Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-31
Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Aviation and airports
Chemical and biological weapons
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Evidence and witnesses
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Foreign property
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government studies and investigations
Health facilities and institutions
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International organizations and cooperation
Iran
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military operations and strategy
Nuclear weapons
Oil and gas
Reconstruction and stabilization
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Rule of law and government transparency
Russia
Sanctions
Syria
Technology transfer and commercialization
Terrorism
Trade restrictions
United Nations
Visas and passports
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes additional sanctions and financial restrictions on institutions and individuals related to the conflict in Syria.
 
The Department of the Treasury shall determine whether the Central Bank of Syria is a financial institution of primary money laundering concern and, if so, impose one or more special measures, such as requiring domestic financial institutions to maintain additional records on transactions involving the bank.
 
The President shall impose sanctions on foreign persons that provide significant support to or engage in a significant transaction with the Syrian government or the military forces or contractors acting on behalf of Syria, Russia, or Iran. The bill also imposes sanctions on those that knowingly sell or provide
 
 
significant goods, services, technology, or information that facilitates or expands the Syrian government's domestic petroleum production;
 
aircraft, parts, or related services used by military forces related to the Syrian government; or
 
construction or engineering services to the Syrian government.
 
 
The sanctions include blocking of financial and property transactions and barring of entry into the United States. Such sanctions shall not apply to various nongovernmental organizations and activities related to providing humanitarian aid or supporting democratic institutions in Syria. 
 
The President may suspend some or all of the sanctions under certain conditions, including if it is in the United States' national security interests.

action_date: 2019-01-22
text: 

Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes additional sanctions and financial restrictions on institutions and individuals related to the conflict in Syria.
 
The Department of the Treasury shall determine whether the Central Bank of Syria is a financial institution of primary money laundering concern and, if so, impose one or more special measures, such as requiring domestic financial institutions to maintain additional records on transactions involving the bank.
 
The President shall impose sanctions on foreign persons that provide significant support to or engage in a significant transaction with the Syrian government or the military forces or contractors acting on behalf of Syria, Russia, or Iran. The bill also imposes sanctions on those that knowingly sell or provide
 
 
significant goods, services, technology, or information that facilitates or expands the Syrian government's domestic petroleum production;
 
aircraft, parts, or related services used by military forces related to the Syrian government; or
 
construction or engineering services to the Syrian government.
 
 
The sanctions include blocking of financial and property transactions and barring of entry into the United States. Such sanctions shall not apply to various nongovernmental organizations and activities related to providing humanitarian aid or supporting democratic institutions in Syria. 
 
The President may suspend some or all of the sanctions under certain conditions, including if it is in the United States' national security interests.

action_date: 2019-06-03
text: 

Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes additional sanctions and financial restrictions on institutions and individuals related to the conflict in Syria.
 
The Department of the Treasury shall determine whether the Central Bank of Syria is a financial institution of primary money laundering concern. If so, Treasury shall impose one or more special measures, such as requiring domestic financial institutions to maintain additional records on transactions involving the bank.
 
The President shall impose sanctions on foreign persons that (1) provide significant support or engage in a significant transaction with the Syrian government or those acting on behalf of Syria, Russia, or Iran; or (2) are knowingly responsible for serious human rights abuses against the Syrian people.
 
The bill also imposes sanctions on those that knowingly provide various goods or services to Syria, such as aircraft for the military, technology for the government's domestic petroleum production, items on the U.S. Munitions List, and items that the President believes are being used to commit human rights abuses against the Syrian people. 
 
The sanctions include blocking of financial transactions and barring of entry into the United States. Such sanctions shall not apply to activities related to providing humanitarian aid or supporting democratic institutions in Syria.
 
The President may suspend the sanctions under certain conditions, including if it is in the United States' national security interests.
 
The Department of State is authorized to assist entities that are conducting criminal investigations and gathering evidence to prosecute those responsible for war crimes in Syria.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-03
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 107.
action_date: 2019-06-03
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-06-03
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-05-22
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-01-23
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-01-22
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2019-01-22
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H970-971)
action_date: 2019-01-22
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H970-971)
action_date: 2019-01-22
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 31.
action_date: 2019-01-22
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H970-974)
action_date: 2019-01-22
text: Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House