113 HR 1327 IH: Free Syria Act of 2013
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-03-21
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the
Free Syria Act of
2013
.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)For decades the
Syrian people have suffered under the oppressive regime of Bashar al-Assad and
his father, Hafiz al-Assad. In March 2011, Syrians began peaceful protests
against the regime. The regime responded brutally, with murders and mass
arrests. During the civil war that ensued, the Assad regime has specifically
targeted civilian populations and committed mass atrocities and other war
crimes.
(2)Over 1,000,000
Syrians have become refugees over the last two years, tens of thousands of
others have fled Syria, and more than 2,500,000 are estimated to be displaced
within Syria. More than 70,000 Syrians have been killed in the conflict.
(3)The replacement of
the Assad regime by a democratic government that repudiates terrorism would
advance the security of the Syrian people and their neighbors, as well as that
of the United States.
(4)The prolongation
of fighting in Syria is likely to enhance the strength of religious extremist
forces, as well as the prospect that such forces will exert significant
influence following Assad’s fall.
(5)The Governments of
Iran and Russia continue to provide the Assad regime with the advanced weapons
and support necessary to continue its campaign of slaughter against its own
people.
(6)Syria is one of the most hazardous
environments in the world for humanitarian aid providers. The Syrian regime has
established a pattern of targeting aid distribution points, including bakeries,
bread lines, medical facilities, and even employees of the Syrian Arab Red
Crescent.
(7)The course of the
Syrian transition and its future leadership may depend on what the United
States does now to save Syrian lives, alleviate suffering, and help Syrians
determine their own future.
(8)Syria has been on
the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism since the inception of
that list in 1979. Under the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty
Restoration Act of 2003, Syria’s continuing provision of material support and
safe haven for terrorist organizations make it subject to broad legislatively
mandated penalties, including export sanctions and ineligibility to receive
most forms of United States aid or to purchase United States military
equipment.
3.It is the sense of
the Congress that—
(1)the United States
should increase its humanitarian support for individuals affected by the brutal
conflict in Syria—refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and others—and
should urge its friends and allies to do likewise;
(2)Jordan, Turkey,
and Lebanon should be commended for keeping their borders open and providing
other support to individuals fleeing the violence and upheaval in Syria and for
allowing them to seek international protection;
(3)the President
should urge countries in the region to keep their borders open to refugees and
to comply with international humanitarian and refugee law;
(4)the President
should urge the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to expedite
protection and resettlement of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees;
(5)in view of the
violence and bloodshed in Syria, the President should provide temporary
immigration relief measures, including renewal of Temporary Protected Status,
expedited requests for change or extension of nonimmigrant status, expedited
processing of immigrant petitions for Syrians in the United States, and
granting humanitarian parole to Syrian nationals with approved immigrant
petitions waiting abroad;
(6)to the extent
feasible, the United States should coordinate its assistance to Syrian refugees
and to individuals inside Syria with the Syrian Opposition Coalition’s
Assistance Coordination Unit;
(7)the Assad regime has committed manifold war
crimes and crimes against humanity, and the individuals responsible must be
brought to justice;
(8)the United States
should pursue appropriate mechanisms to hold accountable individuals
responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria;
(9)United States
military assistance should be provided only to groups that demonstrate a
commitment to—
(A)securing and
safeguarding, and ultimately eliminating, Syrian chemical, biological,
radiological, and nuclear weapons-related materials that come under their
control;
(B)full cooperation
with the United States and the international community in accomplishing that
goal; and
(C)respecting all previous international
agreements that have been signed by Syria, including agreements reached under
the auspices of the United Nations;
(10)the United States
should work in cooperation with its friends and allies to provide non-lethal
military equipment, such as helmets and body armor, to friendly Syrian
opposition military forces;
(11)all countries,
and especially Iraq, should deny use of their airspace to Syrian-bound Iranian
aircraft, unless those aircraft have first been forced to land, are thoroughly
inspected, and found to be weapons-free; and
(12)the United States and its international
partners should take concrete steps to ensure that women are full and equal
participants in all negotiations regarding the future of Syria and in all
transitional and future government institutions.
