Title: Stop the Killing in Syria Act
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Stop the Killing in Syria ActThis bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against specified persons that assist or support Syria in malign activities and crimes against its own people, and it requires the Department of State to submit a strategy for removing the al-Assad regime from power and achieving a transition to a free and democratic Syria. Further, the bill prohibits any federal department or agency from recognizing any Syrian government led by Bashar al-Assad or the legitimacy of Bashar al-Assad as President of Syria.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8931 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8931

  To impose additional sanctions with respect to Syria, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 10, 2020

 Mr. Wilson of South Carolina introduced the following bill; which was 
  referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the 
 Committees on Financial Services, and Ways and Means, 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 impose additional sanctions with respect to Syria, 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 AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Stop the Killing 
in Syria Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
          TITLE I--ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

Sec. 101. Sanctions with respect to certain government officials of 
                            countries assisting or normalizing 
                            relations with Syria.
Sec. 102. Sanctions with respect to financial institutions operating in 
                            Syria and certain foreign persons 
                            supporting the Government of Syria.
Sec. 103. Sanctions with respect to certain individuals serving in the 
                            Lebanese Internal Security Forces and the 
                            Lebanese Armed Forces.
Sec. 104. Sanctions with respect to directors, officers, and other 
                            officials employed in Syrian prisons and 
                            detention facilities determined to be 
                            engaged in the use of torture.
Sec. 105. Mandatory application of sanctions under the Caesar Syria 
                            Civilian Protection Act of 2019.
Sec. 106. Limitation on waiver authorities under the Caesar Civilian 
                            Protection Act of 2019.
Sec. 107. Measures with respect to areas of Syria controlled by the 
                            Government of Syria.
                       TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS

Sec. 201. Determination and report relating to crimes against humanity, 
                            genocide, and war crimes in Syria.
Sec. 202. Assessment of potential effectiveness of and requirements for 
                            the establishment of a no-fly zone, safe 
                            zones, or a no-bombing zone in Syria.
Sec. 203. Report on net worth of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Sec. 204. Strategy and report for removing the al-Assad regime from 
                            power and achieving a transition to a free 
                            and democratic Syria.
Sec. 205. Statement of policy.
Sec. 206. Prohibition against United States recognition of the al-Assad 
                            regime in Syria.
Sec. 207. Report on effect of lifting Iran sanctions on war crimes in 
                            Syria.
Sec. 208. Certification regarding humanitarian aid provided to areas in 
                            Syria held by the al-Assad regime.
Sec. 209. Proclamation authority regarding free Syria economic zones.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
                Senate.
            (2) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 1262 of the Global Magnitsky 
        Human Rights Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 2656 note).

          TITLE I--ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

SEC. 101. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OF 
              COUNTRIES ASSISTING OR NORMALIZING RELATIONS WITH SYRIA.

    (a) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions described 
in subsection (c) with respect to senior foreign political figures and 
other senior government officials of countries on the lists required by 
subsection (b)(1).
    (b) Lists.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
        President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees--
                    (A) a list of countries that--
                            (i) expressly consent to, or with knowledge 
                        allow, the use of their territory or financial 
                        institutions by the Government of Syria to 
                        assist such government's war crimes, including 
                        through financing; or
                            (ii) have a history of facilitating 
                        sanctions evasion by the Government of Syria;
                    (B) a list of countries, including countries that 
                are members of the League of Arab States, that have 
                diplomatic relations with Syria, or that continue to 
                have extensive economic relations with Syria; and
                    (C) a list of countries that are considering and 
                taking steps towards establishing diplomatic relations 
                with Syria.
            (2) Additional requirement.--The President shall include 
        the following countries that have established diplomatic 
        relations with Syria as part of the lists required by paragraph 
        (1) until such time as those countries have ceased having 
        diplomatic relations with the Government of Syria: Egypt, 
        Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
            (3) Form.--The lists required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
        annex if necessary.
    (c) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this 
subsection are--
            (1) sanctions applicable with respect to a foreign person 
        pursuant to section 7412(b) of the Caesar Syria Civilian 
        Protection Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note); and
            (2) sanctions applicable with respect to a foreign person 
        pursuant to the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention 
        Act of 2015 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
    (d) Senior Foreign Political Figure Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``senior foreign political figure'' has the meaning given that 
term in section 1010.605 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations.

SEC. 102. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OPERATING IN 
              SYRIA AND CERTAIN FOREIGN PERSONS SUPPORTING THE 
              GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA.

