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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 856 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 856

         To foster stability in Syria, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 6, 2013

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
         To foster stability in Syria, 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 TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Syria 
Stabilization Act of 2013''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--

Sec. 1. Short title; Table of contents.
Sec. 2. Appropriate congressional committees defined.
Sec. 3. Findings.
Sec. 4. Statement of policy.
                    TITLE I--HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Sec. 101. Humanitarian assistance to the people of Syria.
Sec. 102. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 103. Report on strategy to communicate to the Syrian people about 
                            assistance provided by the United States 
                            Government.
              TITLE II--PROMOTING AN EFFECTIVE TRANSITION

Sec. 201. Syrian transition fund.
Sec. 202. Adjusting sanctions provisions in preparation for a political 
                            transition.
                          TITLE III--SANCTIONS

Sec. 301. Imposition of sanctions on persons providing defense articles 
                            or defense services to the Assad regime of 
                            Syria.
Sec. 302. Imposition of sanctions on persons providing petroleum or 
                            petroleum products to the Assad regime of 
                            Syria.
             TITLE IV--INCREASED SUPPORT FOR THE OPPOSITION

Sec. 401. Increased support for the opposition.

SEC. 2. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committees 
on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Since mass peaceful demonstrations started in Syria on 
        March 15, 2011, the Government of Syria, led by President 
        Bashar al-Assad, has responded by committing human rights 
        abuses and launching a violent crackdown that has claimed an 
        estimated 70,000 lives and degenerated into a civil war.
            (2) The civil war has caused a humanitarian crisis. 
        According to the United Nations, there are more than 1,400,000 
        Syrian refugees registered in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, 
        and Iraq and more than 2,600,000 Syrians displaced within the 
        country. More than three-quarters of refugees and internally 
        displaced persons are women and children.
            (3) The refugee crisis threatens the stability of the 
        Middle East, putting immense burdens on Syria's neighbors, most 
        notably Lebanon and Jordan, but also Turkey and Iraq.
            (4) The civil war has increased the danger that the Assad 
        regime could lose control of its chemical weapons stockpile or 
        choose to use chemical weapons against civilians or armed 
        opposition fighters in Syria.
            (5) On April 25, 2013, the White House issued a letter to 
        Congress stating that ``our intelligence community does assess 
        with varying degrees of confidence that the Syrian regime has 
        used chemical weapons on a small scale in Syria, specifically 
        the chemical agent Sarin''.
            (6) The security vacuum in Syria has created a safe haven 
        for both Shia and Sunni extremists, who could in the future 
        threaten the security of the United States and its partners.
            (7) Instability in Syria has threatened Israel's security, 
        particularly on the shared border along the Golan Heights.
            (8) A change in government could be a significant blow to 
        Iran and Hezbollah, which would lose a strong ally and who have 
        been aggressively providing military assistance to President 
        Assad.
            (9) The commitments made by the National Coalition for 
        Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces at the international 
        meeting in Istanbul on April 20 and 21, 2013, constitute an 
        important endorsement of shared principles and objectives that 
        should guide United States Government cooperation with the 
        National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition 
        Forces and affiliated forces. These principles include a 
        commitment to the territorial integrity of Syria, a rejection 
        of sectarianism and extremism, and pledges to secure chemical 
        weapons and support nonproliferation efforts.

SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to support transition from the current regime in Syria 
        to a just and democratic state that is inclusive and protects 
        the rights of all Syrians regardless of religion, ethnicity, or 
        gender;
            (2) to assist the people of Syria, especially internally 
        displaced persons and refugees, in meeting basic needs 
        including access to food, health care, shelter, and clean 
        drinking water;
            (3) to provide political and economic support to those 
        neighboring countries who are hosting refugees fleeing Syria 
        and to international organizations that are providing 
        assistance and coordinating humanitarian relief efforts;
            (4) to oppose the unlawful use of violence against 
        civilians by all parties to the conflict in Syria;
            (5) to use a broad array of pressure instruments to 
        expedite a negotiated solution to the conflict in Syria, 
        including the removal from power of the government of Bashar 
        al-Assad;
            (6) to recognize the National Coalition for Syrian 
        Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (in this Act referred to as 
        the ``Syrian Opposition Coalition'' or ``SOC'') as the 
        legitimate representative of the Syrian people;
            (7) to engage with the SOC and a diverse and inclusive 
        array of opposition groups that are representative of the 
        Syrian people, as well as the broader international community, 
        to facilitate and plan for an orderly transition to a more 
        stable democratic political order, the elements of which should 
        include--
                    (A) protections for human rights, political 
                participation, and religious freedom for all Syrians, 
                irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or gender;
                    (B) support for the rule of law;
                    (C) rejection of extremism;
                    (D) the subordination of the military to civilian 
                authority;
                    (E) protections against sectarian violence and 
                reprisal;
                    (F) cooperation with international counterterrorism 
                and nonproliferation efforts;
                    (G) support for regional stability and non-
                interference in the affairs of neighboring countries; 
                and
                    (H) promotion of justice and accountability for 
                conflict-related crimes;
            (8) to promote the territorial integrity of Syria and the 
        unity and continuity of the Syrian state by--
                    (A) supporting a post-Assad government that is 
                capable of providing security, services, and 
                fundamental rights for its people; and
                    (B) opposing a role in a post-Assad government of 
                those whose presence would undermine its credibility or 
                jeopardize stability and reconciliation;
            (9) to provide foreign assistance, defense articles, 
        defense services, and training to members of the Syrian Supreme 
        Military Council, units of the Free Syrian Army, and other 
        Syrian entities opposed to the government of Bashar al-Assad 
        that have been properly vetted and share common values and 
        interests with the United States;
            (10) to closely coordinate with key partners, including 
        Turkey, Jordan, Israel, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the 
        European Union, to ensure that the international community is 
        prepared for a military or diplomatic response, including the 
        creation of no-fly zones or safe havens, the protection of 
        civilians, and the securing of chemical or biological weapons, 
        to mitigate or prevent humanitarian, security, and 
        proliferation emergencies; and
            (11) to support efforts to catalogue and identify those 
        individuals who commit or lead units or organizations which 
        commit abuses of human rights or other violations of 
        international law, and to ensure that they are held accountable 
        for their actions.

                    TITLE I--HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

SEC. 101. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President is 
authorized to provide assistance, including to meet humanitarian and 
basic human needs, to the people of Syria in carrying out the 
provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et 
seq.) and the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act.

SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    Consistent with the policy objectives described in section 4, it is 
the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States should increase its own contributions 
        and continue to coordinate with other donor nations, the United 
        Nations, other multilateral agencies, and nongovernmental 
        organizations to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian 
        assistance to the people suffering as a result of the crisis in 
        Syria;
            (2) countries hosting Syrian refugees should be commended 
        for their efforts and should be encouraged to maintain an open 
        border policy for fleeing Syrians;
            (3) the United States Government should continue to work 
        with these partners to help their national systems accommodate 
        the population influx and also maintain delivery of basic 
        services to their own citizens; and
            (4) the United States Government should seek to identify 
        humanitarian assistance as originating from the American people 
        wherever possible, while maintaining primary consideration for 
        the health and safety of the implementers and recipients of 
        that assistance and for the furtherance of United States 
        foreign policy goals.