4.In this Act—
(1)the term
appropriate congressional committees means the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate;
(2)the term
economic assistance means foreign assistance other than assistance
provided to or for the benefit of foreign security forces;
(3)the term
entity means any association, partnership, body, organization,
unit, or group;
(4)the term
foreign terrorist organization means an organization designated as
a foreign terrorist organization by the Secretary of State in accordance with
section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1189(a));
(5)the terms
humanitarian assistance and humanitarian accounts
include—
(A)assistance under
chapter 9 of Part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961;
(B)emergency food
assistance under title II of the Food for Peace Act (Public Law 83–480);
(C)refugee and
migration assistance under the Migration and Refugee Act of 1962; and
(D)any other economic
assistance provided to address basic human needs;
(6)the term
post-Assad Government of Syria means a government of Syria that
meets the requirements specified in section 301(a);
(7)the terms
defense article, defense information, defense
service, military education and training, and
value have the meanings given such terms in section 644 of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2403);
(8)the term
Administrator means the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development; and
(9)the term
Secretary means the Secretary of State.
<enum>I</enum><header>Humanitarian and
Economic Assistance</header>
<section id="HB554CC90F8F6415DBFD514A9776ACF8E"><enum>101.</enum><header>Humanitarian
principles</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">United States
humanitarian assistance to address the Syrian conflict shall be conducted in
accordance with the following principles:</text>
<paragraph id="H1373164B87E5429E9A3E217684B76689"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The central
purpose of humanitarian assistance is to save lives, alleviate human suffering,
and protect vulnerable populations wherever possible.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H45815F30B2024D55AC482ED79640F51D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Humanitarian
assistance should be impartial, based solely on and in proportion to need,
without discrimination between or within affected populations, and without
regard to the political views, national origin, or religious affiliation of the
beneficiaries.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1611FC46DBE143C3B10066EB8D8E3AD8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Humanitarian
assistance should be neutral, without furthering a political or religious
agenda or favoring any side in an armed conflict or other dispute where such
humanitarian assistance is carried out.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9856A3CBBE004D368D2619C7D6CDDA54"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Humanitarian
assistance should be independent, without regard to the political, economic,
military, or other objectives that any actor may hold in relation to the
affected areas and populations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC6B80683FE4840FBAA5F5FFBBCF996AD"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Humanitarian
assistance should be undertaken in accordance with international human rights
law, international humanitarian law, refugee law, and the United Nations
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H183F90D8824A4C628A11C6AD671550AE"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Humanitarian
assistance includes protection of affected populations from physical harm,
persecution, exploitation, abuse, family separation, sexual and gender-based
violence, forcible recruitment, and other threats to human rights.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1F7439C7773C424DB2360201874B14ED"><enum>(7)</enum><text>To best ensure
impartiality, neutrality, independence, and the appearance thereof,
humanitarian assistance should be carried out by intergovernmental and
nongovernmental international humanitarian organizations, in partnership with
local communities and indigenous organizations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HADBCAF11468447E698B5072AB50C3A0C"><enum>(8)</enum><text>To promote
learning, accountability, transparency, and the efficient use of resources, the
United States should support independent monitoring and evaluation of all
humanitarian assistance.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H729786DB1B5A4CFCA7CE7DB3A9096640"><enum>102.</enum><header>Protecting
women, children, and other vulnerable populations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Of the amounts made available for any fiscal
year to carry out this Act, the President is authorized, notwithstanding any
other provision of law, to provide such assistance as may be necessary for
protection of populations affected by the conflict in Syria, especially
including—</text>
<paragraph id="HEEF739DB546E44B4B2D5F50D3CBEE85D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>clinical care and
psychosocial support for sexual violence survivors;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5229AA1B7AB54D87B73951F25074724C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>improving safety
for women, children, and other vulnerable populations, in camps and settlements
for refugees and internally displaced persons;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H647AB91EE9EC418B8ACA0B6587C7BE95"><enum>(3)</enum><text>working to
minimize forced marriage, domestic violence, and sexual exploitation;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9CA77224B3B64A9291927C780ED9B007"><enum>(4)</enum><text>case management
for separated and other vulnerable children.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HC9F90F6ECC004096B7C860EF21F5CE74"><enum>103.</enum><header>Medical
neutrality</header>
<subsection id="HEAEE05F878324449B64896536E7CEEB2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>No
assistance may be provided under this Act to any entity if the Secretary of
State has credible evidence that such entity knowingly has been involved
in—</text>
<paragraph id="HC34C2F99EC4B4D3E9CB52FB324BC5234"><enum>(1)</enum><text>organized attacks
on health care facilities, health care providers, patients, medical transport,
medical supplies, or medical records;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA8C79AB22312407380717EF617A65C09"><enum>(2)</enum><text>preventing medical
professionals from administering ethical medical care to individuals in need;
or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8307777679F2450D8AE4E30B7EBD7E01"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the arbitrary
arrest or detention of health care service providers or individuals seeking
