69–006 

115TH CONGRESS REPT. 115–115 " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session Part 1 

CAESAR SYRIA CIVILIAN PROTECTION ACT OF 2017 

MAY 11, 2017.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. ROYCE of California, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1677] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the bill 

(H.R. 1677) to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, 

encourage a negotiated political settlement, and hold Syrian 

human rights abusers accountable for their crimes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and 

recommends that the bill as amended do pass. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

The Amendment ...................................................................................................... 1 

Purpose of Legislation ............................................................................................. 14 

Background and Need for Legislation .................................................................... 15 

Summary of the Legislation .................................................................................... 20 

Hearings/Briefings ................................................................................................... 21 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 21 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 21 

New Budget Authority, Tax Expenditures, and Federal Mandates .................... 22 

Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate .......................................................... 22 

Directed Rule Making ............................................................................................. 23 

Non-Duplication of Federal Programs ................................................................... 24 

Performance Goals and Objectives ......................................................................... 24 

Congressional Accountability Act ........................................................................... 24 

New Advisory Committees ...................................................................................... 24 

Earmark Identification ............................................................................................ 24 

Section-by-Section Analysis .................................................................................... 24 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 29 

THE AMENDMENT

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 


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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Caesar Syria Civilian Protection 

Act of 2017’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Sense of Congress. 

Sec. 3. Statement of policy. 

TITLE I—ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH 

RESPECT TO SYRIA 

Sec. 101. Sanctions with respect to Central Bank of Syria and foreign persons that engage in certain transactions. 

Sec. 102. Prohibitions with respect to the transfer of arms and related materials to Syria. 

Sec. 103. Rule of construction. 

Sec. 104. Definitions. 

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. 

Sec. 203. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who hinder humanitarian access. 

Sec. 204. Report on certain persons who are responsible for or complicit in certain human rights abuses in 

Syria. 

TITLE III—REPORTS AND WAIVER FOR HUMANITARIAN-RELATED ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO 

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. 

TITLE IV—SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA 

Sec. 401. Suspension of sanctions with respect to Syria. 

Sec. 402. Waivers and exemptions. 

TITLE V—REGULATORY AUTHORITY, COST LIMITATION, AND SUNSET 

Sec. 501. Implementation and regulatory authorities. 

Sec. 502. Cost limitation. 

Sec. 503. Authority to consolidate reports. 

Sec. 504. Sunset. 

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

It is the sense of Congress that— 

(1) Bashar al-Assad’s murderous actions against the people of Syria have directly contributed to the deaths of more than 480,000 civilians, led to the destruction of more than 50 percent of Syria’s critical infrastructure, and forced 

the displacement of more than 14,000,000 people, precipitating one of the worst 

humanitarian crises in more than 60 years; 

(2) international actions to protect vulnerable populations from attack by uniformed and irregular forces associated with the Assad regime, including 

Hezbollah, on land and by air, including through the use of barrel bombs, chemical weapons, mass starvation, industrial-scale torture and execution of political 

dissidents, sniper attacks against pregnant women, and the deliberate targeting 

of medical facilities, schools, residential areas, and community gathering places, 

including markets, have been insufficient to date; 

(3) Assad’s use of chemical weapons, including chlorine, against the Syrian 

people violates the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Syria is a party; 

(4) Assad’s abhorrent use of chemical weapons, most recently on April 4, 

2017, in an attack on the town of Khan Shakhyn in which more than 90 people 

died, including women and children, and more than 600 hundred people were 

injured, is condemned in the strongest terms; 

(5) violent attacks resulting in death, injury, imprisonment or threat of prosecution against humanitarian aid workers and diplomatic personnel, as well as 

attacks on humanitarian supplies, facilities, transports, and assets, and acts to 

impede the access and secure movement of all humanitarian personnel are in 

violation of international humanitarian law and impede the lifesaving work of 

humanitarian organizations and diplomatic institutions; and 

(6) Assad’s continued claim of leadership and war crimes in Syria have served 

as a rallying point for the extremist ideology of the Islamic State, Jabhat alNusra, and other terrorist organizations. 

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

It is the policy of the United States that all diplomatic and coercive economic 

means should be utilized to compel the government of Bashar al-Assad to immeVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:34 May 12, 2017 Jkt 069006 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6621 E:\HR\OC\HR115P1.XXX HR115P1

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diately halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people and to support an immediate transition to a democratic government in Syria that respects the rule of law, 

human rights, and peaceful co-existence with its neighbors. 

TITLE I—ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY 

WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA 

SEC. 101. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CENTRAL BANK OF SYRIA AND FOREIGN PERSONS 

THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS. 

(a) APPLICATION OF CERTAIN MEASURES TO CENTRAL BANK OF SYRIA.—Except as 

provided in subsections (a) and (b) of section 402, the President shall apply the 

measures described in section 5318A(b)(5) of title 31, United States Code, to the 

Central Bank of Syria. 

(b) BLOCKING PROPERTY OF FOREIGN PERSONS THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANS- ACTIONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on and after the date that is 30 days after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose on a foreign person the sanctions described in subsection (c) if the President determines that 

such foreign person, on or after such date of enactment, knowingly engages in 

an activity described in paragraph (2). 

(2) ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.—A foreign person engages in an activity described 

in this paragraph if the foreign person— 

(A) knowingly provides significant financial, material or technological 

support to (including engaging in or facilitating a significant transaction or 

transactions with) or provides significant financial services for— 

(i) the Government of Syria (including government entities operating 

as a business enterprise) and the Central Bank of Syria, or any of its 

agencies or instrumentalities; or 

(ii) a foreign person subject to sanctions pursuant to— 

(I) the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 

1701 et seq.) with respect to Syria or any other provision of law 

that imposes sanctions with respect to Syria; or 

(II) a resolution that is agreed to by the United Nations Security 

Council that imposes sanctions with respect to Syria; 

(B) knowingly— 

(i) sells or provides significant goods, services, technology, information, or other support that directly and significantly facilitates the 

maintenance or expansion of the Government of Syria’s domestic production of natural gas or petroleum or petroleum products of Syrian origin in areas controlled by the Government of Syria or associated 

forces; 

(ii) sells or provides to the Government of Syria crude oil or condensate, refined petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, or petrochemical products that have a fair market value of $500,000 or more 

or that during a 12-month period have an aggregate fair market value 

of $2,000,000 or more in areas controlled by the Government of Syria 

or associated forces; 

(iii) sells or provides aircraft or spare parts, or provides significant 

goods, services, or technologies associated with the operation of such 

aircraft or air carriers to any foreign person operating in areas controlled by the Government of Syria or associated forces that are used, 

in whole or in part, for military purposes; or 

(iv) sells or provides significant goods, services, or technology to a foreign person operating in the shipping (including ports and free trade 

zones), transportation, or telecommunications sectors in areas controlled by the Government of Syria or associated forces; 

(C) knowingly facilitates efforts by a foreign person to carry out an activity described in subparagraph (A) or (B); or 

(D) knowingly provides significant loans, credits, including export credits, 

or financing to carry out an activity described in subparagraph (A) or (B). 

(c) SANCTIONS AGAINST A FOREIGN PERSON.—The sanctions to be imposed on a foreign person described in subsection (b) are the following: 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall exercise all of the powers granted to the 

President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 

1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in 

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terests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or 

are or come within the possession or control of a United States person. 

(2) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.— (A) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.—An alien who the Secretary of State 

or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe, meets any of the criteria described 

in subsection (a) is— 

(i) inadmissible to the United States; 

(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the 

United States; and 

(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United 

States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 

(B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— (i) IN GENERAL.—The issuing consular officer, the Secretary of State, 

or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such 

Secretaries) shall revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued 

to an alien who meets any of the criteria described in subsection (a) regardless of when issued. 

(ii) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—A revocation under clause (i)— 

(I) shall take effect immediately; and 

(II) shall automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien’s possession. 

(3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREE- MENT.—Sanctions under paragraph (2) shall not apply to an alien if admitting 

the alien into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to 

comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, 

signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 

1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable 

international obligations. 

(4) PENALTIES.—The penalties provided for in subsections (b) and (c) of section 

206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall 

apply to a person that knowingly violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of regulations promulgated under section 501(a) to 

carry out paragraph (1) of this subsection to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that knowingly commits an unlawful act described in 

section 206(a) of that Act. 

SEC. 102. PROHIBITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER OF ARMS AND RELATED MATERIALS TO SYRIA. 

(a) SANCTIONS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on and after the date that is 30 days after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose on a foreign person the sanctions described in subsection (b) if the President determines that 

such foreign person, on or after such date of enactment, knowingly exports, 

transfers, or provides significant financial, material, or technological support to 

the Government of Syria to— 

(A) acquire or develop chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons or related 

technologies; 

(B) acquire or develop ballistic or cruise missile capabilities; 

(C) acquire or develop destabilizing numbers and types of advanced conventional weapons; or 

(D) acquire defense articles, defense services, or defense information (as 

such terms are defined under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 

et seq.)), if the President determines that a significant type or amount of 

such articles, services, or information has been so acquired. 

(2) APPLICABILITY TO OTHER FOREIGN PERSONS.—The sanctions described in 

subsection (b) shall also be imposed on any foreign person that is a successor 

entity to a foreign person described in paragraph (1). 

(b) SANCTIONS AGAINST A FOREIGN PERSON.—The sanctions to be imposed on a 

foreign person described in subsection (a) are the following: 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall exercise all powers granted by the 

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the 

extent necessary to freeze and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of the foreign person if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come 

within the possession or control of a United States person. 

