113 S856 IS: Syria Stabilization Act of 2013
U.S. Senate
2013-05-06
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.Short
title; Table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Syria Stabilization Act of
2013
.
(b)
Sec. 1. Short title; Table of
contents.
Sec. 2. Appropriate congressional committees
defined.
Sec. 3. Findings.
Sec. 4. Statement of policy.
TITLE I—Humanitarian assistance
Sec. 101. Humanitarian assistance to the people of
Syria.
Sec. 102. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 103. Report on strategy to communicate to the Syrian
people about assistance provided by the United States Government.
TITLE II—Promoting an effective transition
Sec. 201. Syrian transition fund.
Sec. 202. Adjusting sanctions provisions in preparation for a
political transition.
TITLE III—Sanctions
Sec. 301. Imposition of sanctions on persons providing defense
articles or defense services to the Assad regime of Syria.
Sec. 302. Imposition of
sanctions on persons providing petroleum or petroleum products to the Assad
regime of Syria.
TITLE IV—Increased Support for the Opposition
Sec. 401. Increased support for the opposition.
2.Appropriate
congressional committees definedIn this Act, the term appropriate
congressional committees means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and
the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of
Representatives.
3.Congress makes the following
findings:
(1)Since mass
peaceful demonstrations started in Syria on March 15, 2011, the Government of
Syria, led by President Bashar al-Assad, has responded by committing human
rights abuses and launching a violent crackdown that has claimed an estimated
70,000 lives and degenerated into a civil war.
(2)The civil war has
caused a humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations, there are more
than 1,400,000 Syrian refugees registered in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt,
and Iraq and more than 2,600,000 Syrians displaced within the country. More
than three-quarters of refugees and internally displaced persons are women and
children.
(3)The refugee
crisis threatens the stability of the Middle East, putting immense burdens on
Syria’s neighbors, most notably Lebanon and Jordan, but also Turkey and
Iraq.
(4)The civil war has
increased the danger that the Assad regime could lose control of its chemical
weapons stockpile or choose to use chemical weapons against civilians or armed
opposition fighters in Syria.
(5)On April 25,
2013, the White House issued a letter to Congress stating that our
intelligence community does assess with varying degrees of confidence that the
Syrian regime has used chemical weapons on a small scale in Syria, specifically
the chemical agent Sarin
.
(6)The security
vacuum in Syria has created a safe haven for both Shia and Sunni extremists,
who could in the future threaten the security of the United States and its
partners.
(7)Instability in
Syria has threatened Israel’s security, particularly on the shared border along
the Golan Heights.
(8)A change in
government could be a significant blow to Iran and Hezbollah, which would lose
a strong ally and who have been aggressively providing military assistance to
President Assad.
(9)The commitments
made by the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces
at the international meeting in Istanbul on April 20 and 21, 2013, constitute
an important endorsement of shared principles and objectives that should guide
United States Government cooperation with the National Coalition for Syrian
Revolutionary and Opposition Forces and affiliated forces. These principles
include a commitment to the territorial integrity of Syria, a rejection of
sectarianism and extremism, and pledges to secure chemical weapons and support
nonproliferation efforts.
