I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4644 
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 
A BILL 
To clarify United States policy toward Libya, advance a 
diplomatic solution to the conflict in Libya, and support 
the people of Libya. 
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: 
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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings; statement of policy. 
TITLE I—IDENTIFYING CHALLENGES TO STABILITY IN LIBYA 
Sec. 101. Codification of Executive Order 13726. 
Sec. 102. Report on activities of certain foreign governments and actors in 
Libya. 
Sec. 103. Strategy to counter Russian influence in Libya. 
TITLE II—ACTIONS TO ADDRESS FOREIGN INTERVENTION IN 
LIBYA 
Sec. 201. Imposition of sanctions on those supporting Russian military inter-
vention in Libya. 
Sec. 202. Sanctions with respect to persons threatening the peace or stability 
of Libya. 
Sec. 203. Sanctions with respect to certain persons who are responsible for or 
complicit in human rights abuses 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. Termination. 
TITLE III—ASSISTANCE FOR LIBYA 
Sec. 301. Humanitarian relief for the people of Libya and international refu-
gees and migrants in Libya. 
Sec. 302. Support for democratic governance, elections, and democratic civil so-
ciety. 
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 find-
ings: 
(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) General Thomas Waldhauser, former Com-
mander 
of 
United 
States 
Africa 
Command 
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(AFRICOM), told the Senate Armed Services Com-
mittee in March 2017, ‘‘instability in Libya and 
North Africa may be the most significant, near-term 
threat to U.S. and allies’ interests on the continent’’. 
(3) AFRICOM identifies containing instability 
in Libya as one of its six main lines of effort in Afri-
ca and works to support diplomatic efforts to recon-
stitute the Libyan state and to disrupt terrorist or-
ganizations that impede that process or threaten 
United States interests. 
(4) According to the Director of National Intel-
ligence, as of 2019, the capabilities of the Libya- 
based Islamic State (ISIS) affiliate ‘‘have been de-
graded, but it is still capable of conducting attacks 
on local and Western targets in Libya and possibly 
elsewhere in the region’’. According to United Na-
tions Special Representative of the Secretary Gen-
eral (SRSG) Ghassan Salame´, ISIS has conducted 
six attacks since April 4, 2019. 
(5) On September 22, 2016, a Joint Commu-
nique on Libya, signed by Egypt, Italy, Qatar, Rus-
sia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emir-
ates, and others, reaffirmed a joint ‘‘commitment to 
the United Nations Support Mission in Libya’s 
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[UNSMIL] efforts under the leadership of the UN 
Special Representative of the Secretary General’’. 
(6) On March 1, 2019, the United States Gov-
ernment, along with the governments of France, 
Italy, and the United Kingdom, reiterated its strong 
support to the diplomatic efforts of SRSG Ghassan 
Salame´ and UNSMIL, rejected a military solution in 
Libya, and called on all Libyans to work construc-
tively with SRSG Salame´ to realize a stable and uni-
fied government that can deliver security and pros-
perity for all Libyans. 
(7) UNSMIL planned to host a long-awaited 
National Conference in Ghadames, Libya to begin 
on April 12, 2019, to help the Libyan people nego-
tiate a path toward interim governance structures 
and credible and secure elections. 
(8) On April 4, 2019, Khalifa Haftar, the com-
mander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) move-
ment ordered forces loyal to him to begin a unilat-
eral military operation to take control of Tripoli, the 
capital of Libya. 
(9) Tripoli is the seat of the Government of Na-
tional Accord (GNA), an interim body that emerged 
from previous United Nations-backed negotiations 
and that the United States Government and the 
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United Nations Security Council have recognized 
since 2015. 
(10) Both the LNA movement, the GNA, and 
their associated forces have failed to observe their 
obligations under international humanitarian law, in-
creased the geographic scope of the conflict, ignored 
calls for de-escalation and a ceasefire, recruited for-
eign mercenaries, and intensified ground and air 
campaigns using heavy weapons, aircraft, and re-
portedly using armed drones provided by foreign 
powers. 