(2) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.— 

(A) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.—An alien who the Secretary of State 

or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such SecreVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:34 May 12, 2017 Jkt 069006 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6621 E:\HR\OC\HR115P1.XXX HR115P1

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taries) knows, or has reason to believe, meets any of the criteria described 

in subsection (a) is— 

(i) inadmissible to the United States; 

(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the 

United States; and 

(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United 

States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 

(B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—The issuing consular officer, the Secretary of State, 

or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such 

Secretaries) shall revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued 

to an alien who meets any of the criteria described in subsection (a) regardless of when issued. 

(ii) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—A revocation under clause (i)— 

(I) shall take effect immediately; and 

(II) shall automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien’s possession. 

(3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions under paragraph (2) shall not apply to an alien if admitting 

the alien into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to 

comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, 

signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 

1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable 

international obligations. 

(4) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of any regulation, license, or order issued to carry out 

this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) 

of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 

1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described 

in subsection (a) of that section. 

SEC. 103. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

Nothing in this title shall be construed to limit the authority of the President pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 

SEC. 104. DEFINITIONS. 

In this title: 

(1) ADMITTED; ALIEN.—The terms ‘‘admitted’’ and ‘‘alien’’ have the meanings 

given such terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

U.S.C. 1101). 

(2) FINANCIAL, MATERIAL, OR TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT.—The term ‘‘financial, 

material, or technological support’’ has the meaning given such term in section 

542.304 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section was in effect 

on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(3) FOREIGN PERSON.—The term ‘‘foreign person’’ means any citizen or national of a foreign country, or any entity not organized solely under the laws 

of the United States or existing solely in the United States. 

(4) GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA.—The term ‘‘Government of Syria’’ has the meaning given such term in section 542.305 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, 

as such section was in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(5) KNOWINGLY.—The term ‘‘knowingly’’ has the meaning given such term in 

section 566.312 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section was in 

effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(6) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an individual or entity. 

(7) PETROLEUM OR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS OF SYRIAN ORIGIN.—The term ‘‘petroleum or petroleum products of Syrian origin’’ has the meaning given such 

term in section 542.314 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section 

was in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(8) SIGNIFICANT TRANSACTION OR TRANSACTIONS; SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL SERVICES.—A transaction or transactions or financial services shall be determined to 

be a significant for purposes of this section in accordance with section 566.404 

of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section was in effect on the 

date of the enactment of this Act. 

(9) SYRIA.—The term ‘‘Syria’’ has the meaning given such term in section 

542.316 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section was in effect 

on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(10) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term ‘‘United States person’’ means any 

United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the 


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laws of the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the 

United States. 

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. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 702(c) of the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 

2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791(c)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(c) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall exercise all powers granted by the 

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the 

extent necessary to freeze and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of a person on the list required by subsection (b) if such 

property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the 

United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United 

States person. 

‘‘(2) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.— 

‘‘(A) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.—An alien who the Secretary of State 

or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe, meets any of the criteria described 

in subsection (b) is— 

‘‘(i) inadmissible to the United States; 

‘‘(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the 

United States; and 

‘‘(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United 

States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 

‘‘(B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The issuing consular officer, the Secretary of State, 

or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such 

Secretaries) shall revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued 

to an alien who meets any of the criteria described in subsection (b) regardless of when issued. 

‘‘(ii) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—A revocation under clause (i)— 

‘‘(I) shall take effect immediately; and 

‘‘(II) shall automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien’s possession. 

‘‘(3) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this section or any regulation, license, or order 

issued to carry out this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic 

Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an 

unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section. 

‘‘(4) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The President shall, not later than 180 days 

after the date of the enactment of this section, promulgate regulations as necessary for the implementation of this section. 

‘‘(5) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions under paragraph (2) shall not apply to an alien if admitting 

the alien into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to 

comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, 

signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 

1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable 

international obligations. 

‘‘(6) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to 

limit the authority of the President pursuant to the International Emergency 

Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), relevant Executive orders, regulations, or other provisions of law.’’. 

(b) SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES DESCRIBED.—Section 702 of the Syria Human 

Rights Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791) is amended by adding at the end 

the following: 

‘‘(d) SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES DESCRIBED.—In subsection (b), the term ‘serious human rights abuses’ includes— 


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‘‘(1) the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure to include schools, hospitals, markets, and other infrastructure that is essential to human life, such 

as power and water systems; and 

‘‘(2) the deliberate diversion, hindering, or blocking of access for humanitarian 

purposes, including access across conflict lines and borders.’’. 

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take 

effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to the 

imposition of sanctions under section 702(a) of the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 on after such date of enactment. 

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. 

Section 703(b)(2)(C) of the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 (22 

U.S.C. 8792(b)(2)(C)) is amended— 

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

(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 

and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(iii) any article— 

‘‘(I) designated by the President for purposes of the United States 

Munitions List under section 38(a)(1) of the Arms Export Control 

Act (22 U.S.C. 2778(a)(1)); and 

‘‘(II) with respect to which the President determines is significant 

for purposes of the imposition of sanctions under subsection (a); or 

‘‘(iv) other goods or technologies that the President determines may 

be used by the Government of Syria to commit human rights abuses 

against the people of Syria.’’. 

SEC. 203. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS WHO HINDER HUMANITARIAN ACCESS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 

8791 et seq.) is amended— 

(1) by redesignating sections 705 and 706 as sections 706 and 707, respectively; 

(2) by inserting after section 704 the following: 

‘‘SEC. 705. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS WHO HINDER HUMANITARIAN ACCESS. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose sanctions described in section 

702(c) with respect to each person on the list required by subsection (b). 

‘‘(b) LIST OF PERSONS WHO HINDER HUMANITARIAN ACCESS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment 

of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017, the President shall submit 

to the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons that the President 

determines have engaged in deliberate diversion, hindering, or blocking of access for humanitarian purposes for the United Nations, its specialized agencies 

and implementing partners, national and international nongovernmental organizations, and all other actors engaged in humanitarian relief activities in 

Syria, including through the deliberate targeting of such humanitarian actors 

and activities in Syria and across conflict lines and borders. 

‘‘(2) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an updated list under paragraph (1)— 

‘‘(A) not later than 300 days after the date of the enactment of the Caesar 

Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017 and every 180 days thereafter; and 

‘‘(B) as new information becomes available. 

‘‘(3) FORM.—The list required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.’’; and 

(3) in section 706 (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘or 704’’ and inserting ‘‘704, 

or 705’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents for the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 

704 the following new item: 

‘‘Sec. 705. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who hinder humanitarian access.’’. 

SEC. 204. REPORT ON CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT IN 

CERTAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN SYRIA. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this 

Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a detailed report with respect to whether each person described in subsection (c) meets 

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ability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791(b)) for purposes of inclusion on the list of persons 

who are responsible for or complicit in certain human rights abuses under such section. 

(b) JUSTIFICATION.—The President shall include in the report required by subsection (a) a description of the reasons why any of the persons described in subsection (c) do not meet the requirements described in section 702(b) of the Syria 

Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791(b)), including information 

on whether sufficient credible evidence of responsibility for such abuses was found 

or whether any of the persons described in subsection (c) have been designated pursuant to— 

(1) Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011 (76 Fed. Reg. 24787; relating to 

blocking property of certain persons with respect to human rights abuses in 

Syria); 

(2) Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011 (76 Fed. Reg. 29143; relating to 

blocking property of senior officials of the Government of Syria); 

(3) Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011 (76 Fed. Reg. 52209; relating 

to blocking property of the Government of Syria and prohibiting certain transactions with respect to Syria); or 

(4) Executive Order 13606 of April 22, 2012 (77 Fed. Reg. 24571; relating to 

blocking the property and suspending entry into the United States of certain 

persons with respect to grave human rights abuses by the Governments of Iran 

and Syria via information technology). 

(c) PERSONS DESCRIBED.—The persons described in this subsection are the following: 

(1) Bashar Al-Assad. 

(2) Asma Al-Assad. 

(3) Rami Makhlouf. 

(4) Bouthayna Shaaban. 

(5) Walid Moallem. 

(6) Ali Al-Salim. 

(7) Wael Nader Al-Halqi. 

(8) Jamil Hassan. 

(9) Suhail Hassan. 

(10) Ali Mamluk. 

(11) Muhammed Khadour, Deir Ez Zor Military and Security. 

(12) Jamal Razzouq, Security Branch 243. 

(13) Munzer Ghanam, Air Force Intelligence. 

(14) Daas Hasan Ali, Branch 327. 

(15) Jassem Ali Jassem Hamad, Political Security. 

(16) Samir Muhammad Youssef, Military Intelligence. 

(17) Ali Ahmad Dayoub, Air Force Intelligence. 

(18) Khaled Muhsen Al-Halabi, Security Branch 335. 

(19) Mahmoud Kahila, Political Security. 

(20) Zuhair Ahmad Hamad, Provincial Security. 

(21) Wafiq Nasser, Security Branch 245. 

(22) Qussay Mayoub, Air Force Intelligence. 

(23) Muhammad Ammar Sardini, Political Security. 

(24) Fouad Hammouda, Military Security. 

(25) Hasan Daaboul, Branch 261. 

(26) Yahia Wahbi, Air Force Intelligence. 

(27) Okab Saqer, Security Branch 318. 

(28) Husam Luqa, Political Security. 

(29) Sami Al-Hasan, Security Branch 219. 

(30) Yassir Deeb, Political Security. 

(31) Ibrahim Darwish, Security Branch 220. 

(32) Nasser Deeb, Political Security. 

(33) Abdullatif Al-Fahed, Security Branch 290. 

(34) Adeeb Namer Salamah, Air Force Intelligence. 

(35) Akram Muhammed, State Security. 

(36) Reyad Abbas, Political Security. 

(37) Ali Abdullah Ayoub, Syrian Armed Forces. 

(38) Fahd Jassem Al-Freij, Defense Ministry. 