4.It is the policy of the
United States—
(1)to support
transition from the current regime in Syria to a just and democratic state that
is inclusive and protects the rights of all Syrians regardless of religion,
ethnicity, or gender;
(2)to assist the
people of Syria, especially internally displaced persons and refugees, in
meeting basic needs including access to food, health care, shelter, and clean
drinking water;
(3)to provide
political and economic support to those neighboring countries who are hosting
refugees fleeing Syria and to international organizations that are providing
assistance and coordinating humanitarian relief efforts;
(4)to oppose the
unlawful use of violence against civilians by all parties to the conflict in
Syria;
(5)to use a broad
array of pressure instruments to expedite a negotiated solution to the conflict
in Syria, including the removal from power of the government of Bashar
al-Assad;
(6)to recognize the
National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (in this Act
referred to as the Syrian Opposition Coalition
or
SOC
) as the legitimate representative of the Syrian
people;
(7)to engage with
the SOC and a diverse and inclusive array of opposition groups that are
representative of the Syrian people, as well as the broader international
community, to facilitate and plan for an orderly transition to a more stable
democratic political order, the elements of which should include—
(A)protections for
human rights, political participation, and religious freedom for all Syrians,
irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or gender;
(B)support for the
rule of law;
(C)rejection of
extremism;
(D)the subordination
of the military to civilian authority;
(E)protections
against sectarian violence and reprisal;
(F)cooperation with
international counterterrorism and nonproliferation efforts;
(G)support for
regional stability and non-interference in the affairs of neighboring
countries; and
(H)promotion of
justice and accountability for conflict-related crimes;
(8)to promote the
territorial integrity of Syria and the unity and continuity of the Syrian state
by—
(A)supporting a
post-Assad government that is capable of providing security, services, and
fundamental rights for its people; and
(B)opposing a role
in a post-Assad government of those whose presence would undermine its
credibility or jeopardize stability and reconciliation;
(9)to provide
foreign assistance, defense articles, defense services, and training to members
of the Syrian Supreme Military Council, units of the Free Syrian Army, and
other Syrian entities opposed to the government of Bashar al-Assad that have
been properly vetted and share common values and interests with the United
States;
(10)to closely
coordinate with key partners, including Turkey, Jordan, Israel, the Gulf
Cooperation Council, and the European Union, to ensure that the international
community is prepared for a military or diplomatic response, including the
creation of no-fly zones or safe havens, the protection of civilians, and the
securing of chemical or biological weapons, to mitigate or prevent
humanitarian, security, and proliferation emergencies; and
(11)to support
efforts to catalogue and identify those individuals who commit or lead units or
organizations which commit abuses of human rights or other violations of
international law, and to ensure that they are held accountable for their
actions.
<enum>I</enum><header>Humanitarian
assistance</header>
<section id="id0295d52755d34c1c912c91744fd826ff"><enum>101.</enum><header>Humanitarian
assistance to the people of Syria</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the President is authorized to provide assistance, including to meet
humanitarian and basic human needs, to the people of Syria in carrying out the
provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2151">22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.</external-xref>) and
the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act.</text>
</section><section id="idbc4a8c4dd66745c7a441b6208b9325c5"><enum>102.</enum><header>Sense of
Congress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Consistent with the
policy objectives described in section 4, it is the sense of Congress
that—</text>
<paragraph id="id86dbb9ce729747859141da96c2169ac8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the United States
should increase its own contributions and continue to coordinate with other
donor nations, the United Nations, other multilateral agencies, and
nongovernmental organizations to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian
assistance to the people suffering as a result of the crisis in Syria;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id093a763404fe42ef8212cc75aae23943"><enum>(2)</enum><text>countries hosting
Syrian refugees should be commended for their efforts and should be encouraged
to maintain an open border policy for fleeing Syrians;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1dcc250f705e4d768c8365e61daedf1e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the United States
Government should continue to work with these partners to help their national
systems accommodate the population influx and also maintain delivery of basic
services to their own citizens; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id63cf195218ab43dd8b2a23d9624059a3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the United States
Government should seek to identify humanitarian assistance as originating from
the American people wherever possible, while maintaining primary consideration
for the health and safety of the implementers and recipients of that assistance
and for the furtherance of United States foreign policy goals.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="id079b0a32734f456c8974140e35b4fb06"><enum>103.</enum><header>Report on
strategy to communicate to the Syrian people about assistance provided by the
United States Government</header>
<subsection id="id11dc709765f247a383d9a3500eeb3c8b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a classified report with an unclassified summary on an integrated
United States Government strategy to ensure that the people of Syria are made
aware to the maximum extent possible of the assistance that the United States
Government provides to Syrians, both inside Syria and those seeking refuge in
neighboring countries.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id95771abbaebc4e0887b523e5b415a0fd"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Content</header><text>The
report should include the following elements:</text>
<paragraph id="id28a4c2c861d04748bde23bcac07659ee"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A discussion of
how the United States balances three imperatives of—</text>
<subparagraph id="id36fbe2346c4547b5acdcf9a1c54968e0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>maximizing the
efficacy of aid provided to the people of Syria;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id693f0583ebb64a2ab150f24374d4932c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>ensuring that
there is awareness among the people of Syria on the amount and nature of this
aid; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id04468ebea9824ff4bef06b4c1792db02"><enum>(C)</enum><text>leveraging this
aid to improve the credibility of the Syrian Opposition Coalition amongst the
people of Syria.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="iddfee0844f477468d9f68505ed369b044"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Methods by which
