I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1677 
To halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, encourage a negotiated 
political settlement, and hold Syrian human rights abusers accountable 
for their crimes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 22, 2017 
Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. ROYCE of California, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. 
DEUTCH, Mr. KINZINGER, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. KIL-
DEE, Mr. MESSER, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. TED LIEU of California, Mrs. 
MCMORRIS RODGERS, and Mr. BEYER) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 
to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, encour-
age a negotiated political settlement, and hold Syrian 
human rights abusers accountable for their crimes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 3. Statement of policy. 
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 mate-
rials 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 re-
sponsible 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 tech-
nologies to Syria that are likely to be used to commit human 
rights abuses. 
Sec. 203. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who hinder humani-
tarian access. 
Sec. 204. Report on certain persons who are responsible for or complicit in cer-
tain human rights violations in Syria. 
TITLE III—REPORTS AND WAIVER FOR HUMANITARIAN-RELATED 
ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA 
Sec. 301. Report 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 civil-
ians. 
Sec. 303. Assistance to advance a comprehensive relief and recovery strategy in 
Syria. 
Sec. 304. Assistance to support entities taking actions relating to gathering evi-
dence for investigations into war crimes or crimes against hu-
manity 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. Regulatory authority. 
Sec. 502. Cost limitation. 
Sec. 503. Authority to consolidate reports. 
Sec. 504. Sunset. 
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SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) 
Bashar 
al-Assad’s 
murderous 
actions 
against the people of Syria have directly contributed 
to the deaths of more than 480,000 civilians, led to 
the destruction of more than 50 percent of Syria’s 
critical infrastructure, and forced the displacement 
of more than 14,000,000 people, precipitating one of 
the worst humanitarian crises in more than 60 
years; 
(2) international actions to protect vulnerable 
populations from attack by uniformed and irregular 
forces associated with the Assad regime, including 
Hezbollah, on land and by air, including through the 
use of barrel bombs, chemical weapons, mass starva-
tion, industrial-scale torture and execution of polit-
ical dissidents, sniper attacks against pregnant 
women, and the deliberate targeting of medical fa-
cilities, schools, residential areas, and community 
gathering places, including markets, have been insuf-
ficient to date; 
(3) Assad’s use of chemical weapons, including 
chlorine, against the Syrian people violates the 
Chemical Weapons Convention; 
(4) violent attacks resulting in death, injury, 
imprisonment or threat of prosecution against hu-
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manitarian aid workers and diplomatic personnel, as 
well as attacks on humanitarian supplies, facilities, 
transports, and assets, and acts to impede the access 
and secure movement of all humanitarian personnel 
are in violation of international humanitarian law 
and impede the lifesaving work of humanitarian or-
ganizations and diplomatic institutions; and 
(5) Assad’s continued claim of leadership and 
war crimes in Syria have served as a rallying point 
for the extremist ideology of the Islamic State, 
Jabhat al-Nusra, and other terrorist organizations. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States that all diplo-
matic and coercive economic means should be utilized to 
compel the government of Bashar al-Assad to immediately 
halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people and to 
support an immediate transition to a democratic govern-
ment in Syria that respects the rule of law, human rights, 
and peaceful co-existence with its neighbors. 
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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 EN-
GAGE IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS. 
(a) APPLICATION OF CERTAIN MEASURES TO CEN-
TRAL BANK OF SYRIA.—Except as provided in subsections 
(a) and (b) of section 402, the President shall apply the 
measures described in section 5318A(b)(5) of title 31, 
United States Code, to the Central Bank of Syria. 
(b) BLOCKING PROPERTY
OF FOREIGN PERSONS 
THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on and after the 
date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the President shall impose on a foreign 
person the sanctions described in subsection (c) if 
the President determines that such foreign person 
has, on or after such date of enactment, knowingly 
engaged in an activity described in paragraph (2). 