medical care.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H52439CE49F5849E894ABCF931C7EEA27"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>Any
agreement for the provision of medical or health-related assistance under this
Act shall expressly require that such assistance shall be used in accordance
with the principles established in the Geneva Conventions and the World Medical
Association’s International Code of Medical Ethics for health care
providers.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HCC4F168EF2814939BB70ECF022B9D586"><enum>104.</enum><header>Transfer
authority</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In addition to other
authorities available to transfer funds, the Secretary of State may exercise
the authority under this section to transfer to, and merge with, any
humanitarian account such sums as may be necessary from amounts which have been
made available to carry out any provision of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, and which have not been specifically designated by law for any particular
program or activity, to address humanitarian needs arising as a result of the
conflict in Syria.</text>
</section><section id="H9C634338A52645D380B06CBB619EA80F"><enum>105.</enum><header>Emergency
refugee and migration assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2(c) of the Migration and Refugee
Assistance Act of 1962 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2601">22 U.S.C. 2601(c)</external-xref>) is amended in paragraph (1), by
striking <quote>President</quote> and inserting <quote>Secretary of
State</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H2448C3FAB7394DF0B0A25247AFCE9A94"><enum>106.</enum><header>Economic
assistance to opposition-allied local coordination committees</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Of the amounts made available for any fiscal
year to carry out this Act, the President is authorized to make available such
assistance as may be necessary to enhance the capacity, performance, and
accountability of Syrian opposition-allied local coordination committees,
including support for—</text>
<paragraph id="H8A3D179C43D348AB95594118C9908449"><enum>(1)</enum><text>providing basic
services to civilian populations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE4D8DF1ACE66451BB276C71A823561BA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>carrying out
administrative and management functions;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H77FED84C6CF849CB8AB83E28F857B5BC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>improving
communications, transparency, and public outreach;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB34A7F7897EF422E9F4F0D75D98945CB"><enum>(4)</enum><text>prevention,
research, and documentation of mass atrocities;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF5969B19EB5D48CF8D14ACA4DD033B07"><enum>(5)</enum><text>increasing
understanding of and respect for internationally recognized human rights and
democratic principles; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA4F224B91AB74C2395C10549840F19E5"><enum>(6)</enum><text>preparing for a
peaceful, democratic transition.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H636A4C2474474BB09007A8BE6645096D"><enum>107.</enum><header>Civilian
broadcasting to Syria</header>
<subsection id="H59BD5033685F48D7A3DE15BE637DA2E2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authorization of
United States civilian broadcasting to Syria</header><text>In addition to
amounts made available for grants for broadcasting in the Middle East and the
International Broadcasting Operations of the Broadcasting Board of Governors,
such sums as may be necessary are authorized to be appropriated for a grant to
the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., for the purpose of providing
United States civilian broadcasting to the people of Syria.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H137DCBCB7742435A882CB4AEBDAF04A4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Broadcasting Board of Governors shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a detailed report on plans to establish the service described in
subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H002959998A4B45D3A14BFC39F0E4FAD4"><enum>108.</enum><header>Marking and
branding of assistance</header>
<subsection id="HC578143F0B8648D59AFB057CE59D6A91"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>Economic
assistance made available under this Act shall be marked as being <quote>From
the American People</quote> and shall include a representation of the United
States flag.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H903516CFD9524774896BFD1C950411C7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The
requirement of subsection (a) shall be applicable to all—</text>
<paragraph id="HE7417D45FA674785957021A666E2D8F6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>articles;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H467693EC9B5045A78A87F5D99F1BA440"><enum>(2)</enum><text>program, project,
and activity sites.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDD3E1AF3E1354BB6B65657057DCE22DE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Unified
brand</header><text>The marking of assistance made available under this Act
shall not include any logo of a particular Federal department or agency or
division thereof.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6EE37A0632854399ACFD0C7AF73B4690"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Relationship to
other provisions of law and regulations</header><text>The provisions of this
section shall be applicable notwithstanding any other provision of law, and
notwithstanding any Federal regulation, agency guidance, or procedure to the
contrary.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB5E0AE0E05C3492E91EBF6DE30899F49"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Ongoing
programs</header><text>To the extent it is feasible and cost effective to do
so, the marking or branding of articles and program, project, and activity
sites financed pursuant to ongoing agreements, including grants, contracts, and
cooperative agreements, to address the conflict in Syria shall be conformed to
meet the requirements of this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4BCB65B73EFE4512ADCD6DDA8D3D0A38"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>The
requirements of subsection (a) shall not apply—</text>
<paragraph id="H2B3256096362459191BD56B36CBF466D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to a project or
activity if the relevant Assistant Secretary of State or Assistant
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
determines that the marking of such project or activity would—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE70C54AECF014017A787A38C98835026"><enum>(A)</enum><text>jeopardize the