(11) Without the full cooperation of all United 
Nations Member States in implementing the arms 
embargo in accordance with United Nations Security 
Council Resolution 2473 (2019), and all relevant 
predecessor resolutions, the flow of weapons to 
Libya will continue to fuel the conflict. 
(12) According to SRSG Salame´, weapons pro-
vided by foreign powers to the warring parties are 
being sold to or captured by terrorist groups active 
in Libya. 
(13) According to the United Nations, since the 
LNA movement offensive began in April 2019, the 
conflict in Libya has led to the deaths of more than 
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1,100 people and the displacement of more than 
120,000 people. 
(14) Both the LNA movement and opposing 
forces have requisitioned the houses of civilians, tar-
geted medical facilities, and inhibited humanitarian 
access to food, health, and other life-saving services, 
worsening humanitarian conditions. 
(15) More than 5,100 refugees and migrants 
are detained in detention facilities in Libya, includ-
ing more than 3,000 in and around the conflict 
zones in Tripoli, with serious risks of torture, star-
vation, sexual abuse, and death. On July 2, 2019, an 
airstrike against the Tajura Detention Center killed 
53 and wounded 130 people trapped in the center. 
The United Nations has called for the immediate re-
lease, evacuation, and protection of refugees and mi-
grants detained in conflict zones. 
(b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 
United States— 
(1) to assert there is no military solution to the 
conflict in Libya and that only a political process 
can secure United States interests, ensure a stable 
and unified Libya, reduce the threat of terrorism, 
and provide peace and opportunity to the Libyan 
people; 
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(2) to support the implementation of United 
Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 (2011) 
and 1973 (2011), which established an arms embar-
go on Libya, and subsequent resolutions modifying 
and extending 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)), 
designed to target individuals or entities who 
‘‘threaten the peace, security, and stability of 
Libya’’; 
(4) to employ sanctions and war-crimes pros-
ecution, against any and all parties engaging in at-
tacks on civilians, medical workers, and critical in-
frastructure, including water supplies, in Libya; 
(5) to contribute to Libya’s peace and stability, 
prevent destabilizing arms shipments, and support 
efforts to safeguard Libya’s oil resources in accord-
ance with United Nations Security Council Resolu-
tions 2259 (2015), 2278 (2016), 2362 (2017), and 
2473 (2019); 
(6) to leverage diplomatic relations to convince 
the parties to the conflict in Libya to immediately 
de-escalate and halt their current fighting and per-
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suade foreign powers to stop providing weapons and 
financing that exacerbate the conflict; 
(7) to encourage the parties to promptly return 
to a political process led by the United Nations Spe-
cial Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) 
and head of the United Nations Support Mission in 
Libya (UNSMIL); 
(8) to support the United Nations-mediated po-
litical process that seeks a negotiated and peaceful 
solution to the Libyan crisis; 
(9) that a negotiated and peaceful political solu-
tion should include a transitional, civilian-led govern-
ment representing all Libyans, preparations for 
credible elections, a fair and transparent allocation 
of resources, interim security arrangements, and a 
process for the reunification of Libyan government 
ministries and Libyan sovereign institutions, includ-
ing the Central Bank of Libya, the National Oil 
Corporation, and the Libyan Investment Authority; 
(10) to support constant, unimpeded, and reli-
able humanitarian access to those in need and to 
hold accountable those who impede or threaten the 
delivery of humanitarian assistance; 
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(11) to advocate for the immediate release and 
safe evacuations of detained refugees and migrants 
trapped by the fighting in Libya; 
(12) to assist implementation of UNSMIL’s 
plan for the organized and gradual closure of mi-
grant detention centers in Libya; and 
(13) to support future democratic development 
and the economic recovery of Libya both during and 
after a negotiated and peaceful political solution. 
TITLE 
I—IDENTIFYING 
CHAL-
LENGES 
TO 
STABILITY 
IN 
LIBYA 
SEC. 101. CODIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 13726. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or Execu-
tive order, Executive Order 13726 (81 Fed. Reg. 23559), 
signed on April 19, 2016, and entitled ‘‘Blocking Property 
and Suspending Entry into the United States of Persons 
Contributing to the Situation in Libya’’ shall have the 
force and effect of law. 
SEC. 102. 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 coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, 
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