(2) ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.—A foreign person 
engages in an activity described in this paragraph if 
the foreign person— 
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(A) knowingly provided significant finan-
cial, material or technological support to (in-
cluding engaging in or facilitating a significant 
transaction or transactions with) or provided 
significant financial services for— 
(i) the Government of Syria (including 
Syria’s intelligence and security services or 
its armed forces or government entities op-
erating as a business enterprise) and the 
Central Bank of Syria, or any of its agents 
or affiliates; or 
(ii) a foreign person subject to sanc-
tions pursuant to— 
(I) the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
1701 et seq.) with respect to Syria or 
any other provision of law that im-
poses sanctions with respect to Syria; 
or 
(II) a resolution that is agreed to 
by the United Nations Security Coun-
cil that imposes sanctions with respect 
to Syria; 
(B) knowingly— 
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(i) sold or provided significant goods, 
services, technology, information, or other 
support that could directly and signifi-
cantly facilitate the maintenance or expan-
sion of Syria’s domestic production of nat-
ural gas or petroleum or petroleum prod-
ucts of Syrian origin in areas controlled by 
the Government of Syria; 
(ii) sold or provided to Syria crude oil 
or condensate, refined petroleum products, 
liquefied natural gas, or petrochemical 
products that have a fair market value of 
$500,000 or more or that during a 12- 
month period have an aggregate fair mar-
ket value of $2,000,000 or more in areas 
controlled by the Government of Syria; 
(iii) sold or provided civilian aircraft 
or spare parts, or provides significant 
goods, services, or technologies associated 
with the operation of aircraft or airlines to 
any foreign person operating in areas con-
trolled by the Government of Syria; or 
(iv) sold or provided significant goods, 
services, or technology to a foreign person 
operating in the shipping (including ports 
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and free trade zones), transportation, or 
telecommunications sectors in areas con-
trolled by the Government of Syria; 
(C) knowingly facilitated efforts by a for-
eign person to carry out an activity described in 
subparagraph (A) or (B); 
(D) knowingly provided loans, credits, in-
cluding export credits, or financing to carry out 
an activity described in subparagraph (A) or 
(B); and 
(E) is owned or controlled by a foreign 
person that engaged in the activities described 
in subparagraphs (A) through (C). 
(c) SANCTIONS AGAINST A FOREIGN PERSON.—The 
sanctions to be imposed on a foreign person described in 
subsection (b) are the following: 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall exercise 
all powers granted by the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (ex-
cept that the requirements of section 202 of such 
Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply) to the extent 
necessary to freeze and prohibit all transactions in 
all property and interests in property of the foreign 
person if such property and interests in property are 
in the United States, come within the United States, 
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or are or come within the possession or control of a 
United States person. 
(2) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMISSION, 
OR PAROLE.— 
(A) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.—An 
alien who the Secretary of State or the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security (or a designee of 
one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason 
to believe, meets any of the criteria described in 
subsection (a) is— 
(i) inadmissible to the United States; 
(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other 
documentation to enter the United States; 
and 
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted 
or paroled into the United States or to re-
ceive any other benefit under the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et 
seq.). 
(B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—The issuing con-
sular officer, the Secretary of State, or the 
Secretary of Homeland Security (or a des-
ignee of one of such Secretaries) shall re-
voke any visa or other entry documentation 
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issued to an alien who meets any of the 
criteria described in subsection (a) regard-
less of when issued. 
(ii) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—A rev-
ocation under clause (i)— 
(I) shall take effect immediately; 
and 
(II) shall automatically cancel 
any other valid visa or entry docu-
mentation that is in the alien’s pos-
session. 
(3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA-
TIONS
HEADQUARTERS
AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 
under paragraph (2) shall not apply to an alien if 
admitting the alien into the United States is nec-
essary to permit the United States to comply with 
the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the 
United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 
1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, 
between the United Nations and the United States, 
or other applicable international obligations. 
(4) PENALTIES.—The penalties provided for in 
subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the Inter-
national Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 
U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person that knowingly 
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violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or 
causes a violation of regulations promulgated under 
section 501(a) to carry out paragraph (1) of this 
subsection to the same extent that such penalties 
apply to a person that knowingly commits an unlaw-
ful act described in section 206(a) of that Act. 
SEC. 102. PROHIBITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER 
OF ARMS AND RELATED MATERIALS TO 
SYRIA. 
(a) SANCTIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on and after the 
date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the President shall impose on a foreign 
person the sanctions described in subsection (b) if 
the President determines that such foreign person 
has, on or after such date of enactment, knowingly 
exported, transferred, or provided significant finan-
cial, material, or technological support to the Gov-
ernment of Syria to— 
(A) acquire or develop chemical, biological, 
or nuclear weapons or related technologies; 
(B) acquire or develop ballistic or cruise 
missile capabilities; 
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(C) acquire or develop destabilizing num-
bers and types of advanced conventional weap-
ons; 
(D) acquire defense articles, defense serv-
ices, or defense information (as such terms are 
defined under the Arms Export Control Act (22 
U.S.C. 2751 et seq.)); or 
(E) acquire items designated by the Presi-
dent for purposes of the United States Muni-
tions List under section 38(a)(1) of the Arms 
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778(a)(1)). 
(2) APPLICABILITY TO OTHER FOREIGN PER-
SONS.—The sanctions described in subsection (b) 
shall also be imposed on any foreign person that— 
(A) is a successor entity to a foreign per-
son described in paragraph (1); or 
(B) is owned or controlled by a foreign 
person described in paragraph (1). 