SEC. 103. REPORT ON STRATEGY TO COMMUNICATE TO THE SYRIAN PEOPLE ABOUT 
              ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a classified report with an 
unclassified summary on an integrated United States Government strategy 
to ensure that the people of Syria are made aware to the maximum extent 
possible of the assistance that the United States Government provides 
to Syrians, both inside Syria and those seeking refuge in neighboring 
countries.
    (b) Content.--The report should include the following elements:
            (1) A discussion of how the United States balances three 
        imperatives of--
                    (A) maximizing the efficacy of aid provided to the 
                people of Syria;
                    (B) ensuring that there is awareness among the 
                people of Syria on the amount and nature of this aid; 
                and
                    (C) leveraging this aid to improve the credibility 
                of the Syrian Opposition Coalition amongst the people 
                of Syria.
            (2) Methods by which the United States Government and its 
        partners plan to communicate to the people of Syria what 
        assistance the United States has provided.
            (3) How the United States Government can most effectively 
        promote awareness of its assistance while taking into 
        consideration and ensuring the safety of its implementing 
        partners and personnel providing that assistance.
            (4) An assessment of the Syrian Opposition Coalition's 
        Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU)'s capacity to participate in 
        the distribution of assistance, and a description of steps the 
        United States Government is taking to increase their profile so 
        as to help build their credibility among Syrians.
            (5) A review of the risks associated with leveraging aid 
        for political objectives and a description of efforts to 
        maintain neutrality in the distribution of goods while parallel 
        efforts are made to empower the opposition.

              TITLE II--PROMOTING AN EFFECTIVE TRANSITION

SEC. 201. SYRIAN TRANSITION FUND.

    (a) Syrian Political Transition Fund.--The President is authorized 
to establish a Syria Transition Fund or to set aside a special 
allocation (in this title referred to as the ``Transition Fund'') from 
which funds may be made available, notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, for assistance and contributions to promote the objectives 
described in section 4 and for related purposes. The Fund may rely upon 
the administrative authorities of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
(22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), and obligation of such funds shall be subject 
to the regular 15-day notification procedures. Such notification may be 
waived if failure to do so would pose a substantial risk to human 
health or welfare, in which case notification shall be provided as 
early as practicable, but in no event later than 3 days after taking 
the action to which such notification requirement was applicable.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Transition Fund is to provide 
initial support in the early period of a potentially chaotic transition 
in Syria to enable an effective political transition and provide for 
initiatives that will improve the security of the United States, United 
States partners and allies, and the people of Syria. The Transition 
Fund may be used to support activities including the following:
            (1) Basic services.--Programs to provide for basic human, 
        including humanitarian, needs and establish basic governmental 
        services.
            (2) Security sector support.--Programs and actions to 
        prevent anarchy, revenge attacks, and criminal elements from 
        threatening the people of Syria, potentially transitioning to 
        include providing funding for Syrian security forces, and to 
        fund projects to reshape and reform the security sector along 
        democratic lines. The security sector is understood to include 
        personnel defending the Syrian people from military attack and 
        providing security services within communities and on borders. 
        Assistance to the emergent Syrian security sector should focus 
        on coordinated multilateral assistance to help nascent security 
        providers evolve into developed defense and security 
        institutions within an inclusive and effective security and 
        justice sector.
            (3) Transitional justice and conflict resolution.--Programs 
        and activities that allow the people of Syria to heal and 
        transform in a constructive and positive way, and reduce the 
        likelihood of retribution or sectarian violence in the 
        aftermath of the end of the Assad regime.
            (4) Promoting democracy and building democratic 
        institutions.--Programs and activities that--
                    (A) facilitate the development of an accountable 
                effective democratic government;
                    (B) facilitate the development of an effective, 
                peaceful civil society;
                    (C) protect rule of law during the transition;
                    (D) support the development and administration of a 
                justice system based on universal human rights;
                    (E) assist with the development of a Syrian 
                constitution that fosters a sense of unity and 
                contributes to national reconciliation among different 
                components of Syrian society; and
                    (F) support the establishment of an inclusive and 
                transparent electoral system in Syria.
            (5) Economic restructuring and social policy.--Programs 
        that support the resumption of economic activity, preserve 
        functioning of public services, restore access to international 
        markets, empower the private sector, and promote responsible 
        and equitable social policies.
            (6) Historical preservation.--Programs that support 
        historical preservation efforts to help document the collective 
        memory of the armed conflict in Syria in order to support the 
        processes of national reconciliation and peace-building.
            (7) Collection of evidence on human rights abuses.--
        Programs that support the collection of evidence connected with 
        serious human rights abuses and violations of international 
        law.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to other 
assistance authorized under law, there is authorized to be appropriated 
or allocated to the Transition Fund up to $250,000,000 annually for 
fiscal years 2013 through 2015. These funds shall remain available 
until expended.
    (d) Uses of Funds for Nonproliferation.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, up to $100,000,000 of the funds authorized under 
subsection (c) may also be transferred to and merged with funds made 
available to carry out in Syria the purposes of chapter 9 of part II of 
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2349bb et seq.; 
nonproliferation and export control assistance).
    (e) Transfer Authority.--
            (1) In general.--In addition to other transfer authorities 
        available to the Department of State or other United States 
        Government agencies, funds available for foreign assistance or 
        funds of other United States Government agencies involved in 
        efforts related to the situation in Syria may be transferred to 
        or allocated as part of the Fund. Amounts so transferred shall 
        be merged with funds otherwise made available under this 
        section and remain available until expended for the purposes 
        specified in subsection (b).
            (2) Limit.--The total amount of funds made available to, or 
        allocated for, the Fund may not exceed $250,000,000 in any 
        fiscal year.
            (3) Transfer authority.--Funds available to carry out 
        assistance authorized by this section may be transferred to an 
        agency or account determined most appropriate to facilitate the 
        provision of assistance authorized by this section.
            (4) Additional to other authorities.--The transfer 
        authorities in paragraphs (1) and (3) are in addition to any 
        other transfer authority available to the Department of State 
        or other United States Government agencies.
    (f) Annual Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        establishment of the Transition Fund, or an allocation in 
        reliance on the authorities of the Transition Fund, and 
        annually thereafter for the duration of the Transition Fund, 
        the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate 
        congressional committees a report on United States efforts to 
        assist the political transition in Syria with a specific focus 
        on the efforts supported by the Transition Fund.
            (2) Content.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following elements:
                    (A) A description of the key efforts undertaken by 
                the United States Government to support the policy 
                objectives outlined in section 4.
                    (B) A description of the efforts supported by the 
                Transition Fund to support an effective and secure 
                political transition in Syria and how those activities 
                align with the purposes described in subsection (b).
                    (C) Metrics and benchmarks established and used by 
                the Department of State to make allocations from the 
                Transition Fund, and to measure the performance of the 
                Transition Fund and its various components.
                    (D) A description of efforts undertaken to 
                coordinate with other donors and ensure that there is 
                not a duplication of efforts, including among Federal 
                agencies.
            (3) Form.--The report under paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
        annex.