the United States Government and its partners plan to communicate to the people
of Syria what assistance the United States has provided.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id29f3eb848e534968adcce3963453e40f"><enum>(3)</enum><text>How the United
States Government can most effectively promote awareness of its assistance
while taking into consideration and ensuring the safety of its implementing
partners and personnel providing that assistance.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idba3c8afa9fb44bc2a06b5748273360c2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>An assessment of
the Syrian Opposition Coalition’s Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU)’s capacity
to participate in the distribution of assistance, and a description of steps
the United States Government is taking to increase their profile so as to help
build their credibility among Syrians.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id604e98966c2e4a6ca2715829b1c6f549"><enum>(5)</enum><text>A review of the
risks associated with leveraging aid for political objectives and a description
of efforts to maintain neutrality in the distribution of goods while parallel
efforts are made to empower the opposition.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Promoting an
effective transition</header>
<section id="idee670f0c06ed4b608087249a95bb9e62"><enum>201.</enum><header>Syrian
transition fund</header>
<subsection id="id7e86bb517dd04c7fb3a8a23346291847"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Syrian
political transition fund</header><text>The President is authorized to
establish a Syria Transition Fund or to set aside a special allocation (in this
title referred to as the <quote>Transition Fund</quote>) from which funds may
be made available, notwithstanding any other provision of law, for assistance
and contributions to promote the objectives described in section 4 and for
related purposes. The Fund may rely upon the administrative authorities of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2151">22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.</external-xref>), and obligation of such
funds shall be subject to the regular 15-day notification procedures. Such
notification may be waived if failure to do so would pose a substantial risk to
human health or welfare, in which case notification shall be provided as early
as practicable, but in no event later than 3 days after taking the action to
which such notification requirement was applicable.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id8d04e377e3b84ab6ba9507320e330bb5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The
purpose of the Transition Fund is to provide initial support in the early
period of a potentially chaotic transition in Syria to enable an effective
political transition and provide for initiatives that will improve the security
of the United States, United States partners and allies, and the people of
Syria. The Transition Fund may be used to support activities including the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="id1fd51d7c019b441680090873d9bf473b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Basic
services</header><text>Programs to provide for basic human, including
humanitarian, needs and establish basic governmental services.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id12a77f40ab6d4d9494b434ebe652dfb2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Security sector
support</header><text>Programs and actions to prevent anarchy, revenge attacks,
and criminal elements from threatening the people of Syria, potentially
transitioning to include providing funding for Syrian security forces, and to
fund projects to reshape and reform the security sector along democratic lines.
The security sector is understood to include personnel defending the Syrian
people from military attack and providing security services within communities
and on borders. Assistance to the emergent Syrian security sector should focus
on coordinated multilateral assistance to help nascent security providers
evolve into developed defense and security institutions within an inclusive and
effective security and justice sector.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idefafdf7fbd43467aa249e2a6a9d45c9d"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Transitional
justice and conflict resolution</header><text>Programs and activities that
allow the people of Syria to heal and transform in a constructive and positive
way, and reduce the likelihood of retribution or sectarian violence in the
aftermath of the end of the Assad regime.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb0e58e320c6140a19e46a477c1dfe1cc"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Promoting
democracy and building democratic institutions</header><text>Programs and
activities that—</text>
<subparagraph id="id21324852F5754ACEA0B3807DC98BF4AB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>facilitate the
development of an accountable effective democratic government;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1303999EDDBC487DBF01BC82B934510F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>facilitate the
development of an effective, peaceful civil society;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2EE8307C75E74F1F9F8AE7ABE3916B46"><enum>(C)</enum><text>protect rule of
law during the transition;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC7152171E95B44BF833C5FB2CE79A64F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>support the
development and administration of a justice system based on universal human
rights;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC2BB36EE978744CB9B8C19CABEB80993"><enum>(E)</enum><text>assist with the
development of a Syrian constitution that fosters a sense of unity and
contributes to national reconciliation among different components of Syrian
society; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBCA4C9FEFD6145A7AE0E31B1FBA1A782"><enum>(F)</enum><text>support the
establishment of an inclusive and transparent electoral system in Syria.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idddd5b7595a2c47c99899c9d1b8b137e5"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Economic
restructuring and social policy</header><text>Programs that support the
resumption of economic activity, preserve functioning of public services,
restore access to international markets, empower the private sector, and
promote responsible and equitable social policies.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3475c5a1af7a4f43b9635c164920b1bc"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Historical
preservation</header><text>Programs that support historical preservation
efforts to help document the collective memory of the armed conflict in Syria
in order to support the processes of national reconciliation and
peace-building.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb79338485eeb4e3b86fabafc5579da37"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Collection of
evidence on human rights abuses</header><text>Programs that support the
collection of evidence connected with serious human rights abuses and
violations of international law.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id88a18f7662214b8c8212ba6758bae9bf"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>In addition to other assistance authorized
under law, there is authorized to be appropriated or allocated to the
Transition Fund up to $250,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2013 through 2015.