(b) SANCTIONS AGAINST A FOREIGN PERSON.—The 
sanctions to be imposed on a foreign person described in 
subsection (a) are the following: 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall exercise 
all powers granted by the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (ex-
cept that the requirements of section 202 of such 
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Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply) to the extent 
necessary to freeze and prohibit all transactions in 
all property and interests in property of the foreign 
person if such property and interests in property are 
in the United States, come within the United States, 
or are or come within the possession or control of a 
United States person. 
(2) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMISSION, 
OR PAROLE.— 
(A) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.—An 
alien who the Secretary of State or the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security (or a designee of 
one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason 
to believe, meets any of the criteria described in 
subsection (a) is— 
(i) inadmissible to the United States; 
(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other 
documentation to enter the United States; 
and 
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted 
or paroled into the United States or to re-
ceive any other benefit under the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et 
seq.). 
(B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 
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(i) IN
GENERAL.—The issuing con-
sular officer, the Secretary of State, or the 
Secretary of Homeland Security (or a des-
ignee of one of such Secretaries) shall re-
voke any visa or other entry documentation 
issued to an alien who meets any of the 
criteria described in subsection (a) regard-
less of when issued. 
(ii) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—A rev-
ocation under clause (i)— 
(I) shall take effect immediately; 
and 
(II) shall automatically cancel 
any other valid visa or entry docu-
mentation that is in the alien’s pos-
session. 
(3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA-
TIONS
HEADQUARTERS
AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 
under paragraph (2) shall not apply to an alien if 
admitting the alien into the United States is nec-
essary to permit the United States to comply with 
the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the 
United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 
1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, 
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between the United Nations and the United States, 
or other applicable international obligations. 
(4) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, at-
tempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a 
violation of any regulation, license, or order issued 
to carry out this section shall be subject to the pen-
alties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 
206 of the International Emergency Economic Pow-
ers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a 
person that commits an unlawful act described in 
subsection (a) of that section. 
SEC. 103. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
The sanctions that are required to be imposed under 
this title are in addition to other similar or related sanc-
tions that are required to be imposed under any other pro-
vision of law. 
SEC. 104. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ADMITTED; ALIEN.—The terms ‘‘admitted’’ 
and ‘‘alien’’ have the meanings given such terms in 
section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1101). 
(2) FINANCIAL, MATERIAL, OR TECHNOLOGICAL 
SUPPORT.—The term ‘‘financial, material, or techno-
logical support’’ has the meaning given such term in 
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section 542.304 of title 31, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, as such section was in effect on the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(3) FOREIGN PERSON.—The term ‘‘foreign per-
son’’ means any citizen or national of a foreign 
country, or any entity not organized solely under the 
laws of the United States or existing solely in the 
United States. 
(4) GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA.—The term ‘‘Gov-
ernment of Syria’’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 542.305 of title 31, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations, as such section was in effect on the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(5) KNOWINGLY.—The term ‘‘knowingly’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 566.312 of 
title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such sec-
tion was in effect on the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(6) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an in-
dividual or entity. 
(7) PETROLEUM OR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS OF 
SYRIAN ORIGIN.—The term ‘‘petroleum or petroleum 
products of Syrian origin’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 542.314 of title 31, Code of 
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TITLE 
II—AMENDMENTS 
TO 
SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS AC-
COUNTABILITY 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. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 702(c) of the Syria 
Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 
8791(c)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall exer-
cise all powers granted by the International Emer-
gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.) (except that the requirements of section 202 of 
such Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply) to the 
extent necessary to freeze and prohibit all trans-
actions in all property and interests in property of 
a person on the list required by subsection (b) if 
such property and interests in property are in the 
United States, come within the United States, or are 
or come within the possession or control of a United 
States person. 
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‘‘(2) ALIENS
INELIGIBLE
FOR
VISAS, ADMIS-
SION, OR PAROLE.— 
‘‘(A) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.—An 
alien who the Secretary of State or the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security (or a designee of 
one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason 
to believe, meets any of the criteria described in 
subsection (b) is— 
‘‘(i) inadmissible to the United States; 
‘‘(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or 
other documentation to enter the United 
States; and 
‘‘(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admit-
ted or paroled into the United States or to 
receive any other benefit under the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101 et seq.). 
‘‘(B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The issuing con-
sular officer, the Secretary of State, or the 
Secretary of Homeland Security (or a des-
ignee of one of such Secretaries) shall re-
voke any visa or other entry documentation 
issued to an alien who meets any of the 
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criteria described in subsection (b) regard-
less of when issued. 
‘‘(ii) EFFECT
OF
REVOCATION.—A 
revocation under clause (i)— 
‘‘(I) shall take effect imme-
diately; and 
‘‘(II) shall automatically cancel 
any other valid visa or entry docu-
mentation that is in the alien’s pos-
session. 
