IIB 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5732 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
NOVEMBER 16, 2016 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 
AN ACT 
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, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2016’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 4. 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. 
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. 
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. Report on certain persons who are responsible for or complicit in cer-
tain human rights violations in Syria. 
Sec. 303. Assessment of potential effectiveness of and requirements for the es-
tablishment of safe zones or a no-fly zone 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 
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Sec. 501. Regulatory authority. 
Sec. 502. Cost limitation. 
Sec. 503. Sunset. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Over 14,000,000 Syrians have become refu-
gees or internally displaced persons over the last 5 
years. 
(2) The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights 
has reported that since 2012, over 60,000 Syrians, 
including children, have died in Syrian prisons. 
(3) In July 2014, the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs of the House of Representatives heard testi-
mony from a former Syrian military photographer, 
alias ‘‘Caesar’’, who fled Syria and smuggled out 
thousands of photos of tortured bodies. In testi-
mony, Caesar said, ‘‘I have seen horrendous pictures 
of bodies of people who had tremendous amounts of 
torture, deep wounds and burns and strangulation.’’. 
(4) In a June 16, 2015, hearing of the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives, United States Permanent Representa-
tive to the United Nations, Samantha Power, testi-
fied that there are alarming and grave reports that 
the Assad regime has been turning chlorine into a 
chemical weapon, and on June 16, 2015, Secretary 
of State John Kerry stated that he was ‘‘absolutely 
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certain’’ that the Assad regime has used chlorine 
against his people. 
(5) The Assad regime has repeatedly blocked ci-
vilian access to or diverted humanitarian assistance, 
including medical supplies, to besieged and hard-to- 
reach areas, in violation of United Nations Security 
Council resolutions. 
(6) The course of the Syrian transition and its 
future leadership may depend on what the United 
States and its partners do now to save Syrian lives, 
alleviate suffering, and help Syrians determine their 
own future. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) 
Bashar 
al-Assad’s 
murderous 
actions 
against the people of Syria have caused the deaths 
of more than 400,000 civilians, led to the destruc-
tion of more than 50 percent of Syria’s critical in-
frastructure, and forced the displacement of more 
than 14,000,000 people, precipitating the worst hu-
manitarian crisis in more than 60 years; 
(2) international actions to date have been in-
sufficient in protecting vulnerable populations from 
being attacked by uniformed and irregular forces, in-
cluding Hezbollah, associated with the Assad regime, 
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on land and from the air, through the use of barrel 
bombs, chemical weapons, mass starvation cam-
paigns, industrial-scale torture and execution of po-
litical dissidents, sniper attacks on pregnant women, 
and the deliberate targeting of medical facilities, 
schools, residential areas, and community gathering 
places, including markets; 
(3) Assad’s use of chemical weapons, including 
chlorine, against the Syrian people violates the 
Chemical Weapons Convention; and 
(4) Assad’s continued claim of leadership and 
actions in Syria are a rallying point for the extrem-
ist ideology of the Islamic State, Jabhat al-Nusra, 
and other terrorist organizations. 
SEC. 4. 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 Bashir al-Assad to immediately 
halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people and ac-
tively work towards transition to a democratic government 
in Syria, existing in peace and security 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. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(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 
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) 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. 
(4) KNOWINGLY.—The term ‘‘knowingly’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 566.312 of 
title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such sec-
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tion was in effect on the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(5) 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 
Federal Regulations, as such section was in effect on 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(6) SIGNIFICANT
TRANSACTION
OR
TRANS-
ACTIONS; 
SIGNIFICANT
FINANCIAL
SERVICES.—A 
transaction or transactions or financial services shall 
be determined to be a significant for purposes of this 
section in accordance with section 566.404 of title 
31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section 
was in effect on the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(7) SYRIA.—The term ‘‘Syria’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 542.316 of title 31, Code 
of Federal Regulations, as such section was in effect 
on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 102. PROHIBITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER 
OF ARMS AND RELATED MATERIALS TO 
SYRIA. 
(a) SANCTIONS.— 
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(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; 
(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)). 
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(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 
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-
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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 
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)— 
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