health, safety, or human rights of a partner or intended beneficiary; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H57C2F0BF279546588DB96230DF594146"><enum>(B)</enum><text>be detrimental to
the achievement of project or activity objectives;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3BE39F78208B40399182785482B86771"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to assistance
provided inside Syria if the Secretary of State determines that the marking of
such assistance would be detrimental to the achievement of overall United
States foreign policy objectives in Syria;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA8B2CB0D7F33416596258918D3A392B0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to office space
occupied by a contractor or grantee, or to housing, personal vehicles, or other
personal property of employees thereof; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1B4ED05F607240C695BC68D2718B707A"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to a project or
activity for which the United States is one among many donors or has
contributed a small proportion of the total costs.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0CE4E4BA57BC4E87AC976517E2FA1B97"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Exemption from
determination</header><text>A determination under subsection (f)(2) shall not
preclude the Secretary of State from requiring that specific projects or
activities financed by the United States be subject to the requirements of
subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA52A5A1D5CDC4CF7BA97EB357927FCF9"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Co-Branding</header><text>The
requirements of subsection (c) shall not prohibit the identification of
assistance with a contractor or grantee’s own organizational brand or logo,
subject to any standards or regulations that the President may
establish.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Security
Assistance</header>
<section commented="no" id="H8F1ACB0EE22A4F2EA4E950E88E6011A5"><enum>201.</enum><header>Sense of
Congress regarding military assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text>
<paragraph id="H2D33E9DD01074EFC82E9C475D2BE219E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the President
should provide appropriate military assistance, including arms, training, and
intelligence support, for Syrian opposition forces that meet the requirements
of section 203;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H1A9F038B9FB04B84A4E72A238D30B913"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a primary goal of military assistance
should be to integrate the disparate units of the Free Syria Army into a
coherent, effective fighting force under a unified command; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H56D81086053E44C0B9DFAD3E511FBE39"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the United States should take the
initiative to ensure, insofar as possible, that arms supplied to the Syrian
opposition, from whatever source, are appropriately vetted and are directed
only to forces that support the establishment of a democratic and peaceful
Syria.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HAF7D7931D93445E4A01DFAEC5B0D8605"><enum>202.</enum><header>Military
assistance</header>
<subsection id="H5987294E02D3472B90E3275A1A39DE37"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Drawdown
authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President is
authorized, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to direct the drawdown
of defense articles from the stocks of the Department of Defense, defense
services from the Department of Defense, and military education and training
for an entity operating inside Syria that is not ineligible under section 203.
Such assistance may include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H043CBBE8AE7D4E7DB9993C19215E388E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Non-lethal
military equipment and defense information, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE04D637B7F7A4E97A6D7799B532376EB"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">protective gear, including flak jackets and
other forms of body armor;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H25867185748E4A80A4D7E4BA88F2A3A4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>individual
equipment, tents, and organizational tool sets; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9AFA714CA9A84FAC92A174F4CE4BB7A7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>communications
equipment.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HBD87B3FE3F224041A108CD4944760D16"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Subject to the
President making the certification required under subsection (g), lethal
military equipment, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA05C313D392941CAA80C0CB02A22F9DC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>defense articles;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9D8F55BC35874040913D97950762DA3E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>defense
services.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H173C417A9A274F7A86CF5B003B392F91"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Restriction</header><text>Defense
articles provided pursuant to this section may not include anti-aircraft
defensive systems.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2A579E02FAAA4893BB81C49D8AC1D4ED"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>The
President may waive the restriction under subsection (b) if—</text>
<paragraph id="H70147096984E4E1EA91850DE63450723"><enum>(1)</enum><text>it is in the vital
national security interest to do so;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H213133C61A6848158389D87DA8B5CD25"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the President
notifies Congress not later than 15 days before such waiver shall be
issued;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB31C5CB3EA23459F97995DB8918DBC9A"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the President transmits to the appropriate
congressional committees a report described in subsection (h) with the
certification required under subsection (g) specifically with respect to
anti-aircraft systems not later than 15 days before the issuance of such a
waiver; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEE45B522F7C44C2DAC887042AA96E648"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the President certifies that the United
States has consulted with regional allies regarding the systems
provided.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEF7B16DB31D847378F75E79A1AD30E93"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Notification
