Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act 2019-10-29 Passed House Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act or the PACT Act

This bill addresses Turkey's military invasion of northern Syria.

The President shall impose visa- and asset-blocking sanctions on specific Turkish officials connected to the invasion. The Department of State shall report on (1) other Turkish officials involved with the invasion; and (2) foreign persons that knowingly provided defense articles, services, or technology to Turkey that could be used in the invasion. Such foreign persons shall also be subject to visa- and asset-blocking sanctions.

The President shall impose financial sanctions on the large Turkish state-owned bank known as Halkbank and on any foreign financial institutions that the State Department determines to have knowingly facilitated significant transactions for the Turkish Armed Forces or Turkey's defense industry related to the invasion.

The President shall impose sanctions on Turkey's government pursuant to the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.

A U.S. defense article, service, or technology may not be transferred to Turkey's government if it (1) is covered under the Arms Export Control Act, and (2) may be used by Turkey in military operations in northern Syria. The President may not exercise certain emergency waiver authority in relation to this prohibition.

Certain Syrians, including Syrian Kurds who have partnered with the U.S. government in Syria, shall be (1) designated as Priority 2 refugees of special humanitarian concern, and (2) exempt from various numerical limitations under immigration law.

The bill calls for various reports, including on (1) the national-security impact of the invasion, and (2) the net worth of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his family.

]]> 2019-10-16 Introduced in House Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act or the PACT Act

This bill imposes sanctions and various restrictions related to Turkey's military invasion of northern Syria.

The President shall impose visa- and asset-blocking sanctions on specific Turkish officials connected to the invasion, including Turkey's Minister of National Defense. The Department of State shall report to the President and Congress as to (1) other Turkish officials involved with the invasion; and (2) foreign persons that knowingly provided defense articles, services, or technology to Turkey that could be used in the invasion of northern Syria. Such foreign persons shall also be subject to visa- and asset-blocking sanctions.

The President shall impose financial sanctions on the large Turkish state-owned bank known as Halk Bankasi or Halkbank and on any financial institutions that the State Department determines to have knowingly facilitated significant transactions for the Turkish Armed Forces or Turkey's defense industry related to the invasion.

The President shall impose sanctions on Turkey's government pursuant to the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.

A U.S. defense article, service, or technology may not be transferred to Turkey's government if it (1) is covered under the Arms Export Control Act, and (2) may be used by Turkey in military operations in northern Syria. The President may not exercise certain emergency waiver authority related to the Arms Export Control Act in relation to this prohibition.

The bill calls for reports on (1) the national security impact of the invasion and, (2) the net worth of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his family.

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