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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5095 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5095

    To counter efforts to recognize or normalize relations with any 
   Government of Syria that is led by Bashar al-Assad, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 18, 2024

  Mr. Cardin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
    To counter efforts to recognize or normalize relations with any 
   Government of Syria that is led by Bashar al-Assad, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Titles.--This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Syrian 
Civilians Act'' or the ``Caesar Act 2.0''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short titles; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Modifications to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act.
Sec. 3. Statement of policy regarding the prohibition of recognition of 
                            the Assad regime.
Sec. 4. Interagency strategy to counter normalization with Assad 
                            regime.
Sec. 5. Reports on manipulation of United Nations by the Assad regime 
                            in Syria.
Sec. 6. Briefing before force posture change.
Sec. 7. Economic support funds for Syria.
Sec. 8. Countering Captagon trafficking.
Sec. 9. Briefing on steps to free Austin Tice and repatriate American 
                            remains from Syria.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAESAR SYRIA CIVILIAN PROTECTION ACT.

    (a) Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act.--Section 7412(a) of the 
Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (title LXXIV of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020; 22 U.S.C. 8791 
note) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the President shall 
        impose'' and all that follows and inserting the following: 
        ``the President--
                    ``(A) shall impose the sanctions described in 
                subsection (b) with respect to a foreign person that 
                the President determines--
                            ``(i) knowingly engages, on or after such 
                        date of enactment, in an activity described in 
                        paragraph (2); or
                            ``(ii) is owned or controlled by a foreign 
                        person described in clause (i); and
                    ``(B) may impose the sanctions described in 
                subsection (b) with respect to a foreign person that 
                the Secretary of State determines knowingly provides, 
                on or after such date of enactment, significant 
                financial, material, or technological support to a 
                foreign person engaging in an activity described in any 
                of subparagraphs (B) through (H) of paragraph (2).'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by amending clause (i) to read as 
                        follows:
                            ``(i) the Government of Syria (including 
                        any entity owned or controlled by the 
                        Government of Syria), a senior political figure 
                        of the Government of Syria, a member of the 
                        People's Assembly of Syria, or a senior foreign 
                        political figure (as defined in section 101.605 
                        of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations) of 
                        the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party of Syria, 
                        including any such senior foreign political 
                        figure who is a member of the Central Command, 
                        Central Committee, or Auditing and Inspection 
                        Committee of such Party;'';
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``; or'' 
                        and inserting a semicolon;
                            (iii) in clause (iii), by striking the 
                        semicolon at the end and inserting ``; or''; 
                        and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) Syria Arab Airlines, Cham Wings, or 
                        any foreign person owned or controlled by Syria 
                        Arab Airlines or Cham Wings;'';
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(C) knowingly sells or provides aircraft or spare 
                aircraft parts--
                            ``(i) to the Government of Syria; or
                            ``(ii) on behalf of the Government of Syria 
                        to any foreign person operating in an area 
                        directly or indirectly controlled by the 
                        Government of Syria or foreign forces under the 
                        direction or control of the Government of 
                        Syria;'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or'' at the 
                end;
                    (D) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) purposefully engages in or directs--
                            ``(i) the significant diversion of valuable 
                        goods (including agricultural commodities, 
                        food, medicine, and medical devices) or any 
                        international humanitarian assistance intended 
                        for the people of Syria; or
                            ``(ii) the dealing in the significant 
                        misappropriation of proceeds from the sale or 
                        resale of such significant diverted goods or 
                        international humanitarian assistance, as the 
                        case may be;
                    ``(G) knowingly engages in, or attempts to engage 
                in, the significant seizure, confiscation, theft, or 
                expropriation for personal gain or political purposes 
                of significant property, including real property, in 
                Syria or owned by a citizen of Syria; or
                    ``(H) knowingly and directly engages in, or 
                attempts to engage in, a transaction or transactions 
                for or with seized, confiscated, stolen, or 
                expropriated property described in subparagraph (G).''.
    (b) Report on Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019.--
            (1) Defined term.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