These funds shall remain available until expended.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ide34ace853e5b47f5b5e7442475f5f26b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Uses of funds
for nonproliferation</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
up to $100,000,000 of the funds authorized under subsection (c) may also be
transferred to and merged with funds made available to carry out in Syria the
purposes of chapter 9 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2349bb et seq.; nonproliferation and export control assistance).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id25a611017e82436383dc5525daf6d787"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Transfer
authority</header>
<paragraph id="ida3aebc10a759400789e377a033f710e4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In addition to other transfer authorities available to
the Department of State or other United States Government agencies, funds
available for foreign assistance or funds of other United States Government
agencies involved in efforts related to the situation in Syria may be
transferred to or allocated as part of the Fund. Amounts so transferred shall
be merged with funds otherwise made available under this section and remain
available until expended for the purposes specified in subsection (b).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id42aab8d530f148b78696da1d08677917"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limit</header><text>The
total amount of funds made available to, or allocated for, the Fund may not
exceed $250,000,000 in any fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8b8d842382164a959f4c77c5718bc895"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Transfer
authority</header><text>Funds available to carry out assistance authorized by
this section may be transferred to an agency or account determined most
appropriate to facilitate the provision of assistance authorized by this
section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idfa1d54ebf274480c8c72f231db46f884"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Additional to
other authorities</header><text>The transfer authorities in paragraphs (1) and
(3) are in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department
of State or other United States Government agencies.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5e880589c3884f48955e5dfeebd8eadb"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Annual
report</header>
<paragraph id="idAE3BD737AB554B57A899ADFB0C2AF0A3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the establishment of the
Transition Fund, or an allocation in reliance on the authorities of the
Transition Fund, and annually thereafter for the duration of the Transition
Fund, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report on United States efforts to assist the political transition
in Syria with a specific focus on the efforts supported by the Transition
Fund.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4555ED8CE13C4F81AFBB1CADFA076882"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Content</header><text>The
report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following
elements:</text>
<subparagraph id="idb26d22e12cf344928fcd8c52362070ab"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A description of
the key efforts undertaken by the United States Government to support the
policy objectives outlined in section 4.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id32c0c474a07c4615a775378ee0b01376"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A description of
the efforts supported by the Transition Fund to support an effective and secure
political transition in Syria and how those activities align with the purposes
described in subsection (b).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4460d878748d41d6ad7242d076c6a6d2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Metrics and
benchmarks established and used by the Department of State to make allocations
from the Transition Fund, and to measure the performance of the Transition Fund
and its various components.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8fee2d70871a46538f8fd782f7fe9aa9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>A description of
efforts undertaken to coordinate with other donors and ensure that there is not
a duplication of efforts, including among Federal agencies.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA8DDEBA36B314FEFBB7480A31A35E62C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Form</header><text>The
report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may
include a classified annex.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id09ee0f3b629e4b6f8571b1e5b7f52999"><enum>202.</enum><header>Adjusting
sanctions provisions in preparation for a political transition</header>
<subsection id="idff4177344bf5427d992ef1ca87c9e7f0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Removal of
sanctions</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that, once the Government
of Syria has ceased its campaign of violence against the people of Syria and a
transition to a representative and inclusive recognized government has begun,
the United States Government should begin a phased process to remove sanctions
on Syria, provided that the post-Assad Government of Syria demonstrates its
willingness to—</text>
<paragraph id="idaa40481b07d048ae9f984bd8ca3cf622"><enum>(1)</enum><text>support human
rights for all Syrians irrespective of sect or ethnicity;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6d0944c316d548488644c309be2a5f4a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>reject terrorism;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id77e338d682be41df90043e28de3383aa"><enum>(3)</enum><text>cooperate with
the international community on nonproliferation efforts.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id634aabd076ae4b5d902009bb5a02dc5c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amendment to
Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of