‘‘(3) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, at-
tempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a 
violation of this section or any regulation, license, or 
order issued to carry out this section shall be subject 
to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) 
of section 206 of the International Emergency Eco-
nomic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same ex-
tent as a person that commits an unlawful act de-
scribed in subsection (a) of that section. 
‘‘(4) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The President 
shall, not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, promulgate regulations as 
necessary for the implementation of this section. 
‘‘(5) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA-
TIONS
HEADQUARTERS
AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 
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under paragraph (2) shall not apply to an alien if 
admitting the alien into the United States is nec-
essary to permit the United States to comply with 
the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the 
United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 
1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, 
between the United Nations and the United States, 
or other applicable international obligations. 
‘‘(6) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this section shall be construed to limit the authority 
of the President to impose additional sanctions pur-
suant to the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), relevant Exec-
utive orders, regulations, or other provisions of 
law.’’. 
(b) SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES DESCRIBED.— 
Section 702 of the Syria Human Rights Accountability 
Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(d) 
SERIOUS
HUMAN
RIGHTS
ABUSES
DE-
SCRIBED.—In subsection (b), the term ‘serious human 
rights abuses’ includes— 
‘‘(1) the deliberate targeting of civilian infra-
structure to include schools, hospitals, markets, and 
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other infrastructure that is essential to human life, 
such as power and water systems; and 
‘‘(2) the deliberate diversion, hindering, or 
blocking of access for humanitarian purposes, in-
cluding access across conflict lines and borders.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect on the date of 
the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to 
the imposition of sanctions under section 702(a) of the 
Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 on after 
such date of enactment. 
SEC. 202. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 
THE 
TRANSFER 
OF 
GOODS 
OR 
TECH-
NOLOGIES TO SYRIA THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE 
USED TO COMMIT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. 
Section 703(b)(2)(C) of the Syria Human Rights Ac-
countability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8792(b)(2)(C)) is 
amended— 
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; 
(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) any article designated by the 
President for purposes of the United 
States 
Munitions 
List 
under 
section 
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38(a)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act 
(22 U.S.C. 2778(a)(1)); or 
‘‘(iv) other goods or technologies that 
the President determines may be used by 
the Government of Syria to commit human 
rights abuses against the people of Syria.’’. 
SEC. 203. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 
PERSONS WHO HINDER HUMANITARIAN AC-
CESS. 
The Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 
(22 U.S.C. 8791 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 705 and 706 as 
sections 706 and 707, respectively; 
(2) by inserting after section 704 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 705. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 
PERSONS WHO HINDER HUMANITARIAN AC-
CESS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose sanc-
tions described in section 702(c) with respect to each per-
son on the list required by subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) LIST
OF PERSONS WHO HINDER HUMANI-
TARIAN ACCESS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of the Caesar Syria 
Civilian Protection Act of 2017, the President shall 
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submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a list of persons that the President determines have 
engaged in deliberate diversion, hindering, or block-
ing of access for humanitarian purposes for the 
United Nations, its specialized agencies and imple-
menting partners, national and international non-
governmental organizations, and all other actors en-
gaged in humanitarian relief activities in Syria, in-
cluding through the deliberate targeting of such hu-
manitarian actors and activities in Syria and across 
conflict lines and borders. 
‘‘(2) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
an updated list under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) not later than 300 days after the date 
of the enactment of the Caesar Syria Civilian 
Protection Act of 2017 and every 180 days 
thereafter; and 
‘‘(B) as new information becomes avail-
able. 
‘‘(3) 
FORM
OF
REPORT; 
PUBLIC
AVAIL-
ABILITY.— 
‘‘(A) FORM.—The list required by para-
graph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified 
form but may contain a classified annex. 
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‘‘(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The unclas-
sified portion of the list required by paragraph 
(1) shall be made available to the public and 
posted on the Web sites of the Department of 
the Treasury and the Department of State.’’; 
and 
(3) in section 706 (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘or 704’’ and inserting ‘‘704, or 705’’. 
SEC. 204. REPORT ON CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RE-
SPONSIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT IN CERTAIN 
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN SYRIA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall sub-
mit to the appropriate congressional committees a detailed 
report with respect to whether each person described in 
subsection (c) is a person that meets the requirements de-
scribed in section 702(b) of the Syria Human Rights Ac-
countability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791(b)) for purposes 
of inclusion on the list of persons who are responsible for 
or complicit in certain human rights abuses under such 
section. 
(b) JUSTIFICATION.—The President shall include in 
the report required by subsection (a) a description of the 
reasons why any of the individuals described in subsection 
(c) do not meet the requirements described in section 
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702(b) of the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 
2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791(b)), including information on 
whether sufficient credible evidence of responsibility for 
such abuses was found. 
