II 

Calendar No. 620 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 1677 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 18, 2017 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

OCTOBER 3 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 28), 2018 

Reported by Mr. CORKER, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

AN ACT 

To halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, encourage a negotiated political settlement, and hold Syrian 

human rights abusers accountable for their crimes. 

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 AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

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

5 ‘‘Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017’’. 

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

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Sense of Congress. 

Sec. 3. Statement of policy. 


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TITLE I—ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE 

NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA 

Sec. 101. Sanctions with respect to Central Bank of Syria and foreign persons 

that engage in certain transactions. 

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

Sec. 103. Rule of construction. 

Sec. 104. Definitions. 

TITLE II—AMENDMENTS TO SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS 

ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012 

Sec. 201. Imposition of sanctions with respect to certain persons who are responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses committed 

against citizens of Syria or their family members. 

Sec. 202. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the transfer of goods or technologies to Syria that are likely to be used to commit human 

rights abuses. 

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

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

TITLE III—REPORTS AND WAIVER FOR HUMANITARIAN-RELATED 

ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA 

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

Sec. 302. Assessment of potential methods to enhance the protection of civilians. 

Sec. 303. Assistance to support entities taking actions relating to gathering evidence for investigations into war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria since March 2011. 

TITLE IV—SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA 

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

Sec. 402. Waivers and exemptions. 

TITLE V—REGULATORY AUTHORITY, COST LIMITATION, AND 

SUNSET 

Sec. 501. Implementation and regulatory authorities. 

Sec. 502. Cost limitation. 

Sec. 503. Authority to consolidate reports. 

Sec. 504. Sunset. 

1 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

2 It is the sense of Congress that— 

3 (1) Bashar al-Assad’s murderous actions 

4 against the people of Syria have directly contributed 


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1 to the deaths of more than 480,000 civilians, led to 

2 the destruction of more than 50 percent of Syria’s 

3 critical infrastructure, and forced the displacement 

4 of more than 14 million people, precipitating one of 

5 the worst humanitarian crises in more than 60 

6 years; 

7 (2) international actions to protect vulnerable 

8 populations from attack by uniformed and irregular 

9 forces associated with the Assad regime, including 

10 Hezbollah, on land and by air, including through the 

11 use of barrel bombs, chemical weapons, mass starva12 tion, industrial-scale torture and execution of polit13 ical dissidents, sniper attacks against pregnant 

14 women, and the deliberate targeting of medical fa15 cilities, schools, residential areas, and community 

16 gathering places, including markets, have been insuf17 ficient to date; 

18 (3) Assad’s use of chemical weapons, including 

19 chlorine, against the Syrian people violates the 

20 Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Syria is a 

21 party; 

22 (4) Assad’s abhorrent use of chemical weapons, 

23 most recently on April 4, 2017, in an attack on the 

24 town of Khan Shakhyn in which more than 90 peo25 ple died, including women and children, and more 


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1 than 600 hundred people were injured, is condemned 

2 in the strongest terms; 

3 (5) violent attacks resulting in death, injury, 

4 imprisonment or threat of prosecution against hu5 manitarian aid workers and diplomatic personnel, as 

6 well as attacks on humanitarian supplies, facilities, 

7 transports, and assets, and acts to impede the access 

8 and secure movement of all humanitarian personnel 

9 are in violation of international humanitarian law 

10 and impede the lifesaving work of humanitarian or11 ganizations and diplomatic institutions; and 

12 (6) Assad’s continued claim of leadership and 

13 war crimes in Syria have served as a rallying point 

14 for the extremist ideology of the Islamic State, 

15 Jabhat al-Nusra, and other terrorist organizations. 

16 SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

17 It is the policy of the United States that all diplo18 matic and coercive economic means should be utilized to 

19 compel the government of Bashar al-Assad to immediately 

20 halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people and to 

21 support an immediate transition to a democratic govern22 ment in Syria that respects the rule of law, human rights, 

23 and peaceful co-existence with its neighbors. 


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1 TITLE I—ADDITIONAL ACTIONS 

2 IN CONNECTION WITH THE 

3 NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH 

4 RESPECT TO SYRIA 

5 SEC. 101. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CENTRAL BANK 

6 OF SYRIA AND FOREIGN PERSONS THAT EN7 GAGE IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS. 

8 (a) APPLICATION OF CERTAIN MEASURES TO CEN9 TRAL BANK OF SYRIA.—Except as provided in subsections 

10 (a) and (b) of section 402, the President shall apply the 

11 measures described in section 5318A(b)(5) of title 31, 

12 United States Code, to the Central Bank of Syria. 

13 (b) BLOCKING PROPERTY OF FOREIGN PERSONS

14 THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on and after the 

16 date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment 

17 of this Act, the President shall impose on a foreign 

18 person the sanctions described in subsection (c) if 

19 the President determines that such foreign person, 

20 on or after such date of enactment, knowingly en21 gages in an activity described in paragraph (2). 

22 (2) ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.—A foreign person 

23 engages in an activity described in this paragraph if 

24 the foreign person— 


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1 (A) knowingly provides significant finan2 cial, material or technological support to (in3 cluding engaging in or facilitating a significant 

4 transaction or transactions with) or provides 

5 significant financial services for— 

6 (i) the Government of Syria (including 

7 government entities operating as a busi8 ness enterprise) and the Central Bank of 

9 Syria, or any of its agencies or instrumen10 talities; or 

11 (ii) a foreign person subject to sanc12 tions pursuant to— 

13 (I) the International Emergency 

14 Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 

15 1701 et seq.) with respect to Syria or 

16 any other provision of law that im17 poses sanctions with respect to Syria; 

18 or 

19 (II) a resolution that is agreed to 

20 by the United Nations Security Coun21 cil that imposes sanctions with respect 

22 to Syria; 

23 (B) knowingly— 

24 (i) sells or provides significant goods, 

25 services, technology, information, or other 


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1 support that directly and significantly fa2 cilitates the maintenance or expansion of 

3 the Government of Syria’s domestic pro4 duction of natural gas or petroleum or pe5 troleum products of Syrian origin in areas 

6 controlled by the Government of Syria or 

7 associated forces; 

8 (ii) sells or provides to the Govern9 ment of Syria crude oil or condensate, re10 fined petroleum products, liquefied natural 

11 gas, or petrochemical products that have a 

12 fair market value of $500,000 or more or 

13 that during a 12-month period have an ag14 gregate fair market value of $2,000,000 or 

15 more in areas controlled by the Govern16 ment of Syria or associated forces; 

17 (iii) sells or provides aircraft or spare 

18 parts, or provides significant goods, serv19 ices, or technologies associated with the op20 eration of such aircraft or air carriers to 

21 any foreign person operating in areas con22 trolled by the Government of Syria or asso23 ciated forces that are used, in whole or in 

24 part, for military purposes; or 


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1 (iv) sells or provides significant goods, 

2 services, or technology to a foreign person 

3 operating in the shipping (including ports 

4 and free trade zones), transportation, or 

5 telecommunications sectors in areas con6 trolled by the Government of Syria or asso7 ciated forces; 

8 (C) knowingly facilitates efforts by a for9 eign person to carry out an activity described in 

10 subparagraph (A) or (B); or 

11 (D) knowingly provides significant loans, 

12 credits, including export credits, or financing to 

13 carry out an activity described in subparagraph 

14 (A) or (B). 

15 (c) SANCTIONS AGAINST A FOREIGN PERSON.—The 

16 sanctions to be imposed on a foreign person described in 

17 subsection (b) are the following: 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall exercise 

19 all of the powers granted to the President under the 

20 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 

21 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block 

22 and prohibit all transactions in property and inter23 ests in property of the foreign person if such prop24 erty and interests in property are in the United 

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


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1 come within the possession or control of a United 

2 States person. 

3 (2) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMISSION, 

4 OR PAROLE.— 

5 (A) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.—An 

6 alien who the Secretary of State or the Sec7 retary of Homeland Security (or a designee of 

8 one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason 

9 to believe, meets any of the criteria described in 

10 subsection (a) is— 

11 (i) inadmissible to the United States; 

12 (ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other 

13 documentation to enter the United States; 

14 and 

15 (iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted 

16 or paroled into the United States or to re17 ceive any other benefit under the Immigra18 tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et 

19 seq.). 

20 (B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 

21 (i) IN GENERAL.—The issuing con22 sular officer, the Secretary of State, or the 

23 Secretary of Homeland Security (or a des24 ignee of one of such Secretaries) shall re25 voke any visa or other entry documentation 


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1 issued to an alien who meets any of the 

2 criteria described in subsection (a) regard3 less of when issued. 

4 (ii) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—A rev5 ocation under clause (i)— 

6 (I) shall take effect immediately; 

7 and 

8 (II) shall automatically cancel 

9 any other valid visa or entry docu10 mentation that is in the alien’s pos11 session. 

12 (3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA13 TIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 

14 under paragraph (2) shall not apply to an alien if 

15 admitting the alien into the United States is nec16 essary to permit the United States to comply with 

17 the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the 

18 United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 

19 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, 

20 between the United Nations and the United States, 

21 or other applicable international obligations. 

22 (4) PENALTIES.—The penalties provided for in 

23 subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the Inter24 national Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 

25 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person that knowingly 


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1 violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or 

2 causes a violation of regulations promulgated under 

3 section 501(a) to carry out paragraph (1) of this 

4 subsection to the same extent that such penalties 

5 apply to a person that knowingly commits an unlaw6 ful act described in section 206(a) of that Act. 

