II 

Calendar No. 147 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 960 

[Report No. 113–79] 

To foster stability in Syria, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 15, 2013 

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

JULY 24, 2013 

Reported by Mr. MENENDEZ, with amendments 

[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To foster stability in Syria, and for other purposes. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

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

5 ‘‘Syria Transition Support Act of 2013’’. 

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

7 this Act is as follows: 


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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Appropriate congressional committees defined. 

Sec. 3. Findings. 

Sec. 4. Sense of the Senate. 

Sec. 4.5. Purposes of assistance. 

Sec. 5.6. No authorization for the use of military force. 

TITLE I—UNITED STATES STRATEGY AND CONGRESSIONAL 

OVERSIGHT 

Sec. 101. Report on United States strategy on Syria. 

Sec. 102. Congressional oversight of United States Government activities in 

Syria. 

TITLE II—HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 

Sec. 201. Humanitarian assistance to the people of Syria. 

Sec. 202. Humanitarian and development assistance through international organizations. 

Sec. 203. Bilateral assistance to countries that host Syrian refugees. 

Sec. 202.204. Sense of Congress. 

Sec. 203.205. Report on strategy to communicate to the Syrian people about 

assistance provided by the United States Government. 

Sec. 206. No authorization for new humanitarian funds. 

TITLE III—PROMOTING AN EFFECTIVE TRANSITION 

Sec. 301. Syria Transition Fund. 

Sec. 302. Adjusting sanctions provisions in preparation for a political transition. 

Sec. 303. Report on Syrian weapons stockpiles. 

Sec. 304. Pre-transition international consensus. 

Sec. 305. International support for a peaceful transition. 

TITLE IV—SANCTIONS 

Sec. 401. Definitions. 

Sec. 402. Imposition of sanctions with respect to selling, transferring, or transporting defense articles, defense services, or military training 

to the Assad regime of Syria. 

Sec. 403. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons providing petroleum 

or petroleum products to the Assad regime of Syria. 

Sec. 402. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the sale, transfer, or transportation of defense articles, defense services, or military training 

to the Assad regime of Syria. 

Sec. 403. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the provision of petroleum or 

petroleum products to the Assad regime of Syria. 

Sec. 404. Sanctions described. 

Sec. 405. Waivers. 

Sec. 405. National security waiver. 

Sec. 406. Sense of Congress on sanctions. 

TITLE V—INCREASED SUPPORT FOR THE OPPOSITION 

Sec. 501. Lethal and increased non-lethal support for the vetted opposition. 

Sec. 502. Prohibition on aid to Free Syrian Army in event of chemical weapons 

use. 


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Sec. 503. Prohibition on aid to Free Syrian Army in event of sale or illegal 

transfer of United States defense articles or services. 

1 SEC. 2. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE2 FINED. 

3 In this Act, except as specifically provided in title IV 

4 of this Act, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit5 tees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

6 Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

7 House of Representatives. 

8 SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 

9 Congress makes the following findings: 

10 (1) Since mass peaceful demonstrations started 

11 in Syria on March 15, 2011, the Government of 

12 Syria, led by Bashar al-Assad, has responded by 

13 committing human rights abuses and launching a 

14 violent crackdown that has claimed an estimated 

15 70,000 lives and degenerated into a civil war. 

16 (2) The civil war has caused a humanitarian 

17 crisis. According to the United Nations, there are 

18 more than 1,400,000 Syrian refugees registered in 

19 Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq and 

20 more than 2,600,000 Syrians displaced within the 

21 country. More than three-quarters of refugees and 

22 internally displaced persons are women and children. 

23 (3) The refugee crisis threatens the stability of 

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1 ia’s neighbors, most notably Lebanon and Jordan, 

2 but also Turkey and Iraq. 

3 (4) The civil war has increased the danger that 

4 the Assad regime could lose control of its chemical 

5 weapons stockpile, with the chemical weapons poten6 tially falling into the hands of terrorist groups like 

7 Hizballah and al Qaeda. 

8 (5) On April 25, 2013, the White House issued 

9 a letter to Congress stating that ‘‘our intelligence 

10 community does assess with varying degrees of con11 fidence that the Syrian regime has used chemical 

12 weapons on a small scale in Syria, specifically the 

13 chemical agent Sarin’’. 

14 (6) The security vacuum in Syria has created a 

15 safe haven for both Shia and Sunni extremists, 

16 which could threaten the security of the United 

17 States and its partners in the region. 

18 (7) Instability in Syria has threatened Israel’s 

19 security, particularly on the shared border along the 

20 Golan Heights. 

21 (8) A change of government in Syria could be 

22 a significant blow to the Government of Iran and 

23 Hizballah, which would lose a strong ally and which 

24 have also been aggressively providing military and 

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1 ing through the trafficking of weapons and supplies 

2 on commercial flights originating from or termi3 nating in Iran. 

4 (9) The commitments made by the National Co5 alition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition 

6 Forces at the international meeting in Istanbul on 

7 April 20 and 21, 2013, constitute an important en8 dorsement of shared principles and objectives that 

9 should guide United States Government cooperation 

10 with the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary 

11 and Opposition Forces and affiliated forces. These 

12 principles include a commitment to the territorial in13 tegrity of Syria, a rejection of sectarianism and ex14 tremism, and pledges to secure chemical weapons 

15 and support nonproliferation efforts. 

16 (10) It is vital to the national security interests 

17 of the United States to ensure that the United 

18 States planning and programs, specifically those 

19 conducted under the authorities or funding provided 

20 in or authorized under this Act, are focused on en21 suring a stable and appropriate political transition 

22 in Syria and limiting the threats posed by extremist 

23 groups, weapons proliferation, sectarian and ethnic 

24 violence, and refugee flows in the aftermath of the 

25 current conflict. 


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1 (11) The President’s goals of Assad leaving 

2 power, an end to the violence, and a negotiated polit3 ical settlement in Syria are prerequisites for a stable, 

4 democratic future for Syria and regional peace and 

5 security, but absent decisive changes to the present 

6 military balance of power on the ground in Syria, 

7 sufficient incentives do not yet exist for the achieve8 ment of such goals. 

9 (12) The leadership of many United States 

10 friends and allies, including the Prime Minister of the 

11 United Kingdom, the President of France, the Prime 

12 Minister of Turkey, the King of Jordan, the King of 

13 Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince of the United Arab 

14 Emirates, and the Amir of Qatar, have stated their 

15 strong support for more robust international response 

16 to change the military balance of power on the ground 

17 in Syria. 

18 (13) The President should increase his consulta19 tions with Congress regarding what additional re20 sources and authorities may be necessary to support 

21 United States national security interests in Syria, in22 cluding the defense of United States allies and part23 ners in the Middle East. 