(c) PERSONS DESCRIBED.—The persons described in 
this subsection are the following: 
(1) Bashar Al-Assad. 
(2) Asthma Al-Assad. 
(3) Rami Makhlouf. 
(4) Bouthayna Shaaban. 
(5) Walid Moallem. 
(6) Ali Al-Salim. 
(7) Wael Nader Al-Halqi. 
(8) Jamil Hassan. 
(9) Suhail Hassan. 
(10) Ali Mamluk. 
(11) Muhammed Khadour, Deir Ez Zor Mili-
tary and Security. 
(12) Jamal Razzouq, Security Branch 243. 
(13) Munzer Ghanam, Air Force Intelligence. 
(14) Daas Hasan Ali, Branch 327. 
(15) Jassem Ali Jassem Hamad, Political Secu-
rity. 
(16) Samir Muhammad Youssef, Military Intel-
ligence. 
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(17) Ali Ahmad Dayoub, Air Force Intelligence. 
(18) 
Khaled 
Muhsen 
Al-Halabi, 
Security 
Branch 335. 
(19) Mahmoud Kahila, Political Security. 
(20) Zuhair Ahmad Hamad, Provincial Secu-
rity. 
(21) Wafiq Nasser, Security Branch 245. 
(22) Qussay Mayoub, Air Force Intelligence. 
(23) Muhammad Ammar Sardini, Political Se-
curity. 
(24) Fouad Hammouda, Military Security. 
(25) Hasan Daaboul, Branch 261. 
(26) Yahia Wahbi, Air Force Intelligence. 
(27) Okab Saqer, Security Branch 318. 
(28) Husam Luqa, Political Security. 
(29) Sami Al-Hasan, Security Branch 219. 
(30) Yassir Deeb, Political Security. 
(31) Ibrahim Darwish, Security Branch 220. 
(32) Nasser Deeb, Political Security. 
(33) Abdullatif Al-Fahed, Security Branch 290. 
(34) Adeeb Namer Salamah, Air Force Intel-
ligence. 
(35) Akram Muhammed, State Security. 
(36) Reyad Abbas, Political Security. 
(37) Ali Abdullah Ayoub, Syrian Armed Forces. 
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(38) Fahd Jassem Al-Freij, Defense Ministry. 
(39) Issam Halaq, Air Force. 
(40) Ghassan Al-Abdullah, General Intelligence 
Directorate. 
(41) Maher Al-Assad, Republican Guard. 
(42) Fahad Al-Farouch. 
(43) Rafiq Shahada, Military Intelligence. 
(44) Loay Al-Ali, Military Intelligence. 
(45) Nawfal Al-Husayn, Military Intelligence. 
(46) Muhammad Zamrini, Military Intelligence. 
(47) Muhammad Mahallah, Military Intel-
ligence. 
(d) FORM OF REPORT; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— 
(1) FORM.—The list required by subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may 
contain a classified annex if necessary. 
(2) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—The unclassified 
portion of the list required by paragraph (1) shall be 
made available to the public and posted on the Web 
sites of the Department of the Treasury and the De-
partment of State. 
(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro-
priate congressional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on 
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Ways and Means, and the Committee on the Judici-
ary of the House of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af-
fairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
Senate. 
TITLE III—REPORTS AND WAIV-
ER FOR HUMANITARIAN-RE-
LATED ACTIVITIES WITH RE-
SPECT TO SYRIA 
SEC. 301. REPORT ON MONITORING AND EVALUATING OF 
ONGOING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN SYRIA 
AND TO THE SYRIAN PEOPLE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development shall submit to the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a re-
port on the monitoring and evaluation of ongoing assist-
ance programs in Syria and for the Syrian people, includ-
ing assistance provided through multilateral organizations. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report re-
quired by subsection (a) shall include— 
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(1) the specific project monitoring and evalua-
tion plans, including measurable goals and perform-
ance metrics for assistance in Syria; 
(2) a description of the memorandums of un-
derstanding entered into by the Department of 
State, the United States Agency for International 
Development, and their respective Inspectors Gen-
eral and the multilateral organizations through 
which United States assistance will be delivered that 
formalize requirements for the sharing of informa-
tion between such entities for the conduct of audits, 
investigations, and evaluations; and 
(3) the major challenges to monitoring and 
evaluating such programs. 
