I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 31 
To require certain additional actions in connection with the national 
emergency with respect to Syria, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 3, 2019 
Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. KINZINGER, Mr. 
CICILLINE, Mr. YOHO, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. HAS-
TINGS, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. HILL of Ar-
kansas, Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. WEBER of Texas, 
Ms. MENG, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. KILDEE, Mrs. WAGNER, Mr. SUOZZI, Mrs. 
BROOKS of Indiana, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. MEADOWS, Mr. TED LIEU of 
California, Mr. ROONEY of Florida, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. STIVERS, Mr. 
CARSON of Indiana, Mr. HURD of Texas, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mr. GALLA-
GHER, Mr. KEATING, Ms. FRANKEL, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. LEVIN of Cali-
fornia, Mr. SIRES, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, and Ms. ESHOO) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judici-
ary, 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 concerned 
A BILL 
To require certain additional actions in connection with the 
national emergency with respect to Syria, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Caesar Syria Civilian 
Protection Act of 2019’’. 
TITLE I—ADDITIONAL ACTIONS 
IN CONNECTION WITH THE 
NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH 
RESPECT TO SYRIA 
SEC. 101. MEASURES WITH RESPECT TO CENTRAL BANK OF 
SYRIA. 
(a) DETERMINATION REGARDING CENTRAL BANK OF 
SYRIA.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
determine, under section 5318A of title 31, United States 
Code, whether reasonable grounds exist for concluding 
that the Central Bank of Syria is a financial institution 
of primary money laundering concern. 
(b) ENHANCED DUE DILIGENCE AND REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS.—If the Secretary of the Treasury deter-
mines under subsection (a) that reasonable grounds exist 
for concluding that the Central Bank of Syria is a finan-
cial institution of primary money laundering concern, the 
Secretary, in consultation with the Federal functional reg-
ulators (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach- 
Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6809)), shall impose one or more 
of the special measures described in section 5318A(b) of 
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title 31, United States Code, with respect to the Central 
Bank of Syria. 
(c) REPORT REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
making a determination under subsection (a) as to 
whether or not the Central Bank of Syria is a finan-
cial institution of primary money laundering con-
cern, the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report 
that includes the reasons for the determination. 
(2) FORM.—A report required by paragraph (1) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may in-
clude a classified annex. 
(3) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘ap-
propriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
Committee on Financial Services, and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs, and the Committee on Appro-
priations of the Senate. 
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SEC. 102. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN PER-
SONS THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANS-
ACTIONS. 
(a) IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On and after the date that 
is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the President shall impose the sanctions de-
scribed in subsection (b) with respect to a foreign 
person if the President determines that the foreign 
person, on or after such date of enactment, know-
ingly engages 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— 
(A) knowingly provides significant finan-
cial, material, or technological support to, or 
knowingly engages in a significant transaction 
with— 
(i) the Government of Syria (including 
any entity owned or controlled by the Gov-
ernment of Syria) or a senior political fig-
ure of the Government of Syria; 
(ii) a foreign person that is a military 
contractor, mercenary, or a paramilitary 
force knowingly operating in a military ca-
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pacity inside Syria for or on behalf of the 
Government of Syria, the Government of 
the Russian Federation, or the Govern-
ment of Iran; or 
(iii) a foreign person subject to sanc-
tions pursuant to the International Emer-
gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
1701 et seq.) with respect to Syria or any 
other provision of law that imposes sanc-
tions with respect to Syria; 
(B) knowingly sells or provides significant 
goods, services, technology, information, or 
other support that significantly facilitates the 
maintenance or expansion of the Government of 
Syria’s domestic production of natural gas, pe-
troleum, or petroleum products; 
(C) knowingly sells or provides aircraft or 
spare aircraft parts that are used for military 
purposes in Syria for or on behalf of the Gov-
ernment of Syria to any foreign person oper-
ating in an area directly or indirectly controlled 
by the Government of Syria or foreign forces 
associated with the Government of Syria; 
(D) knowingly provides significant goods 
or services associated with the operation of air-
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craft that are used for military purposes in 
Syria for or on behalf of the Government of 
Syria to any foreign person operating in an 
area described in subparagraph (C); or 
(E) knowingly, directly or indirectly, pro-
vides significant construction or engineering 
services to the Government of Syria. 
(3) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that, in implementing this section, the 
President should consider financial support under 
paragraph (2)(A) to include the provision of loans, 
credits, or export credits. 