24 SEC. 4. SENSE OF THE SENATE. 

25 It is the sense of the Senate that the United States— 


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1 (1) strongly condemns the ongoing violence and 

2 widespread human rights violations perpetrated 

3 against the Syrian people by the regime of President 

4 Bashar al-Assad; 

5 (2) should support civilians and innocent vic6 tims of the conflict in Syria, particularly women and 

7 children who are displaced and vulnerable to physical 

8 and psychological exploitation; 

9 (3) affirms the neutrality of medical profes10 sionals providing humanitarian assistance and health 

11 care on a non-political basis and condemns attacks 

12 against such personnel or interference in the provi13 sion of medical care; 

14 (4) should support efforts of democratically ori15 ented political opposition groups in Syria to agree 

16 upon a political transition plan that is inclusive and 

17 protects the rights of all minority ethnic groups in the 

18 country; 

19 (5) welcomes the pledges of humanitarian assist20 ance made by the Governments of Australia, Bot21 swana, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Repub22 lic of Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Qatar, 

23 Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, 

24 and members of the European Union, and encourages 

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1 tribute to meeting the needs of the victims of this con2 flict, and encourages all donors to coordinate with the 

3 United Nations; 

4 (6) should help ensure that, once a stable transi5 tional government is established in Syria, it is com6 mitted to multiparty democracy, open and trans7 parent governance, respect for human rights and reli8 gious freedom, protection of refugees and asylees, pro9 moting peace and stability with its neighbors, en10 hancing the rule of law, and rehabilitating and re11 integrating former combatants; and 

12 (7) should fully implement existing sanctions on 

13 Syria, including Executive Order 13606, dated April 

14 22, 2012, which sanctions any individual or entity 

15 that assists or enables the commission of serious 

16 human rights abuses, through computer or network 

17 disruption, tracking, or monitoring, by the Govern18 ment of Syria or the Government of Iran. 

19 SEC. 4.5. PURPOSES OF ASSISTANCE. 

20 The purposes of assistance authorized by this Act 

21 are— 

22 (1) to support transition from the current re23 gime to a just and democratic state that is inclusive 

24 and protects the rights of all Syrians regardless of 

25 religion, ethnicity, or gender; 


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1 (2) to assist the people of Syria, especially in2 ternally displaced persons and refugees, in meeting 

3 basic needs including access to food, health care, 

4 shelter, and clean drinking water; 

5 (3) to provide political and economic support to 

6 those neighboring countries who are hosting refugees 

7 fleeing Syria and to international organizations that 

8 are providing assistance and coordinating humani9 tarian relief efforts; 

10 (4) to oppose the unlawful use of violence 

11 against civilians by all parties to the conflict in 

12 Syria; 

13 (5) to use a broad array of instruments of na14 tional power to expedite a negotiated solution to the 

15 conflict in Syria, including the departure of Bashar 

16 al-Assad; 

17 (6) to recognize the National Coalition for Syr18 ian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (in this 

19 Act referred to as the ‘‘Syrian Opposition Coalition’’ 

20 or ‘‘SOC’’) as a legitimate representative of the Syr21 ian people; 

22 (7) to engage with opposition groups that re23 flect United States interests and values, most nota24 bly the Syrian Opposition Coalition, any legitimate 

25 successor groups, including appropriate subgroups 


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1 within the opposition that are representative of the 

2 Syrian people, as well as the broader international 

3 community, that are committed to facilitating an or4 derly transition to a more stable democratic political 

5 order, including— 

6 (A) protecting human rights, expanding 

7 political participation, and providing religious 

8 freedom to all Syrians, irrespective of religion, 

9 ethnicity, or gender; 

10 (B) supporting the rule of law; 

11 (C) rejecting terrorism and extremist 

12 ideologies; 

13 (D) subordinating the military to civilian 

14 authority; 

15 (E) protecting the Syrian population 

16 against sectarian violence and reprisals; 

17 (F) cooperating with international counter18 terrorism and nonproliferation efforts, as well 

19 as securing, dismantling, and eventual destruc20 tion of any inherited nuclear, chemical, or bio21 logical weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or 

22 WMD-related programs; 

23 (G) supporting regional stability and avoid24 ing interference in the affairs of neighboring 

25 countries; and 


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1 (H) establishing a strong justice system 

2 and ensuring accountability for conflict-related 

3 crimes; 

4 (8) to promote the territorial integrity of Syria 

5 and continuity of the Syrian state by supporting a 

6 post-Assad government that is capable of providing 

7 security, services, and political and religious rights 

8 to its people; 

9 (9) to provide foreign assistance, defense arti10 cles, defense services, and training to specific mem11 bers of the Syrian Supreme Military Council, par12 ticular units of the Free Syrian Army, and other 

13 Syrian entities opposed to the government of Bashar 

14 al-Assad that have been properly and fully vetted 

15 and share common values and interests with the 

16 United States; 

17 (10) to closely coordinate with key partners on 

18 contingency planning, including Turkey, Jordan, 

19 Israel, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Euro20 pean Union, to ensure that these partners are pre21 pared for an appropriate response to the evolving 

22 situation in Syria, including being ready and capable 

23 of securing of chemical or biological weapons or 

24 other proliferation emergencies, preventing the flow 

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1 boring countries, or taking other measures against 

2 the Government of Syria, including contingency 

3 planning for a no-fly zone; 

4 (11) to support efforts to identify and docu5 ment the activities of those individuals who target or 

6 lead units or organizations that target civilian popu7 lations and vulnerable populations, including women 

8 and children, or have engaged in otherwise unlawful 

9 acts, and to ensure that they are held accountable 

10 for their actions; and 

11 (12) to ensure a stable and appropriate political 

12 for their actions; 

13 (12) to support programs that provide scholars, 

14 scientists, and tertiary level students in Syria and 

15 their families, whose lives, health, and freedoms are at 

16 risk as a result of their academic pursuits, fellowship 

17 and scholarship opportunities at safe host universities 

18 outside Syria in order to ensure that they can be an 

19 asset to the rebuilding of a stable and democratic 

20 Syria; and 

21 (13) to ensure a stable and appropriate political 

22 transition in Syria and limit the threats posed by ex23 tremist groups, weapons proliferation, sectarian and 

24 ethnic violence, and refugee flows in the aftermath 

25 of the current conflict. 


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1 SEC. 5.6. NO AUTHORIZATION FOR THE USE OF MILITARY 

2 FORCE. 

3 Nothing in this Act shall be construed as providing 

4 authorization for the use of military force by the United 

5 States Armed Forces. 

6 TITLE I—UNITED STATES STRAT7 EGY AND CONGRESSIONAL 

8 OVERSIGHT 

9 SEC. 101. REPORT ON UNITED STATES STRATEGY ON SYRIA. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 

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

12 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

13 an unclassified report, with an classified annex, as nec14 essary, on an integrated United States Government strat15 egy to achieve the purposes set forth in section 4 5. 

16 (b) METRICS.—The strategy referenced in subsection 

17 (a) should include specific proposed actions to be taken 

18 by each relevant government agency, a timeframe for be19 ginning and completing such actions, and metrics for eval20 uating the success of each proposed action relative to the 

21 purpose of such action. 