(39) Issam Halaq, Air Force. 

(40) Ghassan Al-Abdullah, General Intelligence Directorate. 

(41) Maher Al-Assad, Republican Guard. 

(42) Fahad Al-Farouch. 

(43) Rafiq Shahada, Military Intelligence. 

(44) Loay Al-Ali, Military Intelligence. 

(45) Nawfal Al-Husayn, Military Intelligence. 


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(46) Muhammad Zamrini, Military Intelligence. 

(47) Muhammad Mahallah, Military Intelligence. 

(d) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex if necessary. 

(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, 

the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

House of Representatives; and 

(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Banking, Housing, 

and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. 

TITLE III—REPORTS AND WAIVER FOR HUMANITARIAN-RELATED ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA 

SEC. 301. BRIEFING ON MONITORING AND EVALUATING OF ONGOING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 

IN SYRIA AND TO THE SYRIAN PEOPLE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 

Act, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 

International Development shall brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on 

the monitoring and evaluation of ongoing assistance programs in Syria and for the 

Syrian people, including assistance provided through multilateral organizations. 

(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The briefing required by subsection (a) shall include— 

(1) the specific project monitoring and evaluation efforts, including measurable goals and performance metrics for assistance in Syria; 

(2) a description of the memoranda of understanding entered into by the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, 

and their respective Inspectors General and the multilateral organizations 

through which United States assistance will be delivered that formalize requirements for the sharing of information between such entities for the conduct of 

audits, investigations, and evaluations; and 

(3) the major challenges to monitoring and evaluating such programs. 

SEC. 302. ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL METHODS TO ENHANCE THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 

Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 

that— 

(1) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, and operational requirements of 

the establishment and maintenance of a no-fly zone over part or all of Syria, 

including— 

(A) the operational and legal requirements for United States and coalition 

air power to establish a no-fly zone in Syria; 

(B) the impact a no-fly zone in Syria would have on humanitarian and 

counterterrorism efforts in Syria and the surrounding region; and 

(C) the potential for force contributions from other countries to establish 

a no-fly zone in Syria; 

(2) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, and operational requirements 

for the establishment of one or more safe zones in Syria for internally displaced 

persons or for the facilitation of humanitarian assistance, including— 

(A) the operational and legal requirements for United States and coalition 

forces to establish one or more safe zones in Syria; 

(B) the impact one or more safe zones in Syria would have on humanitarian and counterterrorism efforts in Syria and the surrounding region; 

and 

(C) the potential for contributions from other countries and vetted nonstate actor partners to establish and maintain one or more safe zones in 

Syria; 

(3) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, and operational requirements of 

other non-military means to enhance the protection of civilians, especially civilians who are in besieged areas, trapped at borders, or internally displaced; and 

(4) describes the Administration’s plan for recruitment, training, and retention of partner forces, including— 


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(A) identification of the United States partner forces operating on the 

ground; 

(B) the primary source of strength for each armed actor engaged in hostilities; 

(C) the capabilities, requirements, and vulnerabilities of each armed 

actor; 

(D) the United States role in mitigating vulnerabilities of partner forces; 

and 

(E) the Administration’s measures of success for partner forces, including— 

(i) increasing Syrian civilian security; and 

(ii) working toward an end to the conflict in Syria. 

(b) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex if necessary. 

(c) CONSULTATION.—The report required by subsection (a) shall be informed by 

consultations with the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense, and international and local organizations operating in Syria or in neighboring countries to alleviate the suffering of 

the Syrian people. 

(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ 

means— 

(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services 

of the House of Representatives; and 

(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate. 

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. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of 

State, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and 

Labor and the Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement 

Affairs, is authorized to provide assistance to support entities that are conducting 

criminal investigations, building Syrian investigative capacity, supporting prosecutions in national courts, collecting evidence and preserving the chain of evidence for 

eventual prosecution against those who have committed war crimes or crimes 

against humanity in Syria, including the aiding and abetting of such crimes by foreign governments and organizations supporting the Government of Syria, since 

March 2011. 

(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

the Secretary of State shall brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 

of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on assistance provided under subsection (a). 

TITLE IV—SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH 

RESPECT TO SYRIA 

SEC. 401. SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA. 

(a) SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS.— 

(1) NEGOTIATIONS NOT CONCLUDING IN AGREEMENT.—If the President determines that internationally recognized negotiations to resolve the violence in 

Syria have not concluded in an agreement or are likely not to conclude in an 

agreement, the President may suspend, as appropriate, in whole or in part, the 

imposition of sanctions otherwise required under this Act or any amendment 

made by this Act for a period not to exceed 120 days, and renewable for additional periods not to exceed 120 days, if the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees in writing a determination and certification 

that the Government of Syria has ended military attacks against and gross violations of the human rights of the Syrian people, specifically— 

(A) the air space over Syria is no longer being utilized by the Government 

of Syria and associated forces to target civilian populations through the use 

of incendiary devices, including barrel bombs, chemical weapons, and conventional arms, including air-delivered missiles and explosives; 

(B) areas besieged by the Assad regime and associated forces, including 

Hezbollah and irregular Iranian forces, are no longer cut off from international aid and have regular access to humanitarian assistance, freedom 

of travel, and medical care; 


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(C) the Government of Syria is releasing all political prisoners forcibly 

held within the Assad regime prison system, including the facilities maintained by various security, intelligence, and military elements associated 

with the Government of Syria and allowed full access to the same facilities 

for investigations by appropriate international human rights organizations; 

and 

(D) the forces of the Government of Syria and associated forces, including 

Hezbollah, irregular Iranian forces, and Russian government air assets, are 

no longer engaged in deliberate targeting of medical facilities, schools, residential areas, and community gathering places, including markets, in flagrant violation of international norms. 

(2) NEGOTIATIONS CONCLUDING IN AGREEMENT.— 

(A) INITIAL SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS.—If the President determines that 

internationally recognized negotiations to resolve the violence in Syria have 

concluded in an agreement or are likely to conclude in an agreement, the 

President may suspend, as appropriate, in whole or in part, the imposition 

of sanctions otherwise required under this Act or any amendment made by 

this Act for a period not to exceed 120 days if the President submits to the 

appropriate congressional committees in writing a determination and certification that— 

(i) in the case in which the negotiations are likely to conclude in an 

agreement— 

(I) the Government of Syria, the Syrian High Negotiations Committee or its internationally-recognized successor, and appropriate 

international parties are participating in direct, face-to-face negotiations; and 

(II) the suspension of sanctions under this Act or any amendment made by this Act is essential to the advancement of such negotiations; and 

(ii) the Government of Syria has demonstrated a commitment to a 

significant and substantial reduction in attacks on and violence against 

the Syrian people by the Government of Syria and associated forces. 

(B) RENEWAL OF SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS.—The President may renew 

a suspension of sanctions under subparagraph (A) for additional periods not 

to exceed 120 days if, for each such additional period, the President submits 

to the appropriate congressional committees in writing a determination and 

certification that— 

(i) the conditions described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) 

are continuing to be met; 

(ii) the renewal of the suspension of sanctions is essential to implementing an agreement described in subparagraph (A) or making 

progress toward concluding an agreement described in subparagraph 

(A); 

(iii) the Government of Syria and associated forces have ceased attacks against Syrian civilians; and 

(iv) the Government of Syria has publicly committed to negotiations 

for a transitional government in Syria and continues to demonstrate 

that commitment through sustained engagement in talks and substantive and verifiable progress towards the implementation of such an 

agreement. 

(3) BRIEFING AND REIMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.— 

(A) BRIEFING.—Not later than 30 days after the President submits to the 

appropriate congressional committees a determination and certification in 

the case of a renewal of suspension of sanctions under paragraph (2)(B), 

and every 30 days thereafter, the President shall provide a briefing to the 

appropriate congressional committees on the status and frequency of negotiations described in paragraph (2). 

(B) RE-IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.—If the President provides a briefing to 

the appropriate congressional committees under subparagraph (A) with respect to which the President indicates a lapse in negotiations described in 

paragraph (2) for a period that equals or exceeds 90 days, the sanctions 

that were suspended under paragraph (2)(B) shall be re-imposed and any 

further suspension of such sanctions is prohibited. 

(4) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 

(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and 


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(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Banking, 

Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee 

on the Judiciary of the Senate. 

(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR DETERMINING A TRANSITIONAL

GOVERNMENT IN SYRIA.—It is the sense of Congress that a transitional government 

in Syria is a government that— 

(1) is taking verifiable steps to release all political prisoners and is providing 

full access to Syrian prisons for investigations by appropriate international 

human rights organizations; 

(2) is taking verifiable steps to remove former senior Syrian Government officials who are complicit in the conception, implementation, or cover up of war 

crimes, crimes against humanity, or human rights abuses and any person subject to sanctions under any provision of law from government positions; 

(3) is in the process of organizing free and fair elections for a new government— 

(A) to be held in a timely manner and scheduled while the suspension 

of sanctions or the renewal of the suspension of sanctions under this section 

is in effect; and 

(B) to be conducted under the supervision of internationally recognized 

observers; 

(4) is making tangible progress toward establishing an independent judiciary; 

(5) is demonstrating respect for and compliance with internationally recognized human rights and basic freedoms as specified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 

(6) is taking steps to verifiably fulfill its commitments under the Chemical 

Weapons Convention and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and is making tangible progress toward becoming a signatory to Convention 

on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, entered into 

force March 26, 1975, and adhering to the Missile Technology Control Regime 

and other control lists, as necessary; 

(7) has halted the development and deployment of ballistic and cruise missiles; and 

(8) is taking verifiable steps to remove from positions of authority within the 

intelligence and security services as well as the military those who were in a 

position of authority or responsibility during the conflict and who under the authority of their position were implicated in or implicit in the torture, 

extrajudicial killing, or execution of civilians, to include those who were involved in decisionmaking or execution of plans to use chemical weapons. 