(b) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The sanctions to be imposed 
with respect to a foreign person subject to sub-
section (a) are the following: 
(A) BLOCKING OF PROPERTY.—The Presi-
dent shall exercise all of the powers granted to 
the President under the International Emer-
gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.) to the extent necessary to block and pro-
hibit all transactions in property and interests 
in property of the foreign person if such prop-
erty and interests in property are in the United 
States, come within the United States, or are or 
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come within the possession or control of a 
United States person. 
(B) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, AD-
MISSION, OR PAROLE.— 
(i) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.— 
An alien who the Secretary of State or the 
Secretary of Homeland Security (or a des-
ignee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or 
has reason to believe, has knowingly en-
gaged in any activity described in sub-
section (a)(2) 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 receive any other benefit 
under the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 
(ii) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 
(I) IN
GENERAL.—The issuing 
consular officer, the Secretary of 
State, or the Secretary of Homeland 
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Security (or a designee of one of such 
Secretaries) shall, in accordance with 
section 221(i) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), 
revoke any visa or other entry docu-
mentation issued to an alien described 
in clause (i) regardless of when the 
visa or other entry documentation is 
issued. 
(II) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.— 
A revocation under subclause (I)— 
(aa) shall take effect imme-
diately; and 
(bb) shall automatically can-
cel any other valid visa or entry 
documentation that is in the 
alien’s possession. 
(2) 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 violates, 
attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a 
violation of regulations promulgated under section 
303(b) to carry out paragraph (1)(A) to the same 
extent that such penalties apply to a person that 
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commits an unlawful act described in section 206(a) 
of that Act. 
(3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA-
TIONS
HEADQUARTERS
AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 
under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply with respect 
to an alien if admitting or paroling the alien into the 
United States is necessary 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 No-
vember 21, 1947, between the United Nations and 
the United States, or other applicable international 
obligations. 
TITLE II—ASSISTANCE FOR THE 
PEOPLE OF SYRIA 
SEC. 201. CODIFICATION OF CERTAIN SERVICES IN SUP-
PORT OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZA-
TIONS’ ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), section 542.516 of title 31, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (relating to certain services in support of nongovern-
mental organizations’ activities authorized), as in effect on 
the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, 
shall— 
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(1) remain in effect on and after such date of 
enactment; and 
(2) in the case of a nongovernmental organiza-
tion that is authorized to export or reexport services 
to Syria under such section on the day before such 
date of enactment, apply to such organization on 
and after such date of enactment to the same extent 
and in the same manner as such section applied to 
such organization on the day before such date of en-
actment. 
(b) EXCEPTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 542.516 of title 31, 
Code of Federal Regulations, as codified under sub-
section (a), shall not apply with respect to a foreign 
person that has been designated as a foreign ter-
rorist organization under section 219 of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189), or oth-
erwise designated as a terrorist organization, by the 
Secretary of State, in consultation with or upon the 
request of the Attorney General or the Secretary of 
Homeland Security. 
(2) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—Paragraph (1) shall 
apply with respect to a foreign person on and after 
the date on which the designation of that person as 
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a terrorist organization is published in the Federal 
Register. 
SEC. 202. BRIEFING ON STRATEGY TO FACILITATE HUMANI-
TARIAN ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall brief 
the appropriate congressional committees on the strategy 
of the President to help facilitate the ability of humani-
tarian organizations to access financial services to help fa-
cilitate the safe and timely delivery of assistance to com-
munities in need in Syria. 
(b) CONSIDERATION OF DATA FROM OTHER COUN-
TRIES
AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.—In 
preparing the strategy required by subsection (a), the 
President shall consider credible data already obtained by 
other countries and nongovernmental organizations, in-
cluding organizations operating in Syria. 
(c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres-
sional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
Committee on Financial Services, and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Represent-
atives; and 
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(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af-
fairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate. 
TITLE III—GENERAL 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 301. SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President may suspend in 
whole or in part the imposition of sanctions otherwise re-
quired under this Act for periods not to exceed 180 days 
if the President determines that the following criteria have 
been met in Syria: 
(1) The air space over Syria is no longer being 
utilized by the Government of Syria or the Govern-
ment of the Russian Federation to target civilian 
populations through the use of incendiary devices, 
including barrel bombs, chemical weapons, and con-
ventional arms, including air-delivered missiles and 
explosives. 
(2) Areas besieged by the Government of Syria, 
the Government of the Russian Federation, the Gov-
ernment of Iran, or a foreign person described in 
section 102(a)(2)(A)(ii) are no longer cut off from 
international aid and have regular access to humani-
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tarian assistance, freedom of travel, and medical 
care. 