                Affairs of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives; and
                    (D) the Committee on Financial Services of the 
                House of Representatives.
            (2) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the 
        following 3 years, the Secretary of the Treasury, with the 
        concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall submit a report to 
        the appropriate congressional committees describing the 
        implementation of sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian 
        Protection Act of 2019, as amended by this Act.
            (3) Elements.--Each report submitted pursuant to paragraph 
        (2) shall describe--
                    (A) all individuals or entities sanctioned under 
                the authorities granted by the Caesar Syria Civilian 
                Protection Act of 2019;
                    (B) all individuals and entities determined to be 
                eligible for sanction under the authorities granted by 
                the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 who 
                have not yet been sanctioned under such authorities;
                    (C) all individuals and entities currently under 
                consideration for sanction under the authorities 
                granted by the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 
                2019; and
                    (D) the steps taken to explain to financial 
                institutions sanctions liability under the authorities 
                granted by the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 
                2019 and the date such steps were taken.
            (4) Form.--Each report required under paragraph (2) shall 
        be submitted in an unclassified form, but may contain a 
        classified annex that is submitted separately from the 
        unclassified report.
    (c) Exceptions.--Section 7432 of the Caesar Syria Civilian 
Protection Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 7432. EXCEPTIONS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Agricultural commodity.--The term `agricultural 
        commodity' has the meaning given such term in section 102 of 
        the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
            ``(2) Good.--The term `good' means any article, natural or 
        manmade substance, material, supply, or manufactured product, 
        including inspection and test equipment, and excluding 
        technical data.
            ``(3) Medical device.--The term `medical device' has the 
        meaning given the term `device' in section 201 of the Federal 
        Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
            ``(4) Medicine.--The term `medicine' has the meaning given 
        the term `drug' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
        Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
    ``(b) Exception To Comply With United Nations Headquarters 
Agreement and Law Enforcement Activities.--Sanctions under this Act 
shall not apply with respect to the admission of an alien to the United 
States if admitting or paroling such alien into the United States is 
necessary--
            ``(1) 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 of the 
        United States; or
            ``(2) to carry out or assist authorized law enforcement 
        activity in the United States.
    ``(c) Exception To Comply With Intelligence Activities.--Sanctions 
under this Act shall not apply to 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 any authorized intelligence activities of the 
United States.
    ``(d) Humanitarian Assistance.--Sanctions under this Act shall not 
apply to--
            ``(1) the conduct or facilitation of a transaction for the 
        provision of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, medical 
        devices, or humanitarian assistance, or for other humanitarian 
        purposes; or
            ``(2) transactions that are necessary for, or related to, 
        the activities described in paragraph (1).''.
    (d) Extension of Sunset.--Section 7438 of the Caesar Syria Civilian 
Protection Act of 2019 is amended by striking ``the date that is 5 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act'' and inserting 
``December 31, 2028''.
    (e) Determinations With Respect to the Syria Trust for 
Development.--
            (1) Defined term.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
                Affairs of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives; and
                    (D) the Committee on Financial Services of the 
                House of Representatives.
            (2) Determinations.--Not later than 120 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the President shall--
                    (A) determine whether the nonprofit organization 
                chaired by Asma Al-Assad, the First Lady of Syria, 
                known as the ``Syria Trust for Development'' meets the 
                criteria for the imposition of sanctions--
                            (i) under section 7412(a) of the Caesar 
                        Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, as 
                        amended by subsection (a);
                            (ii) under Executive Order 13894 (84 Fed. 
                        Reg. 55851; relating to blocking property and 
                        suspending entry of certain persons 
                        contributing to the situation in Syria); or
                            (iii) by nature of being owned or 
                        controlled by a person designated under any 
                        executive order or regulation administered by 
                        the Office of Foreign Assets Control; and
                    (B) submit to the appropriate congressional 
                committees each such determination, including a 
                justification for the determination.
            (3) Form.--Each determination required under paragraph 
        (2)(B) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but the 
        justification specified in such paragraph may be included in a 
        classified annex. The unclassified determination shall be made 
        available on a publicly available website of the Federal 
        Government.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING THE PROHIBITION OF RECOGNITION OF 
              THE ASSAD REGIME.