7 SEC. 102. PROHIBITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER 

8 OF ARMS AND RELATED MATERIALS TO 

9 SYRIA. 

10 (a) SANCTIONS.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on and after the 

12 date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment 

13 of this Act, the President shall impose on a foreign 

14 person the sanctions described in subsection (b) if 

15 the President determines that such foreign person, 

16 on or after such date of enactment, knowingly ex17 ports, transfers, or provides significant financial, 

18 material, or technological support to the Government 

19 of Syria to— 

20 (A) acquire or develop chemical, biological, 

21 or nuclear weapons or related technologies; 

22 (B) acquire or develop ballistic or cruise 

23 missile capabilities; 


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1 (C) acquire or develop destabilizing num2 bers and types of advanced conventional weap3 ons; or 

4 (D) acquire defense articles, defense serv5 ices, or defense information (as such terms are 

6 defined under the Arms Export Control Act (22 

7 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.)), if the President deter8 mines that a significant type or amount of such 

9 articles, services, or information has been so ac10 quired. 

11 (2) APPLICABILITY TO OTHER FOREIGN PER12 SONS.—The sanctions described in subsection (b) 

13 shall also be imposed on any foreign person that is 

14 a successor entity to a foreign person described in 

15 paragraph (1). 

16 (b) SANCTIONS AGAINST A FOREIGN PERSON.—The 

17 sanctions to be imposed on a foreign person described in 

18 subsection (a) are the following: 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall exercise 

20 all powers granted by the International Emergency 

21 Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to 

22 the extent necessary to freeze and prohibit all trans23 actions in all property and interests in property of 

24 the foreign person if such property and interests in 

25 property are in the United States, come within the 


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1 United States, or are or come within the possession 

2 or control of a United States person. 

3 (2) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMISSION, 

4 OR PAROLE.— 

5 (A) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.—An 

6 alien who the Secretary of State or the Sec7 retary of Homeland Security (or a designee of 

8 one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason 

9 to believe, meets any of the criteria described in 

10 subsection (a) is— 

11 (i) inadmissible to the United States; 

12 (ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other 

13 documentation to enter the United States; 

14 and 

15 (iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted 

16 or paroled into the United States or to re17 ceive any other benefit under the Immigra18 tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et 

19 seq.). 

20 (B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 

21 (i) IN GENERAL.—The issuing con22 sular officer, the Secretary of State, or the 

23 Secretary of Homeland Security (or a des24 ignee of one of such Secretaries) shall re25 voke any visa or other entry documentation 


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1 issued to an alien who meets any of the 

2 criteria described in subsection (a) regard3 less of when issued. 

4 (ii) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—A rev5 ocation under clause (i)— 

6 (I) shall take effect immediately; 

7 and 

8 (II) shall automatically cancel 

9 any other valid visa or entry docu10 mentation that is in the alien’s pos11 session. 

12 (3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA13 TIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 

14 under paragraph (2) shall not apply to an alien if 

15 admitting the alien into the United States is nec16 essary to permit the United States to comply with 

17 the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the 

18 United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 

19 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, 

20 between the United Nations and the United States, 

21 or other applicable international obligations. 

22 (4) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, at23 tempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a 

24 violation of any regulation, license, or order issued 

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1 alties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 

2 206 of the International Emergency Economic Pow3 ers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a 

4 person that commits an unlawful act described in 

5 subsection (a) of that section. 

6 SEC. 103. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

7 Nothing in this title shall be construed to limit the 

8 authority of the President pursuant to the International 

9 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 

10 seq.). 

11 SEC. 104. DEFINITIONS. 

12 In this title: 

13 (1) ADMITTED; ALIEN.—The terms ‘‘admitted’’ 

14 and ‘‘alien’’ have the meanings given such terms in 

15 section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 

16 (8 U.S.C. 1101). 

17 (2) FINANCIAL, MATERIAL, OR TECHNOLOGICAL

18 SUPPORT.—The term ‘‘financial, material, or techno19 logical support’’ has the meaning given such term in 

20 section 542.304 of title 31, Code of Federal Regula21 tions, as such section was in effect on the date of 

22 the enactment of this Act. 

23 (3) FOREIGN PERSON.—The term ‘‘foreign per24 son’’ means any citizen or national of a foreign 

25 country, or any entity not organized solely under the 


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1 laws of the United States or existing solely in the 

2 United States. 

3 (4) GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA.—The term ‘‘Gov4 ernment of Syria’’ has the meaning given such term 

5 in section 542.305 of title 31, Code of Federal Reg6 ulations, as such section was in effect on the date 

7 of the enactment of this Act. 

8 (5) KNOWINGLY.—The term ‘‘knowingly’’ has 

9 the meaning given such term in section 566.312 of 

10 title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such sec11 tion was in effect on the date of the enactment of 

12 this Act. 

13 (6) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an in14 dividual or entity. 

15 (7) PETROLEUM OR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS OF

16 SYRIAN ORIGIN.—The term ‘‘petroleum or petroleum 

17 products of Syrian origin’’ has the meaning given 

18 such term in section 542.314 of title 31, Code of 

19 Federal Regulations, as such section was in effect on 

20 the date of the enactment of this Act. 

21 (8) SIGNIFICANT TRANSACTION OR TRANS22 ACTIONS; SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL SERVICES.—A 

23 transaction or transactions or financial services shall 

24 be determined to be a significant for purposes of this 

25 section in accordance with section 566.404 of title 


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1 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section 

2 was in effect on the date of the enactment of this 

3 Act. 

4 (9) SYRIA.—The term ‘‘Syria’’ has the meaning 

5 given such term in section 542.316 of title 31, Code 

6 of Federal Regulations, as such section was in effect 

7 on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

8 (10) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term 

9 ‘‘United States person’’ means any United States 

10 citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized 

11 under the laws of the United States (including for12 eign branches), or any person in the United States. 

13 TITLE II—AMENDMENTS TO 

14 SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS AC15 COUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012 

16 SEC. 201. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

17 CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE 

18 FOR OR COMPLICIT IN HUMAN RIGHTS 

19 ABUSES COMMITTED AGAINST CITIZENS OF 

20 SYRIA OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 702(c) of the Syria 

22 Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 

23 8791(c)) is amended to read as follows: 

24 ‘‘(c) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall exer2 cise all powers granted by the International Emer3 gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 

4 seq.) to the extent necessary to freeze and prohibit 

5 all transactions in all property and interests in prop6 erty of a person on the list required by subsection 

7 (b) if such property and interests in property are in 

8 the United States, come within the United States, or 

9 are or come within the possession or control of a 

10 United States person. 

11 ‘‘(2) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMIS12 SION, OR PAROLE.— 

13 ‘‘(A) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.—An 

14 alien who the Secretary of State or the Sec15 retary of Homeland Security (or a designee of 

16 one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason 

17 to believe, meets any of the criteria described in 

18 subsection (b) is— 

19 ‘‘(i) inadmissible to the United States; 

20 ‘‘(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or 

21 other documentation to enter the United 

22 States; and 

23 ‘‘(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admit24 ted or paroled into the United States or to 

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1 gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

2 1101 et seq.). 

3 ‘‘(B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 

4 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The issuing con5 sular officer, the Secretary of State, or the 

6 Secretary of Homeland Security (or a des7 ignee of one of such Secretaries) shall re8 voke any visa or other entry documentation 

9 issued to an alien who meets any of the 

10 criteria described in subsection (b) regard11 less of when issued. 

12 ‘‘(ii) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—A 

13 revocation under clause (i)— 

14 ‘‘(I) shall take effect imme15 diately; and 

16 ‘‘(II) shall automatically cancel 

17 any other valid visa or entry docu18 mentation that is in the alien’s pos19 session. 

20 ‘‘(3) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, at21 tempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a 

22 violation of this section or any regulation, license, or 

23 order issued to carry out this section shall be subject 

24 to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) 

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1 nomic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same ex2 tent as a person that commits an unlawful act de3 scribed in subsection (a) of that section. 

4 ‘‘(4) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The President 

5 shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the 

6 enactment of this section, promulgate regulations as 

7 necessary for the implementation of this section. 

8 ‘‘(5) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA9 TIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 

10 under paragraph (2) shall not apply to an alien if 

11 admitting the alien into the United States is nec12 essary to permit the United States to comply with 

13 the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the 

14 United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 

15 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, 

16 between the United Nations and the United States, 

17 or other applicable international obligations. 

18 ‘‘(6) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 

19 this section shall be construed to limit the authority 

20 of the President pursuant to the International 

21 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 

22 et seq.), relevant Executive orders, regulations, or 

23 other provisions of law.’’. 

24 (b) SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES DESCRIBED.— 

25 Section 702 of the Syria Human Rights Accountability 


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1 Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791) is amended by adding at 

2 the end the following: 

3 ‘‘(d) SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES DE4 SCRIBED.—In subsection (b), the term ‘serious human 

5 rights abuses’ includes— 

6 ‘‘(1) the deliberate targeting of civilian infra7 structure to include schools, hospitals, markets, and 

8 other infrastructure that is essential to human life, 

9 such as power and water systems; and 

10 ‘‘(2) the deliberate diversion, hindering, or 

11 blocking of access for humanitarian purposes, in12 cluding access across conflict lines and borders.’’. 

13 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

14 subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect on the date of 

15 the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to 

16 the imposition of sanctions under section 702(a) of the 

17 Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 on after 

18 such date of enactment. 