    (a) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions described 
in subsection (c) with respect to each financial institution on the 
list required by subsection (b)(1)(A) and each person on the list 
required by subsection (b)(1)(B).
    (b) Lists.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and biannually thereafter, the 
        President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees--
                    (A) a list of financial institutions operating in 
                Syria; and
                    (B) a list of foreign persons of China, Lebanon, 
                Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Oman, Turkey, Qatar, Kuwait, and 
                the United Arab Emirates that are involved in business 
                activities with regard to the infrastructure, 
                construction, financial services, telecommunications, 
                or petroleum sectors of the Syrian economy.
            (2) Form.--The list required by this subsection shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
        annex if necessary.
    (c) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this 
subsection are sanctions applicable with respect to a foreign person 
pursuant to section 7412(b) of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act 
of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note).

SEC. 103. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS SERVING IN THE 
              LEBANESE INTERNAL SECURITY FORCES AND THE LEBANESE ARMED 
              FORCES.

    (a) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions described 
in subsection (c) with respect to each individual on the list required 
by subsection (b)(3).
    (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report that--
            (1) describes efforts by the Government of Lebanon to 
        prevent sanctions evasion activities, including smuggling 
        efforts to support the Government of Syria, including an 
        identification of the extent to which the Government of 
        Lebanon, the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF), and the 
        Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have knowingly permitted, 
        facilitated, or assisted such efforts;
            (2) describes efforts by the Government of Lebanon, the 
        ISF, and the LAF have taken to prevent the forced repatriation 
        of Syrian refugees back to Syria; and
            (3) contains a list of those individuals serving in the ISF 
        and the LAF that have participated in, knowingly permitted, 
        facilitated, or assisted the Government of Syria in sanctions 
        evasion activities or smuggling efforts to support the 
        Government of Syria.
    (c) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this 
subsection are sanctions applicable with respect to a foreign person 
pursuant to section 1263(b) of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights 
Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 2656 note).

SEC. 104. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND OTHER 
              OFFICIALS EMPLOYED IN SYRIAN PRISONS AND DETENTION 
              FACILITIES DETERMINED TO BE ENGAGED IN THE USE OF 
              TORTURE.

    (a) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions described 
in subsection (c) with respect to each individual on the list required 
by subsection (b)(2).
    (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report that--
            (1) describes the extent to which torture is used against 
        detainees in Syrian prisons and detention facilities; and
            (2) contains a list of directors, officers, and other 
        officials employed in such prisons and detention facilities and 
        who have been determined to be engaged in the use of torture.
    (c) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this 
subsection are sanctions applicable with respect to a foreign person 
pursuant to section 1263(b) of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights 
Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 2656 note).

SEC. 105. MANDATORY APPLICATION OF SANCTIONS UNDER THE CAESAR SYRIA 
              CIVILIAN PROTECTION ACT OF 2019.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the Syrian financial and construction sectors are 
        sectors of Syria's economy which provide financial support to 
        the Syrian regime's malign activities and crimes against its 
        own people; and
            (2) the President should continue to vigorously enforce the 
        Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 to deny the al-
        Assad regime avenues to fund its malign activities.
    (b) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions described 
in subsection (d) with respect to each individual and organization 
described in subsection (c).
    (c) Individuals and Organizations Described.--The individuals and 
organizations described in this subsection are the following:
            (1) The Badr Organization.
            (2) Hadi Al-Ameri, leader of the Badr Organization.
            (3) The Wagner Group.
            (4) Major General Abbas Ibrahim of the Lebanese General 
        Security Directorate.
            (5) The Damascus Securities Exchange.
            (6) The Imam Ali Brigades.
            (7) The al-Baraka Bank Syria.
            (8) The al-Badia Cement Plant.
            (9) The Bank Audi Syria.
            (10) The International Bank for Trade and Finance Syria.
            (11) The Bank of Syria and Overseas.
            (12) The Byblos Bank Syria.
            (13) The Real Estate Bank Syria.
            (14) The Banque Bemo Saudi Fransi.
            (15) The Basy Bank Syria.
            (16) The Arab Bank Syria.
            (17) The Qatar National Bank-Syria.
            (18) The Syria Gulf Bank.
            (19) The Fransabank Syria.
            (20) The Parliament of Syria and every member of the 
        Parliament of Syria.
            (21) EmmaTel Syria.
            (22) Daman Sham.
            (23) The Central Financial Company for Financial Services 
        and Brokerage Syria (IFC).
            (24) Cham Capital.
            (25) First Global Investments Financial Company Syria (G1-
        SY).
            (26) Al Aula Company for Financial Investment Syria.
            (27) Alpha Capital for Financial Services.
            (28) Asiria Finance.
    (d) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this 
subsection are sanctions applicable with respect to a foreign person 
pursuant to section 7412(b) of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act 
of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note).