    It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to not recognize or normalize relations with any 
        Government of Syria that is led by Bashar al-Assad due to the 
        Assad regime's ongoing crimes against the Syrian people, 
        including failure to meet the criteria outlined in section 
        7431(a) of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (22 
        U.S.C. 8791 note);
            (2) to actively oppose recognition or normalization of 
        relations by other governments with any Government of Syria 
        that is led by Bashar Al-Assad, including by fully implementing 
        the mandatory primary and secondary sanctions in the Caesar 
        Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and Executive Order 13894 
        (84 Fed. Reg. 55851; relating to blocking property and 
        suspending entry of certain persons contributing to the 
        situation in Syria);
            (3) to continue to actively advance the national interests 
        of the United States in Syria, including--
                    (A) counterterrorism and counternarcotic 
                operations;
                    (B) the provision of humanitarian assistance to the 
                Syrian people, including earthquake-related early 
                recovery; and
                    (C) significant diplomatic efforts towards the 
                advancement of a political solution to the Syrian 
                conflict in adherence with United Nations Security 
                Council Resolution 2254 (2015); and
            (4) to take all necessary steps to secure--
                    (A) the release of Austin Tice and other hostages 
                and unjustly detained United States nationals within 
                Syria; and
                    (B) the repatriation of the remains of United 
                States nationals killed by the Assad regime or by the 
                Islamic State in Syria, including Majd Kamalmaz, Kayla 
                Mueller, James Foley, Peter Kassig, and Steven Sotloff.

SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY STRATEGY TO COUNTER NORMALIZATION WITH ASSAD 
              REGIME.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
                Affairs of the Senate;
                    (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives;
                    (E) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (F) the Committee on Financial Services of the 
                House of Representatives.
            (2) Covered transaction.--The term ``covered transaction'' 
        means a transaction, including an investment, grant, contract, 
        or donation (including a loan or other extension of credit) by 
        a foreign person that is a representative, citizen, or entity 
        incorporated exclusively under the laws of the Republic of 
        Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, 
        Bahrain, Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria, 
        Morocco, Libya, or Lebanon to a recipient located in any area 
        of Syria controlled by the Assad regime.
    (b) Report Required.--
            (1) Submission.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for a period 
        not to exceed 3 years, the Secretary of State, in consultation 
        with the Secretary of the Treasury and the heads of other 
        appropriate Federal departments and agencies, shall submit a 
        report to the appropriate congressional committees that 
        describes--
                    (A) the steps taken or planned to be taken by 
                foreign governments to normalize or upgrade political, 
                diplomatic, or economic ties with the regime led by 
                Bashar al-Assad in Syria (referred to in this Act as 
                the ``Assad regime''); and
                    (B) the actions taken by the United States 
                Government to counter such steps.
            (2) Elements.--The report submitted pursuant to paragraph 
        (1) shall include--
                    (A) a description of--
                            (i) violations of international law and 
                        human rights abuses committed by Bashar al-
                        Assad, the Government of the Russian 
                        Federation, or the Government of Iran; and
                            (ii) progress made towards achieving 
                        justice for the Syrian people and 
                        accountability for the violators;
                    (B) a list, including the identification of--
                            (i) any single covered transaction 
                        exceeding $2,500,000; and
                            (ii) any combination of covered 
                        transactions by the same source within a 12-
                        month period that exceed $2,500,000, in the 
                        aggregate;
                    (C) for each identified single transaction or 
                aggregate transactions, as the case may be, included in 
                the list described in subparagraph (B), a determination 
                of whether such transaction subjects any of the parties 
                to the transaction to sanctions under the Caesar Syria 
                Civilian Protection Act of 2019, as amended by section 
                2;
                    (D) a description of the steps the United States is 
                taking to actively deter recognition or normalization 
                of relations by other governments with the Assad 
                regime, including specific diplomatic engagements and 
                the use of economic sanctions authorized by Federal 
                statutes or implemented through Executive Orders, 
                including--
                            (i) the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection 
                        Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note);
                            (ii) the Syria Accountability and Lebanese 
                        Sovereignty Restoration Act (22 U.S.C. 2151 
                        note);
                            (iii) the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, 
                        Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 
                        U.S.C. 8501 et seq.);
                            (iv) Executive Order 13894 (84 Fed. Reg. 
                        55851; relating to blocking property and 
                        suspending entry of certain persons 
                        contributing to the situation in Syria);
                            (v) the Global Magnitsky Human Rights 
                        Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.);
                            (vi) the Countering American Adversaries 
                        through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9401 et seq.); 
                        and
                            (vii) the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin 
                        Designation Act (title VIII of Public Law 106-
                        120; 21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.); and
                    (E) an assessment of how recognition of, or 
                normalization of relations with, the Assad regime by 
                other governments impacts--
                            (i) the national security of the United 
                        States;
                            (ii) the material benefits of such 
                        recognition or normalization to the Assad 
                        regime;
                            (iii) the normalizing government prospects 
                        for the implementation of United Nations 
                        Security Council Resolution 2254;
                            (iv) prospects for justice and 
                        accountability for war crimes in Syria; and
                            (v) the benefits derived by the Government 
                        of the Russian Federation or the Government of 
                        Iran.
    (c) Temporal Scope.--The initial report required under subsection 
(b) shall address the period beginning on January 1, 2022, and ending 
on the date of the enactment of this Act. Each subsequent report shall 
address the 1-year period immediately following the last day covered by 
the most recently submitted report.
    (d) Form.--Each report required under subsection (b) shall be 
submitted in an unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