19 SEC. 202. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

20 THE TRANSFER OF GOODS OR TECH21 NOLOGIES TO SYRIA THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE 

22 USED TO COMMIT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. 

23 Section 703(b)(2)(C) of the Syria Human Rights Ac24 countability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8792(b)(2)(C)) is 

25 amended— 


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

2 (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the 

3 end and inserting a semicolon; and 

4 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(iii) any article— 

6 ‘‘(I) designated by the President 

7 for purposes of the United States Mu8 nitions List under section 38(a)(1) of 

9 the Arms Export Control Act (22 

10 U.S.C. 2778(a)(1)); and 

11 ‘‘(II) with respect to which the 

12 President determines is significant for 

13 purposes of the imposition of sanc14 tions under subsection (a); or 

15 ‘‘(iv) other goods or technologies that 

16 the President determines may be used by 

17 the Government of Syria to commit human 

18 rights abuses against the people of Syria.’’. 

19 SEC. 203. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

20 PERSONS WHO HINDER HUMANITARIAN AC21 CESS. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Syria Human Rights Ac23 countability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791 et seq.) is 

24 amended— 


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1 (1) by redesignating sections 705 and 706 as 

2 sections 706 and 707, respectively; 

3 (2) by inserting after section 704 the following: 

4 ‘‘SEC. 705. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

5 PERSONS WHO HINDER HUMANITARIAN AC6 CESS. 

7 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose sanc8 tions described in section 702(c) with respect to each per9 son on the list required by subsection (b). 

10 ‘‘(b) LIST OF PERSONS WHO HINDER HUMANI11 TARIAN ACCESS.— 

12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days 

13 after the date of the enactment of the Caesar Syria 

14 Civilian Protection Act of 2017, the President shall 

15 submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

16 a list of persons that the President determines have 

17 engaged in deliberate diversion, hindering, or block18 ing of access for humanitarian purposes for the 

19 United Nations, its specialized agencies and imple20 menting partners, national and international non21 governmental organizations, and all other actors en22 gaged in humanitarian relief activities in Syria, in23 cluding through the deliberate targeting of such hu24 manitarian actors and activities in Syria and across 

25 conflict lines and borders. 


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1 ‘‘(2) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall 

2 submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

3 an updated list under paragraph (1)— 

4 ‘‘(A) not later than 300 days after the date 

5 of the enactment of the Caesar Syria Civilian 

6 Protection Act of 2017 and every 180 days 

7 thereafter; and 

8 ‘‘(B) as new information becomes avail9 able. 

10 ‘‘(3) FORM.—The list required by paragraph 

11 (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 

12 contain a classified annex.’’; and 

13 (3) in section 706 (as so redesignated), by 

14 striking ‘‘or 704’’ and inserting ‘‘704, or 705’’. 

15 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

16 for the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 

17 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 

18 704 the following new item: 

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

19 SEC. 204. REPORT ON CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RE20 SPONSIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT IN CERTAIN 

21 HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN SYRIA. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 

23 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall sub24 mit to the appropriate congressional committees a detailed 


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1 report with respect to whether each person described in 

2 subsection (c) meets the requirements described in section 

3 702(b) of the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 

4 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791(b)) for purposes of inclusion on the 

5 list of persons who are responsible for or complicit in cer6 tain human rights abuses under such section. 

7 (b) JUSTIFICATION.—The President shall include in 

8 the report required by subsection (a) a description of the 

9 reasons why any of the persons described in subsection 

10 (c) do not meet the requirements described in section 

11 702(b) of the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 

12 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791(b)), including information on 

13 whether sufficient credible evidence of responsibility for 

14 such abuses was found or whether any of the persons de15 scribed in subsection (c) have been designated pursuant 

16 to— 

17 (1) Executive Order No. 13572 of April 29, 

18 2011 (76 Fed. Reg. 24787; relating to blocking 

19 property of certain persons with respect to human 

20 rights abuses in Syria); 

21 (2) Executive Order No. 13573 of May 18, 

22 2011 (76 Fed. Reg. 29143; relating to blocking 

23 property of senior officials of the Government of 

24 Syria); 


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1 (3) Executive Order No. 13582 of August 17, 

2 2011 (76 Fed. Reg. 52209; relating to blocking 

3 property of the Government of Syria and prohibiting 

4 certain transactions with respect to Syria); or 

5 (4) Executive Order No. 13606 of April 22, 

6 2012 (77 Fed. Reg. 24571; relating to blocking the 

7 property and suspending entry into the United 

8 States of certain persons with respect to grave 

9 human rights abuses by the Governments of Iran 

10 and Syria via information technology). 

11 (c) PERSONS DESCRIBED.—The persons described in 

12 this subsection are the following: 

13 (1) Bashar Al-Assad. 

14 (2) Asma Al-Assad. 

15 (3) Rami Makhlouf. 

16 (4) Bouthayna Shaaban. 

17 (5) Walid Moallem. 

18 (6) Ali Al-Salim. 

19 (7) Wael Nader Al-Halqi. 

20 (8) Jamil Hassan. 

21 (9) Suhail Hassan. 

22 (10) Ali Mamluk. 

23 (11) Muhammed Khadour, Deir Ez Zor Mili24 tary and Security. 

25 (12) Jamal Razzouq, Security Branch 243. 


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1 (13) Munzer Ghanam, Air Force Intelligence. 

2 (14) Daas Hasan Ali, Branch 327. 

3 (15) Jassem Ali Jassem Hamad, Political Secu4 rity. 

5 (16) Samir Muhammad Youssef, Military Intel6 ligence. 

7 (17) Ali Ahmad Dayoub, Air Force Intelligence. 

8 (18) Khaled Muhsen Al-Halabi, Security 

9 Branch 335. 

10 (19) Mahmoud Kahila, Political Security. 

11 (20) Zuhair Ahmad Hamad, Provincial Secu12 rity. 

13 (21) Wafiq Nasser, Security Branch 245. 

14 (22) Qussay Mayoub, Air Force Intelligence. 

15 (23) Muhammad Ammar Sardini, Political Se16 curity. 

17 (24) Fouad Hammouda, Military Security. 

18 (25) Hasan Daaboul, Branch 261. 

19 (26) Yahia Wahbi, Air Force Intelligence. 

20 (27) Okab Saqer, Security Branch 318. 

21 (28) Husam Luqa, Political Security. 

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

23 (30) Yassir Deeb, Political Security. 

24 (31) Ibrahim Darwish, Security Branch 220. 

25 (32) Nasser Deeb, Political Security. 


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

2 (34) Adeeb Namer Salamah, Air Force Intel3 ligence. 

4 (35) Akram Muhammed, State Security. 

5 (36) Reyad Abbas, Political Security. 

6 (37) Ali Abdullah Ayoub, Syrian Armed Forces. 

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

8 (39) Issam Halaq, Air Force. 

9 (40) Ghassan Al-Abdullah, General Intelligence 

10 Directorate. 

11 (41) Maher Al-Assad, Republican Guard. 

12 (42) Fahad Al-Farouch. 

13 (43) Rafiq Shahada, Military Intelligence. 

14 (44) Loay Al-Ali, Military Intelligence. 

15 (45) Nawfal Al-Husayn, Military Intelligence. 

16 (46) Muhammad Zamrini, Military Intelligence. 

17 (47) Muhammad Mahallah, Military Intel18 ligence. 

19 (d) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) 

20 shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain 

21 a classified annex if necessary. 

22 (e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro23 priate congressional committees’’ means— 

24 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 

25 Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on 


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1 Ways and Means, and the Committee on the Judici2 ary of the House of Representatives; and 

3 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 

4 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af5 fairs, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee 

6 on the Judiciary of the Senate. 

7 TITLE III—REPORTS AND WAIV8 ER FOR HUMANITARIAN-RE9 LATED ACTIVITIES WITH RE10 SPECT TO SYRIA 

11 SEC. 301. BRIEFING ON MONITORING AND EVALUATING OF 

12 ONGOING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN SYRIA 

13 AND TO THE SYRIAN PEOPLE. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

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

16 and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 

17 International Development shall brief the Committee on 

18 Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 

19 Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the 

20 monitoring and evaluation of ongoing assistance programs 

21 in Syria and for the Syrian people, including assistance 

22 provided through multilateral organizations. 

23 (b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The briefing re24 quired by subsection (a) shall include— 


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1 (1) the specific project monitoring and evalua2 tion efforts, including measurable goals and per3 formance metrics for assistance in Syria; 

4 (2) a description of the memoranda of under5 standing entered into by the Department of State, 

6 the United States Agency for International Develop7 ment, and their respective Inspectors General and 

8 the multilateral organizations through which United 

9 States assistance will be delivered that formalize re10 quirements for the sharing of information between 

11 such entities for the conduct of audits, investiga12 tions, and evaluations; and 

13 (3) the major challenges to monitoring and 

14 evaluating such programs. 

15 SEC. 302. ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL METHODS TO EN16 HANCE THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS. 