2003</header><text>Section 5 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>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2151">22 U.S.C. 2151</external-xref> note)
is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idB88F2649520348789AE82761C1F4EC8E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(c)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idC61FB026C4F44FA888321EB51A288F32"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)—</text>
<clause id="id896D390ACD5C420BA927C3100998B09A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by
inserting <quote>(A)</quote> after <quote>(1)</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idDA9B967C863C416FA989BF48FFFD6AB1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (d)</quote> and
inserting <quote>subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1) of subsection
(d)</quote>;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB2D77443C7EA447EAC8C85CE67092042"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraphs (2) and (3) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id460679A6C8504C90B53E3884359591A6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(C), as redesignated by subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, by striking the
comma at the end and inserting the following: “or;</text>
<quoted-block act-name="" id="id3A71EB3514364F7EA62FD966F90E473F" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id9AA6CB17A4D841DDB16DFAC21423DC96"><enum>(2)</enum><text>makes the
determination that the Government of Syria meets the requirements described in
paragraph (2) of such subsection and certifies such determination to Congress
in accordance with such subsection,</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idC0AB123BC4F24437AFF7824441A23B7F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(d)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idF7B990CB9CC745AF9D1483B3FC775AA2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
by inserting <quote>(A)</quote> after <quote>(1)</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id189C1F6CCD5548A78F0A13B6CBC9C53D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D), respectively;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC46709AFEFF447789647B0D20F27D922"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(D), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and
inserting the following: “or;</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF9BEFF856BA54948B7320C3F112D3AE5" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id0D81F3F3F6774966A7F574F77945DB20"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id016DBFA34DDC4EF98A7E417E979E24B5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Bashar al-Assad is no
longer the leader of Syria; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEFA8AFC4CEA1483AA4D84E4718E9CDC6" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Government of Syria has ceased its
campaign of violence against the people of Syria and begun the transition to a
representative and inclusive government that supports the principles of—</text>
<clause id="id486A3E9832E94237A49CFD86D88DB350"><enum>(i)</enum><text>human rights for all Syrians
irrespective of sect, religion, or ethnicity;</text>
</clause><clause id="id6A8894AA820744BAB9261CF48406F494"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>rejection of terrorism and
particularly support for Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations;</text>
</clause><clause id="id69EB0CAAEB7E4F0A95939E979969F954"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>cooperation with the
international community on nonproliferation efforts; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id750873B3181540C4A6AE0716B408F2E8"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>promotion of the unity and
continuity of the Syrian
state.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Sanctions</header>
<section id="id23cdfa84de1345e0a09cda9397368010"><enum>301.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text>
<paragraph id="idbfc1406d442e42eca83323ff18dbfce8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appropriate
congressional committees</header><text>The term <term>appropriate congressional
committees</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="id2e51ff8853e04ae0b03d9bc0897391a4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Committee on
Foreign Relations, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idadbda18eb6ec4cd498cf1f992d8ac495"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on
Financial Services of the House of Representatives.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8C14B092084144DA858A6C0EE3C2B726"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Defense
article; defense service</header><text>The terms <term>defense article</term>
and <term>defense service</term> have the meanings given those terms in section
644 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2403">22 U.S.C. 2403</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1dc242b2f5b64826877e602b43e10c51"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Person</header><text>The
term <term>person</term> means an individual or entity.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id09ac5a8ccf394aafa6f8591209359289"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Petroleum</header><text>The
term <term>petroleum</term> includes crude oil and any mixture of hydrocarbons
that exists in liquid phase in natural underground reservoirs and remains
liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating
facilities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id62B62894CF4248ACAE070CB143FAA35C"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Petroleum
products</header><text>The term <term>petroleum products</term> includes
unfinished oils, liquefied petroleum gases, pentanes plus, aviation gasoline,
motor gasoline, naptha-type jet fuel, kerosene-type jet fuel, kerosene,
distillate fuel oil, residual fuel oil, petrochemical feedstocks, special
naphthas, lubricants, waxes, petroleum coke, asphalt, road oil, still gas, and