SEC. 402. WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS. 

(a) EXEMPTIONS.—The following activities and transactions shall be exempt from 

sanctions authorized under this Act or any amendment made by this Act: 

(1) Any activity subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.), or to any authorized intelligence activities of the United States. 

(2) Any transaction necessary to comply with United States obligations 

under— 

(A) the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of 

America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake 

Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947; 

(B) the Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, 

and entered into force March 19, 1967; or 

(C) any other international agreement to which the United States is a 

party. 

(b) HUMANITARIAN, STABILIZATION, AND DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE WAIVER.— 

(1) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It shall be the policy of the United States to fully 

utilize the waiver authority under this subsection to ensure that adequate humanitarian relief or support for stabilization and democracy promotion is provided to the Syrian people. 

(2) WAIVER.—Except as provided in paragraph (5) and subsection (d), the 

President may waive, on a case-by-case basis, for a period not to exceed one 

year, and renewable for additional periods not to exceed one year, the application of sanctions authorized under this Act with respect to a person if the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a written determination that the waiver is necessary for purposes of providing humanitarian or stabilization assistance or support for democracy promotion to the people of Syria. 

(3) CONTENT OF WRITTEN DETERMINATION.—A written determination submitted under paragraph (2) with respect to a waiver shall include a description 


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of all notification and accountability controls that have been employed in order 

to ensure that the activities covered by the waiver are humanitarian or stabilization assistance or support for democracy promotion and do not entail any 

activities in Syria or dealings with the Government of Syria not reasonably related to humanitarian or stabilization assistance or support for democracy promotion. 

(4) CLARIFICATION OF PERMITTED ACTIVITIES UNDER WAIVER.—The President 

may not impose sanctions authorized under this Act against a humanitarian organization for— 

(A) engaging in a financial transaction relating to humanitarian assistance or for humanitarian purposes pursuant to a waiver issued under paragraph (2); 

(B) transporting goods or services that are necessary to carry out operations relating to humanitarian assistance or humanitarian purposes pursuant to such a waiver; or 

(C) having incidental contact, in the course of providing humanitarian assistance or aid for humanitarian purposes pursuant to such a waiver, with 

individuals who are under the control of a foreign person subject to sanctions under this Act or any amendment made by this Act unless the organization or its officers, members, representatives or employees have engaged 

in (or the President knows or has reasonable ground to believe is engaged 

in or is likely to engage in) conduct described in section 212(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI) 

of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI)). 

(5) EXCEPTION TO WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The President may not exercise the 

waiver authority under paragraph (2) with respect to a foreign person who has 

(or whose officers, members, representatives or employees have) engaged in (or 

the President knows or has reasonable ground to believe is engaged in or is 

likely to engage in) conduct described in section 212(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI)). 

(c) WAIVER.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The President may, for periods not to exceed 120 days, 

waive the application of sanctions under this Act with respect to a foreign person if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that 

such waiver is vital to the national security interests of the United States. 

(2) CONSULTATION.— 

(A) BEFORE WAIVER ISSUED.—Not later than 5 days before the issuance 

of a waiver under paragraph (1) is to take effect, the President shall notify 

and brief the appropriate congressional committees on the status of the foreign person’s involvement in activities described in this Act. 

(B) AFTER WAIVER ISSUED.—Not later than 90 days after the issuance of 

a waiver under paragraph (1), and every 120 days thereafter if the waiver 

remains in effect, the President shall brief the appropriate congressional 

committees on the status of the foreign person’s involvement in activities 

described in this Act. 

(3) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 

(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and 

(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Banking, 

Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee 

on the Judiciary of the Senate. 

(d) CODIFICATION OF CERTAIN SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS’ ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), section 542.516 of title 

31, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to certain services in support of nongovernmental organizations’ activities authorized), as in effect on the day before 

the date of the enactment of this Act, shall— 

(A) remain in effect on and after such date of enactment; and 

(B) in the case of a nongovernmental organization that is authorized to 

export or reexport services to Syria under such section on the day before 

such date of enactment, shall apply to such organization on and after such 

date of enactment to the same extent and in the same manner as such section applied to such organization on the day before such date of enactment. 

(2) EXCEPTION.—Section 542.516 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as 

codified under paragraph (1), shall not apply with respect to a foreign person 

who has (or whose officers, members, representatives or employees have) engaged in (or the President knows or has reasonable ground to believe is engaged 


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in or is likely to engage in) conduct described in section 212(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI) of 

the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI)). 

(e) STRATEGY REQUIRED.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

a report containing a strategy to ensure that humanitarian organizations can 

access financial services to ensure the safe and timely delivery of assistance to 

communities in need in Syria. 

(2) CONSIDERATION OF DATA FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND NONGOVERNMENTAL

ORGANIZATIONS.—In preparing the strategy required by paragraph (1), the 

President shall consider credible data already obtained by other countries and 

nongovernmental organizations, including organizations operating in Syria. 

(3) FORM.—The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. 

TITLE V—REGULATORY AUTHORITY, COST 

LIMITATION, AND SUNSET 

SEC. 501. IMPLEMENTATION AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES. 

(a) IMPLEMENTATION AUTHORITY.—The President may exercise all authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency 

Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) for purposes of carrying out this 

Act and the amendments made by this Act. 

(b) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The President shall, not later than 90 days after 

the date of the enactment of this Act, promulgate regulations as necessary for the 

implementation of this Act and the amendments made by this Act. 

(c) BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—Not less than 10 days before the promulgation of regulations under subsection (a), the President shall brief the appropriate congressional 

committees on the proposed regulations and the provisions of this Act and the 

amendments made by this Act that the regulations are implementing. 

(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and 

(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, 

Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate. 

SEC. 502. COST LIMITATION. 

No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act and 

the amendments made by this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using 

amounts otherwise authorized. 

SEC. 503. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Any reports required to be submitted to the appropriate congressional committees under this Act or any amendment made by this Act that are 

subject to a deadline for submission consisting of the same unit of time may be consolidated into a single report that is submitted to appropriate congressional committees pursuant to such deadline. The consolidated reports shall contain all information required under this Act or any amendment made by this Act, in addition to 

all other elements mandated by previous law. 

(b) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ 

means— 

(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and 

(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, 

Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate. 

SEC. 504. SUNSET. 

This Act shall cease to be effective beginning on December 31, 2021. 

PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION

H.R. 1677, the ‘‘Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017,’’ is 

a response to the immense human suffering and regional instability created by the conflict in Syria. After more than six years of 

intense fighting, nearly 500,000 civilian deaths, the destruction of 

more than 50 percent of Syria’s critical infrastructure, and the 


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forced displacement of more than 14,000,000 people, the Syrian 

conflict has precipitated one of the worst humanitarian crises in 

more than 60 years. Failed efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict have demonstrated to the Committee the need to exert greater 

pressure on the Syrian regime and its enablers. This legislation 

seeks to create leverage for the United States to demand meaningful negotiations and provides tools to sanction those who fuel the 

Syrian regime’s killing machine. This legislation builds on the 

‘‘Syria Human Rights and Accountability Act of 2012’’ (contained in 

P.L. 112–158), to further sanction those who are responsible for or 

complicit in widespread human rights abuses and war crimes. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Caesar 

The ‘‘Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017’’ is named in 

honor of the courageous former Syrian military photographer, 

known by the pseudonym ‘‘Caesar,’’ who testified before the House 

Foreign Affairs Committee in 2014 in a briefing, entitled ‘‘Assad’s 

Killing Machine Exposed: Implications for U.S. Policy.’’ Caesar, 

who appeared before the committee in disguise, smuggled out of 

Syria more than 50,000 photographs that document the torture and 

execution of more than 10,000 political prisoners. This briefing was 

the first public setting in which Caesar shared his story. Since 

2014, Caesar’s photographs of torture victims inside Assad’s prisons have been authenticated by the United States Federal Bureau 

of Investigation, displayed around the world, including at the U.S. 

Holocaust Memorial Museum, the United Nations and various parliaments, and used as evidence in war crimes prosecutions against 

the Assad regime. 

Assad’s Continued Use of Chemical Weapons 

The brutal and indiscriminate use of chemical weapons has been 

a key element in the Assad regime’s strategy to stay in power. The 

attack on April 4, 2017 saw Syrian regime aircraft conduct several 

air strikes using the chemical nerve agent, sarin gas. This attack 

is reported to have killed approximately 100 people in the town of 

Khan Shaikhoun, including scores of children. A hospital treating 

victims of the chemical attack was later reportedly struck by conventional weapons from Russian aircraft. Evidence of the Russian 

follow-up attack has reportedly been corroborated by satellite and 

drone imagery. Some suggest that the Russians may have been trying to cover up evidence of the chemical attack when they fired on 

the hospital. 

This attack was the latest of several chemical weapons attacks 

against Syrian civilians, including chlorine attacks throughout the 

conflict and sarin gas attacks in the Aleppo suburbs and Eastern 

Ghouta in 2013. It came after President Obama said in a 2013 

news conference, ‘‘We have been very clear to the Assad regime, 

but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is 

we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around 

or being utilized. That would change my calculus. That would 

change my equation.’’ 

After the 2013 sarin gas attacks, the Obama Administration and 

the Russian Government announced an agreement that would proVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:34 May 12, 2017 Jkt 069006 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR115P1.XXX HR115P1

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vide for the elimination of Syria’s declared stockpiles, manufacturing, and mixing equipment. This agreement avoided U.S. military action and was memorialized in U.N. Security Council Resolution 2118, which required the verification and destruction of Syria’s 

chemical weapons stockpiles. The final shipment of Assad’s declared chemical weapons materials left Syria on June 23, 2014, and 

the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) 

won the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to implement the Security Council Resolution. 