SEC. 202. ADJUSTING SANCTIONS PROVISIONS IN PREPARATION FOR A POLITICAL 
              TRANSITION.

    (a) Removal of Sanctions.--It is the sense of Congress that, once 
the Government of Syria has ceased its campaign of violence against the 
people of Syria and a transition to a representative and inclusive 
recognized government has begun, the United States Government should 
begin a phased process to remove sanctions on Syria, provided that the 
post-Assad Government of Syria demonstrates its willingness to--
            (1) support human rights for all Syrians irrespective of 
        sect or ethnicity;
            (2) reject terrorism; and
            (3) cooperate with the international community on 
        nonproliferation efforts.
    (b) Amendment to Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty 
Restoration Act of 2003.--Section 5 of the Syria Accountability and 
Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-175; 22 
U.S.C. 2151 note) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(1)''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``paragraphs (1) through 
                        (4) of subsection (d)'' and inserting 
                        ``subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph 
                        (1) of subsection (d)'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
                subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, by striking the 
                comma at the end and inserting the following: ``or;
            ``(2) makes the determination that the Government of Syria 
        meets the requirements described in paragraph (2) of such 
        subsection and certifies such determination to Congress in 
        accordance with such subsection,''; and
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``(A)'' after 
                ``(1)'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) 
                as subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D), respectively; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and 
                inserting the following: ``or;
            ``(2)(A) Bashar al-Assad is no longer the leader of Syria; 
        and
            ``(B) the Government of Syria has ceased its campaign of 
        violence against the people of Syria and begun the transition 
        to a representative and inclusive government that supports the 
        principles of--
                    ``(i) human rights for all Syrians irrespective of 
                sect, religion, or ethnicity;
                    ``(ii) rejection of terrorism and particularly 
                support for Hezbollah and other terrorist 
                organizations;
                    ``(iii) cooperation with the international 
                community on nonproliferation efforts; and
                    ``(iv) promotion of the unity and continuity of the 
                Syrian state.''.