SEC. 106. LIMITATION ON WAIVER AUTHORITIES UNDER THE CAESAR CIVILIAN 
              PROTECTION ACT OF 2019.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that sanctions 
relief for the Government of Syria or a withdrawal of United States 
military forces in Syria should not be exchanged as ransom for the 
release of American hostages in Syria because such ransom would only 
incentivize hostile regimes around the world to take American hostages.
    (b) In General.--Section 7432 of the Caesar Syria Civilian 
Protection Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``, for renewable 
        periods not to exceed 180 days,'' and inserting ``, once, for a 
        period not to exceed one year,''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``renewable periods'' 
        and inserting ``a period''.

SEC. 107. MEASURES WITH RESPECT TO AREAS OF SYRIA CONTROLLED BY THE 
              GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA.

    (a) Determination Regarding Areas of Syria Controlled by the 
Government of Syria.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment 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 any of the 
        jurisdictions of Syria described in paragraph (2) are 
        jurisdictions of primary money laundering concern.
            (2) Jurisdictions described.--The jurisdictions of Syria 
        described in this paragraph are the following:
                    (A) The Damascus Governorate.
                    (B) The Homs Governorate.
                    (C) The Daraa Governorate.
                    (D) The Damascus Countryside (Rif Dimeshq) 
                Governorate.
                    (E) The Latakia Governorate.
                    (F) The Tartous Governorate.
                    (G) The As-Suwayda Governorate.
    (b) Enhanced Due Diligence and Reporting Requirements.--If the 
Secretary of the Treasury determines under subsection (a) that 
reasonable grounds exist for concluding that a jurisdiction of Syria 
described paragraph (2) of subsection (a) is a jurisdiction of primary 
money laundering concern, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
Federal functional regulators (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 title 31, United 
States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction.
    (c) Report Required.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after making a 
        determination under subsection (a) with respect to whether a 
        jurisdiction of Syria described paragraph (2) of subsection (a) 
        is a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern, 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 include a classified 
        annex.

                       TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS

SEC. 201. DETERMINATION AND REPORT RELATING TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, 
              GENOCIDE, AND WAR CRIMES IN SYRIA.

    (a) Determination.--The Secretary of State shall make a 
determination with respect to each of the following:
            (1) Whether the al-Assad regime's intentional barrel bombs 
        dropped on the civilian population of Syria, the ``starve or 
        surrender'' campaign of sieges throughout the Syrian conflict, 
        or the campaign of forced displacement and widespread torture, 
        particularly against the Sunni Muslim population of Syria, can 
        be considered systematic and widespread and therefore 
        constitutes crimes against humanity or constitutes genocide as 
        defined in subsection (a) of section 1091 of title 18, United 
        States Code.
            (2) Whether Iran, Hezbollah, and Iranian-backed militias' 
        sectarian cleansing campaigns especially in the Damascus 
        suburbs, particularly against the Sunni Muslim population of 
        Syria, can be considered systematic and widespread and 
        therefore constitutes crimes against humanity or constitutes 
        genocide as defined in subsection (a) of section 1091 of title 
        18, United States Code.
            (3) Whether the al-Assad regime's and the Russian 
        Federation's intentional targeting of hospitals and relief 
        workers, constitutes a war crime as defined in section 2441 of 
        title 18 of the United States Code.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--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 and make available 
        to the public a report that contains each determination made 
        under subsection (a).
            (2) Form.--
                    (A) In general.--The report required by paragraph 
                (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may 
                contain a classified annex if necessary.
                    (B) Public availability of information.--The 
                unclassified portion of such report shall be made 
                available on a publicly available internet website of 
                the Federal Government.