22 (c) INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY.—The 

23 strategy referenced in subsection (a) should specifically in24 clude sections describing specific United States Govern25 ment programs and efforts— 


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1 (1) to establish international consensus on the 

2 transition and post-transition period and government 

3 in Syria; 

4 (2) to work with the Government of Russia on 

5 the situation in Syria and the transition and post6 transition period and government in Syria, including 

7 how such programs can leverage the shared interests 

8 of the United States and Russia in avoiding the ex9 pansion of extremist ideologies and terrorist groups 

10 in Syria and the region; 

11 (3) to work with the Friends of Syria group to 

12 ensure that extremist and terrorist groups in Syria 

13 are isolated and that the core of the opposition can 

14 be brought to the negotiating table; and 

15 (4) to build an international consensus to limit 

16 and, to the greatest extent possible eliminate, sup17 port from the Government of Iran for the Syrian re18 gime, including a potential ban on all commercial 

19 flights between Iran and Syria. 

20 (d) CONGRESSIONAL CONSULTATION.—The Presi21 dent shall actively consult with the appropriate congres22 sional committees prior to the submission of the report 

23 required under subsection (a). 


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1 SEC. 102. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF UNITED STATES 

2 GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN SYRIA. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall keep Con4 gress, through the appropriate congressional committees, 

5 fully and currently informed of all United States Govern6 ment activities with respect to Syria, including activities 

7 and programs conducted or funded pursuant to this Act. 

8 (b) REPORTING.—The President shall provide a clas9 sified briefing not less than on a quarterly basis to the 

10 appropriate congressional committees detailing all United 

11 States Government activities with respect to Syria, includ12 ing activities and programs conducted or funded pursuant 

13 to this Act. 

14 TITLE II—HUMANITARIAN 

15 ASSISTANCE 

16 SEC. 201. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF 

17 SYRIA. 

18 (a) AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding any other provi19 sion of law that restricts the provision of United States 

20 economic or other non-military assistance in Syria, the 

21 President is authorized to provide economic and other 

22 non-military assistance to meet humanitarian needs to the 

23 people of Syria, either directly or through appropriate 

24 groups and organizations pursuant to the provisions of the 

25 Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) 


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1 or the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act (22 U.S.C. 

2 2601 et seq.). 

3 (b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec4 tion shall be construed to authorize new or additional 

5 funding for humanitarian needs. 

6 SEC. 202. HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE 

7 THROUGH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. 

8 The President should instruct the United States per9 manent representative or executive director, as the case may 

10 be, to the United Nations voluntary agencies, including the 

11 World Food Program, the United Nations Development Pro12 gram, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the United 

13 Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and other appro14 priate international organizations such as the Inter15 national Committee of the Red Cross to use the voice and 

16 vote of the United States to support humanitarian and de17 velopment assistance for the people of Syria in order to ac18 complish the purposes described in section 5. 

19 SEC. 203. BILATERAL ASSISTANCE TO COUNTRIES THAT 

20 HOST SYRIAN REFUGEES. 

21 The President should support bilateral refugee assist22 ance programs in countries, including Iraq, Jordan, Tur23 key, Egypt, and Lebanon, which have experienced an influx 

24 of refugees from Syria. 


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1 SEC. 202.204. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

2 Consistent with the policy objectives described in sec3 tion 4 5, it is the sense of Congress that— 

4 (1) the United States should continue to coordi5 nate with other donor nations, the United Nations, 

6 other multilateral agencies, and nongovernmental or7 ganizations to enhance the effectiveness of humani8 tarian assistance to the people suffering as a result 

9 of the crisis in Syria; 

10 (2) countries hosting Syrian refugees should be 

11 commended for their efforts and should be encour12 aged to maintain an open border policy for fleeing 

13 Syrians; 

14 (3) the United States Government should con15 tinue to work with these partners to help their na16 tional systems accommodate the population influx 

17 and also maintain delivery of basic services to their 

18 own citizens; and 

19 (4) the United States Government should seek 

20 to identify humanitarian assistance as originating 

21 from the American people wherever possible and to 

22 the fullest extent practicable, while maintaining con23 sideration for the health and safety of the implemen24 ters and recipients of that assistance and the 

25 achievement of United States policy goals and the 

26 purposes set forth in section 4. 


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1 (4) all assistance made available under this sec2 tion should, without restricting the ability of a con3 tractor or grantee to use its own organizational brand 

4 or logo for purposes of identification (subject to such 

5 standards or regulations as the President may estab6 lish), be identified as being ‘‘From the American Peo7 ple’’ if the relevant Assistant Secretary of State, in 

8 consultation with the implementing partner, deter9 mines that such identification would not— 

10 (A) jeopardize the safety or impartiality of 

11 implementing partners that deliver the assist12 ance; 

13 (B) jeopardize the health and safety of the 

14 intended beneficiaries; 

15 (C) compromise the intrinsic independence 

16 or neutrality of a program or materials where 

17 implementing partner independence or neu18 trality is inherently important to the success of 

19 the effort; 

20 (D) undermine United States efforts to em21 power the democratically oriented political oppo22 sition; or 

23 (E) otherwise render the provision of assist24 ance impracticable. 


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1 SEC. 203.205. REPORT ON STRATEGY TO COMMUNICATE TO 

2 THE SYRIAN PEOPLE ABOUT ASSISTANCE 

3 PROVIDED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERN4 MENT. 

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

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

7 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

8 an unclassified report with a classified annex, as nec9 essary, on an integrated United States Government strat10 egy to ensure that the people of Syria people Syria are 

11 made aware to the maximum extent possible of the assist12 ance that the United States Government provides to Syr13 ians both inside Syria and those seeking refuge in neigh14 boring countries. 

15 (b) CONTENT.—The report should include the fol16 lowing elements: 

17 (1) A discussion of how the United States bal18 ances three imperatives of— 

19 (A) maximizing the efficacy of aid provided 

20 to the people of Syria; 

21 (B) ensuring that there is awareness 

22 among the people of Syria on the amount and 

23 nature of this aid; and 

24 (C) leveraging this aid to improve the 

25 credibility of the Syrian Opposition Coalition 

26 amongst the people of Syria. 


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1 (2) Methods by which the United States Gov2 ernment and its partners plan to communicate to 

3 the people of Syria what assistance the United 

4 States has provided. 

5 (3) A plan, with specific action, timelines, and 

6 evaluation metrics for promoting awareness of the 

7 United States Government’s assistance to the max8 imum extent possible while taking into consideration 

9 and ensuring the safety of its implementing partners 

10 and personnel providing that assistance and the 

11 achievement of the United States policy goals and 

12 the purposes set forth in section 4 5. 

13 (4) An assessment of the Syrian Opposition 

14 Coalition’s Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU)’s, or 

15 any appropriate successor entity’s, capacity to par16 ticipate in the distribution of assistance, and a de17 scription of steps the United States Government is 

18 taking to increase their profile so as to help build 

19 their credibility among Syrians. 

20 SEC. 206. NO AUTHORIZATION FOR NEW HUMANITARIAN 

21 FUNDS. 

22 Nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize 

23 new or additional funding for humanitarian needs or aid 

24 to international organizations. 