SEC. 302. ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL METHODS TO EN-
HANCE THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall sub-
mit to the appropriate congressional committee a report 
that— 
(1) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, 
and operational requirements of the establishment 
and maintenance of a no-fly zone over part or all of 
Syria, including— 
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(A) the operational and legal requirements 
for United States and coalition air power to es-
tablish a no-fly zone in Syria; 
(B) the impact a no-fly zone in Syria 
would have on humanitarian and counterter-
rorism efforts in Syria and the surrounding re-
gion; and 
(C) the potential for force contributions 
from other countries to establish a no-fly zone 
in Syria; 
(2) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, 
and operational requirements for the establishment 
of one or more safe zones in Syria for internally dis-
placed persons or for the facilitation of humani-
tarian assistance, including— 
(A) the operational and legal requirements 
for United States and coalition forces to estab-
lish one or more safe zones in Syria; 
(B) the impact one or more safe zones in 
Syria would have on humanitarian and counter-
terrorism efforts in Syria and the surrounding 
region; and 
(C) the potential for contributions from 
other countries and vetted non-state actor part-
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ners to establish and maintain one or more safe 
zones in Syria; and 
(3) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, 
and operational requirements of other non-military 
means to enhance the protection of civilians, espe-
cially civilians who are in besieged areas, trapped at 
borders, or internally displaced. 
(b) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain 
a classified annex if necessary. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The report required by sub-
section (a) shall be informed by consultations with the De-
partment of State, the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development, the Department of Defense, and 
international and local organizations operating in Syria or 
in neighboring countries to alleviate the suffering of the 
Syrian people. 
(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro-
priate congressional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
Committee on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 
the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate. 
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SEC. 303. ASSISTANCE TO ADVANCE A COMPREHENSIVE RE-
LIEF AND RECOVERY STRATEGY IN SYRIA. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the Government of Syria is in violation of 
numerous United Nations Security Council resolu-
tions regarding the provision of humanitarian assist-
ance to the people of Syria; and 
(2) the Government of the Russian Federation, 
as a guarantor of prospective cessations of hostilities 
in Syria, is complicit in the humanitarian crisis in 
Syria due to its failure to enforce such United Na-
tions Security Council resolutions. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION FOR ASSISTANCE.—The Presi-
dent is authorized to provide assistance to advance a com-
prehensive relief and recovery strategy in Syria that in-
cludes the policy objectives described in subsection (c). 
The President shall coordinate the provision of assistance 
under this subsection with other donors, international or-
ganizations, international financial institutions, and inter-
national and local nongovernmental organizations. 
(c) POLICY OBJECTIVES DESCRIBED.—The policy 
objectives described in this subsection are the following: 
(1) To meet immediate humanitarian needs in 
Syria and in neighboring countries hosting signifi-
cant numbers of Syria refugees. 
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(2) To support the peaceful resolution of the 
conflict and the establishment of an inclusive, demo-
cratic government in Syria that demonstrates re-
spect for the rule of law, human rights, religious 
freedom, and peaceful co-existence with its neigh-
bors. 
(3) To build the capacity of legitimate local 
councils and leaders inside Syria such that they may 
provide basic services in areas liberated from the Is-
lamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). 
(4) To support the inclusion and participation 
of women, minorities, business leaders, civil society 
organizations, and traditional and religious leaders, 
including from religious minority groups, in peace 
processes and transitional governance arrangements 
in Syria. 
(5) To work to ensure that any transitional ar-
rangements or future governments in Syria reflect 
commitments to— 
(A) inclusive and representative democ-
racy; 
(B) open and transparent governance; 
(C) respect for the rule of law, human 
rights, and religious freedom; 
(D) accountability and reconciliation; 
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(E) ending the violence and supporting 
peace and security throughout the country; 
(F) stability and peaceful co-existence 
throughout the region; and 
(G) relief, recovery, and reconstruction 
throughout the country, including the rehabili-
tation and reintegration of former combatants. 
(6) To build the capacity of legitimate gov-
erning institutions following a democratic transition 
in Syria. 
(7) To ensure that the Syria Reconstruction 
Trust Fund, a multi-donor trust fund established in 
2013 to which the United States is a contributing 
member, continues to function as a suitable mecha-
nism through which United States contributions can 
leverage the support of other donors for the delivery 
of essential services in Syria, particularly in areas 
liberated from the Assad regime or ISIS control, 
until such mechanism is no longer necessary or ap-
propriate. 
(d) COORDINATION
WITH
OTHER
DONOR
NA-
TIONS.—The United States should work with other donor 
countries, on a bilateral and multilateral basis, to increase 
donor contributions to multilateral mechanisms that meet 
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immediate humanitarian needs in Syria and accomplish 
the policy objectives described in subsection (c). 