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

18 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall sub19 mit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 

20 that— 

21 (1) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, 

22 and operational requirements of the establishment 

23 and maintenance of a no-fly zone over part or all of 

24 Syria, including— 


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1 (A) the operational and legal requirements 

2 for United States and coalition air power to es3 tablish a no-fly zone in Syria; 

4 (B) the impact a no-fly zone in Syria 

5 would have on humanitarian and counterter6 rorism efforts in Syria and the surrounding re7 gion; and 

8 (C) the potential for force contributions 

9 from other countries to establish a no-fly zone 

10 in Syria; 

11 (2) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, 

12 and operational requirements for the establishment 

13 of one or more safe zones in Syria for internally dis14 placed persons or for the facilitation of humani15 tarian assistance, including— 

16 (A) the operational and legal requirements 

17 for United States and coalition forces to estab18 lish one or more safe zones in Syria; 

19 (B) the impact one or more safe zones in 

20 Syria would have on humanitarian and counter21 terrorism efforts in Syria and the surrounding 

22 region; and 

23 (C) the potential for contributions from 

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1 ners to establish and maintain one or more safe 

2 zones in Syria; 

3 (3) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, 

4 and operational requirements of other non-military 

5 means to enhance the protection of civilians, espe6 cially civilians who are in besieged areas, trapped at 

7 borders, or internally displaced; and 

8 (4) describes the Administration’s plan for re9 cruitment, training, and retention of partner forces, 

10 including— 

11 (A) identification of the United States 

12 partner forces operating on the ground; 

13 (B) the primary source of strength for 

14 each armed actor engaged in hostilities; 

15 (C) the capabilities, requirements, and 

16 vulnerabilities of each armed actor; 

17 (D) the United States role in mitigating 

18 vulnerabilities of partner forces; and 

19 (E) the Administration’s measures of suc20 cess for partner forces, including— 

21 (i) increasing Syrian civilian security; 

22 and 

23 (ii) working toward an end to the con24 flict in Syria. 


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1 (b) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) 

2 shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain 

3 a classified annex if necessary. 

4 (c) CONSULTATION.—The report required by sub5 section (a) shall be informed by consultations with the De6 partment of State, the United States Agency for Inter7 national Development, the Department of Defense, and 

8 international and local organizations operating in Syria or 

9 in neighboring countries to alleviate the suffering of the 

10 Syrian people. 

11 (d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro12 priate congressional committees’’ means— 

13 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

14 Committee on Armed Services of the House of Rep15 resentatives; and 

16 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 

17 the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate. 

18 SEC. 303. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT ENTITIES TAKING AC19 TIONS RELATING TO GATHERING EVIDENCE 

20 FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO WAR CRIMES OR 

21 CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN SYRIA SINCE 

22 MARCH 2011. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi24 sion of law, the Secretary of State, acting through the As25 sistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and 


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1 Labor and the Assistant Secretary for International Nar2 cotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, is authorized to pro3 vide assistance to support entities that are conducting 

4 criminal investigations, building Syrian investigative ca5 pacity, supporting prosecutions in national courts, col6 lecting evidence and preserving the chain of evidence for 

7 eventual prosecution against those who have committed 

8 war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria, including 

9 the aiding and abetting of such crimes by foreign govern10 ments and organizations supporting the Government of 

11 Syria, since March 2011. 

12 (b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

13 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 

14 brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 

15 Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations 

16 of the Senate on assistance provided under subsection (a). 

17 TITLE IV—SUSPENSION OF 

18 SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT 

19 TO SYRIA 

20 SEC. 401. SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

21 SYRIA. 

22 (a) SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS.— 

23 (1) NEGOTIATIONS NOT CONCLUDING IN

24 AGREEMENT.—If the President determines that 

25 internationally recognized negotiations to resolve the 


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1 violence in Syria have not concluded in an agree2 ment or are likely not to conclude in an agreement, 

3 the President may suspend, as appropriate, in whole 

4 or in part, the imposition of sanctions otherwise re5 quired under this Act or any amendment made by 

6 this Act for a period not to exceed 120 days, and re7 newable for additional periods not to exceed 120 

8 days, if the President submits to the appropriate 

9 congressional committees in writing a determination 

10 and certification that the Government of Syria has 

11 ended military attacks against and gross violations 

12 of the human rights of the Syrian people, specifi13 cally— 

14 (A) the air space over Syria is no longer 

15 being utilized by the Government of Syria and 

16 associated forces to target civilian populations 

17 through the use of incendiary devices, including 

18 barrel bombs, chemical weapons, and conven19 tional arms, including air-delivered missiles and 

20 explosives; 

21 (B) areas besieged by the Assad regime 

22 and associated forces, including Hezbollah and 

23 irregular Iranian forces, are no longer cut off 

24 from international aid and have regular access 


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1 to humanitarian assistance, freedom of travel, 

2 and medical care; 

3 (C) the Government of Syria is releasing 

4 all political prisoners forcibly held within the 

5 Assad regime prison system, including the fa6 cilities maintained by various security, intel7 ligence, and military elements associated with 

8 the Government of Syria and allowed full access 

9 to the same facilities for investigations by ap10 propriate international human rights organiza11 tions; and 

12 (D) the forces of the Government of Syria 

13 and associated forces, including Hezbollah, ir14 regular Iranian forces, and Russian government 

15 air assets, are no longer engaged in deliberate 

16 targeting of medical facilities, schools, residen17 tial areas, and community gathering places, in18 cluding markets, in flagrant violation of inter19 national norms. 

20 (2) NEGOTIATIONS CONCLUDING IN AGREE21 MENT.— 

22 (A) INITIAL SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS.— 

23 If the President determines that internationally 

24 recognized negotiations to resolve the violence 

25 in Syria have concluded in an agreement or are 


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1 likely to conclude in an agreement, the Presi2 dent may suspend, as appropriate, in whole or 

3 in part, the imposition of sanctions otherwise 

4 required under this Act or any amendment 

5 made by this Act for a period not to exceed 120 

6 days if the President submits to the appropriate 

7 congressional committees in writing a deter8 mination and certification that— 

9 (i) in the case in which the negotia10 tions are likely to conclude in an agree11 ment— 

12 (I) the Government of Syria, the 

13 Syrian High Negotiations Committee 

14 or its internationally-recognized suc15 cessor, and appropriate international 

16 parties are participating in direct, 

17 face-to-face negotiations; and 

18 (II) the suspension of sanctions 

19 under this Act or any amendment 

20 made by this Act is essential to the 

21 advancement of such negotiations; and 

22 (ii) the Government of Syria has dem23 onstrated a commitment to a significant 

24 and substantial reduction in attacks on 

25 and violence against the Syrian people by 


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1 the Government of Syria and associated 

2 forces. 

3 (B) RENEWAL OF SUSPENSION OF SANC4 TIONS.—The President may renew a suspension 

5 of sanctions under subparagraph (A) for addi6 tional periods not to exceed 120 days if, for 

7 each such additional period, the President sub8 mits to the appropriate congressional commit9 tees in writing a determination and certification 

10 that— 

11 (i) the conditions described in clauses 

12 (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) are con13 tinuing to be met; 

14 (ii) the renewal of the suspension of 

15 sanctions is essential to implementing an 

16 agreement described in subparagraph (A) 

17 or making progress toward concluding an 

18 agreement described in subparagraph (A); 

19 (iii) the Government of Syria and as20 sociated forces have ceased attacks against 

21 Syrian civilians; and 

22 (iv) the Government of Syria has pub23 licly committed to negotiations for a tran24 sitional government in Syria and continues 

25 to demonstrate that commitment through 


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1 sustained engagement in talks and sub2 stantive and verifiable progress towards 

3 the implementation of such an agreement. 

4 (3) BRIEFING AND REIMPOSITION OF SANC5 TIONS.— 

6 (A) BRIEFING.—Not later than 30 days 

7 after the President submits to the appropriate 

8 congressional committees a determination and 

9 certification in the case of a renewal of suspen10 sion of sanctions under paragraph (2)(B), and 

11 every 30 days thereafter, the President shall 

12 provide a briefing to the appropriate congres13 sional committees on the status and frequency 

14 of negotiations described in paragraph (2). 

15 (B) RE-IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.—If 

16 the President provides a briefing to the appro17 priate congressional committees under subpara18 graph (A) with respect to which the President 

19 indicates a lapse in negotiations described in 

20 paragraph (2) for a period that equals or ex21 ceeds 90 days, the sanctions that were sus22 pended under paragraph (2)(B) shall be re-im23 posed and any further suspension of such sanc24 tions is prohibited. 


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1 (4) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 

2 ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 

3 (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 

4 Committee on Financial Services, the Com5 mittee on Ways and Means, and the Committee 

6 on the Judiciary of the House of Representa7 tives; and 

8 (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

9 the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

10 Urban Affairs, the Committee on Finance, and 

11 the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. 

12 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR

13 DETERMINING A TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT IN

14 SYRIA.—It is the sense of Congress that a transitional 

15 government in Syria is a government that— 

16 (1) is taking verifiable steps to release all polit17 ical prisoners and is providing full access to Syrian 

18 prisons for investigations by appropriate inter19 national human rights organizations; 

20 (2) is taking verifiable steps to remove former 

21 senior Syrian Government officials who are complicit 

22 in the conception, implementation, or cover up of 

23 war crimes, crimes against humanity, or human 

24 rights abuses and any person subject to sanctions 


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1 under any provision of law from government posi2 tions; 

3 (3) is in the process of organizing free and fair 

4 elections for a new government— 

5 (A) to be held in a timely manner and 

6 scheduled while the suspension of sanctions or 

7 the renewal of the suspension of sanctions 

8 under this section is in effect; and 

9 (B) to be conducted under the supervision 

10 of internationally recognized observers; 

11 (4) is making tangible progress toward estab12 lishing an independent judiciary; 

13 (5) is demonstrating respect for and compliance 

14 with internationally recognized human rights and 

15 basic freedoms as specified in the Universal Declara16 tion of Human Rights; 

17 (6) is taking steps to verifiably fulfill its com18 mitments under the Chemical Weapons Convention 

19 and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear 

20 Weapons and is making tangible progress toward be21 coming a signatory to Convention on the Prohibition 

22 of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of 

23 Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and 

24 on their Destruction, entered into force March 26, 


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1 1975, and adhering to the Missile Technology Con2 trol Regime and other control lists, as necessary; 

3 (7) has halted the development and deployment 

4 of ballistic and cruise missiles; and 

5 (8) is taking verifiable steps to remove from po6 sitions of authority within the intelligence and secu7 rity services as well as the military those who were 

8 in a position of authority or responsibility during the 

9 conflict and who under the authority of their posi10 tion were implicated in or implicit in the torture, 

11 extrajudicial killing, or execution of civilians, to in12 clude those who were involved in decisionmaking or 

13 execution of plans to use chemical weapons. 

