Title: End the Cyprus Arms Embargo Act of 2019
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
End the Cyprus Arms Embargo Act of 2019
This bill modifies requirements for, and limits on, the transfer of defense articles and services to Cyprus.
The Department of State shall generally not deny exports, re-exports, or transfers of defense articles or services to or from Cyprus if the request is made by or on behalf of Cyprus and if Cyprus is the end user of such articles or services. However, even if these conditions are met, the State Department may deny such a transfer based on credible human rights concerns.
Furthermore, the existing policy to deny exports, re-exports, or transfers of articles on the U.S. Munitions List to Cyprus shall remain in effect unless the President periodically certifies to Congress that Cyprus is (1) cooperating with U.S. efforts to reform anti-money-laundering regulations and financial regulatory oversight, and (2) taking steps to deny Russian military vessels access to ports for refueling and servicing. The President may temporarily waive the export denial policy for U.S. national security interests.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4558 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4558

 To modify certain disclosure requirements relating to the transfer of 
 articles on the United States munitions list to Cyprus, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 27, 2019

 Mr. Cicilline (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Crist, Mr. Deutch, Mr. 
 Gottheimer, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, 
Ms. Meng, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Sarbanes, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Schneider, Mr. 
Sires, Ms. Speier, Mr. Suozzi, and Ms. Titus) introduced the following 
      bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To modify certain disclosure requirements relating to the transfer of 
 articles on the United States munitions list to Cyprus, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``End the Cyprus Arms Embargo Act of 
2019''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS ON TRANSFER OF ARTICLES ON THE 
              UNITED STATES MUNITIONS LIST TO CYPRUS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the direct sale or transfer of arms by the United 
        States to Cyprus would advance United States security interests 
        in Europe by helping to reduce the dependence of the Government 
        of Cyprus on other countries for defense-related materiel, 
        including countries that pose challenges to United States 
        interests around the world; and
            (2) it is in the interest of the United States--
                    (A) to continue to support United Nations-
                facilitated efforts toward a comprehensive solution to 
                the division of Cyprus; and
                    (B) for the Republic of Cyprus to join NATO's 
                Partnership for Peace program.
    (b) Modification of Prohibition.--Section 620C(e) of the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2373(e)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) The requirement under paragraph (1) shall not apply 
        to any sale or other provision of any defense article or 
        defense service to Cyprus if the end-user of such defense or 
        defense service is Cyprus.''.
    (c) Exclusion of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus From 
Certain Related Regulations.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of State shall not apply a policy of denial for 
exports, re-exports, or transfers of defense articles and defense 
services destined for or originating in the Republic of Cyprus if--
            (1) the request is made by or on behalf of Cyprus; and
            (2) the end-user of such defense articles or defense 
        services is Cyprus.
    (d) Exception.--This exclusion shall not apply to any denial based 
upon credible human rights concerns.
    (e) Limitations on the Transfer of Articles on the United States 
Munitions List to the Republic of Cyprus.--
            (1) In general.--The policy of denial for exports, re-
        exports, or transfers of defense articles on the United States 
        Munitions List to the Republic of Cyprus shall remain in place 
        unless the President determines and certifies to the 
        appropriate congressional committees not less than annually 
        that--
                    (A) the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is 
                continuing to cooperate with the United States 
                Government in efforts to implement reforms on anti-
                money laundering regulations and financial regulatory 
                oversight; and
                    (B) the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has 
                made and is continuing to take the steps necessary to 
                deny Russian military vessels access to ports for 
                refueling and servicing.
            (2) Waiver.--The President may waive the limitations 
        contained in this subsection for one fiscal year if the 
        President determines that it is essential to the national 
        security interests of the United States to do so.
            (3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this 
        section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
                Representatives.
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