Despite these developments, many suspected that the Syrian 

Government maintained stockpiles of several tons of chemical 

weapons after June 2014. In the months that followed, it was confirmed by the Syrian Government that four more production sites 

and a ricin program had been undeclared and remained in the 

country—leading a high ranking Syrian official to call the agreement a ‘‘victory’’ for Assad’s regime. 

The Russian Government was supposed to be the guarantor of 

Syrian adherence to the U.N. Security Council Resolution, but as 

Secretary of State Tillerson noted in remarks to the media after 

the sarin attack in Khan Shaikhoun: ‘‘Russia has failed in its responsibility to deliver on that commitment from 2013. So either 

Russia has been complicit or Russia has been simply incompetent 

in its ability to deliver on its end of that agreement.’’ 

Assad’s continued use of chemical weapons serves a tactical and 

strategic purpose. Tactically, the Syrian regime has been able to 

prevent the loss of key infrastructure and prevent losses from their 

own ranks while inflicting damage on others. Strategically, the repeated use of such weapons, which until recently was carried out 

with impunity, is meant to demoralize opposition fighters and Syrian civilians. 

Additionally, chlorine gas, a chemical with a number of commercial and medical applications, has been a consistent and deadly 

weapon for the Assad regime in its efforts to terrorize and kill civilians. In 2015, the committee heard testimony from Dr. Annie Sparrow of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York—a trainer of 

Syrian doctors—in which she stated that chlorine, a dual use chemical, is used by the Assad regime as a chemical weapon in indiscriminate attacks. She also noted the regime has used chlorine as 

an indirect biological weapon by withholding shipments to besieged 

areas, thus contributing to epidemics of polio, typhoid, hepatitis, 

and other contagious diseases. 

Assad’s Slaughter of the Syrian People 

While Assad’s use of chemical weapons is a key topic of international outrage, it is only one method by which Assad targets civilians. The primary means of death in Syria remains conventional 

weaponry, including missiles, mortars, and bombs, including cluster munitions. The regime has also utilized the crude nature of a 

barrel bomb to indiscriminately target civilians. The civil defense 

group known as the White Helmets has reported countless incidents and provided evidence of aerial bombardments of civilian 

areas, including schools, hospitals, refugee camps and markets. The 

White Helmets’ centers, ambulances and personnel have been deliberately targeted, and at least one White Helmets volunteer who 

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strike in 2016 as he was trying to rescue people trapped under rubble. 

Nowhere is Assad’s disregard for life more visible than in the 

photographs smuggled out of Syria by the former police photographer who testified before the committee under the name ‘‘Caesar.’’ These photographs include the images of men, women, and 

children tortured and murdered inside of the Syria prisons system. 

In his testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in 

2014, at the time that Caesar revealed his photographs to the 

world, renowned prosecutor David Crane said, ‘‘55,000 photographs 

which show the systematic torture, starvation, and execution of 

what our forensic team was able to verify of approximately 11,000 

human beings, showing direct evidence, evidence that, if I were a 

prosecutor bringing this evidence in, would prove beyond a reasonable doubt of war crimes and crimes against humanity. We were 

stunned by the magnitude of this.’’ Furthermore, the regime has 

tortured to death at least 12,000 people, according to the Syrian 

Network for Human Rights. 

One of the most shocking elements of the Caesar file of photographs is the diversity of victims. The Syrian regime has targeted 

individuals from all backgrounds and religious faiths. In fact, Caesar provided multiple photographs of Christian torture victims, 

while other prominent Christians continue to remain in government detention. In addition, according to a report by the Syrian 

Network for Human Rights, over 60 percent of Syrian churches 

have been targeted by government forces It is abundantly clear 

from the evidence that the Assad regime seeks to protect itself and 

neutralize any perceived threat to its survival regardless of religious or ethnic affiliations. Pope Francis has spoken out against 

the atrocities in Syria, delivering strong remarks after the sarin 

gas attacks: ‘‘I firmly deplore the unacceptable carnage that took 

place yesterday in Idlib province, where scores of helpless people, 

including many children, were killed.’’ He went on to appeal to 

those ‘‘with political responsibility, both locally and internationally, 

to cease this tragedy and bring relief to that dear population which, 

for too long, has been exhausted by war.’’ 

Assad’s Supporting Role in the Rise of ISIS 

While Bashar al-Assad portrays himself and his regime as the 

only alternative to a Syria dominated by radical Sunni Islamists, 

he played a well-documented role in the development of ISIS in 

Iraq. As Charles Lister testified before this committee on April 27, 

2017: 

‘‘As U.S. troops entered Iraq in March 2003, Assad’s personally appointed Grand Mufti issued a fatwa declaring it 

religiously obligatory for all Muslims—male and female— 

to resist the invasion using any available means, including 

suicide bombing. Iraq’s then foreign minister claimed 5,000 

foreign fighters crossed into the country from Syria in the 

first 11 days of the invasion. Most of these were driven to 

the border on Syrian Government buses, as Syrian border 

guards waved them across unchecked. According to captured Islamic State documents, more than 700 foreign 

jihadists crossed into Iraq from Syria through one town 

alone in a 12- month period between 2006–2007. Later in 


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2007, U.S. intelligence estimated that as much as 90% of 

Islamic State suicide bombers in Iraq had come through 

Syria—many flying into Aleppo or Damascus airports and 

then given free access to the Iraqi border. In mid-2009, the 

Syrian Government’s military intelligence service convened 

a meeting in the Syrian mountain town of Zabadani, in 

which Assad regime officials sat alongside leaders from the 

Islamic State and from Iraq’s deposed Baath Party and 

planned a series of debilitating bombings aimed at crippling Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s standing in Baghdad. Those attacks took place in August 2009 and left over 

700 killed and wounded. It is quite possible that hundreds 

of American troops would still be alive today had it not 

been for Assad’s explicit support for what was then known 

as the Islamic State in Iraq.’’ 

Two of the four key leaders of al Nusra Front’s seven founding 

members were released from prison by the Assad regime at the 

start of the conflict—when the opposition was still primarily a 

peaceful resistance with no major armed groups. Three of ISIS’s 

most important leaders in Syria were also released, including the 

Emirs of Aleppo and Raqqa. Even today, the Assad regime and its 

backers use the pretext of fighting ‘‘terrorism’’ to explain the deliberate targeting of medical facilities, rescue personnel, and civilian 

targets such as schools and market places. 

In reality, regime atrocities continue to be an effective propaganda tool for both Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham and ISIS, both outgrowths of Al Qaeda. Witnesses have testified to the committee 

that the only way to defeat terrorism in Syria is for President 

Assad to step aside and make way for the ‘‘transitional governing 

body’’ that is called for under the Geneva Communique. As Ambassador Fred Hof said in his testimony on February 14, 2017 at the 

Subcommittee on Terrorism, Non-Proliferation and Trade, ‘‘ISIS 

and JFS can and should be defeated militarily. Terror, however, 

will be killed in Syria only when legitimate governance, reflecting 

inclusivity and rule of law, replaces family rule based on collective 

punishment and mass homicide. So long as the latter prevails responses to it will inevitably include appeals to sectarianism, extremism, and terror.’’ 

Russian and Iranian Support and Protection 

Iran has long considered Bashar Al-Assad’s Alawite government 

an ally against Saudi Arabia and other Sunni states in the region. 

Iran supports the Syrian regime by providing funding, weapons, 

Quds force advisors backed by Shiite militias, and Iranian ground 

troops. U.N. officials estimate that Iranian funding to Syria, even 

with sanctions on Iran in place, has averaged $6 billion annually. 

Iran has reportedly deployed at least 7,000 of its own fighters to 

Syria. These forces include elements of the IRGC-Ground Forces 

and Iranian ‘Artesh’ that represent the first expeditionary deployment of conventional forces by Iran since the Iran-Iraq War. Iran 

also leads a coalition of roughly 20,000 foreign fighters in the country, including 6,000 to 8,000 from Lebanese Hezbollah, 4,000 to 

5,000 from Iraqi Shi’a militias, and 2,000 to 4,000 Afghan Shi’a 

fighters. This coalition provides a disproportionate amount of the 

combat-capable infantry used in major pro-regime operations. 


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While the relationship between Russia and Syria dates back to 

the 1950s, Russia’s chief interest today is in maintaining access to 

the Syrian port of Tartus, which Moscow has utilized as a logistical 

hub supporting Russian naval operations in the Mediterranean, 

and playing a more active role in the region. Starting in the summer of 2015, Russia began an extensive military buildup of personnel, combat aircraft, and military equipment inside of Syria. 

This assistance came at a critical juncture in the conflict and has 

turned the tide of war in favor of Assad. With Russian assistance, 

Assad has been able to retake key areas, including the former opposition strongholds of Aleppo and Homs. 

Russian air support has played the largest role in reversing 

Assad’s fortunes. While claiming to fight ISIS, Russia has in fact 

conducted the vast majority of air strikes against regime opponents 

and in the process, killed thousands of Syrian civilians. Russia’s introduction of advanced air defense systems into Syria constrains 

the ability of other aircraft to operate freely in the area. Russia has 

killed thousands of Syrian civilians. Russia also continues to provide diplomatic protection for Syria by blocking multiple measures 

at the U.N. Security Council that would increase pressure on the 

Assad regime. 

It is unclear if Russia is unable or simply unwilling to control the 

Assad regime and force it to accept the kinds of concessions necessary to broker a political solution. Without additional mechanisms to reassert US authority, decisions regarding the future of 

Syria—including regional spheres of influence and dominance—will 

be decided without an eye toward U.S. interests. The relationship 

between Russia and Iran continues to deepen, and the committee 

remains very concerned about how this partnership in the future 

could negatively impact U.S. national security in the future. 