requirement</header><text>The President shall notify the appropriate
congressional committees at least 15 days in advance of each obligation of
assistance under this section, including a detailed description of the
assistance to be provided, in accordance with the procedures applicable to
reprogramming notifications under section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2394-1">22 U.S.C. 2394–1</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H069A0DA275EF4CDAB258C95ABFAB64A0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Reimbursement
relating to military assistance</header>
<paragraph id="H9B585A4B73114F10A3A9668475EECA65"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Defense articles, defense services, and military
education and training provided under subsection (a) shall be made available
without reimbursement to the Department of Defense except to the extent that
funds are appropriated pursuant to paragraph (2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC1D63D83131C47DE93F1CD076955E71A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the
President for fiscal year 2013 such sums as may be necessary to reimburse the
applicable appropriation, fund, or account for the value of the defense
articles, defense services, or military education and training provided under
subsection (a) of this section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC13A1ED4643B4E05A34144BC9CC1C9B1"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Availability of
funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts authorized to
be appropriated under this section are authorized to remain available until
expended, and are in addition to amounts otherwise available for the purposes
described in this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HC6DDBB4C35D342989BD82AA344CDF8D3"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Certification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President shall certify, and include in
each notification submitted pursuant to subsection (a)(2) and (c)(3), that the
defense articles, defense services, and military education and training to be
provided under this section to an entity operating inside Syria are consistent
with the maintenance of regional stability and with the overall security and
stability of neighboring friends and allies.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H893E9A86F9C64D0EA3108E655159331A"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The
report referred to in subsection (c)(3) is a report that contains a detailed
description of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HDAEC02CE6D7446BBB58BFAAC2AE1B9FF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The intended
recipients of the anti-aircraft defense systems that are at issue.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5D72863139AD4DD2B6A2689FBD0A9B86"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The areas where
such systems would be deployed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3647B8EE0197456D81A92841768D84B8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The targets
against which such systems would be deployed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA6204EC64CA24BACB87042337162C170"><enum>(4)</enum><text>An assessment of
how such systems would affect the military and humanitarian situation in
Syria.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE2922D075E5447EBB15EC4C9FEBB5A19"><enum>(5)</enum><text>An assessment of
the risks and benefits of the intended transfer of such systems.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H8BC1FA0B7C904B2395D6D19E557FC8FA"><enum>203.</enum><header>Vetting of
assistance</header>
<subsection id="H6ACCDC99651C44FAAFAB16BB443191C7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Ineligible
entities</header><text>Assistance under this title may not be provided to an
entity that fails to demonstrate a commitment to—</text>
<paragraph id="H7560066723CF41879F43C56002F58278"><enum>(1)</enum><text>opposing and
defeating the Assad regime;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6D831BD7C75D4EABA14CBB5518FBA8D3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>establishing a
democratic, pluralistic, and peaceful Syria; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD547098B7605437A88D4D92F494A15A7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>securing and
safeguarding chemical and biological weapons, their precursor and constituent
parts, and associated equipment.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H3EE1A058EE61461CAFD1BB2A9BDE1572"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No assistance may be provided under this
title to an entity that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization
in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1189), or as a Specially Designated Terrorist Organization under the terms and
authorities of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701
et seq.)</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HAF3F0C33DC6E41DFA494E21849EB4D82"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>To
the maximum extent practicable, assistance under this Act shall be provided in
accordance with section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2378d).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H1833588021EE4BE7B74B82AA5D75080B"><enum>204.</enum><header>Authority for
program to facilitate Syrian chemical and biological weapons
destruction</header>
<subsection id="H103FB6806130498BAED669334A5F5B4E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President
may establish a program described in subsection (b) to assist the securing,
disabling, dismantling, removal, and destruction of Syrian chemical and
biological weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, their precursor
and constituent parts, and associated equipment.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF951CCA0CD5D400F8966FAEA0DE207EA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Type of
program</header><text>A program established under this section shall be limited
to cooperation between the United States and a Syrian entity to—</text>
<paragraph id="H33038EBFC79C4D9A83BE0743252714FC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>secure, safeguard,
disable, dismantle, transport out of Syria, or destroy chemical and biological
weapons, their precursor and constituent parts and associated equipment,
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3C304180C9244CEF8A72C2904D0DA631"><enum>(2)</enum><text>establish
verifiable safeguards against the proliferation of such weapons.</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">Any such
program may involve assistance in planning and resolving technical problems
associated with the purposes of the program. Any such program may also involve