SEC. 202. ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF AND REQUIREMENTS FOR 
              THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NO-FLY ZONE, SAFE ZONES, OR A NO-
              BOMBING ZONE IN SYRIA.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report that--
            (1) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, and 
        operational requirements of the establishment and maintenance 
        of a no-fly zone over part or all of Syria, especially Idlib 
        Province, to protect civilians from continuing al-Assad regime 
        and Russian air strikes, including--
                    (A) the operational and legal requirements for 
                United States and coalition air power to establish a 
                no-fly zone over part or all of Syria;
                    (B) the impact a no-fly zone over part or all of 
                Syria would have on the protection of civilians, the 
                prevention of a refugee crisis, the removal of the al-
                Assad regime, and humanitarian and counterterrorism 
                efforts in Syria and the surrounding region; and
                    (C) the potential for force contributions from 
                other countries to establish a no-fly zone over part or 
                all of Syria;
            (2) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, and 
        operational requirements for the establishment of one or more 
        safe zones in Syria for internally displaced persons or for the 
        facilitation of humanitarian assistance, including--
                    (A) the operational and legal requirements for 
                United States and coalition forces to establish one or 
                more safe zones in Syria;
                    (B) the impact one or more safe zones in Syria 
                would have on humanitarian and counterterrorism efforts 
                in Syria and the surrounding region; and
                    (C) the potential for contributions from other 
                countries and vetted non-state actor partners to 
                establish and maintain one or more safe zones in Syria; 
                and
            (3) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, and 
        operational requirements of the establishment and maintenance 
        of a no-bombing zone over part or all of Syria, including--
                    (A) the operational and legal requirements for 
                United States and coalition air power to establish a 
                no-bombing zone over part or all of Syria;
                    (B) the impact a no-bombing zone over part or all 
                of Syria would have on humanitarian and 
                counterterrorism efforts in Syria and the surrounding 
                region; and
                    (C) the potential for force contributions from 
                other countries to establish a no-bombing zone over 
                part or all of Syria.
    (b) Form.--
            (1) In general.--The report required by subsection (a) 
        shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a 
        classified annex if necessary.
            (2) Public availability of information.--The unclassified 
        portion of such report shall be made available on a publicly 
        available internet website of the Federal Government.

SEC. 203. REPORT ON NET WORTH OF SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of National Intelligence, 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
the estimated net worth and known sources of income of Syrian President 
Bashar al-Assad and his family members (including spouse, children, 
siblings, and paternal and maternal cousins), including assets, 
investments, other business interests, and relevant beneficial 
ownership information.
    (b) Form.--
            (1) In general.--The report required by subsection (a) 
        shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a 
        classified annex if necessary.
            (2) Public availability of information.--The unclassified 
        portion of such report shall be made available on a publicly 
        available internet website of the Federal Government.

SEC. 204. STRATEGY AND REPORT FOR REMOVING THE AL-ASSAD REGIME FROM 
              POWER AND ACHIEVING A TRANSITION TO A FREE AND DEMOCRATIC 
              SYRIA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that there is 
no solution to the conflict in Syria as long as the regime led by 
Bashar al-Assad remains in power and that any attempts to rehabilitate 
the regime through so-called constitutional reform negotiations or 
allowing Bashar al-Assad to run in elections are unrealistic and doomed 
to fail.
    (b) Strategy.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a strategy for removing the 
al-Assad regime from power and achieving a transition to a free and 
democratic Syria. The strategy shall contain the following elements:
            (1) A description of how all elements of power can be 
        utilized to achieve an irreversible political transition in 
        Syria which would remove the al-Assad regime from power, and 
        bring about a free and democratic Syria.
            (2) A description of what steps can be taken to ensure 
        women's rights, as well as the rights of Christians, Kurds, 
        Arabs, Assyrians, Turkomen, Alawis, Ismailis, Druze, and other 
        ethnic or religious minorities can be protected in Syria.
            (3) A description of how to protect Syrian civilians from 
        aerial bombardment by the al-Assad regime and Russia.
            (4) A description of how economic sanctions can be utilized 
        and enhanced to prevent funding of and normalization with the 
        al-Assad regime especially with regards to senior officials, 
        and business entities of Arab countries which diplomatically 
        recognize the al-Assad regime, including the governments of the 
        United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq.
            (5) A description regarding what steps can be taken to 
        secure the freedom of thousands of political prisoners 
        languishing in the prisons of the al-Assad regime as well as to 
        free detained American hostages including Austin Tice, Majd 
        Kamalmaz, and others, while not trading sanctions relief or 
        diplomatic recognition of the al-Assad regime as ransom for the 
        release of any hostages.
            (6) A description about whether United Nations aid to 
        regime held areas in Syria is diverted from civilians and 
        benefits the al-Assad regime, and how such assistance can be 
        discontinued.
            (7) A description of how Iran and its backed militias 
        especially the Iraqi Badr Corps, Kata'ib Hezbollah, Fatemiyoun, 
        Zainabiyoun, `AsaibAhl al-Haq, and others can be removed from 
        Syria.
            (8) A description of what steps can be utilized to bring 
        about a reduction in Russian influence can be curbed in Syria 
        and a withdrawal of Russian forces.
            (9) A description of what steps can be utilized to ensure 
        the enduring defeat of ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other Salafi-jihadi 
        organizations in Syria.
            (10) An assessment of Russian and Iranian influence and 
        objectives in Syria and the potential threat such influence 
        poses to the United States.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to 
        the appropriate congressional committees and make available to 
        the public a report that contains the strategy required by 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Form.--
                    (A) In general.--The report required by paragraph 
                (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may 
                contain a classified annex if necessary.
                    (B) Public availability of information.--The 
                unclassified portion of such report shall be made 
                available on a publicly available internet website of 
                the Federal Government.