14 SEC. 402. WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS. 

15 (a) EXEMPTIONS.—The following activities and 

16 transactions shall be exempt from sanctions authorized 

17 under this Act or any amendment made by this Act: 

18 (1) Any activity subject to the reporting re19 quirements under title V of the National Security 

20 Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.), or to any au21 thorized intelligence activities of the United States. 

22 (2) Any transaction necessary to comply with 

23 United States obligations under— 

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1 ing the Headquarters of the United Nations, 

2 signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and en3 tered into force November 21, 1947; 

4 (B) the Convention on Consular Relations, 

5 done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered 

6 into force March 19, 1967; or 

7 (C) any other international agreement to 

8 which the United States is a party. 

9 (b) HUMANITARIAN, STABILIZATION, AND DEMOC10 RACY ASSISTANCE WAIVER.— 

11 (1) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It shall be the 

12 policy of the United States to fully utilize the waiver 

13 authority under this subsection to ensure that ade14 quate humanitarian relief or support for stabilization 

15 and democracy promotion is provided to the Syrian 

16 people. 

17 (2) WAIVER.—Except as provided in paragraph 

18 (5) and subsection (d), the President may waive, on 

19 a case-by-case basis, for a period not to exceed 1 

20 year, and renewable for additional periods not to ex21 ceed 1 year, the application of sanctions authorized 

22 under this Act with respect to a person if the Presi23 dent submits to the appropriate congressional com24 mittees a written determination that the waiver is 

25 necessary for purposes of providing humanitarian or 


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1 stabilization assistance or support for democracy 

2 promotion to the people of Syria. 

3 (3) CONTENT OF WRITTEN DETERMINATION.— 

4 A written determination submitted under paragraph 

5 (2) with respect to a waiver shall include a descrip6 tion of all notification and accountability controls 

7 that have been employed in order to ensure that the 

8 activities covered by the waiver are humanitarian or 

9 stabilization assistance or support for democracy 

10 promotion and do not entail any activities in Syria 

11 or dealings with the Government of Syria not rea12 sonably related to humanitarian or stabilization as13 sistance or support for democracy promotion. 

14 (4) CLARIFICATION OF PERMITTED ACTIVITIES

15 UNDER WAIVER.—The President may not impose 

16 sanctions authorized under this Act against a hu17 manitarian organization for— 

18 (A) engaging in a financial transaction re19 lating to humanitarian assistance or for human20 itarian purposes pursuant to a waiver issued 

21 under paragraph (2); 

22 (B) transporting goods or services that are 

23 necessary to carry out operations relating to 

24 humanitarian assistance or humanitarian pur25 poses pursuant to such a waiver; or 


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1 (C) having incidental contact, in the course 

2 of providing humanitarian assistance or aid for 

3 humanitarian purposes pursuant to such a 

4 waiver, with individuals who are under the con5 trol of a foreign person subject to sanctions 

6 under this Act or any amendment made by this 

7 Act unless the organization or its officers, mem8 bers, representatives or employees have engaged 

9 in (or the President knows or has reasonable 

10 ground to believe is engaged in or is likely to 

11 engage in) conduct described in section 

12 212(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI) of the Immigration and 

13 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

14 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI)). 

15 (5) EXCEPTION TO WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The 

16 President may not exercise the waiver authority 

17 under paragraph (2) with respect to a foreign person 

18 who has (or whose officers, members, representatives 

19 or employees have) engaged in (or the President 

20 knows or has reasonable ground to believe is en21 gaged in or is likely to engage in) conduct described 

22 in section 212(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI) of the Immigration 

23 and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

24 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI)). 

25 (c) WAIVER.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The President may, for peri2 ods not to exceed 120 days, waive the application of 

3 sanctions under this Act with respect to a foreign 

4 person if the President certifies to the appropriate 

5 congressional committees that such waiver is vital to 

6 the national security interests of the United States. 

7 (2) CONSULTATION.— 

8 (A) BEFORE WAIVER ISSUED.—Not later 

9 than 5 days before the issuance of a waiver 

10 under paragraph (1) is to take effect, the Presi11 dent shall notify and brief the appropriate con12 gressional committees on the status of the for13 eign person’s involvement in activities described 

14 in this Act. 

15 (B) AFTER WAIVER ISSUED.—Not later 

16 than 90 days after the issuance of a waiver 

17 under paragraph (1), and every 120 days there18 after if the waiver remains in effect, the Presi19 dent shall brief the appropriate congressional 

20 committees on the status of the foreign person’s 

21 involvement in activities described in this Act. 

22 (3) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 

23 ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 

24 (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 

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1 mittee on Ways and Means, and the Committee 

2 on the Judiciary of the House of Representa3 tives; and 

4 (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

5 the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

6 Urban Affairs, the Committee on Finance, and 

7 the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. 

8 (d) CODIFICATION OF CERTAIN SERVICES IN SUP9 PORT OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS’ ACTIVI10 TIES AUTHORIZED.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para12 graph (2), section 542.516 of title 31, Code of Fed13 eral Regulations (relating to certain services in sup14 port of nongovernmental organizations’ activities au15 thorized), as in effect on the day before the date of 

16 the enactment of this Act, shall— 

17 (A) remain in effect on and after such date 

18 of enactment; and 

19 (B) in the case of a nongovernmental orga20 nization that is authorized to export or reexport 

21 services to Syria under such section on the day 

22 before such date of enactment, shall apply to 

23 such organization on and after such date of en24 actment to the same extent and in the same 

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1 zation on the day before such date of enact2 ment. 

3 (2) EXCEPTION.—Section 542.516 of title 31, 

4 Code of Federal Regulations, as codified under para5 graph (1), shall not apply with respect to a foreign 

6 person who has (or whose officers, members, rep7 resentatives or employees have) engaged in (or the 

8 President knows or has reasonable ground to believe 

9 is engaged in or is likely to engage in) conduct de10 scribed in section 212(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI) of the Immi11 gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

12 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI)). 

13 (e) STRATEGY REQUIRED.— 

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

15 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

16 President shall submit to the appropriate congres17 sional committees a report containing a strategy to 

18 ensure that humanitarian organizations can access 

19 financial services to ensure the safe and timely deliv20 ery of assistance to communities in need in Syria. 

21 (2) CONSIDERATION OF DATA FROM OTHER

22 COUNTRIES AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZA23 TIONS.—In preparing the strategy required by para24 graph (1), the President shall consider credible data 

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1 mental organizations, including organizations oper2 ating in Syria. 

3 (3) FORM.—The strategy required by para4 graph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but 

5 may contain a classified annex. 

6 TITLE V—REGULATORY AU7 THORITY, COST LIMITATION, 

8 AND SUNSET 

9 SEC. 501. IMPLEMENTATION AND REGULATORY AUTHORI10 TIES. 

11 (a) IMPLEMENTATION AUTHORITY.—The President 

12 may exercise all authorities provided to the President 

13 under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emer14 gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) 

15 for purposes of carrying out this Act and the amendments 

16 made by this Act. 

17 (b) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The President shall, 

18 not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 

19 of this Act, promulgate regulations as necessary for the 

20 implementation of this Act and the amendments made by 

21 this Act. 

22 (c) BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—Not less than 10 days 

23 before the promulgation of regulations under subsection 

24 (a), the President shall brief the appropriate congressional 

25 committees on the proposed regulations and the provisions 


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1 of this Act and the amendments made by this Act that 

2 the regulations are implementing. 

3 (d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro4 priate congressional committees’’ means— 

5 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

6 Committee on Financial Services of the House of 

7 Representatives; and 

8 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 

9 the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af10 fairs of the Senate. 

11 SEC. 502. COST LIMITATION. 

12 No additional funds are authorized to carry out the 

13 requirements of this Act and the amendments made by 

14 this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using 

15 amounts otherwise authorized. 

16 SEC. 503. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—Any reports required to be sub18 mitted to the appropriate congressional committees under 

19 this Act or any amendment made by this Act that are sub20 ject to a deadline for submission consisting of the same 

21 unit of time may be consolidated into a single report that 

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1 ment made by this Act, in addition to all other elements 

2 mandated by previous law. 

3 (b) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro4 priate congressional committees’’ means— 

5 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

6 Committee on Financial Services of the House of 

7 Representatives; and 

8 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 

9 the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af10 fairs of the Senate. 

11 SEC. 504. SUNSET. 

12 This Act shall cease to be effective beginning on De13 cember 31, 2021. 

14 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

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

16 ‘‘Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2018’’. 

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

18 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Statement of policy. 

TITLE I—ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE 

NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA 

Sec. 101. Measures with respect to Central Bank of Syria. 

Sec. 102. Sanctions with respect to foreign persons that engage in certain transactions. 

Sec. 103. Strategy relating to areas of Syria in which civilians are subject to 

forced displacement. 


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TITLE II—AMENDMENTS TO SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS 

ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012 

Sec. 201. Imposition of sanctions with respect to certain persons who are responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses committed against 

citizens of Syria or their family members. 

Sec. 202. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the transfer of goods or technologies to Syria that are likely to be used to commit human 

rights abuses. 

TITLE III—ASSISTANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA 

Sec. 301. Briefing on monitoring and evaluating of ongoing assistance programs 

in Syria and to the Syrian people. 