the funding of critical short-term requirements related to weapons destruction
and should, to the extent feasible, draw upon United States technology and
United States technicians.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="H45D0965A2D2A401A9EE7DFA851D022A7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Funding</header>
<paragraph id="HE28E8D038950421A92EB8E1C3E781EBB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated such sums
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013, to be available until expended, for
the activities of the program described in this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC3DA2ACB9CF34E8D8D4B97A3BA8FAFF1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Drawdown
authority</header><text>The President may direct, in order to meet the goals of
the program described in this section, the drawdown of articles and services
from any Federal department or agency in any fiscal year, in addition to any
other drawdown authority available to the President.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HA4626631BABB45029717676EE1F2E0B4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Transfer
authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to any
other transfer authority available to the President, the President may exercise
the authority of this paragraph to transfer to, and merge with, funds made
available to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary which have
been made available to carry out any other provision of law.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5A12FC2928194E5FAF82B3C0E49D2C0F"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Report on
proposed obligations</header><text>Not less than 15 days before obligating any
funds, drawing down any articles or services from a Federal department or
agency, or transferring any appropriated funds from another account, for the
program described in this section, the President shall transmit to Congress a
report on such proposed obligation, drawdown, or transfer. Each such report
shall specify—</text>
<subparagraph id="HABB631460EA94BDF8A1D7DE787CC9BA0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the account,
budget activity, and particular program or programs from which the funds
proposed to be obligated, drawndown, or transferred are to be derived, and the
amount of such proposed obligation, drawdown, or transfer; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB17C9931C31F433BAF599DDECBD90E08"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the activities and
forms of assistance for which the President plans to obligate such
funds.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2B38472E03CF46259A01E6CE2E32F669"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Quarterly
reports on program</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the end of each
quarter during which the United States has been engaged in activities pursuant
to a program established under this section, the President shall transmit to
Congress a report on such activities. Each such report shall specify, for the
preceding quarter and cumulatively, at a minimum a description of the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="H8F45D9F1ED024ECCB0AC2A8D08CD55D3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The activities
carried out.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H425C34067FAA404CAF4C3E99D4F11760"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The types and
amounts of assistance provided for such activities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC268217BCA76484EB7E01E35BEC39185"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The entities
receiving such assistance.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7465E3A9FC3D4236B8E600355BE8B05E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The sources of
funds and authorities under which they were provided.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB692268E809049BFBCF5BA0D96B71BCA"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The United States departments or agencies
providing such assistance.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H5FAB288CE6F34AC390BF5FAF8451426B"><enum>205.</enum><header>Rule of
construction</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Nothing in this
Act may be construed to authorize the use of military force in Syria by the
United States Armed Forces.</text>
</section><enum>III</enum><header>Transition
Assistance</header>
<section id="H54C9F3C5B97B4E97B8169243522F2C16"><enum>301.</enum><header>Post-Assad
transition assistance</header>
<subsection id="H65B4726FA27F4051BBE6B0B3B25989D6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President is
authorized, after making a determination described in subsection (b) and
notwithstanding any other provision of law, to—</text>
<paragraph id="H4E54AD2F5E0F47EFB32158AC8A2F8E9E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide assistance;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAFB6960984B04843AFBFD43DB135D71F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>make
contributions; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5E109F3BE30D4334B575345618A5D791"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">use the voice, vote, and influence of the
United States in international financial institutions for the purposes
described in subsection (c).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H24E2116D97AA47B48486690D8E56ABFB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Determination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The determination referred to in subsection
(a) is a determination by the President, which shall be transmitted in writing
to the appropriate congressional committees, that—</text>
<paragraph id="H217A138E49594D3BA96AF1B9C6B26854"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the regime of
Bashar al-Assad is no longer in power;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE233309CA4CC484DACA1266965C48E7C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the United States
has recognized a transitional government; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC4566C8322504CBC8021925784730AE1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>such transitional
government is not controlled by an organization designated as a foreign
terrorist organization in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1189">8 U.S.C. 1189</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H715BD17826444B07B951D645F132C586"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>Assistance
under this section may be made available for the following purposes:</text>
<paragraph id="H4186870947964CA0855CA19433AB10F6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Developing or