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1 TITLE III—PROMOTING AN 

2 EFFECTIVE TRANSITION 

3 SEC. 301. SYRIA TRANSITION FUND. 

4 (a) SYRIA TRANSITION FUND.— 

5 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a 

6 Syria Transition Fund (in this title referred to as 

7 the ‘‘Transition Fund’’) from which funds may be 

8 made available, notwithstanding any other provision 

9 of law that restricts the provision of United States 

10 economic or non-military assistance in Syria, for as11 sistance and contributions to promote security and 

12 support the objectives described in section 4 5. 

13 (2) OBLIGATION OF FUNDS; NOTIFICATION.— 

14 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Transition Fund 

15 may rely upon the administrative authorities of 

16 the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 

17 2151 et seq.), and obligation of such funds may 

18 not occur until 15 days after the date on which 

19 the President has provided notice of intent to 

20 obligate to the appropriate congressional com21 mittees and the Committees on Appropriations 

22 of the Senate and the House of Representa23 tives. 

24 (B) WAIVER.—The notification required 

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1 ure to do so would pose a substantial risk to 

2 human health or welfare, in which case notifica3 tion shall be provided as early as practicable, 

4 but in no event later than three days after tak5 ing the action to which such notification re6 quirement was applicable in the context of the 

7 circumstances necessitating such waiver. Any 

8 notification provided pursuant to such a waiver 

9 shall contain an explanation of the emergency 

10 circumstances. 

11 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Transition Fund 

12 is to provide support in the early transition period to en13 able an effective political transition to a more democratic 

14 and inclusive political structure and provide for initiatives 

15 that will improve the security of the United States, United 

16 States partners and allies, and the people of Syria. The 

17 Transition Fund may be used to support programs in the 

18 following areas and in priority order: 

19 (1) SECURITY SECTOR SUPPORT.—Programs to 

20 train, equip, and professionalize law enforcement 

21 and military forces in Syria, including police and 

22 border protection forces, to protect the people of 

23 Syria. 

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1 forcement and military forces in Syria, as well as 

2 those in neighboring countries, to provide support to 

3 refugees from Syria, to stem the flow of weapons 

4 and fighters out of Syria into other nations, and to 

5 prevent the proliferation of chemical or other weap6 ons of mass destruction, including preventing such 

7 weapons from falling into the hands of al Qaeda, 

8 Hizballah, and other terrorist groups. 

9 (3) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PHASED DISAR10 MAMENT.—Technical assistance to transitional au11 thorities to— 

12 (A) create special weapons storage sites used 

13 to separately warehouse and catalogue vetted 

14 groups’ weaponry during a transition period; 

15 (B) repurpose weapons systems for eventual 

16 new Syrian security forces; and 

17 (C) transition rebel groups into civilian life 

18 or official membership in new forces. 

19 (3)(4) TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE AND CONFLICT

20 RESOLUTION.—Programs to reduce the likelihood of 

21 retribution or sectarian violence in the aftermath of 

22 the end of the Assad regime and to promote the cre23 ation of a stable center, including improving rela24 tions between the moderate Sunni, Alawite, and 

25 Christian communities. 


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1 (4)(5) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE

2 DEMOCRACY AND BUILDING DEMOCRATIC INSTITU3 TIONS.—Technical assistance, capacity building, and 

4 training programs that— 

5 (A) facilitate the development of an ac6 countable, effective, and representative demo7 cratic government; 

8 (B) protect the rule of law during the tran9 sition; 

10 (C) support the development and adminis11 tration of a modern justice system; 

12 (D) assist with the development of a Syr13 ian constitution that fosters a sense of unity 

14 and contributes to national reconciliation 

15 among different components of Syrian society; 

16 and 

17 (E) support the establishment of an inclu18 sive and transparent electoral system in Syria. 

19 (E) support the establishment of an inclu20 sive and transparent electoral system in Syria; 

21 and 

22 (F) develop the capacity of democratically23 oriented political parties and civil society orga24 nizations. 


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1 (5)(6) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT

2 ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION.—Technical assistance, 

3 capacity building, and training programs that sup4 port the resumption of economic activity, restore ac5 cess to international markets, promote international 

6 investment, provide for financial transparency and 

7 fiscal stability, and empower the private sector. 

8 (6)(7) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR BASIC

9 SERVICES.—Technical assistance, capacity building, 

10 and training programs to provide basic civil govern11 ment services to the people of Syria. 

12 (7)(8) COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE ON UNLAW13 FUL ACTIVITIES TARGETING CIVILIAN POPU14 LATIONS.—Programs that support the collection of 

15 evidence related to the activities of those individuals 

16 who target or lead units or organizations that target 

17 civilian populations and vulnerable populations, in18 cluding women and children, or have engaged in oth19 erwise unlawful acts, and to ensure that they are 

20 held accountable for their actions. 

21 (9) POST-CONFLICT STABILIZATION.—High-level 

22 diplomacy and planning for post-conflict stabilization 

23 efforts. 

24 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi25 tion to other assistance authorized under law, there is auVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:59 Jul 24, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S960.RS S960

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1 thorized to be appropriated to the Transition Fund, out 

2 of amounts appropriated for the support of political and 

3 economic transition in the Middle East and North Africa, 

4 up to $250,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2013 through 

5 2015. 

6 (d) USES OF FUNDS FOR NONPROLIFERATION.— 

7 Notwithstanding any other provision of law that restricts 

8 the provision of United States assistance in Syria, up to 

9 $100,000,000 of the funds authorized to be appropriated 

10 annually under subsection (c) may also be transferred to 

11 and merged with funds made available to carry out in 

12 Syria the purposes of chapter 9 of part II of the Foreign 

13 Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2349bb et seq.; non14 proliferation and export control assistance). 

15 (e) TRANSFER AUTHORITY.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to other transfer 

17 authorities available to the Department of State, the 

18 Department of Defense, or other United States Gov19 ernment agencies or departments, funds available for 

20 foreign assistance or funds of the Department of 

21 Defense or other United States Government agencies 

22 or departments that are specifically allocated to23 wards addressing the situation in Syria may be 

24 transferred to the Transition Fund by the agencies 

25 or departments to which the funds are available, 


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1 subject to existing reprogramming requirements and 

2 limitations, including congressional notification and 

3 approval requirements. Amounts so transferred shall 

4 be merged with funds otherwise made available 

5 under this section and remain available until ex6 pended for the purposes specified in subsection (b). 

7 (2) LIMIT.—The total amount of funds made 

8 available to the Transition Fund may not exceed 

9 $250,000,000 in any fiscal year. 

10 (3) TRANSFER AUTHORITY.—Funds available to 

11 carry out assistance authorized by this section may 

12 be transferred to an agency or account determined 

13 most appropriate to facilitate the provision of assist14 ance authorized by this section. 