SEC. 5. REPORTS ON MANIPULATION OF UNITED NATIONS BY THE ASSAD REGIME 
              IN SYRIA.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for a period not to 
exceed 5 years, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that describes the 
manipulation of the United Nations by the Assad regime, including--
            (1) a description of conditions, both explicit and 
        implicit, set by the Assad regime with respect to United 
        Nations operations in Syria, including with respect to 
        implementing partners, hiring practices, allocation of grants 
        and contracts, and procurement of goods and services;
            (2) the identification of officials or employees of the 
        United Nations (including funds, programs, and specialized 
        agencies of the United Nations) with ties to the Assad regime, 
        or persons designated for sanctions by United Nations donor 
        countries;
            (3) an account of access restrictions imposed by the Assad 
        regime and the overall impact of such restrictions on the 
        ability of the United Nations to equitably deliver 
        international assistance to target beneficiaries in areas 
        outside the control of the Assad regime;
            (4) a description of ways in which United Nations aid 
        directly benefits the Assad regime and its associates;
            (5) a description of the due diligence mechanisms and 
        vetting procedures in place to ensure entities contracted by 
        the United Nations to ensure goods, supplies, or services 
        provided to Syria do not have links to the Assad regime, known 
        human rights abusers, or persons designated for sanctions by 
        United Nations donor countries;
            (6) the identification of entities affiliated with the 
        Assad regime (including the Syria Trust for Development and the 
        Syrian Arab Red Crescent), foreign government ministries, and 
        private corporations owned or controlled by the Assad regime, 
        which have received United Nations funding, contracts, or 
        grants or have otherwise entered into a formalized partnership 
        with the United Nations;
            (7) an assessment of how the Assad regime sets arbitrary or 
        punitive exchange rates to extract funding from the United 
        Nations, and the total amount extracted by such means; and
            (8) a strategy for--
                    (A) reducing the ability of the Assad regime to 
                manipulate or otherwise influence the United Nations 
                and other aid operations in Syria; and
                    (B) ensuring that United States and international 
                aid is delivered in a neutral and impartial manner 
                consistent with basic humanitarian principles.
    (b) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

SEC. 6. BRIEFING BEFORE FORCE POSTURE CHANGE.

    Not later than 15 days before any decision to withdraw United 
States forces from any part of Syria where such forces are being 
deployed, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State shall 
jointly brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the 
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives on the likely impacts of such 
withdrawal.