Sec. 302. Assessment of potential methods to enhance the protection of civilians. 

Sec. 303. Assistance to support entities taking actions relating to gathering evidence for investigations into war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria since March 2011. 

Sec. 304. Codification of certain services in support of nongovernmental organizations’ activities authorized. 

Sec. 305. Briefing on strategy to facilitate humanitarian assistance. 

TITLE IV—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Sec. 401. Suspension of sanctions. 

Sec. 402. Waivers and exemptions. 

Sec. 403. Implementation and regulatory authorities. 

Sec. 404. Cost limitation. 

Sec. 405. Authority to consolidate reports. 

Sec. 406. Rule of construction. 

Sec. 407. Sunset. 

1 SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

2 It is the policy of the United States that diplomatic 

3 and coercive economic means should be utilized to compel 

4 the government of Bashar al-Assad to halt its murderous 

5 attacks on the Syrian people and to support a transition 

6 to a government in Syria that respects the rule of law, 

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


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1 TITLE I—ADDITIONAL ACTIONS 

2 IN CONNECTION WITH THE 

3 NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH 

4 RESPECT TO SYRIA 

5 SEC. 101. MEASURES WITH RESPECT TO CENTRAL BANK OF 

6 SYRIA. 

7 (a) DETERMINATION REGARDING CENTRAL BANK OF

8 SYRIA.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact9 ment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall deter10 mine, under section 5318A of title 31, United States Code, 

11 whether reasonable grounds exist for concluding that the 

12 Central Bank of Syria is a financial institution of primary 

13 money laundering concern. 

14 (b) ENHANCED DUE DILIGENCE AND REPORTING RE15 QUIREMENTS.—If the Secretary of the Treasury determines 

16 under subsection (a) that reasonable grounds exist for con17 cluding that the Central Bank of Syria is a financial insti18 tution of primary money laundering concern, the Secretary, 

19 in consultation with the Federal functional regulators (as 

20 defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 

21 U.S.C. 6809)), shall impose one or more of the special meas22 ures described in section 5318A(b) of title 31, United States 

23 Code, with respect to the Central Bank of Syria. 

24 (c) REPORT REQUIRED.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

2 making a determination under subsection (a) that the 

3 Central Bank of Syria is a financial institution of 

4 primary money laundering concern, the Secretary of 

5 the Treasury shall submit to the appropriate congres6 sional committees a report that includes the reasons 

7 for the determination. 

8 (2) FORM.—A report required by paragraph (1) 

9 shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may in10 clude a classified annex. 

11 (3) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES

12 DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate 

13 congressional committees’’ means— 

14 (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 

15 the Committee on Financial Services of the 

16 House of Representatives; and 

17 (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations 

18 and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

19 Urban Affairs of the Senate. 

20 SEC. 102. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN PERSONS 

21 THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS. 

22 (a) IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—On and after the date that is 

24 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

25 the President shall impose the sanctions described in 


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1 subsection (b) with respect to a foreign person if the 

2 President determines that the foreign person, on or 

3 after such date of enactment, knowingly engages in an 

4 activity described in paragraph (2). 

5 (2) ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.—A foreign person 

6 engages in an activity described in this paragraph if 

7 the foreign person— 

8 (A) knowingly provides significant finan9 cial, material, or technological support to, or 

10 knowingly engages in a significant transaction 

11 with— 

12 (i) the Government of Syria (including 

13 any entity owned or controlled by the Gov14 ernment of Syria) or a senior political fig15 ure of the Government of Syria; 

16 (ii) a foreign person that is a military 

17 contractor, mercenary, or a paramilitary 

18 force knowingly operating in a military ca19 pacity inside Syria for or on behalf of the 

20 Government of Syria, the Government of the 

21 Russian Federation, or the Government of 

22 Iran; or 

23 (iii) a foreign person subject to sanc24 tions pursuant to the International Emer25 gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 


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1 1701 et seq.) with respect to Syria or any 

2 other provision of law that imposes sanc3 tions with respect to Syria; 

4 (B) knowingly sells or provides significant 

5 goods, services, technology, information, or other 

6 support that significantly facilitates the mainte7 nance or expansion of the Government of Syria’s 

8 domestic production of natural gas, petroleum, 

9 or petroleum products; 

10 (C) knowingly sells or provides aircraft or 

11 spare aircraft parts that are used for military 

12 purposes in Syria for or on behalf of the Govern13 ment of Syria to any foreign person operating in 

14 an area directly or indirectly controlled by the 

15 Government of Syria or foreign forces associated 

16 with the Government of Syria; 

17 (D) knowingly provides significant goods or 

18 services associated with the operation of aircraft 

19 that are used for military purposes in Syria for 

20 or on behalf of the Government of Syria to any 

21 foreign person operating in an area described in 

22 subparagraph (C); or 

23 (E) knowingly, directly or indirectly, pro24 vides significant construction or engineering 

25 services to the Government of Syria. 


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1 (3) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 

2 Congress that, in implementing this section, the 

3 President should consider financial support under 

4 paragraph (2)(A) to include the provision of loans, 

5 credits, or export credits. 

6 (b) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The sanctions to be imposed 

8 with respect to a foreign person subject to subsection 

9 (a) are the following: 

10 (A) BLOCKING OF PROPERTY.—The Presi11 dent shall exercise all of the powers granted to 

12 the President under the International Emergency 

13 Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to 

14 the extent necessary to block and prohibit all 

15 transactions in property and interests in prop16 erty of the foreign person if such property and 

17 interests in property are in the United States, 

18 come within the United States, or are or come 

19 within the possession or control of a United 

20 States person. 

21 (B) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMIS22 SION, OR PAROLE.— 

23 (i) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.— 

24 An alien who the Secretary of State or the 

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1 ignee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or 

2 has reason to believe, has knowingly en3 gaged in any activity described in sub4 section (a)(2) is— 

5 (I) inadmissible to the United 

6 States; 

7 (II) ineligible to receive a visa or 

8 other documentation to enter the 

9 United States; and 

10 (III) otherwise ineligible to be ad11 mitted or paroled into the United 

12 States or to receive any other benefit 

13 under the Immigration and Nation14 ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 

15 (ii) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 

16 (I) IN GENERAL.—The issuing 

17 consular officer, the Secretary of State, 

18 or the Secretary of Homeland Security 

19 (or a designee of one of such Secre20 taries) shall, in accordance with sec21 tion 221(i) of the Immigration and 

22 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), re23 voke any visa or other entry docu24 mentation issued to an alien described 

25 in clause (i) regardless of when the 


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1 visa or other entry documentation is 

2 issued. 

3 (II) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—A 

4 revocation under subclause (I)— 

5 (aa) shall take effect imme6 diately; and 

7 (bb) shall automatically can8 cel any other valid visa or entry 

9 documentation that is in the 

10 alien’s possession. 

11 (2) PENALTIES.—The penalties provided for in 

12 subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the Inter13 national Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 

14 1705) shall apply to a person that violates, attempts 

15 to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation 

16 of regulations promulgated under section 403(b) to 

17 carry out paragraph (1)(A) to the same extent that 

18 such penalties apply to a person that commits an un19 lawful act described in section 206(a) of that Act. 

20 (3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA21 TIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 

22 under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply with respect 

23 to an alien if admitting the alien into the United 

24 States is necessary to permit the United States to 

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1 quarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Suc2 cess June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 

3 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United 

4 States, or other applicable international obligations. 

5 SEC. 103. STRATEGY RELATING TO AREAS OF SYRIA IN 

6 WHICH CIVILIANS ARE SUBJECT TO FORCED 

7 DISPLACEMENT. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

9 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall— 

10 (1) identify the areas described in subsection (b); 

11 and 

12 (2) submit to the appropriate congressional com13 mittees the strategy described in subsection (c). 

14 (b) AREAS DESCRIBED.—The areas described in this 

15 subsection are areas in Syria that the President deter16 mines— 

17 (1) are under the control of— 

18 (A) the Government of Syria; 

19 (B) the Government of the Russian Federa20 tion; 

21 (C) the Government of Iran; or 

22 (D) a foreign person described in section 

23 102(a)(2)(A)(ii); and 

24 (2) are areas in which civilians have been subject 

25 to forced displacement by— 


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1 (A) a government specified in subparagraph 

2 (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1); or 

3 (B) a foreign person described in section 

4 102(a)(2)(A)(ii). 

5 (c) STRATEGY DESCRIBED.—The strategy described in 

6 this subsection is a strategy to deter foreign persons from 

7 entering into contracts related to reconstruction in the areas 

8 described in subsection (b) for or on behalf of— 

9 (1) a government specified in subparagraph (A), 

10 (B), or (C) of subsection (b)(1); or 

11 (2) a foreign person described in section 

12 102(a)(2)(A)(ii). 

13 (d) FORM.—The strategy required by subsection (a)(2) 

14 shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a 

15 classified annex. 

16 (e) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE17 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres18 sional committees’’ means— 

19 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

20 House of Representatives; and 

21 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

22 Senate. 


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1 TITLE II—AMENDMENTS TO 

2 SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS AC3 COUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012 

4 SEC. 201. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

5 CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE 

6 FOR OR COMPLICIT IN HUMAN RIGHTS 

7 ABUSES COMMITTED AGAINST CITIZENS OF 

8 SYRIA OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 702 of the Syria Human 

10 Rights Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791) is 

11 amended to read as follows: 

12 ‘‘SEC. 702. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

13 CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE 

14 FOR OR COMPLICIT IN HUMAN RIGHTS 

15 ABUSES COMMITTED AGAINST CITIZENS OF 

16 SYRIA OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. 

17 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose the 

18 sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to each 

19 person on the list required by subsection (b). 