Failed Diplomacy to Date 

The ‘‘Geneva process,’’ the U.N.-sponsored negotiations that took 

place in Geneva in 2012 and 2014, has not produced meaningful results. A few localized ceasefires, brokered through the U.N., have 

not lasted. 

Currently, Russia, Iran, and Turkey are the dominant state-level 

actors in negotiations and they are focused on a series of Russiansponsored talks in Astana, Kazakhtan. The ‘‘Astana process’’ meetings have been attended by some elements of the secular, Syrian 

military opposition as well as the Assad regime and representatives 

of Russia, Iran, and Turkey. During talks in Astana in early 2017, 

Russia proposed a new Syrian constitution. The Syrian opposition 

rejected the draft, saying that only Syrians should and can decide 

the future of Syria. The latest round of talks in Astana, held in 

early May 2017, led to the announcement of ‘‘de-escalation’’ zones 

in Syria—in which Assad and his backers would agree to reduce 

military operations with the exception of those ‘‘targeting terrorists.’’ The guarantors of peace in these zones would include the Syrian army and likely, associated forces. Such guarantors are unlikely to be able to create or keep the peace as they foment sectarian-based violence. 


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Legislative Response 

Syria has long been the subject of Congressional interest. In 2003 

Congress passed the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act (SALSRA) (P.L. 108–175) and expanded 

nonproliferation sanctions against the regime by adding Syria to 

the law now known as the Iran, North Korea, Syria Nonproliferation Act through the Iran Nonproliferation Amendments Act of 

2005 (P.L.109–112). Congress continued to build economic pressure 

with the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 

2012 (P.L. 112–158). H.R. 1677 builds on those efforts by expanding sanctions to include those who provide the goods and materials 

used by the Assad war machine to target civilians. 

Legislation substantially similar to this bill passed the House 

unanimously during the 114th Congress, but the Senate failed to 

act before Congress adjourned. 

SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

The goal of this legislation is to create leverage for the U.S. in 

future negotiations. The committee believes that the sanctions 

called for in this bill could help compel the parties to engage in 

meaningful negotiations, while the suspension of sanctions can be 

held out as a mechanism to reward positive movement towards resolving the crisis. 

This legislation seeks to disrupt the supply of goods and materials used by the Assad war machine to target civilians. It imposes 

sanctions on those who (1) provide significant financial, material, 

or technological support to Syria, including the Syrian intelligence 

services, security services, and armed forces; (2) support Syria’s domestic petroleum industry—through which the regime cooperates 

with ISIS; (3) sell or provide aircraft, spare parts, or related goods, 

services, or technologies which are used in whole or in part for 

military operations; or (4) facilitate financing or funding for any of 

these activities. 

By targeting these key sectors, this legislation seeks to raise the 

risk of doing business with the Assad war machine and to cut off 

financial benefits to those who profit off the death and suffering of 

the Syrian people. The majority of those engaged in such activities 

are either war profiteers, members of the Assad regime or its cronies, or acting at the behest of one of Assad’s state backers—such 

as Iran. 

The bill would authorize the imposition of certain sanctions by 

the President and amend current law to require the President to 

impose other sanctions on individuals he designates as eligible. The 

bill would require the President to submit an updated report on individuals alleged to be responsible for ‘‘serious human rights 

abuses’’ in Syria, which the bill would amend current law to define. 

The bill includes a national security waiver and negotiation or 

transition scenario-specific waiver authorities for the President. Its 

provisions would expire after five years. 

The first objective of this legislation is to decrease the violence 

against civilians by raising the cost of doing business with foreign 

entities engaged in aiding the Government of Syria. External support to the Assad regime has fueled this conflict and served as a 

lifeline for the Assad regime. Thus, this legislation imposes thirdVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:34 May 12, 2017 Jkt 069006 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR115P1.XXX HR115P1

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party sanctions on persons that are supporting the Government of 

Syria’s military supply chain—from banking and fuel to defense articles, services and information—in order to make it costlier to acquire military resources. 

Second, this legislation is a means by which to target malignant 

efforts to create a terrorist safe haven in Syria through which 

armed groups, such as Lebanese Hezbollah, are able to move arms, 

money, and fighters to launch attacks against and destabilize U.S. 

allies in the region. The committee remains concerned about the increasing strength of Lebanese Hezbollah and the dangerous implications for the region when battle-hardened Hezbollah fighters return to Southern Lebanon. 

This legislation does not violate the United States’ commitments 

under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and does 

not interfere with the U.S.’s ability to adhere to that agreement. 

Indeed, the previous Administration repeatedly asserted that the 

Iran agreement would not impact the ability of the United States 

to counter Iran’s destabilizing activities. This legislation includes 

flexibility for the President to ensure that sanctions against individuals or entities that provide support for the Syrian regime are 

in the national security interest of the United States. 

HEARINGS/BRIEFINGS

During the present Congress, the committee has continued its active oversight regarding U.S. policy toward Syria, including one 

Full Committee hearing related to the content of H.R. 1677: 

April 27, 2017, Full Committee hearing on ‘‘Syria After the Missile Strike: Policy Options’’ (Michael Singh, Lane-Swig Senior Fellow and Managing Director, The Washington Institute for Near 

East Policy; Charles Lister, Senior Fellow, Middle East Institute; 

Dafna H. Rand, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, National Defense University). 

The Terrorism, Non-Proliferation, and Trade Subcommittee also 

held a hearing relating to the concerns addressed in H.R. 1677: 

February 14, 2017, Subcommittee hearing on ‘‘Defeating Terrorism in Syria: A New Way Forward’’ (Mr. Hassan Hassan, Senior 

Fellow, The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy; The Honorable 

Frederic C. Hof, Director, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, 

Atlantic Council; Ms. Melissa Dalton, Senior Fellow, Center for 

Strategic and International Studies). 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On May 3, 2017, the Committee on Foreign Affairs marked up 

H.R. 1677 in open session, pursuant to notice. An amendment in 

the nature of a substitute (offered by Ranking Member Engel) and 

one amendment to that amendment in the nature of a substitute 

(offered by Mr. Mast) were considered en bloc with the underlying 

bill, and were agreed to by voice vote. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of rules of the 

House of Representatives, the committee reports that findings and 

recommendations of the committee, based on oversight activities 

under clause 2(b)(1) of House Rule X, are incorporated in the deVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:34 May 12, 2017 Jkt 069006 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR115P1.XXX HR115P1

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scriptive portions of this report, particularly in the ‘‘Purpose of Legislation,’’ ‘‘Background and Need for Legislation,’’ and ‘‘Section-bySection Analysis’’ sections. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, TAX EXPENDITURES, AND FEDERAL

MANDATES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of House Rule XIII and the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (P.L. 104–4), the committee adopts as 

its own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, tax expenditure or revenues, and Federal mandates contained 

in the cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional 

Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, May 9, 2017. 

Hon. EDWARD R. ROYCE, Chairman, 

Committee on Foreign Affairs, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1677, the Caesar Syria 

Civilian Protection Act of 2017. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Sunita D’Monte, who can 

be reached at 226–2840. 

Sincerely, 

KEITH HALL. Enclosure 

cc: Honorable Eliot L. Engel 

Ranking Member 

H.R. 1677—Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017. 

As ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs 

on May 3, 2017 

H.R. 1677 would require the Departments of State and the 

Treasury to impose sanctions on people and entities responsible for 

the security and humanitarian crisis in Syria or persons who engage in certain transactions with the government of Syria; that requirement would expire on December 31, 2021. The bill also would 

authorize the Department of State to assist entities that are investigating war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria. Finally, 

the legislation would require briefings and reports to the Congress 

on the implementation of the act, ongoing assistance programs for 

the Syrian people, and the feasibility of various options to protect 

civilians in Syria. 

Based on an analysis of information from the Department of 

State, CBO expects the department would require three additional 

staff at an annual cost of about $200,000 per person to implement 

the act’s sanctions and reporting provisions. CBO further estimates 

that other administrative costs to the Department of the Treasury 


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would total less than $500,000 over the next five years. The Department of State is currently providing assistance to entities that 

are committed to investigating and preserving evidence of human 

right violations in Syria. While it is possible that the department 

would increase such assistance under the bill, CBO has no basis for 

estimating such additional amounts. In total, and incorporating the 

effects of inflation, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1677 

would cost $3 million over the 2018–2022 period; such spending 

would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. 

Enacting H.R. 1677 would increase the number of people who 

would be denied visas by the Secretary of State and would be subject to civil or criminal penalties. Most visa fees are retained by the 

Department of State and spent without further appropriation, but 

some fees are deposited in the Treasury as revenues. Penalties also 

are recorded as revenues and a portion of those penalties can be 

spent without further appropriation. Pay-as-you-go procedures 

apply to this legislation because enacting it would affect direct 

spending and revenues. However, CBO estimates that implementing those sanction provisions would affect very few additional 

people and thus have insignificant effects on both revenues and direct spending. 

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1677 would not increase net 

direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 

10-year periods beginning in 2028. 

H.R. 1677 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in 

the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would not affect 

the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

The bill would expand sanctions on individuals and entities that 

provide support to the Syrian government. The expansion of sanctions would impose private-sector mandates, as defined in UMRA, 

on U.S. entities engaging in transactions that would be prohibited 

by the bill. In addition, individuals in the United States who engage in activities prohibited by the bill would have their visas revoked. The cost of the mandates would be any forgone income directly related to the newly prohibited actions. Because of the broad 

scope of existing U.S. sanctions involving Syria, CBO expects the 

number of entities and individuals in the United States affected by 

the legislation would be small. Further, CBO expects that the loss 

of income from the restrictions in the bill would be relatively low. 