15 (4) ADDITIONAL TO OTHER AUTHORITIES.— 

16 The transfer authorities in paragraphs (1) and (3) 

17 are in addition to any other transfer authority avail18 able to the Department of State or other United 

19 States Government agencies. 

20 (f) SUNSET PROVISION.—Unless specifically renewed, 

21 the Transition Fund shall terminate on September 30, 

22 2015. 

23 (g) ANNUAL REPORT.— 

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

25 after the establishment of the Transition Fund, and 


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1 annually thereafter for the duration of the Transi2 tion Fund, the Secretary of State, in collaboration 

3 with the Secretary of Defense and other appropriate 

4 agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congres5 sional committees a report on United States efforts 

6 to assist the political transition in Syria with a spe7 cific focus on the efforts supported by the Transition 

8 Fund. The Secretary shall also provide an update 

9 briefing to the appropriate congressional committees 

10 every 180 days. 

11 (2) CONTENT.—The report required under 

12 paragraph (1) shall include the following elements: 

13 (A) A description of the efforts undertaken 

14 and planned to be undertaken by the United 

15 States Government through the Transition 

16 Fund to support the policy objectives outlined 

17 in section 4 5. 

18 (B) A description of the efforts supported 

19 by the Transition Fund to support an effective 

20 and secure political transition in Syria and how 

21 those activities align with the purposes de22 scribed in subsection (b). 

23 (C) A description of the efforts undertaken 

24 and planned to be undertaken by the United 

25 States Government, supported by the Transition 


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1 Fund, to leverage additional financial assistance 

2 from the international donor community, includ3 ing the Gulf states, in support of political transi4 tion and rebuilding in Syria. 

5 (C)(D) A specific accounting of all monies 

6 obligated through the Transition Fund by pro7 gram and project. 

8 (D)(E) Metrics and benchmarks to make 

9 allocations from the Transition Fund and meas10 ure the performance of the Transition Fund 

11 and programs funded by the Transition Fund. 

12 (E)(F) A description of efforts undertaken 

13 to coordinate with other donors and ensure that 

14 there is not a duplication of efforts, including 

15 among Federal agencies. 

16 (3) FORM.—The report under paragraph (1) 

17 shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may in18 clude a classified annex. 

19 SEC. 302. ADJUSTING SANCTIONS PROVISIONS IN PREPA20 RATION FOR A POLITICAL TRANSITION. 

21 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con22 gress that the United States Government should begin a 

23 phased process to remove sanctions on Syria once the Gov24 ernment of Syria has ceased its campaign of violence 

25 against the people of Syria and a transition has begun 


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1 to a representative and inclusive government that is de2 monstrably committed to the principles set forth in sub3 paragraphs (A) through (H) of section 4 5(7) and is recog4 nized by the United States. 

5 (b) AMENDMENTS TO SYRIA ACCOUNTABILITY AND

6 LEBANESE SOVEREIGNTY RESTORATION ACT OF 2003.— 

7 Section 5 of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sov8 ereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–175; 

9 22 U.S.C. 2151 note) is amended— 

10 (1) in subsection (c)— 

11 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

12 (i) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘(1)’’; and 

13 (ii) by striking ‘‘paragraphs (1) 

14 through (4) of subsection (d)’’ and insert15 ing ‘‘subparagraphs (A) through (D) of 

16 paragraph (1) of subsection (d)’’; 

17 (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 

18 (3) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; 

19 and 

20 (C) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated 

21 by subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, by 

22 striking the comma at the end and inserting the 

23 following: ‘‘; or 

24 ‘‘(2) makes the determination that the Govern25 ment of Syria meets the requirements described in 


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1 paragraph (2) of such subsection and certifies such 

2 determination to Congress in accordance with such 

3 subsection,’’; and 

4 (2) in subsection (d)— 

5 (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ 

6 after ‘‘(1)’’; 

7 (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), 

8 and (4) as subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D), re9 spectively; and 

10 (C) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated 

11 by subparagraph (B), by striking the period at 

12 the end and inserting the following: ‘‘; or 

13 ‘‘(2)(A) Bashar al-Assad is no longer the leader 

14 of Syria; and 

15 ‘‘(B) the Government of Syria has ceased its 

16 campaign of violence against the people of Syria and 

17 begun the transition to a representative and inclu18 sive government that is demonstrably committed to 

19 the principles of— 

20 ‘‘(i) protecting human rights, expanding 

21 political participation, and providing religious 

22 freedom to all Syrians, irrespective of, religion, 

23 ethnicity, or gender; 

24 ‘‘(ii) supporting the rule of law; 


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1 ‘‘(iii) rejecting terrorism and extremist 

2 ideologies; 

3 ‘‘(iv) subordinating the military to civilian 

4 authority; 

5 ‘‘(v) protecting the Syrian population 

6 against sectarian violence and reprisals; 

7 ‘‘(vi) cooperating with international 

8 counterterrorism and nonproliferation efforts; 

9 ‘‘(vii) supporting regional stability and 

10 avoiding interference in the affairs of neigh11 boring countries; 

12 ‘‘(viii) establishing a strong justice system 

13 and ensuring accountability for conflict-related 

14 crimes; and 

15 ‘‘(ix) recognizing the Golan Heights ‘Sepa16 ration of Forces Agreement Between Israel And 

17 Syria,’ signed on May 31, 1974, and the related 

18 protocol regarding United Nations Disengage19 ment Observer Force (UNDOF) functions.’’. 

20 SEC. 303. REPORT ON SYRIAN WEAPONS STOCKPILES. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 

22 date of enactment of this Act, the President shall submit 

23 to Congress an assessment of the size and security of con24 ventional and non-conventional weapons stockpiles in 

25 Syria. 


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1 (b) CONTENT.—The report required under subsection 

2 (a) shall include the following elements: 

3 (1) A description of who has or may have ac4 cess to the stockpiles. 

5 (2) A description of the sources and types of 

6 (1) A description of who has command and con7 trol over and access to conventional and non-conven8 tional weapons stockpiles. 

9 (2) A description of the use and sources and 

10 types of weapons flowing from outside Syria to both 

11 government and opposition forces. 

12 (3) A detailed plan to prevent the proliferation 

13 of conventional, biological, chemical, and other types 

14 of weapons in Syria. 

15 SEC. 304. PRE-TRANSITION INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS. 

16 The Secretary of State should establish international 

17 consensus on the transition and post-transition period and 

18 government in Syria by— 

19 (1) working with the government of Russia on 

20 the situation in Syria and the transition and post21 transition period and government in Syria, including 

22 how such programs can leverage leveraging the 

23 shared interests of the United States and Russia in 

24 avoiding the expansion of extremist ideologies and 

25 terrorist groups in Syria and the region and working 


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1 to end Russian financial and military support for the 

2 Assad regime; 

3 (2) working with the Friends of Syria group to 

4 ensure that extremist and terrorist groups in Syria 

5 are isolated and that the core of the opposition can 

6 be brought to the negotiating table; and 

7 (3) building an international consensus to limit 

8 and, to the greatest extent possible, eliminate sup9 port from the Government of Iran for the Syrian re10 gime, including a potential ban on all commercial 

11 flights between Iran and Syria. 