SEC. 304. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT ENTITIES TAKING AC-
TIONS RELATING TO GATHERING EVIDENCE 
FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO WAR CRIMES OR 
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN SYRIA SINCE 
MARCH 2011. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, acting 
through the Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human 
Rights and Labor and the Assistant Secretary for Inter-
national Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, is au-
thorized to provide assistance to support entities that are 
conducting criminal investigations, building Syrian inves-
tigative capacity, supporting prosecutions in national 
courts, collecting evidence and preserving the chain of evi-
dence for eventual prosecution against those who have 
committed war crimes or crimes against humanity in 
Syria, including the aiding and abetting of such crimes 
by foreign governments and organizations supporting the 
Government of Syria, since March 2011. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Rela-
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tions of the Senate a detailed report on assistance pro-
vided under subsection (a). 
TITLE 
IV—SUSPENSION 
OF 
SANCTIONS 
WITH 
RESPECT 
TO SYRIA 
SEC. 401. SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 
SYRIA. 
(a) SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS.— 
(1) 
NEGOTIATIONS
NOT
CONCLUDING
IN 
AGREEMENT.—If the President determines that 
internationally recognized negotiations to resolve the 
violence in Syria have not concluded in an agree-
ment or are likely not to conclude in an agreement, 
the President may suspend, as appropriate, in whole 
or in part, the imposition of sanctions otherwise re-
quired under this Act or any amendment made by 
this Act for a period not to exceed 120 days, and re-
newable for additional periods not to exceed 120 
days, if the President submits to the appropriate 
congressional committees in writing a determination 
and certification that the Government of Syria has 
ended military attacks against and gross violations 
of the human rights of the Syrian people, specifi-
cally— 
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(A) the air space over Syria is no longer 
being utilized by the Government of Syria and 
associated forces to target civilian populations 
through the use of incendiary devices, including 
barrel bombs, chemical weapons, and conven-
tional arms, including air-delivered missiles and 
explosives; 
(B) areas besieged by the Assad regime 
and associated forces, including Hezbollah and 
irregular Iranian forces, are no longer cut off 
from international aid and have regular access 
to humanitarian assistance, freedom of travel, 
and medical care; 
(C) the Government of Syria is releasing 
all political prisoners forcibly held within the 
Assad regime prison system, including the fa-
cilities maintained by various security, intel-
ligence, and military elements associated with 
the Government of Syria and allowed full access 
to the same facilities for investigations by ap-
propriate international human rights organiza-
tions; and 
(D) the forces of the Government of Syria 
and associated forces, including Hezbollah, ir-
regular Iranian forces, and Russian government 
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air assets, are no longer engaged in deliberate 
targeting of medical facilities, schools, residen-
tial areas, and community gathering places, in-
cluding markets, in flagrant violation of inter-
national norms. 
(2) NEGOTIATIONS
CONCLUDING
IN
AGREE-
MENT.— 
(A) INITIAL SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS.— 
If the President determines that internationally 
recognized negotiations to resolve the violence 
in Syria have concluded in an agreement or are 
likely to conclude in an agreement, the Presi-
dent may suspend, as appropriate, in whole or 
in part, the imposition of sanctions otherwise 
required under this Act or any amendment 
made by this Act for a period not to exceed 120 
days if the President submits to the appropriate 
congressional committees in writing a deter-
mination and certification that— 
(i) in the case in which the negotia-
tions are likely to conclude in an agree-
ment— 
(I) the Government of Syria, the 
Syrian High Negotiations Committee 
or its successor, and appropriate 
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international parties are participating 
in direct, face-to-face negotiations; 
and 
(II) the suspension of sanctions 
under this Act or any amendment 
made by this Act is essential to the 
advancement of such negotiations; and 
(ii) the Government of Syria has dem-
onstrated a commitment to a significant 
and substantial reduction in attacks on 
and violence against the Syrian people by 
the Government of Syria and associated 
forces. 
(B) RENEWAL OF SUSPENSION OF SANC-
TIONS.—The President may renew a suspension 
of sanctions under subparagraph (A) for addi-
tional periods not to exceed 120 days if, for 
each such additional period, the President sub-
mits to the appropriate congressional commit-
tees in writing a determination and certification 
that— 
(i) the conditions described in clauses 
(i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) are con-
tinuing to be met; 
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(ii) the renewal of the suspension of 
sanctions is essential to implementing an 
agreement described in subparagraph (A) 
or making progress toward concluding an 
agreement described in subparagraph (A); 
(iii) the Government of Syria and as-
sociated forces have ceased attacks against 
Syrian civilians; and 
(iv) the Government of Syria has pub-
lically committed to negotiations for a 
transitional government in Syria and con-
tinues to demonstrate that commitment 
through sustained engagement in talks and 
substantive and verifiable progress towards 
the implementation of such an agreement. 
(3) BRIEFING
AND
REIMPOSITION
OF
SANC-
TIONS.— 
(A) BRIEFING.—Not later than 30 days 
after the President submits to the appropriate 
congressional committees a determination and 
certification in the case of a renewal of suspen-
sion of sanctions under paragraph (2)(B), and 
every 30 days thereafter, the President shall 
provide a briefing to the appropriate congres-
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sional committees on the status and frequency 
of negotiations described in paragraph (2). 
(B) RE-IMPOSITION
OF
SANCTIONS.—If 
the President provides a briefing to the appro-
priate congressional committees under subpara-
graph (A) with respect to which the President 
indicates a lapse in negotiations described in 
paragraph (2) for a period that equals or ex-
ceeds 90 days, the sanctions that were sus-
pended under paragraph (2)(B) shall be re-im-
posed and any further suspension of such sanc-
tions is prohibited. 
(4) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
Committee on Financial Services, the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means, and the Committee 
on the Judiciary of the House of Representa-
tives; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs, and the Committee on the Judi-
ciary of the Senate. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR 
DETERMINING
A
TRANSITIONAL
GOVERNMENT
IN 
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SYRIA.—It is the sense of Congress that a transitional 
government in Syria is a government that— 
(1) is taking verifiable steps to release all polit-
ical prisoners and provided full access to Syrian 
prisons for investigations by appropriate inter-
national human rights organizations; 
(2) is taking verifiable steps to remove former 
senior Syrian Government officials who are complicit 
in the conception, implementation, or cover up of 
war crimes, crimes against humanity, or human 
rights abuses from government positions and any 
person subject to sanctions under any provision of 
law; 
(3) is in the process of organizing free and fair 
elections for a new government— 
(A) to be held in a timely manner and 
scheduled while the suspension of sanctions or 
the renewal of the suspension of sanctions 
under this section is in effect; and 
(B) to be conducted under the supervision 
of internationally recognized observers; 
(4) is making tangible progress toward estab-
lishing an independent judiciary; 
(5) is demonstrating respect for and compliance 
with internationally recognized human rights and 
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basic freedoms as specified in the Universal Declara-
tion of Human Rights; 
(6) is taking steps to verifiably fulfill its com-
mitments under the Chemical Weapons Convention 
and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear 
Weapons and is making tangible progress toward be-
coming a signatory to Convention on the Prohibition 
of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of 
Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and 
on their Destruction, entered into force March 26, 
1975, and adhering to the Missile Technology Con-
trol Regime and other control lists, as necessary; 
(7) has halted the development and deployment 
of ballistic and cruise missiles; and 
(8) is taking verifiable steps to remove from po-
sitions of authority within the intelligence and secu-
rity services as well as the military those who were 
in a position of authority or responsibility during the 
conflict and who under the authority of their posi-
tion were implicated in or implicit in the torture, 
extrajudicial killing, or execution of civilians, to in-
clude those who were involved in decisionmaking or 
execution of plans to use chemical weapons. 
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SEC. 402. WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS. 
(a) EXEMPTIONS.—The following activities and 
transactions shall be exempt from sanctions authorized 
under this Act: 
(1) Any activity subject to the reporting re-
quirements under title V of the National Security 
Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.), or to any au-
thorized intelligence activities of the United States. 
(2) Any transaction necessary to comply with 
United States obligations under— 
(A) the Agreement between the United Na-
tions and the United States of America regard-
ing the Headquarters of the United Nations, 
signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and en-
tered into force November 21, 1947; or 
(B) the Convention on Consular Relations, 
done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered 
into force March 19, 1967. 
(b) HUMANITARIAN AND DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE 
WAIVER.— 
(1) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It shall be the 
policy of the United States to fully utilize the waiver 
authority under this subsection to ensure that ade-
quate humanitarian relief or support for democracy 
promotion is provided to the Syrian people. 
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(2) WAIVER.—Except as provided in paragraph 
(5), the President may waive, on a case-by-case 
basis, for a period not to exceed one year, and re-
newable for additional periods not to exceed one 
year, the application of sanctions authorized under 
this Act with respect to a person if the President 
submits to the appropriate congressional committees 
a written determination that the waiver is necessary 
for purposes of providing humanitarian assistance or 
support for democracy promotion to the people of 
Syria. 
(3) CONTENT OF WRITTEN DETERMINATION.— 
A written determination submitted under paragraph 
(1) with respect to a waiver shall include a descrip-
tion of all notification and accountability controls 
that have been employed in order to ensure that the 
activities covered by the waiver are humanitarian as-
sistance or support for democracy promotion and do 
not entail any activities in Syria or dealings with the 
Government of Syria not reasonably related to hu-
manitarian assistance or support for democracy pro-
motion. 
(4) CLARIFICATION OF PERMITTED ACTIVITIES 
UNDER
WAIVER.—The President may not impose 
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