Therefore, CBO estimates that the aggregate cost of the mandates 

would fall below the annual threshold established in UMRA for private-sector mandates ($156 million in 2017, adjusted annually for 

inflation). 

The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Sunita D’Monte (for 

federal costs) and Logan Smith (for private-sector mandates). The 

estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant 

Director for Budget Analysis. 

DIRECTED RULE MAKING

Pursuant to clause 3(c) of House Rule XIII, as modified by section 3(i) of H. Res. 5 during the 115th Congress, the committee 

notes that H.R. 1677 contains no directed rule-making provisions. 


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NON-DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of House Rule XIII, the committee 

states that no provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a 

program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was included in any report 

from the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to 

section 21 of Public Law 111–139, or a program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. 

PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The Act is intended to deprive the Assad regime of the resources 

necessary to slaughter Syrian civilians and to create the necessary 

pressures to force the Assad regime to engage in serious and substantive negotiations. Performance goals associated with these objectives include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• A verifiable decrease in violence against Syrian civilians; • A verifiable decrease in deliberate targeting of medical facilities and personnel by the Assad regime, its backers, and associated forces; and • Serious and sustained engagement by the Assad regime in 

face-to-face, internationally recognized negotiations with the 

Syrian High Negotiations Committee, or its internationallyrecognized successor, and appropriate international parties 

to resolve the violence in Syria. 

CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

H.R. 1677 does not apply to terms and conditions of employment 

or to access to public services or accommodations within the legislative branch. 

NEW ADVISORY COMMITTEES

H.R. 1677 does not establish or authorize any new advisory committees. 

EARMARK IDENTIFICATION

H.R. 1677 contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as described in clauses 9(e), 9(f), and 

9(g) of House Rule XXI. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short Title and Table of Contents. 

States the short title of this Act is the ‘‘Caesar Syria Civilian 

Protection Act of 2017’’ and lists the table of contents for this Act. 

Section 2. Sense of Congress. 

Highlights Bashar al-Assad’s responsibility for the deaths of 

more than 480,000 civilians, the destruction of more than fifty percent of Syria’s critical infrastructure, and the forced the displacement of more than 14,000,000 people, precipitating a humanitarian 

crisis. Of particular note are Assad’s use of barrel bombs, chemical 

weapons, mass starvation campaigns, industrial-scale torture and 


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execution of political dissidents, sniper attacks on pregnant women, 

and the deliberate targeting of medical facilities, schools, residential areas, and community gathering places, including markets. 

Section 3. Statement of Policy. 

States that it is the policy of the United States that all diplomatic and coercive economic means should be used to compel the 

Assad regime to immediately halt the killing of Syrian civilians 

and actively work towards a transition to a democratic government 

in Syria. 

TITLE I—ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATIONAL

EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

Section 101. Sanctions with respect to foreign persons that engage 

in certain transactions. 

Sanctions those who facilitate the Assad regime’s acquisition of 

non-military goods, services or technologies that bolster the regime’s military capabilities. Expands existing sanctions to cover 

third parties that provide petroleum products or technology to the 

Syrian regime that directly facilitates the regime’s domestic oil production. Sanctions those who operate in areas controlled by the 

Government of Syria and who facilitate the Assad regime’s acquisition of aircraft or spare parts, or goods, services or technologies associated with the operation of aircrafts utilized in whole or in part 

for military operations. Also sanctions persons or entities operating 

in the shipping, transportation, or telecommunications sectors 

within areas controlled by the Government of Syria. 

Section 102. Prohibitions with respect to the transfer of arms and 

related materials to Syria. 

This provision sanctions any foreign person that has knowingly 

exported, transferred, or otherwise provided to Syria financial, material, or technological support that contributes materially to the 

ability of the Government of Syria to: 

• Acquire or develop chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons 

or related technologies; 

• Acquire or develop ballistic or cruise missile capabilities; 

• Acquire or develop destabilizing numbers and types of advanced conventional weapons; 

• Or any munitions that could be employed against the people 

of Syria. 

Section 103. Rule of construction. 

This provision states that the sanctions in this Act are additive, 

and do not limit the use of existing sanctions. 


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Section 104. Definitions. 

TITLE II—AMENDMENTS TO SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS ACCOUNTABILITY

ACT OF 2012

Section 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. 

Updates the Syria-related sanctions contained in the Iran Threat 

Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, to deny U.S. visa 

issuance and transactions in property to persons responsible for or 

complicit in human rights abuses. States that the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure is a human rights violation. 

Section 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. 

This provision expands the prohibition against support for the 

Assad regime, to include the provision of munitions and any other 

item that the President determines may contribute to the Syrian 

regime’s ability to commit gross human rights violations. 

Section 203. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who 

hinder humanitarian access. 

This provision amends the Syrian Human Rights Accountability 

Act of 2012 by including sanctions on individuals who attempt to 

deliberately divert, hinder, or block access for humanitarian purposes for the U.N., national and international NGOs and other actors engaged in humanitarian relief activities. Also included are 

those who deliberately target humanitarian actors with violence. 

Section 204. Updated list of certain persons who are responsible for 

human rights violations in Syria. 

Requires that the President submit an updated report of persons 

who are responsible for violations of human rights in Syria, as required under section 702 of the Syria Human Rights Accountability 

Act of 2012. 

TITLE III—REPORTS AND WAIVER FOR HUMANITARIAN RELATED

ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

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

Requires a briefing no more than 180 days after the enactment 

of the Act on the monitoring and evaluation of ongoing assistance 

programs to the Syrian people. 

Section 302. Assessment of potential effectiveness of methods to enhance the protection of civilians. 

Requires a report within 90 days from the President that assesses the potential effectiveness and risks and operational requirements of a no-fly or safe zone in Syria as well as other non-military 

means of providing additional civilian protections. 


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Section 303. Assistance to support entities taking actions relating to 

gathering evidence for investigations into war crimes and 

crimes against humanity in Syria since March 2011. 

Authorizes the Secretary of State to provide assistance to groups 

that are conducting criminal investigations, building investigative 

capacity, collecting evidence and supporting prosecutions against 

those who have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity 

in Syria since March 2011. Requires a briefing from the Secretary 

of State detailing the exact nature of any such assistance. 

TITLE IV—SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

Section 401. Suspension of sanctions with respect to Syria. 

This provision allows for the suspension of sanctions under this 

Act (and the renewal of this suspension at 120-day intervals) if the 

Government of Syria has taken certain actions as follows: 

• The Government of Syria and associated forces are no longer 

utilizing the air space over Syria to target civilian populations through the use of incendiary devices, including barrel bombs, chemical weapons, and conventional arms, including air-delivered missiles and explosives; 

• Areas besieged by the Assad regime and associated forces, 

including Hezbollah and irregular Iranian forces, are no 

longer cut off from international aid and have regular access 

to humanitarian assistance, freedom of travel, and medical 

care; 

• The Government of Syria has released all political prisoners 

forcibly held within its prison system and allowed full access 

to those facilities for investigations by appropriate international human rights organizations; 

• The forces of the Government of Syria and associated forces, 

including Hezbollah, irregular Iranian forces, and Russian 

Government air assets, are no longer engaged in deliberate 

targeting of medical facilities, schools, residential areas, and 

community gathering places in violation of international 

norms; and 

• The Government of Syria has suspended its support for foreign terrorist organizations. 

If the Government of Syria does not qualify for the above suspension of sanctions, but is engaged in internationally recognized negotiations to resolve violence in Syria, which negotiations have concluded in an agreement or are likely to conclude in an agreement, 

the President may suspend sanctions under this Act for an initial 

120 days if: (1) the Government of Syria, the Syrian High Negotiations Committee, and appropriate international parties are participating in direct, face-to-face peace negotiations, and (2) there has 

been a substantial reduction in violence against civilians. 

This suspension for participation in negotiations may be renewed 

in 120 day increments if: (1) these initial requirements continue to 

be me, (2) the Government of Syria and associated forces have 

ceased all attacks against Syrian civilians, and (3) the Government 

of Syria has publically committed to negotiations for a transitional 

government. 


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Any break in negotiations lasting longer than 90 days requires 

a re-imposition of sanctions and no further suspensions are allowed. 

Congress urges the Administration to consider the following 

when evaluating progress towards a post-Assad transitional government: 

• The removal of former senior Syrian Government officials 

who are complicit in the conception, implementation, or 

cover up of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or human 

rights abuses; 

• The organization of free and fair elections for a new government; 

• Progress toward establishing an independent judiciary; 

• Respect for and compliance with internationally-recognized 

human rights and basic freedoms; and 

• Fulfillment of commitments under the Chemical Weapons 

Convention and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and tangible progress toward becoming a signatory to Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, 

Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and 

Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, entered into force 

March 26, 1975, and adherence to the Missile Technology 

Control Regime; 

• The end of all support for terrorism; 

• The cessation of the development and deployment of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles; and 

• The removal from authority of those responsible for torture, 

extrajudicial killings, or execution of civilians during the conflict, including the use of chemical weapons. 

Section 402. Waivers and exemptions. 

Includes a case-by-case waiver for humanitarian and democracy 

building purposes, in light of the large number of aid organizations 

operating in areas controlled by the Government of Syria. Also includes a general national security waiver, the use of which requires 

written notification to the appropriate congressional committees. 

Section 501. Regulatory Authority. 

This provision requires that the Administration promulgate the 

regulations necessary to implement the bill 180 days after the date 

of enactment. 

Section 502. Cost Limitation. 

No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements 

of this Act. 

Section 503. Authority to consolidate reports. 

The reports required by this Act can be submitted as a single entity if they are subject the same deadline for submission, 

Section 504. Sunset. 

This provision sunsets the legislation after five years. 