miscellaneous products obtained from the processing of crude oil (including
lease condensate), natural gas, and other hydrocarbon compounds.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="id0121EA3143E34A54B6F6998ADE895611"><enum>302.</enum><header>Imposition of
sanctions with respect to persons providing defense articles or defense
services to the Assad regime of Syria</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">On or after the date that is 60 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the President may impose sanctions from
among the sanctions described in section 304 with respect to any person that
the President determines has, on or after such date of enactment, knowingly
participated in or facilitated a significant transaction related to the sale or
transfer of defense articles or defense services to the Assad regime of Syria,
including any successor entity comprised principally of loyalists to Bashar
al-Assad.</text>
</section><section id="idd3929c4f2ef64570be5f89ecd0e42c53"><enum>303.</enum><header>Imposition of
sanctions with respect to persons providing petroleum or petroleum products to
the Assad regime of syria</header>
<subsection id="idCC8F43C0E286419394971CC6660960F0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On or after the date
that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President
shall impose not fewer than 5 of the sanctions described in section 304 with
respect to each person that the President determines has, on or after such date
of enactment, knowingly participated in or facilitated a significant
transaction related to the sale or transfer of petroleum or petroleum products
to the Assad regime of Syria, including any successor entity comprised
principally of loyalists to Bashar al-Assad, that directly contribute to the
capability of the Assad regime, or any such successor entity, to continue its
aggression against the people of Syria.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id52225C7EFE894CC5BA0A555591090FF9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Humanitarian
exception</header><text>The President may not impose sanctions under this
section with respect to any person for conducting or facilitating a transaction
necessary to meet humanitarian and basic human needs of the people of
Syria.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id63bd8d722c974ee3b1c74323d44d44a5"><enum>304.</enum><header>Sanctions
described</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The sanctions the
President may impose with respect to a person under sections 302 and 303 are
the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id82ad75b70bcc4a17ba825f1f2626e075"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Export-Import
Bank assistance</header><text>The President may direct the Export-Import Bank
of the United States not to give approval to the issuance of any guarantee,
insurance, extension of credit, or participation in the extension of credit in
connection with the export of any goods or services to the person.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc5ac41e02f39410dbcd30b561d493d24"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Procurement
sanction</header><text>The President may prohibit the United States Government
entering into any contract for the procurement of any goods or services from
the person.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id05e77943900141f7b0d0b234223ef961"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Import
sanctions</header><text>The President may prohibit the importation into the
United States of products produced by the person.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idde9f8c25a4934a6dafcea8da1dc90437"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Arms export
prohibition</header><text>The President may prohibit the exportation or
provision by sale, lease or loan, grant or other means, directly or indirectly,
of any defense article or defense service to the person and the issuance of any
license or other approval to the person under section 38 of the Arms Export
Control Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2778">22 U.S.C. 2778</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ided4267d5e5b34f9e979161f04cf06137"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Dual-use export
prohibition</header><text>The President may deny licenses and suspend existing
licenses for the transfer to the person of items the export of which is
controlled under the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et
seq.) (as in effect pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/1701">50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>)) or the Export Administration Regulations under
subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idddc5ac9471744283b8c8f80c49071467"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Property
transactions</header><text>The President may, pursuant to such regulations as
the President may prescribe, prohibit the person from—</text>
<subparagraph id="id1573BE16291B4985A39EDEFCB2532601"><enum>(A)</enum><text>acquiring,
holding, withholding, using, transferring, withdrawing, transporting,
importing, or exporting any property that is subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States and with respect to which the person has any interest;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1BB9E211F0F946ED884D9407D58BE6FF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>dealing in or
exercising any right, power, or privilege with respect to such property;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBE31CEEB16294048B7322888E292B0B2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>conducting any
transaction involving such property.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id20d95468d4ac4951b8e5d1a8f8a815ef"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Visa
ineligibility</header><text>In the case of a person that is an alien, the
President may direct the Secretary of State to deny a visa to, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security to exclude from the United States, the person,