                          TITLE III--SANCTIONS

SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
                Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Banking, 
                Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee 
                on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Financial 
                Services of the House of Representatives.
            (2) Defense article; defense service.--The terms ``defense 
        article'' and ``defense service'' have the meanings given those 
        terms in section 644 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
        U.S.C. 2403).
            (3) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or 
        entity.
            (4) Petroleum.--The term ``petroleum'' includes crude oil 
        and any mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in 
        natural underground reservoirs and remains liquid at 
        atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating 
        facilities.
            (5) Petroleum products.--The term ``petroleum products'' 
        includes unfinished oils, liquefied petroleum gases, pentanes 
        plus, aviation gasoline, motor gasoline, naptha-type jet fuel, 
        kerosene-type jet fuel, kerosene, distillate fuel oil, residual 
        fuel oil, petrochemical feedstocks, special naphthas, 
        lubricants, waxes, petroleum coke, asphalt, road oil, still 
        gas, and miscellaneous products obtained from the processing of 
        crude oil (including lease condensate), natural gas, and other 
        hydrocarbon compounds.

SEC. 302. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS PROVIDING 
              DEFENSE ARTICLES OR DEFENSE SERVICES TO THE ASSAD REGIME 
              OF SYRIA.

    On or after the date that is 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President may impose sanctions from among 
the sanctions described in section 304 with respect to any person that 
the President determines has, on or after such date of enactment, 
knowingly participated in or facilitated a significant transaction 
related to the sale or transfer of defense articles or defense services 
to the Assad regime of Syria, including any successor entity comprised 
principally of loyalists to Bashar al-Assad.

SEC. 303. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS PROVIDING 
              PETROLEUM OR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS TO THE ASSAD REGIME OF 
              SYRIA.

    (a) In General.--On or after the date that is 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose not fewer 
than 5 of the sanctions described in section 304 with respect to each 
person that the President determines has, on or after such date of 
enactment, knowingly participated in or facilitated a significant 
transaction related to the sale or transfer of petroleum or petroleum 
products to the Assad regime of Syria, including any successor entity 
comprised principally of loyalists to Bashar al-Assad, that directly 
contribute to the capability of the Assad regime, or any such successor 
entity, to continue its aggression against the people of Syria.
    (b) Humanitarian Exception.--The President may not impose sanctions 
under this section with respect to any person for conducting or 
facilitating a transaction necessary to meet humanitarian and basic 
human needs of the people of Syria.

SEC. 304. SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.