20 ‘‘(b) LIST OF PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

21 OR COMPLICIT IN SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.— 

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

23 after the date of the enactment of the Caesar Syria 

24 Civilian Protection Act of 2018, the President shall 

25 submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 


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1 list of foreign persons that the President determines 

2 are knowingly responsible for or complicit in serious 

3 human rights abuses committed against citizens of 

4 Syria or their family members, regardless of whether 

5 such abuses occurred in Syria. 

6 ‘‘(2) INCLUSION OF CERTAIN PERSONS.—In de7 veloping the list required by paragraph (1), the Presi8 dent shall consider for inclusion on the list, among 

9 others, the following: 

10 ‘‘(A) the President of Syria. 

11 ‘‘(B) The Prime Minister and Deputy 

12 Prime Minister of Syria. 

13 ‘‘(C) The Council of Ministers of Syria. 

14 ‘‘(D) The heads of the armed forces of 

15 Syria, including the land forces, air forces, and 

16 intelligence services. 

17 ‘‘(E) The heads of the Ministry of Interior 

18 of Syria, including the Political Security Direc19 torate, the General Intelligence Directorate, and 

20 the National Police Force. 

21 ‘‘(F) The commanders and deputy com22 manders of the Fourth Armored Division of the 

23 armed forces of Syria. 

24 ‘‘(G) The commander of the Republican 

25 Guard of Syria. 


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1 ‘‘(H) The Advisor for Strategic Affairs to 

2 the President of Syria. 

3 ‘‘(I) The director and deputy director of the 

4 Scientific Studies and Research Center of Syria. 

5 ‘‘(J) The heads of prisons under the control 

6 of the Government of Syria. 

7 ‘‘(K) The governors and other heads of the 

8 security branches of the 14 provinces of Syria 

9 who are appointed by the President of Syria. 

10 ‘‘(3) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall 

11 submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

12 an updated list under paragraph (1) not later than 

13 300 days after the date of the enactment of the Caesar 

14 Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2018 and annually 

15 thereafter for a period of 5 years. 

16 ‘‘(4) FORM.—The list required by paragraph (1) 

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

19 ‘‘(c) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.— 

20 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The sanctions to be imposed 

21 with respect to a foreign person under subsection (a) 

22 are the following: 

23 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The President shall ex24 ercise all powers granted by the International 

25 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 


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1 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block and 

2 prohibit all transactions in all property and in3 terests in property of a person on the list re4 quired by subsection (b) if such property and in5 terests in property are in the United States, 

6 come within the United States, or are or come 

7 within the possession or control of a United 

8 States person. 

9 ‘‘(B) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMIS10 SION, OR PAROLE.— 

11 ‘‘(i) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.— 

12 An alien who the Secretary of State or the 

13 Secretary of Homeland Security (or a des14 ignee of one of such Secretaries) identifies 

15 as on the list required by subsection (b) is— 

16 ‘‘(I) inadmissible to the United 

17 States; 

18 ‘‘(II) ineligible to receive a visa or 

19 other documentation to enter the 

20 United States; and 

21 ‘‘(III) otherwise ineligible to be 

22 admitted or paroled into the United 

23 States or to receive any other benefit 

24 under the Immigration and Nation25 ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 


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1 ‘‘(ii) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 

2 ‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—The issuing 

3 consular officer, the Secretary of State, 

4 or the Secretary of Homeland Security 

5 (or a designee of one of such Secre6 taries) shall, in accordance with sec7 tion 221(i) of the Immigration and 

8 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), re9 voke any visa or other entry docu10 mentation issued to an alien who the 

11 Secretary of State or the Secretary of 

12 Homeland Security (or a designee of 

13 one of such Secretaries) identifies as on 

14 the list required by subsection (b), re15 gardless of when the visa or other docu16 mentation is issued. 

17 ‘‘(II) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.— 

18 A revocation under subclause (I)— 

19 ‘‘(aa) shall take effect imme20 diately; and 

21 ‘‘(bb) shall automatically 

22 cancel any other valid visa or 

23 entry documentation that is in the 

24 alien’s possession. 


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1 ‘‘(2) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, at2 tempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a vio3 lation of paragraph (1)(A) or any regulation, license, 

4 or order issued to carry out paragraph (1)(A) shall 

5 be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) 

6 and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency 

7 Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same 

8 extent as a person that commits an unlawful act de9 scribed in subsection (a) of that section. 

10 ‘‘(3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA11 TIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 

12 under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply with respect 

13 to an alien if admitting the alien into the United 

14 States is necessary to permit the United States to 

15 comply with the Agreement regarding the Head16 quarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Suc17 cess June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 

18 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United 

19 States, or other applicable international agreements. 

20 ‘‘(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec21 tion shall be construed to limit the authority of the Presi22 dent pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 

23 Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), relevant Executive or24 ders, regulations, or other provisions of law.’’. 


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1 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

2 that the President should impose sanctions under section 

3 702 of the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012, 

4 as amended by subsection (a), for— 

5 (1) the deliberate targeting of civilian schools, 

6 hospitals, or markets; and 

7 (2) the deliberate diversion, hindering, or block8 ing of access for humanitarian purposes, including 

9 access across borders and conflict lines, with the in10 tent to inflict suffering on civilians. 

11 SEC. 202. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 

12 THE TRANSFER OF GOODS OR TECH13 NOLOGIES TO SYRIA THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE 

14 USED TO COMMIT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. 

15 Section 703(b)(2)(C) of the Syria Human Rights Ac16 countability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8792(b)(2)(C)) is 

17 amended— 

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

19 (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the 

20 end and inserting a semicolon; and 

21 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

22 ‘‘(iii) any article— 

23 ‘‘(I) designated by the President 

24 for purposes of the United States Mu25 nitions List under section 38(a)(1) of 


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1 the Arms Export Control Act (22 

2 U.S.C. 2778(a)(1)); and 

3 ‘‘(II) that the President deter4 mines is significant for purposes of the 

5 imposition of sanctions under sub6 section (a); or 

7 ‘‘(iv) other goods or technologies that 

8 the President determines are used by the 

9 Government of Syria to commit human 

10 rights abuses against the people of Syria.’’. 

11 TITLE III—ASSISTANCE FOR THE 

12 PEOPLE OF SYRIA 

13 SEC. 301. BRIEFING ON MONITORING AND EVALUATING OF 

14 ONGOING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN SYRIA 

15 AND TO THE SYRIAN PEOPLE. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

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

18 and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 

19 International Development shall brief the Committee on 

20 Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 

21 Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the moni22 toring and evaluation of ongoing assistance programs in 

23 Syria and for the Syrian people, including assistance pro24 vided through multilateral organizations. 


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1 (b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The briefing re2 quired by subsection (a) shall include a description of— 

3 (1) the specific project monitoring and evalua4 tion efforts, including measurable goals and perform5 ance metrics for assistance in Syria; 

6 (2) the memoranda of understanding entered 

7 into by the Department of State, the United States 

8 Agency for International Development, and their re9 spective Inspectors General, and the multilateral or10 ganizations through which United States assistance 

11 will be delivered that formalize requirements for the 

12 sharing of information between such entities for the 

13 conduct of audits, investigations, and evaluations; 

14 and 

15 (3) the major challenges to monitoring and eval16 uating such programs. 

17 SEC. 302. ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL METHODS TO EN18 HANCE THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS. 

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

20 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall brief 

21 the appropriate congressional committees on the potential 

22 effectiveness, risks, and operational requirements of mili23 tary and non-military means to enhance the protection of 

24 civilians inside Syria, especially civilians who are in be25 sieged areas, trapped at borders, or internally displaced. 


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1 (b) CONSULTATION.—The briefing required by sub2 section (a) shall be informed by consultations with the De3 partment of State, the United States Agency for Inter4 national Development, the Department of Defense, and 

5 international and local humanitarian aid organizations 

6 operating in Syria. 

7 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE8 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres9 sional committees’’ means— 

10 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

11 Committee on Armed Services of the House of Rep12 resentatives; and 

13 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 

14 Committee on Armed Services of the Senate. 

15 SEC. 303. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT ENTITIES TAKING AC16 TIONS RELATING TO GATHERING EVIDENCE 

17 FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO WAR CRIMES OR 

18 CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN SYRIA SINCE 

19 MARCH 2011. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

21 (b), the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Attor22 ney General and the heads of other appropriate Federal 

23 agencies, is authorized, consistent with the national inter24 est, to provide assistance to support entities that are con25 ducting criminal investigations, supporting prosecutions, 


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1 or collecting evidence and preserving the chain of custody 

2 for such evidence for eventual prosecution, against those 

3 who have committed war crimes or crimes against human4 ity in Syria, including the aiding and abetting of such 

5 crimes by foreign governments and organizations sup6 porting the Government of Syria, since March 2011. 

7 (b) LIMITATION.—No assistance may be provided 

8 under subsection (a) while President Bashar al-Assad re9 mains in power— 

10 (1) to build the investigative or judicial capac11 ities of the Government of Syria; or 

12 (2) to support prosecutions in the domestic 

13 courts in Syria. 