SEC. 205. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    Section 7402 of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 
(22 U.S.C. 8791 note) is amended is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 7402. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    ``It is the policy of the United States--
            ``(1) to support the Syrian people in their efforts to 
        remove the regime of Bashar al-Assad from power and bring about 
        a transition to a free and democratic government in Syria 
        existing in peace and security with its neighbors;
            ``(2) that all diplomatic and coercive economic means must 
        be utilized to compel the al-Assad regime to immediately halt 
        the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people;
            ``(3) to support the human rights of all Syrians, including 
        women and ethnic and religious minorities, to live in peace and 
        dignity in a free and democratic Syria;
            ``(4) that political negotiations regarding the future of 
        Syria or its constitution, including the constitutional 
        committee, must be preceded by an enduring national ceasefire 
        in Syria;
            ``(5) that safe zones and no-fly zones should be 
        established to protect Syrian civilians in Idlib province from 
        aerial bombardment by the al-Assad regime and the Russian 
        Federation, and to help stem the refugee crisis by allowing 
        Syrian civilians to stay in their homes, and making it easier 
        for Syrian refugees to return home;
            ``(6) to work toward the withdrawal of all foreign forces 
        in Syria;
            ``(7) to reject working with Russia to eject Iranian forces 
        in Syria; and
            ``(8) to end any taxpayer-funded humanitarian assistance to 
        Syria which is diverted by the al-Assad regime to fund its war 
        crimes.''.

SEC. 206. PROHIBITION AGAINST UNITED STATES RECOGNITION OF THE AL-ASSAD 
              REGIME IN SYRIA.

    (a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States not 
to recognize any Syrian government led by Bashar al-Assad or the 
legitimacy of Bashar al-Assad to be President of Syria or ever 
participate in any future election in Syria or in any Syrian 
government.
    (b) Prohibition.--In accordance with subsection (a), no Federal 
department or agency may take any action or extend any assistance that 
implies recognition of Bashar al-Assad or any Syrian government led by 
Bashar al-Assad, or which supports the participation of Bashar al-Assad 
in any future election in Syria.

SEC. 207. REPORT ON EFFECT OF LIFTING IRAN SANCTIONS ON WAR CRIMES IN 
              SYRIA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the maximum pressure campaign carried out by the United 
        States against Iran has reduced the resources available for 
        Iran and the al-Assad regime to carry out war crimes in Syria; 
        and
            (2) a condition for the lifting of the sanctions that are a 
        part of such maximum pressure campaign should continue to 
        include the demand that Iran ceases its destabilizing 
        activities in Syria and withdraws all of its forces and 
        commanded militias from the country.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on--
            (1) the status of United States bilateral sanctions on 
        Iran;
            (2) the reimposition and renewed enforcement of secondary 
        sanctions on Iran;
            (3) the impact such sanctions have had on Iran's support to 
        the al-Assad regime in Syria;
            (4) the impact that lifting such sanctions would have on 
        Iran's ability to commit human rights abuses against the people 
        of Syria, including through a detailed description of whether 
        or not lifting such sanctions would increase the resources 
        available for Iran to support gross human rights abuses, 
        including torture, extrajudicial killings, and the killing of 
        protesters in Syria; and
            (5) the impact that lifting such sanctions would have on 
        the funds available for the al-Assad regime to commit gross 
        human rights abuses.