(3) The Government of Syria is releasing all po-
litical prisoners forcibly held within the prison sys-
tem of the regime of Bashar al-Assad and the Gov-
ernment of Syria is allowing full access to the same 
facilities for investigations by appropriate inter-
national human rights organizations. 
(4) The forces of the Government of Syria, the 
Government of the Russian Federation, the Govern-
ment of Iran, and any foreign person described in 
section 102(a)(2)(A)(ii) are no longer engaged in de-
liberate targeting of medical facilities, schools, resi-
dential areas, and community gathering places, in-
cluding markets, in violation of international norms. 
(5) The Government of Syria is— 
(A) taking steps to verifiably fulfill its 
commitments under the Convention on the Pro-
hibition of the Development, Production, Stock-
piling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on 
their Destruction, done at Geneva September 3, 
1992, and entered into force April 29, 1997 
(commonly known as the ‘‘Chemical Weapons 
Convention’’), and the Treaty on the Non-Pro-
liferation of Nuclear Weapons, done at Wash-
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ington, London, and Moscow July 1, 1968, and 
entered into force March 5, 1970 (21 UST 
483); and 
(B) making tangible progress toward be-
coming a signatory to the Convention on the 
Prohibition of the Development, Production and 
Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and 
Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, done 
at Washington, London, and Moscow April 10, 
1972, and entered into force March 26, 1975 
(26 UST 583). 
(6) The Government of Syria is permitting the 
safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Syrians dis-
placed by the conflict. 
(7) The Government of Syria is taking 
verifiable steps to establish meaningful account-
ability for perpetrators of war crimes in Syria and 
justice for victims of war crimes committed by the 
Assad regime, including by participation in a cred-
ible and independent truth and reconciliation proc-
ess. 
(b) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 30 days 
after the President makes a determination described in 
subsection (a), the President shall provide a briefing to 
the appropriate congressional committees on the deter-
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mination and the suspension of sanctions pursuant to the 
determination. 
(c) REIMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.—Any sanctions 
suspended under subsection (a) shall be reimposed if the 
President determines that the criteria described in that 
subsection are no longer being met. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to limit the authority of the Presi-
dent to terminate the application of sanctions under sec-
tion 102 with respect to a person that no longer engages 
in activities described in subsection (a)(2) of that section. 
(e) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres-
sional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on 
Ways and Means, the Committee on the Judiciary, 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af-
fairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
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SEC. 302. 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 law enforcement, national security, or intel-
ligence activities of the United States. 
(2) Any transaction necessary to comply with 
United States obligations under— 
(A) the Agreement regarding the Head-
quarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake 
Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force 
November 21, 1947, between the United Na-
tions and the United States; 
(B) the Convention on Consular Relations, 
done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered 
into force March 19, 1967; or 
(C) any other international agreement to 
which the United States is a party. 
(b) WAIVER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The President may, for peri-
ods not to exceed 180 days, waive the application of 
any provision of this Act with respect to a foreign 
person if the President certifies to the appropriate 
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congressional committees that such a waiver is in 
the national security interests of the United States. 
(2) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after 
the issuance of a waiver under paragraph (1), and 
every 180 days thereafter while the waiver remains 
in effect, the President shall brief the appropriate 
congressional committees on the reasons for the 
waiver. 
(c) HUMANITARIAN WAIVER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The President may waive, 
for renewable periods not to exceed 2 years, the ap-
plication of any provision of this Act with respect to 
a nongovernmental organization providing humani-
tarian assistance not covered by the authorization 
described in section 201 if the President certifies to 
the appropriate congressional committees that such 
a waiver is important to address a humanitarian 
need and is consistent with the national security in-
terests of the United States. 
(2) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after 
the issuance of a waiver under paragraph (1), and 
every 180 days thereafter while the waiver remains 
in effect, the President shall brief the appropriate 
congressional committees on the reasons for the 
waiver. 
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(d) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate con-
gressional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on 
Ways and Means, the Committee on the Judiciary, 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af-
fairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
SEC. 303. IMPLEMENTATION AND REGULATORY AUTHORI-
TIES. 
(a) IMPLEMENTATION AUTHORITY.—The President 
may exercise all authorities provided to the President 
under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emer-
gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) 
for purposes of carrying out this Act. 
(b) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The President shall, 
not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, promulgate regulations as necessary for the 
implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 304. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act may be construed to limit the 
authority of the President pursuant to the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.) or any other provision of law. 
SEC. 305. SUNSET. 
This Act shall cease to be effective on the date that 
is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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