IIA 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 22 

To promote a diplomatic solution in Syria, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 

Mr. MANCHIN (for himself and Ms. HEITKAMP) introduced the following joint 

resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

To promote a diplomatic solution in Syria, and for other 

purposes. 

Whereas the use of chemical weapons by the government of 

Bashar al-Assad against civilians in Syria, including on 

August 21, 2013, in the Damascus suburbs, is an abhorrent act and a serious violation of international norms 

and the laws of war; 

Whereas the goal of the Convention on the Prohibition of the 

Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, done at Paris 

January 13, 1993 (commonly known as the ‘‘Chemical 

Weapons Convention’’), to eliminate an entire category of 

weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, 

transfer, or use of chemical weapons by States Parties is 


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in the interest of the United States and the international 

community; and 

Whereas it is in the national interest of the United States to 

exhaust all diplomatic options and to build a robust coalition of international partners to prevent the proliferation 

and use of chemical weapons in Syria: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. TITLE. 

4 This joint resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Chemical 

5 Weapons Control and Accountability Resolution of 2013’’. 

6 SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

7 It is the policy of the United States that— 

8 (1) the Government of Syria must become a 

9 signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention and 

10 take concrete steps to comply with the terms and 

11 conditions of the Chemical Weapons Convention; 

12 (2) the failure by the government of Bashar al13 Assad to sign and comply with the Chemical Weap14 ons Convention clearly demonstrates a willful dis15 regard of international norms on the use of chemical 

16 weapons; and 

17 (3) if the Government of Syria does not sign 

18 and comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention 

19 within 45 days after the date of the enactment of 


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1 this resolution, all elements of national power will be 

2 considered by the United States Government. 

3 SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT FOR A SYRIA STRATEGY AND BUILD4 ING AN INTERNATIONAL COALITION. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days after the 

6 date of the enactment of this resolution, the President 

7 shall submit to Congress a long-term strategy for Syria, 

8 while concurrently using all appropriate diplomatic tools 

9 to develop and secure commitments from the international 

10 community with the shared strategic interest of preventing 

11 the proliferation and use of Syria’s chemical weapons. 

12 (b) ELEMENTS OF THE STRATEGY.—The strategy re13 quired under subsection (a) shall include the following ele14 ments: 

15 (1) A statement of United States strategic 

16 goals in Syria. 

17 (2) Specific objectives and benchmarks to be ac18 complished and a desired endstate. 

19 (3) A comprehensive review of current and 

20 planned United States diplomatic, political, eco21 nomic, and military policy toward Syria, including— 

22 (A) the provision of all forms of assistance 

23 to the Syrian Supreme Military Council and 

24 other Syrian entities opposed to the government 

25 of Bashar al-Assad that have been properly and 


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1 fully vetted and share common values and inter2 ests with the United States; 

3 (B) the provision of all forms of assistance 

4 to the Syrian political opposition, including the 

5 Syrian Opposition Coalition; 

6 (C) efforts to isolate extremist and ter7 rorist groups in Syria to prevent their influence 

8 on the future transitional and permanent Syr9 ian governments; 

10 (D) security coordination with allies and 

11 regional partners including Israel, Jordan, and 

12 Turkey; 

13 (E) efforts to limit support from the Gov14 ernment of Iran and others for the Syrian re15 gime; 

16 (F) planning for securing existing chem17 ical, biological, and other weapons supplies; 

18 (G) efforts to address the ongoing humani19 tarian challenges presented by 2,000,000 Syr20 ian refugees in neighboring countries, 

21 4,500,000 internally displaced persons in Syria, 

22 and related humanitarian needs; and 

23 (H) efforts to develop and secure commit24 ments from the international community to preVerDate Mar 15 2010 00:33 Sep 11, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SJ22.IS SJ22

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1 vent the proliferation and use of chemical weap2 ons in Syria. 

3 (c) FORM.—The strategy required under subsection 

4 (a) may include a classified annex, if necessary. 

Æ 


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