14 (c) BRIEFING.—Not later than one year after the date 

15 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 

16 brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep17 resentatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

18 Senate on assistance provided under subsection (a). 

19 SEC. 304. CODIFICATION OF CERTAIN SERVICES IN SUP20 PORT OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZA21 TIONS’ ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

23 (b), section 542.516 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations 

24 (relating to certain services in support of nongovernmental 


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1 organizations’ activities authorized), as in effect on the day 

2 before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall— 

3 (1) remain in effect on and after such date of en4 actment; and 

5 (2) in the case of a nongovernmental organiza6 tion that is authorized to export or reexport services 

7 to Syria under such section on the day before such 

8 date of enactment, apply to such organization on and 

9 after such date of enactment to the same extent and 

10 in the same manner as such section applied to such 

11 organization on the day before such date of enact12 ment. 

13 (b) EXCEPTION.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 542.516 of title 31, 

15 Code of Federal Regulations, as codified under sub16 section (a), shall not apply with respect to a foreign 

17 person that has been designated as a foreign terrorist 

18 organization under section 219 of the Immigration 

19 and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189), or otherwise 

20 designated as a terrorist organization, by the Sec21 retary of State, in consultation with or upon the re22 quest of the Attorney General or the Secretary of 

23 Homeland Security. 

24 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Paragraph (1) shall 

25 apply with respect to a foreign person on and after 


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1 the date on which the designation of that person as 

2 a terrorist organization is published in the Federal 

3 Register. 

4 SEC. 305. BRIEFING ON STRATEGY TO FACILITATE HUMANI5 TARIAN ASSISTANCE. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

7 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall brief 

8 the appropriate congressional committees on the strategy of 

9 the President to help facilitate the ability of humanitarian 

10 organizations to access financial services to help facilitate 

11 the safe and timely delivery of assistance to communities 

12 in need in Syria. 

13 (b) CONSIDERATION OF DATA FROM OTHER COUN14 TRIES AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.—In pre15 paring the strategy required by subsection (a), the President 

16 shall consider credible data already obtained by other coun17 tries and nongovernmental organizations, including organi18 zations operating in Syria. 

19 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE20 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres21 sional committees’’ means— 

22 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

23 Committee on Financial Services of the House of Rep24 resentatives; and 


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1 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 

2 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 

3 of the Senate. 

4 TITLE IV—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

5 SEC. 401. SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The President may suspend in 

7 whole or in part the imposition of sanctions otherwise re8 quired under this Act or any amendment made by this Act 

9 for periods not to exceed 180 days if the President deter10 mines that the following criteria have been met in Syria: 

11 (1) The air space over Syria is no longer being 

12 utilized by the Government of Syria or the Govern13 ment of the Russian Federation to target civilian 

14 populations through the use of incendiary devices, in15 cluding barrel bombs, chemical weapons, and conven16 tional arms, including air-delivered missiles and ex17 plosives. 

18 (2) Areas besieged by the Government of Syria, 

19 the Government of the Russian Federation, the Gov20 ernment of Iran, or a foreign person described in sec21 tion 102(a)(2)(A)(ii) are no longer cut off from inter22 national aid and have regular access to humanitarian 

23 assistance, freedom of travel, and medical care. 

24 (3) The Government of Syria is releasing all po25 litical prisoners forcibly held within the prison sysVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:42 Oct 04, 2018 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H1677.RS H1677

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1 tem of the regime of Bashar al-Assad and the Govern2 ment of Syria is allowing full access to the same fa3 cilities for investigations by appropriate inter4 national human rights organizations. 

5 (4) The forces of the Government of Syria, the 

6 Government of the Russian Federation, the Govern7 ment of Iran, and any foreign person described in 

8 section 102(a)(2)(A)(ii) are no longer engaged in de9 liberate targeting of medical facilities, schools, resi10 dential areas, and community gathering places, in11 cluding markets, in violation of international norms. 

12 (5) The Government of Syria is— 

13 (A) taking steps to verifiably fulfill its com14 mitments under the Convention on the Prohibi15 tion of the Development, Production, Stockpiling 

16 and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their De17 struction, done at Geneva September 3, 1992, 

18 and entered into force April 29, 1997 (commonly 

19 known as the ‘‘Chemical Weapons Convention’’), 

20 and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nu21 clear Weapons, done at Washington, London, 

22 and Moscow July 1, 1968, and entered into force 

23 March 5, 1970 (21 UST 483); and 

24 (B) making tangible progress toward becom25 ing a signatory to the Convention on the ProhiVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:42 Oct 04, 2018 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H1677.RS H1677

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1 bition of the Development, Production and Stock2 piling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin 

3 Weapons and on their Destruction, done at 

4 Washington, London, and Moscow April 10, 

5 1972, and entered into force March 26, 1975 (26 

6 UST 583). 

7 (6) The Government of Syria is permitting the 

8 safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Syrians dis9 placed by the conflict. 

10 (7) The Government of Syria is taking verifiable 

11 steps to establish meaningful accountability for per12 petrators of war crimes in Syria and justice for vic13 tims of war crimes committed by the Assad regime, 

14 including by participation in a credible and inde15 pendent truth and reconciliation process. 

16 (b) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 30 days 

17 after the President makes a determination described in sub18 section (a), the President shall provide a briefing to the ap19 propriate congressional committees on the determination 

20 and the suspension of sanctions pursuant to the determina21 tion. 

22 (c) REIMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.—Any sanctions sus23 pended under subsection (a) shall be reimposed if the Presi24 dent determines that the criteria described in that sub25 section are no longer being met. 


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1 (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 

2 shall be construed to limit the authority of the President 

3 to terminate the application of sanctions under section 102 

4 with respect to a person that no longer engages in activities 

5 described in subsection (a)(2) of that section. 

6 (e) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE7 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres8 sional committees’’ means— 

9 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Com10 mittee on Financial Services, the Committee on Ways 

11 and Means, and the Committee on the Judiciary of 

12 the House of Representatives; and 

13 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 

14 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, 

15 and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. 

16 SEC. 402. WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS. 

17 (a) EXEMPTIONS.—The following activities and trans18 actions shall be exempt from sanctions authorized under 

19 this Act or any amendment made by this Act: 

20 (1) Any activity subject to the reporting require21 ments under title V of the National Security Act of 

22 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.), or to any authorized 

23 intelligence activities of the United States. 

24 (2) Any transaction necessary to comply with 

25 United States obligations under— 


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1 (A) the Agreement regarding the Head2 quarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake 

3 Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force 

4 November 21, 1947, between the United Nations 

5 and the United States; 

6 (B) the Convention on Consular Relations, 

7 done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into 

8 force March 19, 1967; or 

9 (C) any other international agreement to 

10 which the United States is a party. 

11 (b) WAIVER.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—The President may, for peri13 ods not to exceed 180 days, waive the application of 

14 any provision of this Act with respect to a foreign 

15 person if the President certifies to the appropriate 

16 congressional committees that such a waiver is in the 

17 national security interests of the United States. 

18 (2) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after the 

19 issuance of a waiver under paragraph (1), and every 

20 180 days thereafter while the waiver remains in ef21 fect, the President shall brief the appropriate congres22 sional committees on the reasons for the waiver. 

23 (c) HUMANITARIAN WAIVER.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—The President may waive, for 

25 renewable periods not to exceed 2 years, the applicaVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:42 Oct 04, 2018 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H1677.RS H1677

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1 tion of any provision of this Act with respect to a 

2 nongovernmental organization providing humani3 tarian assistance not covered by the authorization de4 scribed in section 304 if the President certifies to the 

5 appropriate congressional committees that such a 

6 waiver is important to address a humanitarian need 

7 and is consistent with the national security interests 

8 of the United States. 

9 (2) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after the 

10 issuance of a waiver under paragraph (1), and every 

11 180 days thereafter while the waiver remains in ef12 fect, the President shall brief the appropriate congres13 sional committees on the reasons for the waiver. 

14 (d) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE15 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres16 sional committees’’ means— 

17 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Com18 mittee on Financial Services, the Committee on Ways 

19 and Means, and the Committee on the Judiciary of 

20 the House of Representatives; and 

21 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 

22 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, 

23 and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. 


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1 SEC. 403. IMPLEMENTATION AND REGULATORY AUTHORI2 TIES. 

3 (a) IMPLEMENTATION AUTHORITY.—The President 

4 may exercise all authorities provided to the President under 

5 sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Eco6 nomic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) for purposes 

7 of carrying out this Act and the amendments made by this 

8 Act. 

9 (b) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The President shall, 

10 not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

11 this Act, promulgate regulations as necessary for the imple12 mentation of this Act and the amendments made by this 

13 Act. 

14 SEC. 404. COST LIMITATION. 

15 No additional funds are authorized to carry out the 

16 requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this 

17 Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts 

18 otherwise authorized. 

19 SEC. 405. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Any reports required to be sub21 mitted to the appropriate congressional committees under 

22 this Act or any amendment made by this Act that are sub23 ject to a deadline for submission consisting of the same unit 

24 of time may be consolidated into a single report that is sub25 mitted to the appropriate congressional committees pursu26 ant to such deadline. The consolidated reports shall contain 


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1 all information required under this Act or any amendment 

2 made by this Act, in addition to all other elements man3 dated by previous law. 

4 (b) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE5 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres6 sional committees’’ means— 

7 (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

8 Committee on Financial Services of the House of Rep9 resentatives; and 

10 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 

11 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 

12 of the Senate. 

13 SEC. 406. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

14 Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the au15 thority of the President pursuant to the International 

16 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) 

17 or any other provision of law. 

18 SEC. 407. SUNSET. 

19 This Act shall cease to be effective on the date that is 

20 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 


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Calendar No. 620 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 1677 

AN ACT 

To halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian peoOable for their crimes. and hold Syrian human rights abusers account- ple, encourage a negotiated political settlement, CTOBER 3 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 28), 2018 

Reported with an amendment 


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