12 SEC. 305. INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR A PEACEFUL 

13 TRANSITION. 

14 It is the sense of Congress that the United States Gov15 ernment should work with international financial institu16 tions to support the purposes described in section 5. 

17 TITLE IV—SANCTIONS 

18 SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS. 

19 In this title: 

20 (1) ACCOUNT; CORRESPONDENT ACCOUNT; PAY21 ABLE-THROUGH ACCOUNT.—The terms ‘‘account’’, 

22 ‘‘correspondent account’’, and ‘‘payable-through ac23 count’’ have the meanings given those terms in section 

24 5318A of title 31, United States Code. 


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1 (1)(2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT2 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com3 mittees’’ means— 

4 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

5 the Committee on Finance, and the Committee 

6 on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 

7 Senate; and 

8 (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 

9 Committee on Ways and Means, and the Com10 mittee on Financial Services of the House of 

11 Representatives. 

12 (2)(3) DEFENSE ARTICLE; DEFENSE SERV13 ICE.—The terms ‘‘defense article’’ and ‘‘defense 

14 service’’ have the meanings given those terms in sec15 tion 47 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 

16 2794). 

17 (4) FOREIGN FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.—The term 

18 ‘‘foreign financial institution’’ has the meaning of 

19 that term as determined by the Secretary of the 

20 Treasury pursuant to section 104(i) of the Com21 prehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Di22 vestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513(i)). 

23 (3)(5) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an 

24 individual or entity. 


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1 (4)(6) PETROLEUM.—The term ‘‘petroleum’’ in2 cludes crude oil and any mixture of hydrocarbons 

3 that exists in liquid phase in natural underground 

4 reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pres5 sure after passing through surface separating facili6 ties. 

7 (5)(7) PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.—The term ‘‘pe8 troleum products’’ includes unfinished oils, liquefied 

9 petroleum gases, pentanes plus, aviation gasoline, 

10 motor gasoline, naptha-type jet fuel, kerosene-type 

11 jet fuel, kerosene, distillate fuel oil, residual fuel oil, 

12 petrochemical feedstocks, special naphthas, lubri13 cants, waxes, petroleum coke, asphalt, road oil, still 

14 gas, and miscellaneous products obtained from the 

15 processing of crude oil (including lease condensate), 

16 natural gas, and other hydrocarbon compounds. 

17 (6)(8) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term 

18 ‘‘United States person’’ means— 

19 (A) a natural person who is a citizen or 

20 resident of the United States or a national of 

21 the United States (as defined in section 101(a) 

22 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

23 U.S.C. 1101(a))); and 


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1 (B) an entity that is organized under the 

2 laws of the United States or a jurisdiction with3 in the United States. 

4 SEC. 402. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

5 SELLING, TRANSFERRING, OR TRANS6 PORTING DEFENSE ARTICLES, DEFENSE 

7 SERVICES, OR MILITARY TRAINING TO THE 

8 ASSAD REGIME OF SYRIA. 

9 On or after the date that is 30 days after the date 

10 of the enactment of this Act, the President may impose 

11 sanctions from among the sanctions described in section 

12 404 with respect to any person that the President deter13 mines has, on or after such date of enactment, knowingly 

14 participated in or facilitated a significant transaction re15 lated to the sale, transfer, or transportation of defense ar16 ticles, defense services, or military training to the Assad 

17 regime of Syria or any successor regime in Syria that the 

18 President determines is not a legitimate transitional or re19 placement government. 

20 SEC. 403. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

21 PERSONS PROVIDING PETROLEUM OR PE22 TROLEUM PRODUCTS TO THE ASSAD REGIME 

23 OF SYRIA. 

24 On or after the date that is 30 days after the date 

25 of the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose 


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1 the sanction described in paragraph (5) of section 404 and 

2 2 or more of the other sanctions described in that section 

3 with respect to each person that the President determines 

4 has, on or after such date of enactment, knowingly partici5 pated in or facilitated a significant transaction related to 

6 the sale or transfer of petroleum or petroleum products 

7 to the Assad regime of Syria or any successor regime in 

8 Syria that the President determines is not a legitimate 

9 transitional or replacement government. 

10 SEC. 402. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

11 THE SALE, TRANSFER, OR TRANSPORTATION 

12 OF DEFENSE ARTICLES, DEFENSE SERVICES, 

13 OR MILITARY TRAINING TO THE ASSAD RE14 GIME OF SYRIA. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—On or after the date that is 30 days 

16 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 

17 shall impose 2 or more of the sanctions described in section 

18 404 with respect to any person (other than a foreign finan19 cial institution) that the President determines has, on or 

20 after such date of enactment, knowingly participated in or 

21 facilitated a significant transaction related to the sale, 

22 transfer, or transportation of defense articles (including 

23 surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile systems, in24 cluding any S300 system and the Yakhont system), defense 

25 services, or military training to the Assad regime of Syria 


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1 or any successor regime in Syria that the President deter2 mines is not a legitimate transitional or replacement gov3 ernment. 

4 (b) SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN FINAN5 CIAL INSTITUTIONS.—On or after the date that is 30 days 

6 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 

7 may prohibit the opening, and prohibit or impose strict 

8 conditions on the maintaining, in the United States of a 

9 correspondent account or a payable-through account by a 

10 foreign financial institution that the President determines 

11 has knowingly conducted, on or after such date of enact12 ment, a significant transaction related to the sale, transfer, 

13 or transportation of defense articles (including surface-to14 air and surface-to-surface missile systems, including any 

15 S300 system and the Yakhont system), defense services, or 

16 military training to— 

17 (1) the Assad regime of Syria or any successor 

18 regime in Syria that the President determines is not 

19 a legitimate transitional or replacement government; 

20 or 

21 (2) any person added after April 28, 2011, to the 

22 list of specially designated nationals and blocked per23 sons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Con24 trol of the Department of the Treasury in connection 

25 with the conflict in Syria. 


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1 SEC. 403. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

2 THE PROVISION OF PETROLEUM OR PETRO3 LEUM PRODUCTS TO THE ASSAD REGIME OF 

4 SYRIA. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—On or after the date that is 30 days 

6 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 

7 shall impose 3 or more of the sanctions described in section 

8 404 with respect to each person (other than a foreign finan9 cial institution) that the President determines has, on or 

10 after such date of enactment, knowingly participated in or 

11 facilitated a significant transaction related to the sale or 

12 transfer of petroleum or petroleum products to the Assad 

13 regime of Syria or any successor regime in Syria that the 

14 President determines is not a legitimate transitional or re15 placement government. 

16 (b) SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN FINAN17 CIAL INSTITUTIONS.—On or after the date that is 30 days 

18 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 

19 may prohibit the opening, and prohibit or impose strict 

20 conditions on the maintaining, in the United States of a 

21 correspondent account or a payable-through account by a 

22 foreign financial institution that the President determines 

23 has knowingly conducted, on or after such date of enact24 ment, a significant transaction related to the sale or trans25 fer of petroleum or petroleum products to— 


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1 (1) the Assad regime of Syria or any successor 

2 regime in Syria that the President determines is not 

3 a legitimate transitional or replacement government; 

4 or 

5 (2) any person added after April 28, 2011, to the 

6 list of specially designated nationals and blocked per7 sons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Con8 trol of the Department of the Treasury in connection 

9 with the conflict in Syria. 