strengthening democratic institutions and processes.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE5090B0155784FE280661B5D14A1398A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Short-term
economic and political stabilization.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCBFB9B6394924C3589C4E43757F828C9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Reconstructing or
revitalizing basic infrastructure.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H52A549BD7ACF46E4B6BC7043740BD01F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Fostering
reconciliation and the peaceful resolution of conflict.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H2E42102569654FD5BEF8A8617A2AF954"><enum>302.</enum><header>Temporary
suspension of sanctions</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H61A3B54771394A04AB95D3BC63B86F01"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Suspension of
sanctions</header><text>The President may suspend in furtherance of this Act
the requirements of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty
Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/175">Public Law 108–175</external-xref>), section 7007 of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/112/74">Public Law 112–74</external-xref>), and any other provision of law
relating to assistance, trade, finance, the provision of defense articles and
defense services, and the issuance of visas to nationals of Syria for a period
not to exceed three months if the President transmits to the appropriate
congressional committees in writing a determination that the post-Assad
government of Syria is demonstrating a verifiable commitment to—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H538DCBA097254952877BFB49DE994212"><enum>(1)</enum><text>ceasing support
for terrorists, including Hizballah;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H268375E312F84A7FBA228AF27F034396"><enum>(2)</enum><text>preventing the
illegal transfer of missile or nuclear technology to any other country or
entity;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HBB4E344736DD4A148D44CA6AC5DD27E2"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">halting all support, including training,
safe haven, supplies, and financing, for—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H781215C00AEA4D83A15CCC838C41DDD7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Hamas, Hizballah,
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine,
the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, the
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Fatah al-Intifada, Fatah
al-Islam, or the Jabhat al-Nusra;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H587B0762F5FE4E07813BAF612F6C78CF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any other
organization designated by the Secretary of State as a foreign terrorist
organization in accordance with section 219(a) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1189">8 U.S.C. 1189(a)</external-xref>);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H3364DC157A8B4CF59BC233E1D309119F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any person
included on the Annex to Executive Order 13224 (September 23, 2001) and any
other person identified under section 1 of such Executive Order whose property
and interests in property are blocked by such section (commonly known as a
<term>specially designated global terrorist</term>);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H6E1541E77A004994878599E3E4D6AA55"><enum>(D)</enum><text>any person
designated under section 3 of Executive Order 13338 (May 13, 2004) or under
section 1 of Executive Order 13438 (July 17, 2007);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H82E0B5678DEA4E59AF5342760AC34AAA"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the Syrian Social
Nationalist Party; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H10C512C25A1A4FEAAEF492FBAD930DF8"><enum>(F)</enum><text>any agency,
instrumentality, affiliate, or successor organization of the organizations
specified in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E);</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H47B4CDCE68484DD886B4C1AF1CCD4544"><enum>(4)</enum><text>dismantling
Syria’s chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons programs and
fully cooperating with the United States and other relevant parties to achieve
such result;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H42A31728AB0C40FC906C8BD42102D49A"><enum>(5)</enum><text>ceasing all
efforts to design, develop, manufacture, or acquire—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HDA6ED9F0827641ADAA5F91150C379535"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a nuclear
explosive device or related materials and technology;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF8145268FDDC4463B2A41EC24CC4502C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>chemical,
biological, and radiological weapons; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HE53267625F5E48649FEB4D612CB9DB62"><enum>(C)</enum><text>ballistic missiles
and ballistic missile launch technology; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H4B3E336586C344DC90EC4FA623DE9570"><enum>(6)</enum><text>taking
demonstrable steps to combat the proliferation of the weapons described in
paragraph (5);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H3FBD59C498F844B1955421D191F8D028"><enum>(7)</enum><text>refraining from
presenting a threat to United States national security, United States
interests, or United States allies in the region;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HBBA90BA1A21C4DDAA5591841811316AE"><enum>(8)</enum><text>respecting the
boundaries and sovereignty of all neighboring countries and rejecting
interference in their internal affairs; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HEBC4AC0373C84F59869E78AD4D8A9F88"><enum>(9)</enum><text>upholding and
defending the human rights, civil liberties, and political freedoms of all its
people, including minorities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H1A1F48356862419090EFCB8897A29B70"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Renewal</header><text>The
President may renew the suspension of sanctions under this section for up to
two consecutive six-month periods if the President transmits to the appropriate
congressional committees in writing a determination that the post-Assad
government of Syria is making substantial progress toward satisfying the
conditions in specified in subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H0978A6B5239B4C34B7258081BB85AF6F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Further
renewal</header><text>If the maximum number of suspension renewals specified in
subsection (b) has been reached, the President may further renew the suspension
