Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-756
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-03-17 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Chemical and biological weapons
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
International law and treaties
Middle East
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Syria
United Nations
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-17
text: 

Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2015 

 
Declares that Congress:
 
 
condemns the ongoing violence, use of chemical weapons, targeting of civilian populations, and systematic gross human rights violations carried out by government of Syria and pro-government forces under the direction of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as abuses committed by extremist groups and other combatants involved in the civil war in Syria;
 
supports the people of Syria seeking democratic change;
 
urges all parties to the conflict to halt attacks on civilians;
 
calls on the President to support efforts in Syria and on the part of the international community to ensure accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict; and
 
calls for a United Nations Security Council investigation into gross violations of human rights and war crimes committed during the Syrian conflict.
 
 
Direct the Secretary of State to report to Congress regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria.

action_date: 2015-06-11
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2015 

 
(Sec. 3) Declares that Congress:
 
 
condemns the ongoing violence, use of chemical weapons, targeting of civilian populations, and systematic gross human rights violations carried out by government of Syria and pro-government forces under the direction of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as abuses committed by extremist groups and other combatants involved in the civil war in Syria;
 
supports the people of Syria seeking democratic change;
 
urges all parties to the conflict to halt attacks on civilians;
 
calls on the President to support efforts in Syria and on the part of the international community to ensure accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict; and
 
calls for a United Nations Security Council investigation into gross violations of human rights and war crimes committed during the Syrian conflict.
 
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Department of State to report to Congress regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, including descriptions of: 
 
 
 violations of internationally recognized human rights, war crimes, and crimes against humanity perpetrated during the civil war in Syria; and
 
 efforts by the Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to ensure accountability for violations of internationally recognized human rights, international humanitarian law, and crimes against humanity perpetrated in Syria by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, violent extremist groups, and other combatants involved in the conflict.


action_date: 2015-07-14
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)
 

Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2015 

 
(Sec. 3) Declares that Congress:
 
 
condemns the ongoing violence, use of chemical weapons, targeting of civilian populations, and systematic gross human rights violations carried out by government of Syria and pro-government forces under the direction of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as abuses committed by extremist groups and other combatants involved in the civil war in Syria;
 
supports the people of Syria seeking democratic change;
 
urges all parties to the conflict to halt attacks on civilians;
 
calls on the President to support efforts in Syria and on the part of the international community to ensure accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict; and
 
calls for a United Nations Security Council investigation into gross violations of human rights and war crimes committed during the Syrian conflict.
 
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Department of State to report to Congress regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, including descriptions of: 
 
 
 violations of internationally recognized human rights, war crimes, and crimes against humanity perpetrated during the civil war in Syria; and
 
 efforts by the Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to ensure accountability for violations of internationally recognized human rights, international humanitarian law, and crimes against humanity perpetrated in Syria by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, violent extremist groups, and other combatants involved in the conflict.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2015-07-14
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5088-5089; text as passed Senate: CR S5088-5089)
action_date: 2015-07-14
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5088-5089; text as passed Senate: CR S5088-5089)
action_date: 2015-06-11
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 117.
action_date: 2015-06-11
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2015-06-11
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2015-03-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2015-03-17
text: Introduced in Senate