10 (c) HUMANITARIAN EXCEPTION.—The President may 

11 not impose sanctions under this section with respect to any 

12 person for conducting or facilitating a transaction nec13 essary to meet the humanitarian needs of the people of 

14 Syria. 

15 SEC. 404. SANCTIONS DESCRIBED. 

16 The sanctions the President may impose with respect 

17 to a person under sections 402 and 403 are the following: 

18 (1) EXPORT-IMPORT BANK ASSISTANCE.—The 

19 President may direct the Export-Import Bank of the 

20 United States not to give approval to the issuance 

21 of any guarantee, insurance, extension of credit, or 

22 participation in the extension of credit in connection 

23 with the export of any goods or services to the per24 son. 


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1 (2) PROCUREMENT SANCTION.—The President 

2 may prohibit the United States Government from 

3 procuring, or entering into any contract for the pro4 curement of, any goods or services from the person. 

5 (3) ARMS EXPORT PROHIBITION.—The Presi6 dent may prohibit United States Government sales 

7 to the person of any item on the United States Mu8 nitions List under section 38(a)(1) of the Arms Ex9 port Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778(a)(1)) and require 

10 termination of sales to the person of any defense ar11 ticles, defense services, or design and construction 

12 services under that Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.). 

13 (4) DUAL-USE EXPORT PROHIBITION.—The 

14 President may deny licenses and suspend existing li15 censes for the transfer to the person of items the ex16 port of which is controlled under the Export Admin17 istration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.) 

18 (as in effect pursuant to the International Emer19 gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 

20 seq.)) or the Export Administration Regulations 

21 under subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15, Code 

22 of Federal Regulations. 

23 (5) BLOCKING OF ASSETS.—The President 

24 may, pursuant to such regulations as the President 

25 may prescribe, block and prohibit all transactions in 


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1 all property and interests in property of the person 

2 if such property and interests in property are in the 

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

4 or come within the possession or control of a United 

5 States person. 

6 (6) VISA INELIGIBILITY.—In the case of a per7 son that is an alien, the President may direct the 

8 Secretary of State to deny a visa to, and the Sec9 retary of Homeland Security to exclude from the 

10 United States, the person, subject to regulatory ex11 ceptions to permit the United States to comply with 

12 the Agreement between the United Nations and the 

13 United States of America regarding the Head14 quarters of the United Nations and other applicable 

15 international obligations. 

16 SEC. 405. WAIVERS. 

17 (a) GENERAL WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The President 

18 may waive the application of section 402 or 403 to a per19 son or category of persons for a period of 180 days, and 

20 may renew the waiver for additional periods of not more 

21 than 180 days, if the President determines and reports 

22 to the appropriate congressional committees every 180 

23 days that the waiver is in the vital national security inter24 ests of the United States. 


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1 (b) WAIVER FOR HUMANITARIAN NEEDS.—The 

2 President may waive the application of section 403 to a 

3 person for a period of not more than 180 days, and may 

4 renew the waiver for additional periods of not more than 

5 180 days, if the President determines and reports to the 

6 appropriate congressional committees every 180 days that 

7 the waiver is to necessary to permit the person to conduct 

8 or facilitate a transaction that is necessary to meet hu9 manitarian needs of the people of Syria. 

10 (c) FORM.—Each report submitted under subsection 

11 (a) or (b) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 

12 include a classified annex. 

13 SEC. 405. NATIONAL SECURITY WAIVER. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—The President may waive the ap15 plication of section 402 or 403 to a person or category of 

16 persons for a period of not more than 180 days, and may 

17 renew the waiver for additional periods of not more than 

18 180 days, if the President determines and reports to the 

19 appropriate congressional committees every 180 days that 

20 the waiver is in the vital national security interests of the 

21 United States. 

22 (b) FORM.—Each report submitted under subsection 

23 (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include 

24 a classified annex. 


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1 SEC. 406. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SANCTIONS. 

2 It is the sense of Congress that the President should 

3 work closely with allies of the United States to obtain 

4 broad multilateral support for countries to impose sanc5 tions that are equivalent to the sanctions set forth in this 

6 title under the laws of those countries. 

7 TITLE V—INCREASED SUPPORT 

8 FOR THE OPPOSITION 

9 SEC. 501. LETHAL AND INCREASED NON-LETHAL SUPPORT 

10 FOR THE VETTED OPPOSITION. 

11 (a) AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE LETHAL AND IN12 CREASED NON-LETHAL ASSISTANCE TO VETTED ELE13 MENTS OF THE SYRIAN OPPOSITION.—Subject to sub14 section (b), the President is authorized, notwithstanding 

15 any other provision of law that restricts military, non-mili16 tary, or economic assistance to Syria, to provide defense 

17 articles, defense services, and military training to specific 

18 members of the Syrian Supreme Military Council, par19 ticular units of the Free Syrian vetted elements of the Syr20 ian Supreme Military Council, the Free Syrian Army, and 

21 other Syrian entities opposed to the government of Bashar 

22 al-Assad, with funds made available for foreign assistance. 

23 (b) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 15 days before 

24 obligating funds, otherwise providing any assistance, or 

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1 ance described in subsection (a), the President shall sub2 mit to the appropriate congressional committees— 

3 (1) a certification that— 

4 (A) assistance to any individual, unit, or 

5 entities unit or entity will be provided con6 sistent with section 620M of the Foreign As7 sistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378d); 

8 (B) the individual to whom assistance is 

9 being provided or is planned to be provided, or 

10 leader or leaders of any unit or entity, including 

11 all senior members of such unit or entity, to 

12 which assistance is being provided or is planned 

13 to be provided, are, based on the information 

14 available to the United States Government— 

15 the unit or entity to which assistance is being 

16 provided or is planned to be provided and the 

17 senior leaders of such unit or entity, are, based 

18 on the information available to the United States 

19 Government— 

20 (i) not an organization or person that 

21 has been designated, or is affiliated with 

22 any or an associated force of an organiza23 tion or person that has been designated, as 

24 a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to 

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1 tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189) or a ‘‘Spe2 cially Designated Global Terrorist’’ pursu3 ant to Executive Order 13224 (66 Fed. 

