (commonly known as the ‘‘Chemical Weapons 

14 Convention’’), and the Treaty on the Non-Pro15 liferation of Nuclear Weapons, done at Wash16 ington, London, and Moscow July 1, 1968, and 

17 entered into force March 5, 1970 (21 UST 

18 483); and 

19 (B) making tangible progress toward be20 coming a signatory to the Convention on the 

21 Prohibition of the Development, Production and 

22 Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and 

23 Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, done 

24 at Washington, London, and Moscow April 10, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
28 

•S 52 IS

1 1972, and entered into force March 26, 1975 

2 (26 UST 583). 

3 (6) The Government of Syria is permitting the 

4 safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Syrians dis5 placed by the conflict. 

6 (7) The Government of Syria is taking 

7 verifiable steps to establish meaningful account8 ability for perpetrators of war crimes in Syria and 

9 justice for victims of war crimes committed by the 

10 Assad regime, including by participation in a cred11 ible and independent truth and reconciliation proc12 ess. 

13 (b) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 30 days 

14 after the President makes a determination described in 

15 subsection (a), the President shall provide a briefing to 

16 the appropriate congressional committees on the deter17 mination and the suspension of sanctions pursuant to the 

18 determination. 

19 (c) REIMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.—Any sanctions 

20 suspended under subsection (a) shall be reimposed if the 

21 President determines that the criteria described in that 

22 subsection are no longer being met. 

23 (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec24 tion shall be construed to limit the authority of the Presi25 dent to terminate the application of sanctions under secVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:14 Jan 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S52.IS S52

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
29 

•S 52 IS

1 tion 102 with respect to a person that no longer engages 

2 in activities described in subsection (a)(2) of that section. 

3 (e) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE4 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres5 sional committees’’ means— 

6 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 

7 Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on 

8 Ways and Means, and the Committee on the Judici9 ary of the House of Representatives; and 

10 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 

11 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af12 fairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

13 Senate. 

14 SEC. 402. WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS. 

15 (a) EXEMPTIONS.—The following activities and 

16 transactions shall be exempt from sanctions authorized 

17 under this Act or any amendment made by this Act: 

18 (1) Any activity subject to the reporting re19 quirements under title V of the National Security 

20 Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.), or to any au21 thorized intelligence activities of the United States. 

22 (2) Any transaction necessary to comply with 

23 United States obligations under— 

24 (A) the Agreement regarding the Head25 quarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
30 

•S 52 IS

1 Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force 

2 November 21, 1947, between the United Na3 tions and the United States; 

4 (B) the Convention on Consular Relations, 

5 done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered 

6 into force March 19, 1967; or 

7 (C) any other international agreement to 

8 which the United States is a party. 

9 (b) WAIVER.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—The President may, for peri11 ods not to exceed 180 days, waive the application of 

12 any provision of this Act with respect to a foreign 

13 person if the President certifies to the appropriate 

14 congressional committees that such a waiver is in 

15 the national security interests of the United States. 

16 (2) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after 

17 the issuance of a waiver under paragraph (1), and 

18 every 180 days thereafter while the waiver remains 

19 in effect, the President shall brief the appropriate 

20 congressional committees on the reasons for the 

21 waiver. 

22 (c) HUMANITARIAN WAIVER.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—The President may waive, 

24 for renewable periods not to exceed 2 years, the ap25 plication of any provision of this Act with respect to 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
31 

•S 52 IS

1 a nongovernmental organization providing humani2 tarian assistance not covered by the authorization 

3 described in section 304 if the President certifies to 

4 the appropriate congressional committees that such 

5 a waiver is important to address a humanitarian 

6 need and is consistent with the national security in7 terests of the United States. 

8 (2) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after 

9 the issuance of a waiver under paragraph (1), and 

10 every 180 days thereafter while the waiver remains 

11 in effect, the President shall brief the appropriate 

12 congressional committees on the reasons for the 

13 waiver. 

14 (d) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES

15 DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate con16 gressional committees’’ means— 

17 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 

18 Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on 

19 Ways and Means, and the Committee on the Judici20 ary of the House of Representatives; and 

21 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 

22 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af23 fairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

24 Senate. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
32 

•S 52 IS

1 SEC. 403. IMPLEMENTATION AND REGULATORY AUTHORI2 TIES. 

3 (a) IMPLEMENTATION AUTHORITY.—The President 

4 may exercise all authorities provided to the President 

5 under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emer6 gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) 

7 for purposes of carrying out this Act and the amendments 

8 made by this Act. 

9 (b) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The President shall, 

10 not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 

11 of this Act, promulgate regulations as necessary for the 

12 implementation of this Act and the amendments made by 

13 this Act. 

14 SEC. 404. COST LIMITATION. 

15 No additional funds are authorized to carry out the 

16 requirements of this Act and the amendments made by 

17 this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using 

18 amounts otherwise authorized. 

19 SEC. 405. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Any reports required to be sub21 mitted to the appropriate congressional committees under 

22 this Act or any amendment made by this Act that are sub23 ject to a deadline for submission consisting of the same 

24 unit of time may be consolidated into a single report that 

25 is submitted to the appropriate congressional committees 

26 pursuant to such deadline. The consolidated reports shall 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
33 

•S 52 IS

1 contain all information required under this Act or any 

2 amendment made by this Act, in addition to all other ele3 ments mandated by previous law. 

4 (b) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES

5 DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate con6 gressional committees’’ means— 

7 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

8 Committee on Financial Services of the House of 

9 Representatives; and 

10 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 

11 the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af12 fairs of the Senate. 

13 SEC. 406. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

14 Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the 

15 authority of the President pursuant to the International 

16 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 

17 seq.) or any other provision of law. 

18 SEC. 407. SUNSET. 

19 This Act shall cease to be effective on the date that 

20 is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS