IB 
Union Calendar No. 491 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4644 
[Report No. 116–594, Part I] 
To clarify United States policy toward Libya, advance a diplomatic solution 
to the conflict in Libya, and support the people of Libya. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 11, 2019 
Mr. DEUTCH (for himself, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. TED LIEU of 
California, and Mr. MALINOWSKI) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
NOVEMBER 17, 2020 
Additional sponsors: Mr. ALLRED, Mr. KINZINGER, Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas, 
Mr. RESCHENTHALER, Mr. TRONE, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. VELA, Mr. 
WENSTRUP, Mr. SIRES, Mr. SHERMAN, and Mr. TAYLOR 
NOVEMBER 17, 2020 
Reported from the Committee on Foreign Affairs with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
NOVEMBER 17, 2020 
Committees on the Judiciary and Financial Services discharged; committed to 
the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and or-
dered to be printed 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on October 11, 2019] 
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A BILL 
To clarify United States policy toward Libya, advance a 
diplomatic solution to the conflict in Libya, and support 
the people of Libya. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Libya Stabilization Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings; statement of policy. 
TITLE I—IDENTIFYING CHALLENGES TO STABILITY IN LIBYA 
Sec. 101. Report on activities of certain foreign governments and actors in Libya. 
Sec. 102. Report of Russian activities and objectives in Libya. 
Sec. 103. Determination of sanctionable activities of the Libyan National Army 
with respect to Syria. 
TITLE II—ACTIONS TO ADDRESS FOREIGN INTERVENTION IN LIBYA 
Sec. 201. Sanctions with respect to foreign persons leading, directing, or sup-
porting certain foreign government involvement in Libya. 
Sec. 202. Sanctions with respect to foreign persons threatening the peace or sta-
bility of Libya. 
Sec. 203. Sanctions with respect to foreign persons who are responsible for or 
complicit in gross violations of internationally recognized 
human rights committed in Libya. 
Sec. 204. Sanctions described. 
Sec. 205. Waiver. 
Sec. 206. Implementation and regulatory authority. 
Sec. 207. Exception relating to importation of goods. 
Sec. 208. Definitions. 
Sec. 209. Suspension of sanctions. 
Sec. 210. Sunset. 
TITLE III—ASSISTANCE FOR LIBYA 
Sec. 301. Humanitarian relief for the people of Libya and international refugees 
and migrants in Libya. 
Sec. 302. Support for democratic governance, elections, and civil society. 
Sec. 303. Engaging international financial institutions to advance Libyan eco-
nomic recovery and improve public sector financial manage-
ment. 
Sec. 304. Recovering assets stolen from the Libyan people. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) The stability and territorial unity of Libya 
is critical to the security of the United States, Eu-
rope, North Africa, and the Sahel, as well as mari-
time routes in the southern Mediterranean Sea. 
(2) United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) 
identifies containing instability in Libya as one of its 
six main lines of effort in Africa and works to sup-
port diplomatic efforts to reconstitute the Libyan 
State and to disrupt terrorist organizations that im-
pede that process or threaten United States interests. 
(3) According to the Defense Intelligence Agency, 
the Islamic State in Libya (ISIS-Libya) is ‘‘de-
graded’’. However, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper 
said in November 2019 that there is a continued need 
for lethal operations to keep ISIS-Libya in a de-
graded state. 
(4) On April 4, 2019, Khalifa Haftar, the com-
mander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) ordered 
forces loyal to him to begin a unilateral military op-
eration to take control of Tripoli, the capital of Libya 
and seat of the Government of National Accord 
(GNA), an interim body that emerged from previous 
United Nations-backed negotiations which the United 
States Government and the United Nations Security 
Council have recognized since 2015. 
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(5) Both the LNA, the GNA, and their associated 
forces have failed to observe their obligations under 
international humanitarian law, increased the geo-
graphic scope of the conflict, ignored calls for de-esca-
lation and a ceasefire, recruited foreign mercenaries, 
and intensified ground and air campaigns using 
heavy weapons, aircraft, and reportedly using armed 
drones provided by foreign powers. 
(6) According to then-United Nations Special 
Representative and Head of the United Nations Sup-
port Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Ghassan Salame´, 
weapons provided by foreign powers to the warring 
parties in violation of the United Nations arms em-
bargo are being sold to or captured by terrorist 
groups active in Libya. 
(7) According to the United Nations, since the 
LNA offensive began in April 2019, the conflict in 
Libya has led to the deaths of more than 2,200 people 
and the displacement of more than 150,000 people. 
(8) All sides of the conflict have requisitioned the 
houses of civilians, targeted medical facilities, and in-
hibited humanitarian access to food, health, and other 
life-saving services, worsening humanitarian condi-
tions. 
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(9) More than 2,200 refugees and migrants are 
detained in detention facilities in Libya with serious 
risks of torture, starvation, sexual abuse, and death. 
On July 2, 2019, an airstrike against the Tajura De-
tention Center killed 53 and wounded 130 people 
trapped in the center. The United Nations has called 
for the immediate release, evacuation, and protection 
of refugees and migrants detained in conflict zones. 
(10) The Department of State’s 2020 Trafficking 
in Persons Report states with regard to Libya, ‘‘Traf-
ficking victims—including men, women, and chil-
dren—are highly vulnerable to extreme violence and 
other human rights violations in Libya by govern-
mental and non-state armed groups, including: phys-
ical, sexual, and verbal assault; abduction for ransom; 
extortion; arbitrary killings; inhumane detention; and 
child soldiering. . .Migrants in Libya are extremely 
vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking [and . . .] are 
vulnerable to exploitation by state and non-state ac-
tors, including employers who refuse to pay laborers’ 
wages.’’. 
(11) In November 2019, the GNA and the Gov-
ernment of Turkey signed a Memorandum of Under-
standing on maritime boundaries in the Mediterra-
nean Sea. 
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(12) According to a July 2020 Department of 
Defense Inspector General report, the Wagner Group, 
a Russian private military company, has deployed as 
many as 2,500 mercenary forces, including some Syr-
ian fighters, advanced equipment, and advanced ca-
pabilities to support the LNA and Russian objectives 
in North Africa. 
(13) According to a July 2020 Department of 
Defense Inspector General report, ‘‘Turkey’s president 
acknowledged that his country sent many Syrian 
militants to Libya to support the Government of Na-
tional Accord (GNA). . ..USAFRICOM estimated 
that 3,500 Syrian mercenaries were in Libya sup-
porting the GNA as of the end of March. Citing press 
reports, USAFRICOM stated that an additional 300 
Turkish-supported ‘Syrian opposition’ fighters ar-
rived in Libya in early April.’’. 
(14) In January 2020, LNA-aligned forces shut 
down oil production in eastern Libya, which accord-
ing to the United Nations threatens devastating con-
sequences for the Libyan people and for the country’s 
economic and financial situation. 
(15) On January 19, 2020, at a peace conference 
in Berlin, representatives of the Governments of Alge-
ria, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, 
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Turkey, the Republic of Congo, the United Arab 
Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United 
States, as well as regional and multilateral organiza-
tions, agreed to refrain from interference in Libya’s 
internal affairs, abide by the United Nations arms 
embargo, and advance a 55-point communique to re-
solve the conflict in Libya. 
(16) On January 30, 2020, then-United Nations 
Special Representative Salame´ asserted, ‘‘the warring 
parties have continued to receive advanced equipment, 
fighters, and advisors from foreign states, in violation 
of the UN arms embargo and pledges made by rep-
resentatives of these countries in Berlin’’. 
(17) On February 12, 2020, the United States 
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs 
testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Com-
mittee, ‘‘The task of bringing the Libyans back to the 
negotiating table has been complicated by the involve-
ment of external actors. Libya is not the place for 
Russian mercenaries, or fighters from Syria, Chad, 
and Sudan. It is not the place for the Emiratis, Rus-
sians, or Turks to be fighting battles on the ground 
through intermediaries they sponsor or support with 
sophisticated and deadly equipment in pursuit of 
their own agendas.’’. 
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(18) On February 13, 2020, the United Nations 
Security Council adopted Resolution 2510, which en-
dorses the Conclusions of the International Conference 
on Libya held in Berlin, affirms the need for a last-
ing ceasefire, demands full compliance by all member 
states with the United Nations arms embargo, and ex-
presses unequivocal support for the United Nations 
Special Representative and the ongoing UNSMIL-fa-
cilitated intra-Libyan dialogue. 
(b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 
United States— 
(1) to advance a peaceful resolution to the con-
flict in Libya through a political process as the best 
way to secure United States interests, ensure a stable 
and unified Libya, reduce the threat of terrorism, and 
provide peace and opportunity to the Libyan people; 
(2) to support the implementation of United Na-
tions Security Council Resolutions 1970 (2011) and 
1973 (2011), which established an arms embargo on 
Libya, and subsequent resolutions modifying and ex-
tending the embargo; 
(3) to enforce Executive Order 13726 (81 Fed. 
Reg. 23559; relating to blocking property and sus-
pending entry into the United States of persons con-
tributing to the situation in Libya (April 19, 2016)), 
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designed to target individuals or entities who ‘‘threat-
en the peace, security, and stability of Libya’’; 
(4) to oppose attacks on civilians, medical work-
ers, and critical infrastructure, including water sup-
plies, in Libya, and to support accountability for 
those engaged in such heinous actions; 
(5) to support Libya’s sovereignty, independence, 
territorial integrity, and national unity consistent 
with United Nations Security Council Resolution 
2510 (2020) and all predecessor resolutions with re-
spect to Libya, including by— 
(A) taking action to end the violence and 
flow of arms; 
(B) rejecting attempts by any party to illic-
itly export Libya’s oil; and 
(C) urging Libyan parties to eject foreign 
military and mercenary forces; 
(6) to leverage diplomatic relations to convince 
the parties to the conflict in Libya to immediately de- 
escalate and halt their current fighting and persuade 
foreign powers to stop providing personnel, including 
mercenaries, weapons, and financing that exacerbate 
the conflict; 
(7) to support building on the Libyan Political 
Agreement as a viable framework for the political so-
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lution in Libya and to urge all Libyan parties to re-
sume the inclusive Libyan-led and Libyan-owned po-
litical process under the auspices of UNSMIL; 
(8) to support a negotiated and peaceful political 
solution that includes a single, unified, inclusive, and 
effective Libyan Government approved by the Libyan 
House of Representatives, the end of a transitional 
period achieved through free, fair, inclusive, and cred-
ible elections, a fair and transparent allocation of re-
sources, interim security arrangements, and a process 
for the reunification of Libyan government ministries 
and Libyan sovereign institutions, including the Cen-
tral Bank of Libya, the National Oil Corporation, 
and the Libyan Investment Authority; 
(9) to support constant, unimpeded, and reliable 
humanitarian access to those in need and to hold ac-
countable those who impede or threaten the delivery 
of humanitarian assistance; 
(10) to seek to bring an end to trafficking in per-
sons such as slavery, forced labor, and sexual exploi-
tation, including with respect to migrants; 
(11) to advocate for the immediate release and 
safe evacuations of detained refugees and migrants 
trapped by the fighting in Libya; 
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(12) to encourage implementation of UNSMIL’s 
plan for the organized and gradual closure of migrant 
detention centers in Libya; 
(13) to support current and future democratic 
and economic development; and 
(14) to discourage all parties from heightening 
tensions in the region, through unhelpful and provoc-
ative actions. 
TITLE 
I—IDENTIFYING 
CHAL-
LENGES 
TO 
STABILITY 
IN 
LIBYA 
SEC. 101. REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF CERTAIN FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENTS AND ACTORS IN LIBYA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, 
in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
report that includes— 
(1) a description of the full extent of involvement 
in Libya by foreign governments, including the Gov-
ernments of Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emir-
ates, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, China, Saudi Arabia, and 
Qatar, including— 
(A) a description of which governments are 
linked to drone and aircraft strikes; 
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Turkish military contractors and mercenaries, affili-
ates of ISIS, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb 
(AQIM), and Ansar al-Sharia, in Libya; 
(5) a description of European Union and North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) efforts to en-
force the United Nations arms embargo and facilitate 
a ceasefire; 
(6) a description of any violations of the arms 
embargo by European Union member states; and 
(7) a description of United States diplomatic en-
gagement with the European Union and NATO re-
garding enforcement of the United Nations arms em-
bargo. 
(b) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 
be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classi-
fied annex. 
(c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres-
sional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate. 
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SEC. 102. REPORT OF RUSSIAN ACTIVITIES AND OBJEC-
TIVES IN LIBYA. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) General Stephen Townsend, Commander of 
United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), warned 
in January 2020 that in Libya, Russia seeks to 
‘‘demonstrate itself as an alternative partner to the 
West’’ and seeks to position itself alongside the south-
ern flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
(NATO). 
(2) AFRICOM has also stated that the Russian 
military presence in Libya threatens future United 
States military partnerships and counterterrorism co-
operation by impeding United States access to Libya. 
(3) In May 2020, AFRICOM reported that the 
Government of Russia deployed 14 MiG-29 and Su- 
24 aircraft to Libya to support Russian state-spon-
sored private military contractors, including the 
Wagner Group. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
State shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report that contains an assessment of 
Russian activities and objectives in Libya, includ-
ing— 
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(A) the potential threat such activities pose 
to the United States, southern Europe, NATO, 
and partners in the Mediterranean Sea and 
North African region; 
(B) the direct role of Russia in Libyan fi-
nancial affairs, to include issuing and printing 
currency; and 
(C) Russia’s use of mercenaries, military 
contractors, equipment, and paramilitary forces 
in Libya. 
(2) FORM.—The report required by paragraph 
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may 
contain a classified annex. 
(3) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES 
DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate 
congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate. 
SEC. 103. DETERMINATION OF SANCTIONABLE ACTIVITIES 
OF THE LIBYAN NATIONAL ARMY WITH RE-
SPECT TO SYRIA. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the President shall submit to the Committee on 
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Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a list of 
members of the Libyan National Army (LNA), and details 
of their activities, that the President determines are know-
ingly responsible for sanctionable offenses pursuant to— 
(1) section 7412 of the Caesar Syria Civilian 
Protection Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note; 133 
Stat. 2292); or 
(2) Executive Order 13582 (76 Fed. Reg. 52209; 
relating to blocking property of the Government of 
Syria and prohibiting certain transactions with re-
spect to Syria (August 17, 2011)). 
TITLE II—ACTIONS TO ADDRESS 
FOREIGN INTERVENTION IN 
LIBYA 
SEC. 201. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN PERSONS 
LEADING, DIRECTING, OR SUPPORTING CER-
TAIN FOREIGN GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT 
IN LIBYA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose 
each of the sanctions described in section 204 with respect 
to each foreign person that the President determines know-
ingly engages in an activity described in subsection (b). 
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(b) ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.—A foreign person engages 
in an activity described in this subsection if the person 
leads, directs, or provides significant financial, material, 
or technological support to, or knowingly engages in a sig-
nificant transaction with, a non-Libyan foreign person that 
is— 
(1) in Libya in a military or commercial capac-
ity as a military contractor, mercenary, or part of a 
paramilitary force; and 
(2) engaged in significant actions that threaten 
the peace, security, or stability of Libya. 
SEC. 202. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN PERSONS 
THREATENING THE PEACE OR STABILITY OF 
LIBYA. 
(a) IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.—The President shall 
impose each of the sanctions described in section 204 with 
respect to each foreign person on the list required by sub-
section (b). 
(b) LIST.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a list of— 
(1) foreign persons, including senior government 
officials, militia leaders, paramilitary leaders, and 
other persons who provide significant support to mili-
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