of sanctions under this section for additional six-month periods if the
President transmits to the appropriate congressional committees in writing a
determination that the post-Assad government has substantially satisfied the
conditions specified in paragraphs (1) through (8) of subsection (a) and is
continuing to make substantial progress toward satisfying the conditions
specified in paragraph (9) of such subsection.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HA8D352AD0143407FBD3B3922894DFE68"><enum>303.</enum><header>Temporary
personnel authorities</header>
<subsection id="HC2BF9B325A7F4A338B5179EF6CD486AB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Conditional
authority</header><text>If the President makes the determination described in
section 301(b), the following authorities shall apply:</text>
<paragraph id="HA898DFE828BF4D869035123AE1F10784"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limited career
appointments</header><text>The Secretary and the Administrator may extend for a
period of time not to exceed 12 months a limited appointment under section
309(a) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/3949">22 U.S.C. 3949(a)</external-xref>), and may
reappoint a non-career Foreign Service employee who has served five consecutive
years under a limited appointment, to a subsequent limited appointment in order
to facilitate the assignment of qualified employees to Syria or to posts
vacated by employees assigned to Syria.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4DF83AE751C44F1F8C92306A90601CBE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reemployment of
annuitants</header><text>The Secretary and the Administrator may waive the
application of subsections (a) through (d) of section 824 of the Foreign
Service Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/4064">22 U.S.C. 4064</external-xref>), and may grant authority to the head of an
executive agency to waive the application of such subsections, on a
case-by-case basis for an annuitant reemployed on a temporary basis, if and for
so long as such waiver is necessary to facilitate the assignment of qualified
employees to Syria or to posts vacated by employees assigned to Syria.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB0A6A29336BF4945A9C0541C2DAEDEA1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Personal
services contractors</header>
<subparagraph id="H01CBE2C46FC143DCA67BF63ABBFD58CE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development may each hire a total of up to 50 United States citizens or aliens
as personal services contractors, for service in the United States, or for
service both in the United States and abroad, subject to the following
conditions:</text>
<clause id="HEDAD705D60EF4164868184E6E75EDF4B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The
Secretary or the Administrator, as the case may be, determines that existing
personnel resources are insufficient.</text>
</clause><clause id="H5601BD13E8364DF99C3BC9CEEA124D00"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The
contract length, including options, may not exceed two years, unless the
Secretary or the Administrator, as the case may be, makes a finding that
exceptional circumstances justify an extension of up to one additional
year.</text>
</clause><clause id="H87104F61F1044965886E76CE01D6B166"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The authority
provided in this paragraph may only be used to obtain specialized skills or
experience relevant to, or to respond to urgent needs resulting from, the
transition in Syria.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6659B7EB4D07421EAC6309A707D2DEBE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The authority provided in this paragraph
shall be in addition to any other authorities available to the Secretary or the
Administrator to hire personal service contractors.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0E449DE9C385413FB7E19E4FE3214B90"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Status of
personal services contractors</header>
<paragraph id="H53FD8295FD6E4F90AE3FE699200A774B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An individual hired as a personal services contractor
pursuant to subsection (a)(3) shall not, by virtue of such hiring, be
considered to be an employee of the United States Government for purposes of
any law administered by the Office of Personnel Management.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA5DAF216D23B410EA2C5690214D0D93E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicable
laws</header><text>An individual hired as a personal services contractor
pursuant to subsection (a)(3) shall be covered, in the same manner as a
similarly situated employee, by—</text>
<subparagraph id="H65E80897429349009F5EEADE468C9F41"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Ethics in
Government Act of 1978;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H575BAC1C07184159BD7FF19C36C95FC6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>chapter 73 of
title 5, United States Code;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB2552500442B4A89BB3873077C679EC1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>sections 201, 203,
205, 207, 208, and 209 of title 18, United States Code;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE0699D5C13CF4FE49B6D505B84715555"><enum>(D)</enum><text>section 1346 and
<external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/28/171">chapter 171</external-xref> of title 28, United States Code; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H248FF6443D4145BAA9AB961D8FBB8D94"><enum>(E)</enum><text>chapter 21 of
title 41, United States Code.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3343A9A0688D420B8BFD5BA8A615BB96"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>This
subsection shall not affect the determination as to whether an individual hired
as a personal services contractor pursuant to this section is an employee of
the United States Government for purposes of any Federal law not specified in
paragraphs (1) and (2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFE82152387C34607AED87B839EB65E24"><enum>(c)</enum><header>General
authority</header><text>The administrative authorities provided in the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 shall apply to assistance made available under this
Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H135440DC61FA4DC5AC1BC67E1E859430"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Termination of
authority</header><text>The authorities provided under subsection (a) shall
terminate on the date that is three years after the date on which a
determination is made under section 301(a), except that a contract entered into
under such subsection (a) may remain in effect until expiration.</text>
</subsection></section>