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CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics, 

and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 

roman): 

SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Iran Threat 

Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act is 

as follows: 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE VII—SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN 

SYRIA 

* * * * * * * 

Sec. 705. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who hinder humanitarian 

access. 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE VII—SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT 

TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN SYRIA 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 702. 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. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to each person on the list required by subsection (b). 

(b) LIST OF PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT

IN CERTAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons who are officials of the Government of Syria or persons acting on behalf 

of that Government that the President determines, based on 

credible evidence, are responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses against citizens of 

Syria or their family members, regardless of whether such 

abuses occurred in Syria. 

(2) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees an updated list under 

paragraph (1)— 

(A) not later than 300 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and every 180 days thereafter; and 


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(B) as new information becomes available. 

(3) FORM OF REPORT; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— 

(A) FORM.—The list required by paragraph (1) shall be 

submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified 

annex. 

(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The unclassified portion of 

the list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available 

to the public and posted on the websites of the Department 

of the Treasury and the Department of State. 

(4) CONSIDERATION OF DATA FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND

NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.—In preparing the list required by paragraph (1), the President shall consider credible 

data already obtained by other countries and nongovernmental 

organizations, including organizations in Syria, that monitor 

the human rights abuses of the Government of Syria. 

ø(c) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.—The sanctions described in this 

subsection are sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency 

Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), including blocking 

of property and restrictions or prohibitions on financial transactions and the exportation of property, subject to such regulations 

as the President may prescribe.¿ 

(c) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall exercise all powers 

granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 

(50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to freeze and 

prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of a person on the list required by subsection (b) if such 

property and interests in property are in the United States, 

come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person. 

(2) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.— 

(A) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.—An alien who the 

Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security 

(or a designee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe, meets any of the criteria described in subsection (b) is— 

(i) inadmissible to the United States; 

(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and 

(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled 

into the United States or to receive any other benefit 

under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

1101 et seq.). 

(B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—The issuing consular officer, the 

Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) shall revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to 

an alien who meets any of the criteria described in subsection (b) regardless of when issued. 

(ii) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—A revocation under 

clause (i)— 

(I) shall take effect immediately; and 


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(II) shall automatically cancel any other valid 

visa or entry documentation that is in the alien’s 

possession. 

(3) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, attempts to violate, 

conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this section or any 

regulation, license, or order issued to carry out this section shall 

be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of 

section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers 

Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section. 

(4) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The President shall, not 

later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, promulgate regulations as necessary for the implementation of this section. 

(5) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions under paragraph (2) shall 

not apply to an alien if admitting the alien into the United 

States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with 

the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into 

force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the 

United States, or other applicable international obligations. 

(6) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall 

be construed to limit the authority of the President pursuant to 

the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 

1701 et seq.), relevant Executive orders, regulations, or other 

provisions of law. 

(d) SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES DESCRIBED.—In subsection (b), the term ‘‘serious human rights abuses’’ includes— 

(1) the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure to include schools, hospitals, markets, and other infrastructure that 

is essential to human life, such as power and water systems; 

and 

(2) the deliberate diversion, hindering, or blocking of access 

for humanitarian purposes, including access across conflict 

lines and borders. 

SEC. 703. 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. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose sanctions described in section 702(c) with respect to— 

(1) each person on the list required by subsection (b); and 

(2) any person that— 

(A) is a successor entity to a person on the list; 

(B) owns or controls a person on the list, if the person 

that owns or controls the person on the list had actual 

knowledge or should have known that the person on the 

list engaged in the activity described in subsection (b)(2) 

for which the person was included in the list; or 

(C) is owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or control with, the person on the list, if the person 

owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or 

control with (as the case may be), the person on the list 

knowingly engaged in the activity described in subsection 

(b)(2) for which the person was included in the list. 


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(b) LIST.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons that the 

President determines have knowingly engaged in an activity 

described in paragraph (2) on or after such date of enactment. 

(2) ACTIVITY DESCRIBED.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—A person engages in an activity described in this paragraph if the person— 

(i) transfers, or facilitates the transfer of, goods or 

technologies described in subparagraph (C) to Syria; or 

(ii) provides services with respect to goods or technologies described in subparagraph (C) after such 

goods or technologies are transferred to Syria. 

(B) APPLICABILITY TO CONTRACTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS.—A person engages in an activity described in subparagraph (A) without regard to whether the activity is 

carried out pursuant to a contract or other agreement entered into before, on, or after the date of the enactment of 

this Act. 

(C) GOODS OR TECHNOLOGIES DESCRIBED.—Goods or 

technologies described in this subparagraph are goods or 

technologies that the President determines are likely to be 

used by the Government of Syria or any of its agencies or 

instrumentalities to commit human rights abuses against 

the people of Syria, including— 

(i) firearms or ammunition (as those terms are defined in section 921 of title 18, United States Code), 

rubber bullets, police batons, pepper or chemical 

sprays, stun grenades, electroshock weapons, tear gas, 

water cannons, or surveillance technology; øor¿ 

(ii) sensitive technologyø.¿; 

(iii) any article— 

(I) designated by the President for purposes of 

the United States Munitions List under section 

38(a)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 

2778(a)(1)); and 

(II) with respect to which the President determines is significant for purposes of the imposition 

of sanctions under subsection (a); or 

(iv) other goods or technologies that the President 

determines may be used by the Government of Syria to 

commit human rights abuses against the people of 

Syria. 

(D) SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY DEFINED.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subparagraph 

(C), the term ‘‘sensitive technology’’ means hardware, 

software, telecommunications equipment, or any other 

technology, that the President determines is to be 

used specifically— 

(I) to restrict the free flow of unbiased information in Syria; or 

(II) to disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict 

speech of the people of Syria. 


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(ii) EXCEPTION.—The term ‘‘sensitive technology’’ 

does not include information or informational materials the exportation of which the President does not 

have the authority to regulate or prohibit pursuant to 

section 203(b)(3) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(3)). 

(3) SPECIAL RULE TO ALLOW FOR TERMINATION OF

SANCTIONABLE ACTIVITY.—The President shall not be required 

to include a person on the list required by paragraph (1) if the 

President certifies in writing to the appropriate congressional 

committees that— 

(A) the person is no longer engaging in, or has taken 

significant verifiable steps toward stopping, the activity 

described in paragraph (2) for which the President would 

otherwise have included the person on the list; and 

(B) the President has received reliable assurances that 

the person will not knowingly engage in any activity described in paragraph (2) in the future. 

(4) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees an updated list under 

paragraph (1)— 

(A) not later than 300 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and every 180 days thereafter; and 

(B) as new information becomes available. 

(5) FORM OF REPORT; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— (A) FORM.—The list required by paragraph (1) shall be 

submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified 

annex. 

(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The unclassified portion of 

the list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available 

to the public and posted on the websites of the Department 

of the Treasury and the Department of State. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 705. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS 

WHO HINDER HUMANITARIAN ACCESS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose sanctions described in section 702(c) with respect to each person on the list required by subsection (b). 

(b) LIST OF PERSONS WHO HINDER HUMANITARIAN ACCESS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 

the enactment of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 

2017, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons that the President determines have engaged in deliberate diversion, hindering, or blocking of access for humanitarian purposes for the United Nations, 

its specialized agencies and implementing partners, national 

and international nongovernmental organizations, and all other 

actors engaged in humanitarian relief activities in Syria, including through the deliberate targeting of such humanitarian 

actors and activities in Syria and across conflict lines and borders. 

(2) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees an updated list under 

paragraph (1)— 


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(A) not later than 300 days after the date of the enactment of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017 

and every 180 days thereafter; and 

(B) as new information becomes available. 

(3) FORM.—The list required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. 

SEC. ø705.¿ 706. WAIVER. 

The President may waive the requirement to include a person 

on a list required by section 702, 703, øor 704¿ 704, or 705 or to 

impose sanctions pursuant to any such section if the President— 

(1) determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States; and 

(2) submits to the appropriate congressional committees a 

report on the reasons for that determination. 

SEC. ø706.¿ 707. TERMINATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of this title and any sanctions 

imposed pursuant to this title shall terminate on the date on which 

the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees— 

(1) the certification described in subsection (b); and 

(2) a certification that— 

(A) the Government of Syria is democratically elected 

and representative of the people of Syria; or 

(B) a legitimate transitional government of Syria is in 

place. 

(b) CERTIFICATION DESCRIBED.—A certification described in 

this subsection is a certification by the President that the Government of Syria— 

(1) has unconditionally released all political prisoners; 

(2) has ceased its practices of violence, unlawful detention, 

torture, and abuse of citizens of Syria engaged in peaceful political activity; 

(3) has ceased its practice of procuring sensitive technology 

designed to restrict the free flow of unbiased information in 

Syria, or to disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict the right of 

citizens of Syria to freedom of expression; 

(4) has ceased providing support for foreign terrorist organizations and no longer allows such organizations, including 

Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, to maintain 

facilities in territory under the control of the Government of 

Syria; and 

(5) has ceased the development and deployment of 

medium- and long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles; 

(6) is not pursuing or engaged in the research, development, acquisition, production, transfer, or deployment of biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons, and has provided credible assurances that it will not engage in such activities in the 

future; and 

(7) has agreed to allow the United Nations and other international observers to verify that the Government of Syria is 

not engaging in such activities and to assess the credibility of 

the assurances provided by that Government. 

(c) SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS AFTER ELECTION OF DEMO- CRATIC GOVERNMENT.—If the President submits to the appropriate 


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congressional committees the certification described in subsection 

(a)(2), the President may suspend the provisions of this title and 

any sanctions imposed under this title for not more than 180 days 

to allow time for a certification described in subsection (b) to be 

submitted. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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