4 Reg. 49079); 

5 (ii) committed to rejecting terrorism 

6 and extremist ideologies; 

7 (iii) opposed to the carrying out of 

8 sectarian violence and revenge killings; 

9 13224 (66 Fed. Reg. 49079), and has been 

10 screened through all relevant terrorist data11 bases, including the Terrorist Identities 

12 Datamart Environment (TIDE); 

13 (ii) committed to rejecting terrorism 

14 and extremist ideologies; 

15 (iii) opposed to the carrying out of sec16 tarian violence, revenge killings, and other 

17 abuses of the laws of armed conflict, includ18 ing international human rights and hu19 manitarian law, and committed to an in20 clusive political transition; 

21 (iv) committed to civilian rule, includ22 ing subordinating the military to civilian 

23 authority, and the rule of law for Syria; 


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1 (v) committed to cooperating with 

2 international counterterrorism and non3 proliferation efforts; and 

4 (vi) supporting regional stability and 

5 avoiding interference in the affairs of 

6 neighboring countries; 

7 (C) any military education and training 

8 (C) there is significant international sup9 port from key European and Middle Eastern 

10 partners for providing the assistance referenced 

11 in this title, and United States efforts to provide 

12 this assistance are being coordinated with these 

13 partners; 

14 (D) any military education and training 

15 should include information and training on ap16 propriate leadership and command skills, pro17 tection of critical infrastructure, observance of 

18 and respect for applicable laws of armed con19 flict, respect for the rule of law, and the impor20 tance of civilian control of the military, includ21 ing the capability to maintain a chain of cus22 tody of assistance being provided under this sec23 tion, and, when appropriate, on securing chem24 ical weapons sites and other important sites; 

25 and 


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1 (D) assistance provided sites; 

2 (E) according to chain of custody criteria 

3 established and promulgated by the Department 

4 of State, the unit or entity to whom assistance 

5 is being provided can maintain a reasonable 

6 chain of custody of weapons consisting of a rea7 sonable capability to document, account, and 

8 physically control the transfer, custody, and dis9 position of assistance being provided under this 

10 section; and 

11 (F) assistance provided under this section 

12 to any specific individual or entity unit or entity 

13 shall immediately be terminated if the United 

14 States Government receives information that in15 dicates that the individual or entity unit or en16 tity is not in compliance with the terms laid out 

17 in subparagraph (B); and 

18 (2) a written policy justification, budget, execu19 tion plan and timeline, and anticipated completion 

20 date for the planned activity. 

21 (c) RESTRICTION ON ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENSIVE

22 SYSTEMS.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided under 

24 paragraph (2), no anti-aircraft defensive systems 


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1 may be transferred as part of the assistance author2 ized under this section. 

3 (2) WAIVER.—The President may waive the re4 striction under paragraph (1) if— 

5 (A) it is in the vital national security inter6 est to do so; 

7 (B) the President notifies Congress not 

8 later than 15 days before exercising such waiv9 er; 

10 (C) not later than 15 days before exer11 cising such waiver, the President transmits to 

12 the appropriate congressional committees a re13 port described in subsection (e) (f), together 

14 with the certification required under subsection 

15 (b)(1) specifically with respect to anti-aircraft 

16 defensive systems; 

17 (D) the President certifies that— 

18 (i) the systems provided have been 

19 equipped with appropriate tracking, dis20 abling, or anti-tamper devices; or 

21 (ii) effective end use monitoring, in22 cluding appropriate disposition of systems, 

23 is in place; and 


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1 (E) the President certifies that the United 

2 States has consulted with regional allies regard3 ing the systems provided. place; 

4 (E) the President certifies that the United 

5 States has consulted with regional allies regard6 ing the systems provided; and 

7 (F) the President submits a strategy to im8 plement an accelerated global program to secure 

9 or eliminate stocks of anti-aircraft defense sys10 tems and related equipment and facilities that 

11 pose a proliferation threat immediately after the 

12 cessation of violence. 

13 (d) CODE OF CONDUCT.—The United States Govern14 ment shall encourage any entity receiving assistance pur15 suant to subsection (a) to commit to a code of conduct 

16 that includes respect for applicable laws of armed conflict, 

17 respect for the rule of law, and a commitment to refrain 

18 from sectarian violence and revenge killings. 

19 (e) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.— In the event that 

20 includes— 

21 (1) respect for applicable laws of armed conflict; 

22 (2) respect for the rule of law; 

23 (3) a commitment to refrain from sectarian vio24 lence and revenge killings; and 


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1 (4) a commitment to cooperate with transitional 

2 authorities in the establishment of special weapons 

3 storage sites and efforts to shift security functions to 

4 the transitional government. 

5 (e) NONPROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DE6 STRUCTION.—The United States Government shall encour7 age any entity receiving assistance pursuant to subsection 

8 (a) to commit to a Syria that is free of weapons of mass 

9 destruction, including any chemical, biological, or nuclear 

10 WMD-related programs. 

11 (f) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.— In the event that the 

12 President exercises the authority in subsection (a), the 

13 President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

14 committees every 90 days thereafter until such time as 

15 the authority is no longer being exercised, a detailed re16 port on— 

17 (1) the education, training or assistance pro18 vided; 

19 (2) a rationale for why the assistance is being 

20 provided; 

21 (2)(3) the vetting conducted to satisfy the cer22 tification requirement in subsection (b)(1); 

23 (3)(4) steps taken to encourage the development 

24 of a code of conduct outlined in subsection (c) (d); 


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1 (4)(5) an assessment of the current military ca2 pacity of opposition forces receiving assistance; 

3 (5)(6) an assessment of the ability of opposition 

4 forces inside and outside of Syrian to establish mili5 tary activities impacting Syria, together with a prac6 ticable timetable for accomplishing these objectives; 

7 (6)(7) an assessment of the ability of opposition 

8 groups to establish effective military control over 

9 Syria; and Syria; 

10 (7)(8) a description of the financial and mate11 riel resources currently available to opposition 

12 forces. forces; 

13 (9) the criteria for chain of custody certification 

14 and the adherence by the Syrian opposition to chain 

15 of custody requirements; and 

16 (10) a strategy for securing the lethal assistance 

17 being provided in the aftermath of the conflict. 

18 (f)(g) SUNSET PROVISION.—Unless specifically re19 newed, the authority described in subsection (a) shall ter20 minate on September 30, 2015. 

21 SEC. 502. PROHIBITION ON AID TO FREE SYRIAN ARMY IN 

22 EVENT OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS USE. 

23 In the event that the United States Government re24 ceives substantial evidence that any units or entities pro25 vided assistance under this title have engaged in the use 


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1 of chemical weapons, the authority under this Act to pro2 vide assistance to those units or entities shall immediately 

3 terminate. 

4 SEC. 503. PROHIBITION ON AID TO FREE SYRIAN ARMY IN 

5 EVENT OF SALE OR ILLEGAL TRANSFER OF 

6 UNITED STATES DEFENSE ARTICLES OR 

7 SERVICES. 

8 In the event that the United States Government re9 ceives substantial evidence that any units or entities pro10 vided assistance under this title are selling or illegally 

11 transferring defense articles or defense services received from 

12 the United States Government, the authority under this Act 

13 to provide assistance to those units or entities shall imme14 diately terminate. 


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Calendar No. 147 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 960 

[Report No. 113–79] 

A BILL 

To foster stability in Syria, and for other purposes. 

JULY 24, 2013 

Reported with amendments 


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