SEC. 208. CERTIFICATION REGARDING HUMANITARIAN AID PROVIDED TO AREAS IN 
              SYRIA HELD BY THE AL-ASSAD REGIME.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall certify to the 
appropriate congressional committees whether United Nations agency 
programming, including any program or project, in Syria funded in whole 
or in part by the United States--
            (1) is delivered impartially, without hindrance, to the 
        areas of greatest need;
            (2) does not directly materially support the Government of 
        Syria or entities owned or controlled by the Syrian government, 
        Syrian government officials, their immediate families, or 
        entities under their direction;
            (3) does not directly materially support associated forces 
        of the Government of Syria or entities owned or controlled by 
        the Syrian government;
            (4) adheres to the United Nations Supplier Code of Conduct, 
        which states that the United Nations must not support, directly 
        or indirectly, other entities and individuals involved in human 
        rights abuses, and which requires United Nations agencies to 
        secure guarantees from suppliers that ``they are not complicit 
        in human rights abuses''; and
            (5) is vetted by an independent mechanism that reviews 
        contract procurement in Syrian government-held areas.
    (b) Funding Limitation and Redirection.--If the Secretary of State 
makes a certification described in subsection (a) in the negative--
            (1) no Federal department or agency may provide any 
        funding, directly or indirectly, to any United Nations agency 
        programming, including any program or project, in Syria that 
        fails to meet the criteria of the certification specified in 
        subsection (a); and
            (2) amounts made available to the Secretary of State that 
        are withheld from United Nations agency programming, including 
        any program or project, in Syria in accordance with paragraph 
        (1) shall be made available to the Administrator of the United 
        States Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign 
        Disaster Assistance for providing assistance to populations in 
        Syria in need.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
            (2) Associated forces.--The term ``associated forces'' 
        includes forces of the Government of Russia, forces of the 
        Government of Iran, Iranian-backed proxy militias, and 
        Hezbollah.

SEC. 209. PROCLAMATION AUTHORITY REGARDING FREE SYRIA ECONOMIC ZONES.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) enhanced trade with areas of Syria that are not under 
        the al-Assad regime's control could help economically develop 
        such areas, strengthen civil society, and ultimately help 
        achieve a transition to a free and democratic Syria;
            (2) the President should work to--
                    (A) economically integrate areas of Syria that are 
                not under the al-Assad regime's control, including in 
                both northeast and northwest Syria, in order to promote 
                trade among such areas and with United States allies in 
                the region; and
                    (B) economically reduce the dependence of such 
                areas on the al-Assad regime.
    (b) Elimination or Modifications of Duties.--The President is 
authorized to proclaim elimination or modification of any existing duty 
as the President determines is necessary to exempt any article from 
duty if that article is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a 
free Syria economic zone or is a new or different article of commerce 
that has been grown, produced, or manufactured in a free Syria economic 
zone.
    (c) Waiver of Sanctions.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the President is authorized to waive the imposition of sanctions 
under any provision of law in order to provide for the importation into 
the United States of any article described in subsection (b) and to 
exempt such article from duty in accordance with the provisions of 
subsection (b).
    (d) Documentation Required.--An article is eligible for the duty 
exemption under this section only if--
            (1) the importer certifies that the article meets the 
        conditions for the duty exemption; and
            (2) when requested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 
        the importer, manufacturer, or exporter submits a declaration 
        setting forth all pertinent information with respect to the 
        article, including the following:
                    (A) A description of the article, quantity, 
                numbers, and marks of packages, invoice numbers, and 
                bills of lading.
                    (B) A description of the operations performed in 
                the production of the article in a free Syria economic 
                zone and identification of the direct costs of 
                processing operations.
                    (C) A description of any materials used in 
                production of the article which are wholly the growth, 
                product, or manufacture of free Syria economic zones, 
                and a statement as to the cost or value of such 
                materials.
                    (D) A description of the operations performed on, 
                and a statement as to the origin and cost or value of, 
                any foreign materials used in the article which are 
                claimed to have been sufficiently processed in the free 
                Syria economic zone so as to be materials produced in 
                the free Syria economic zone.
                    (E) A description of the origin and cost or value 
                of any foreign materials used in the article which have 
                not been substantially transformed in the free Syria 
                economic zone.
    (e) Free Syria Economic Zone Defined.--In this section, the term 
``free Syria economic zone'' means any area that--
            (1) encompasses portions of the territory of Syria;
            (2) is not under the control of the Government of Syria, 
        the Government of Iran, the Government of Russia, or any 
        organization designated as a foreign terrorist organization 
        under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
        U.S.C. 1189), including--
                    (A) the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS);
                    (B) Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham; the al-Nusra Front; and
                    (C) Jabhat Fatah al-Sham; and
            (3) has been specified by the President as a free Syria 
        economic zone.
                                 <all>