SEC. 7. ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUNDS FOR SYRIA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the humanitarian situation in areas of northwest Syria 
        that are not controlled by the Assad regime remains dire, which 
        is due in large part to ongoing attacks, diversion of cross-
        line assistance, and corruption by the Assad regime;
            (2) Syrian refugees and their host communities--
                    (A) are under significant strain due to the 
                prolonged conflict in Syria; and
                    (B) require significant assistance from the 
                international community;
            (3) it remains unsafe for Syrian refugees to return to 
        Syria absent a formal cessation of hostilities and significant 
        implementation of the principles laid out in United Nations 
        Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015);
            (4) the forced return of Syrian refugees to Syria absent 
        their consent or the aforementioned conditions violates the 
        principle of non-refoulement; and
            (5) host countries must not forcibly return refugees to 
        Syria without their consent absent a formal cessation of 
        hostilities and significant implementation of the principles 
        laid out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 
        (2015).
    (b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to provide humanitarian funding to northwest Syria 
        outside of mechanisms controlled by the Assad regime;
            (2) to maintain basic services for communities in northwest 
        Syria outside of Assad regime control;
            (3) to oppose the refoulement or otherwise forcible return 
        of Syrian refugees and provide significant assistance to Syrian 
        refugees and their host communities; and
            (4) to work with partners and allies to support the efforts 
        described in paragraph (1) through (3).
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance for 
Northwest Syria.--There is authorized to be appropriated, in addition 
to amounts already appropriated for such purpose, $10,000,000 in 
Economic Support Funds for the Syria Civil Defense (commonly known as 
the ``White Helmets'').
    (d) Report and Strategy on Stabilization Funding for Northwest 
Syria.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
        coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency 
        for International Development, shall submit a report to the 
        Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee 
        on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that 
        assesses--
                    (A) the feasibility of providing stabilization 
                funding to areas of northwest Syria that are not under 
                the control the Assad regime; and
                    (B) the risks that such funds will be diverted and 
                steps to counter such risks.
            (2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
        annex.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1)  Stabilization assistance for northwest syria.--
                    (A) In general.--There is authorized to be 
                appropriated $20,000,000 in Economic Support Funds for 
                stabilization funding in areas of northwest Syria that 
                are not under the control of the Assad Regime.
                    (B) Briefing required.--None of the funds 
                appropriated pursuant to subparagraph (A) may be 
                expended until a senior official of the Department of 
                State provides a briefing regarding such expenditure 
                to--
                            (i) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
                        the Senate;
                            (ii) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                        Senate;
                            (iii) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
                        the House of Representatives; and
                            (iv) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                        House of Representatives.
            (2) Funds for syrian refugees and host communities.--There 
        is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 in Economic 
        Support Funds to support Syrian refugees and host communities 
        in the Middle East and North Africa.

SEC. 8. COUNTERING CAPTAGON TRAFFICKING.

    (a) Report on Strategy Implementation.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the 
        following 3 years, the Secretary of State shall submit a report 
        to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
        describing the implementation of the strategy submitted by the 
        Secretary of State pursuant to section 1238(c) of the James M. 
        Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 
        (Public Law 117-263).
            (2) Elements.--Each report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include--
                    (A) the amount of funds obligated for the previous 
                fiscal year in support of the strategy referred to in 
                such paragraph; and
                    (B) a description of how such funds have supported 
                each of the elements described in such strategy.
            (3) Form.--Each report required under paragraph (1) shall 
        be submitted in an unclassified form, but may contain a 
        classified annex that is transmitted separately from the 
        unclassified report.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated, in addition to any funds already appropriated for such 
purpose, $10,000,000 from the International Narcotics Control and Law 
Enforcement (INCLE) account to counter the production and trafficking 
of Captagon in the Middle East and North Africa, especially such 
trafficking carried out by the Assad Regime and Hezbollah.

SEC. 9. BRIEFING ON STEPS TO FREE AUSTIN TICE AND REPATRIATE AMERICAN 
              REMAINS FROM SYRIA.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Austin Tice, an American journalist, was kidnaped on 
        August 14, 2012.
            (2) Majd Kamalmaz, an American psychotherapist, was 
        detained by the Assad regime in February 2017, and subsequently 
        murdered in captivity by the Assad regime.
            (3) Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig, 2 American aid workers, 
        and James Foley and Steven Sotloff, 2 American journalists, 
        were all United States citizens who were murdered in Syria 
        while being held in captivity by the Islamic State.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the Sense of Congress that the United 
States Government should take all necessary steps--
            (1) to secure the release of Austin Tice and other 
        Americans unjustly detained in Syria; and
            (2) to secure the return of the remains of Majd Kamalmaz, 
        Kayla Mueller, James Foley, Peter Kassig, and Steven Sotloff.
    (c) Briefing Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for the following 5 
years, the President shall provide a briefing to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives regarding--
            (1) efforts by the United States Government--
                    (A) to secure the release of Austin Tice and other 
                unjustly detained Americans in Syria; and
                    (B) to secure the return of the remains of Majd 
                Kamalmaz, Kayla Mueller, James Foley, Peter Kassig, 
                Steven Sotloff, and other United States nationals 
                killed in captivity in Syria; and
            (2) the steps the United States Government is taking to 
        keep the families of such persons informed of its efforts to 
        secure the release of such persons or the return of their 
        remains.
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