    The sanctions the President may impose with respect to a person 
under sections 302 and 303 are the following:
            (1) Export-import bank assistance.--The President may 
        direct the Export-Import Bank of the United States not to give 
        approval to the issuance of any guarantee, insurance, extension 
        of credit, or participation in the extension of credit in 
        connection with the export of any goods or services to the 
        person.
            (2) Procurement sanction.--The President may prohibit the 
        United States Government entering into any contract for the 
        procurement of any goods or services from the person.
            (3) Import sanctions.--The President may prohibit the 
        importation into the United States of products produced by the 
        person.
            (4) Arms export prohibition.--The President may prohibit 
        the exportation or provision by sale, lease or loan, grant or 
        other means, directly or indirectly, of any defense article or 
        defense service to the person and the issuance of any license 
        or other approval to the person under section 38 of the Arms 
        Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778).
            (5) Dual-use export prohibition.--The President may deny 
        licenses and suspend existing licenses for the transfer to the 
        person of items the export of which is controlled under the 
        Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.) 
        (as in effect pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 
        Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)) or the Export 
        Administration Regulations under subchapter C of chapter VII of 
        title 15, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (6) Property transactions.--The President may, pursuant to 
        such regulations as the President may prescribe, prohibit the 
        person from--
                    (A) acquiring, holding, withholding, using, 
                transferring, withdrawing, transporting, importing, or 
                exporting any property that is subject to the 
                jurisdiction of the United States and with respect to 
                which the person has any interest;
                    (B) dealing in or exercising any right, power, or 
                privilege with respect to such property; or
                    (C) conducting any transaction involving such 
                property.
            (7) Visa ineligibility.--In the case of a person that is an 
        alien, the President may direct the Secretary of State to deny 
        a visa to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security to exclude 
        from the United States, the person, subject to regulatory 
        exceptions to permit the United States to comply with the 
        Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of 
        America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations and 
        other applicable international obligations.

SEC. 305. WAIVER.

    (a) In General.--The President may waive the application of section 
302 or 303 if the President determines and reports to the appropriate 
congressional committees every 180 days that the waiver is vital to the 
national security interests of the United States.
    (b) Form.--A report submitted under subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

             TITLE IV--INCREASED SUPPORT FOR THE OPPOSITION

SEC. 401. INCREASED SUPPORT FOR THE OPPOSITION.

    (a) Increased Authorization To Provide Lethal and Nonlethal 
Assistance to Syrian Armed Opposition.--Subject to subsection (b), the 
President is authorized, notwithstanding any other provision of law and 
using funds made available for foreign assistance, to provide 
assistance, including defense articles, defense services, and training 
to members of the Syrian Supreme Military Council, units of the Free 
Syrian Army, and other Syrian entities opposed to the government of 
Bashar al-Assad.
    (b) Notification.--Not later than 15 days before obligating funds 
or otherwise making commitments, as the case may be, to provide the 
assistance described in subsection (a), the President shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees--
            (1) a certification that--
                    (A) assistance to any unit is being provided in 
                accordance with section 620M of the Foreign Assistance 
                Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378d);
                    (B) the leader or leaders of any unit for which 
                assistance is planned to be provided are, based on the 
                information available to the United States Government--
                            (i) not affiliated with any organization 
                        that has been designated as a foreign terrorist 
                        organization pursuant to section 219 of the 
                        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
                        1189);
                            (ii) opposed to the carrying out of 
                        sectarian violence and revenge killings; and
                            (iii) committed to civilian rule and the 
                        rule of law for Syria;
                    (C) any military education and training will 
                include information on observance of and respect for 
                applicable laws of war, human rights, and fundamental 
                freedoms; and
                    (D) no man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) 
                will be transferred as part of the assistance; and
            (2) a written policy justification, budget, execution plan 
        and timeline, and anticipated completion date for the planned 
        activity.
    (c) Code of Conduct.--The United States Government shall encourage 
any entity receiving assistance pursuant to subsection (a) to commit to 
a code of conduct that includes respect for the applicable laws of war, 
human rights, fundamental freedoms, and a commitment to refrain from 
sectarian violence.
    (d) Reporting Requirement.--In the event that the President 
exercises the authority in subsection (a), the President shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees every 90 days thereafter 
until such time as the authority is no longer being exercised, a 
detailed report on--
            (1) the education, training or assistance provided;
            (2) the vetting conducted to satisfy the certification 
        requirement in subsection (b)(1); and
            (3) steps taken to encourage the development of a code of 
        conduct outlined in subsection (c).
    (e) Sunset Provision.--The authority described in subsection (a) 
shall terminate on October 1, 2018.
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