subject to regulatory exceptions to permit the United States to comply with the
Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding
the Headquarters of the United Nations and other applicable international
obligations.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="idb84daff59ca04bd48388fc5bc7666b98"><enum>305.</enum><header>Waiver</header>
<subsection id="id9ed94711a57741a6b5b7d7b9b53ba361"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The President may waive the application of section 302 or
303 if the President determines and reports to the appropriate congressional
committees every 180 days that the waiver is vital to the national security
interests of the United States.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id72234edab436443d8a3b40dd14c67cec"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Form</header><text>A
report submitted under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form
but may include a classified annex.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Increased
Support for the Opposition</header>
<section id="id1c1733f273a74f6482427dbb524d1f1a"><enum>401.</enum><header>Increased
support for the opposition</header>
<subsection id="idaaf9a88815b34157838e8cd1c4c8ee9b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Increased
authorization To provide lethal and nonlethal assistance to Syrian armed
opposition</header><text>Subject to subsection (b), the President is
authorized, notwithstanding any other provision of law and using funds made
available for foreign assistance, to provide assistance, including defense
articles, defense services, and training to members of the Syrian Supreme
Military Council, units of the Free Syrian Army, and other Syrian entities
opposed to the government of Bashar al-Assad.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id2c80a12ab8734dd2876ca0bf6d563ae7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Notification</header><text>Not
later than 15 days before obligating funds or otherwise making commitments, as
the case may be, to provide the assistance described in subsection (a), the
President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees—</text>
<paragraph id="id13c1d018255945488abde412fae4cac5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a certification
that—</text>
<subparagraph id="id1e9013396ff049e1bea10999f272c4e9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>assistance to any
unit is being provided in accordance with section 620M of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2378d">22 U.S.C. 2378d</external-xref>);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5e3411fdc8eb4a99a57290d6077600bf"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the leader or
leaders of any unit for which assistance is planned to be provided are, based
on the information available to the United States Government—</text>
<clause id="id11f1257c80b54ef9a521c48531c7b0db"><enum>(i)</enum><text>not
affiliated with any organization that has been designated as a foreign
terrorist organization pursuant to 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>
</clause><clause id="id9d9f2e98a39942538340b5dc9c9cfbcc"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>opposed to the
carrying out of sectarian violence and revenge killings; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id6e4ea8efcf424fb19f505fa2a60b70ee"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>committed to
civilian rule and the rule of law for Syria;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5e9ae0e50d3f40d48560948cdeb26ef3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any military
education and training will include information on observance of and respect
for applicable laws of war, human rights, and fundamental freedoms; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida1a492e7b064491b8f8d2eaf574c55b2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>no man-portable
air defense systems (MANPADS) will be transferred as part of the assistance;
and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id16c5861f60834cb29b7d936d0cfb7011"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a written policy
justification, budget, execution plan and timeline, and anticipated completion
date for the planned activity.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id519d622bc4184f7ab1f8ccbff930cdfc"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Code of
conduct</header><text>The United States Government shall encourage any entity
receiving assistance pursuant to subsection (a) to commit to a code of conduct
that includes respect for the applicable laws of war, human rights, fundamental
freedoms, and a commitment to refrain from sectarian violence.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idc8830529f52145c6936c51b4be934e26"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Reporting
requirement</header><text>In the event that the President exercises the
authority in subsection (a), the President shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees every 90 days thereafter until such time as the
authority is no longer being exercised, a detailed report on—</text>
<paragraph id="id4b142463302e40b299740466fce7b149"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the education,
training or assistance provided;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9faeba907f4942fdaf7988d98345928b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the vetting
conducted to satisfy the certification requirement in subsection (b)(1);
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id03b74105f8934ac1ac55d0665d9b7e0d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>steps taken to
encourage the development of a code of conduct outlined in subsection
(c).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd096002d6f4149d7a66fda12b9c113e8"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Sunset
provision</header><text>The authority described in subsection (a) shall
terminate on October 1, 2018.</text>
</subsection></section>