[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4483 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4483

 To halt Syrian support for terrorism, end its occupation of Lebanon, 
stop its development of weapons of mass destruction, cease its illegal 
 importation of Iraqi oil, and by so doing hold Syria accountable for 
the serious international security problems it has caused in the Middle 
                     East, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 18, 2002

 Mr. Armey (for himself and Mr. Engel) introduced the following bill; 
     which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To halt Syrian support for terrorism, end its occupation of Lebanon, 
stop its development of weapons of mass destruction, cease its illegal 
 importation of Iraqi oil, and by so doing hold Syria accountable for 
the serious international security problems it has caused in the Middle 
                     East, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Syria Accountability Act of 2002''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) On September 20, 2001, President George Bush stated at 
        a joint session of Congress that ``[e]very nation, in every 
        region, now has a decision to make . . . [e]ither you are with 
        us, or you are with the terrorists . . . [f]rom this day 
        forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support 
        terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile 
        regime''.
            (2) United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 
        (September 28, 2001) mandates that all states ``refrain from 
        providing any form of support, active or passive, to entities 
        or persons involved in terrorist acts'', take ``the necessary 
        steps to prevent the commission of terrorist acts'', and ``deny 
        safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit 
        terrorist acts''.
            (3) The Government of Syria is currently prohibited by 
        United States law from receiving United States assistance 
        because it is listed as state sponsor of terrorism.
            (4) Although the Department of State lists Syria as a state 
        sponsor of terrorism and reports that Syria provides ``safe 
        haven and support to several terrorist groups'', fewer United 
        States sanctions apply with respect to Syria than with respect 
        to any other country that is listed as a state sponsor of 
        terrorism.
            (5) Terrorist groups, including Hizballah, Hamas, the 
        Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Popular 
        Front for the Liberation of Palestine--General Command maintain 
        offices, training camps, and other facilities on Syrian 
        territory and operate in areas of Lebanon occupied by the 
        Syrian armed forces and receive supplies from Iran through 
        Syria.
            (6) United Nations Security Council Resolution 520 
        (September 17, 1982) calls for ``strict respect of the 
        sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political 
        independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority 
        of the Government of Lebanon through the Lebanese Army 
        throughout Lebanon''.
            (7) More than 20,000 Syrian troops and security personnel 
        occupy much of the sovereign territory of Lebanon exerting 
        undue influence upon its government and undermining its 
        political independence.
            (8) Since 1990 the Senate and House of Representatives have 
        passed seven bills and resolutions which call for the 
        withdrawal of Syrian armed forces from Lebanon.
            (9) Large and increasing numbers of the Lebanese people 
        from across the political spectrum in Lebanon have mounted 
        peaceful and democratic calls for the withdrawal of the Syrian 
        Army from Lebanese soil.
            (10) Israel has withdrawn all of its armed forces from 
        Lebanon in accordance with United Nations Security Council 
        Resolution 425 (March 19, 1978), as certified by the United 
        Nations Secretary General.
            (11) Even in the face of this United Nations certification 
        that acknowledged Israel's full compliance with Resolution 425, 
        Syria permits attacks by Hizballah and other militant 
        organizations on Israeli outposts at Shebaa Farms, under the 
        false guise that it remains Lebanese land, and is also 
        permitting attacks on civilian targets in Israel.
            (12) Syria will not allow Lebanon--a sovereign country--to 
        fulfill its obligation in accordance with Security Council 
        Resolution 425 to deploy its troops to southern Lebanon.
            (13) As a result, the Israeli-Lebanese border and much of 
        southern Lebanon is under the control of Hizballah which 
        continues to attack Israeli positions and allows Iranian 
        Revolutionary Guards and other militant groups to operate 
        freely in the area, destabilizing the entire region.
            (14) The United States provides $40,000,000 in assistance 
        to the Lebanese people through private nongovernmental 
        organizations, $7,900,000 of which is provided to Lebanese-
        American educational institutions.
            (15) In the State of the Union address on January 29, 2002, 
        President Bush declared that the United States will ``work 
        closely with our coalition to deny terrorists and their state 
        sponsors the materials, technology, and expertise to make and 
        deliver weapons of mass destruction''.
            (16) The Government of Syria continues to develop and 
        deploy short and medium range ballistic missiles.
            (17) The Government of Syria is pursuing the development 
        and production of biological and chemical weapons.
            (18) United Nations Security Council Resolution 661 (August 
        6, 1990) and subsequent relevant  resolutions restrict the sale 
of oil and other commodities by Iraq, except to the extent authorized 
by other relevant resolutions.
            (19) Syria, a non-permanent United Nations Security Council 
        member, is receiving between 150,000 and 200,000 barrels of oil 
        from Iraq in violation of Security Council Resolution 661 and 
        subsequent relevant resolutions.
            (20) Syrian President Bashar Assad promised Secretary of 
        State Powell in February 2001 to end violations of Security 
        Council Resolution 661 but this pledge has not been fulfilled.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Government of Syria should immediately and 
        unconditionally halt support for terrorism, permanently and 
        openly declare its total renunciation of all forms of 
        terrorism, and close all terrorist offices and facilities in 
        Syria, including the offices of Hamas, Hizballah, the Popular 
        Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Popular Front 
        for the Liberation of Palestine--General Command;
            (2) the Government of Syria should immediately declare its 
        commitment to completely withdraw its armed forces, including 
        military, paramilitary, and security forces, from Lebanon, and 
        set a firm timetable for such withdrawal;
            (3) the Government of Lebanon should deploy the Lebanese 
        armed forces to all areas of Lebanon, including South Lebanon, 
        in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 
        520 (September 17, 1982), in order to assert the sovereignty of 
        the Lebanese state over all of its territory, and should evict 
        all terrorist and foreign forces from southern Lebanon, 
        including Hizballah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards;
            (4) the Government of Syria should halt the development and 
        deployment of short and medium range ballistic missiles and 
        cease the development and production of biological and chemical 
        weapons;
            (5) the Government of Syria should halt illegal imports and 
        transshipments of Iraqi oil and come into full compliance with 
        United Nations Security Council Resolution 661 and subsequent 
        relevant resolutions;
            (6) the Governments of Lebanon and Syria should enter into 
        serious unconditional bilateral negotiations with the 
        Government of Israel in order to realize a full and permanent 
        peace; and
            (7) the United States should continue to provide 
        humanitarian and educational assistance to the people of 
        Lebanon only through appropriate private, nongovernmental 
        organizations and appropriate international organizations, 
        until such time as the Government of Lebanon asserts 
        sovereignty and control over all of its territory and borders 
        and achieves full political independence, as called for in 
        United Nations Security Council Resolution 520.

SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    It should be the policy of the United States that--
            (1) the United States will continue its campaign against 
        international terror to all places where terrorism exists;
            (2) Syria will be held responsible for all attacks 
        committed by Hizballah and other terrorist groups with offices 
        or other facilities in Syria, or bases in areas of Lebanon 
        occupied by Syria;
            (3) the United States will work to deny Syria the ability 
        to support acts of international terrorism and efforts to 
        develop or acquire weapons of mass destruction;
            (4) the Secretary of State will continue to list Syria as a 
        state sponsor of terrorism until Syria ends its support for 
        terrorism, including its support of Hizballah and other 
        terrorist groups in Lebanon and its hosting of terrorist groups 
        in Damascus, and comes into full compliance with United States 
        law relating to terrorism and United Nations Security Council 
        Resolution 1373 (September 28, 2001);
            (5) the full restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty, 
        political independence, and territorial integrity is in the 
        national security interest of the United States;
            (6) Syria is in violation of United Nations Security 
        Council Resolution 520 (September 17, 1982) through its 
        continued occupation of Lebanese territory and its encroachment 
        upon its political independence;
            (7) Syria's obligation to withdraw from Lebanon is not 
        conditioned upon progress in the Israeli-Syrian or Israeli-
        Lebanese peace process but derives from Syria's obligation 
        under Security Council Resolution 520;
            (8) Syria's acquisition of weapons of mass destruction and 
        ballistic missile programs threaten the security of the Middle 
        East and the national security interests of the United States;
            (9) Syria is in violation of United Nations Security 
        Council Resolution 661 (August 6, 1990) and  subsequent 
relevant resolutions through its continued purchase of oil from Iraq; 
and
            (10) the United States will not provide any assistance to 
        Syria and will oppose multilateral assistance for Syria until 
        Syria withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon, halts the 
        development and deployment of weapons of mass destruction and 
        ballistic missiles, and complies with Security Council 
        Resolution 661 and subsequent relevant resolutions.

SEC. 5. PENALTIES AND AUTHORIZATION.

    (a) Penalties.--Until the President makes the determination that 
Syria meets the requirements described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of 
subsection (c) and certifies such determination to Congress in 
accordance with such subsection--
            (1) the President shall prohibit the export to Syria of any 
        item, including the issuance of a license for the export of any 
        item, on the United States Munitions List or Commerce Control 
        List of dual-use items in the Export Administration Regulations 
        (15 C.F.R. part 730 et seq.);
            (2) the President shall prohibit United States Government 
        assistance, including loans, credits, or other financial 
        assistance, to United States businesses with respect to 
        investment or other activities in Syria;
            (3) the President shall prohibit the conduct of programs of 
        the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Trade and 
        Development Agency in or with respect to Syria; and
            (4) the President shall impose two or more of the following 
        sanctions:
                    (A) Prohibit the export of products of the United 
                States (other than food and medicine) to Syria.
                    (B) Prohibit United States businesses from 
                investing or operating in Syria.
                    (C) Restrict Syrian diplomats in Washington, D.C., 
                and at the United Nations in New York City, to travel 
                only within a 25-mile radius of Washington, D.C., or 
                the United Nations headquarters building, respectively.
                    (D) Prohibit aircraft of any air carrier owned or 
                controlled by Syria to take off from, land in, or 
                overfly the United States.
                    (E) Reduce United States diplomatic contacts with 
                Syria (other than those contacts required to protect 
                United States interests or carry out the purposes of 
                this Act).
                    (F) Block transactions in any property in which the 
                Government of Syria has any interest, by any person, or 
                with respect to any property, subject to the 
                jurisdiction of the United States.
    (b) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of either 
paragraph (2) or (3) (or both) of subsection (a) if the President 
determines that it is in the national security interest of the United 
States to do so.
    (c) Authority To Provide Assistance to Syria and Lebanon.--If the 
President--
            (1) makes the determination that Syria meets the 
        requirements described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of 
        subsection (d) and certifies such determination to Congress in 
        accordance with such subsection;
            (2) determines that substantial progress has been made both 
        in negotiations aimed at achieving a peace agreement between 
        Israel and Syria and in negotiations aimed at achieving a peace 
        agreement between Israel and Lebanon; and
            (3) determines that the Government of Syria is strictly 
        respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and 
        political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive 
        authority of the Government of Lebanon through the Lebanese 
        army throughout Lebanon, as required under paragraph (4) of 
        United Nations Security Council Resolution 520 (1982), then the 
        President is authorized notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law to provide assistance to Syria and Lebanon under chapter 1 
        of Part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to 
        development assistance).
    (d) Certification.--A certification under this subsection is a 
certification transmitted to the appropriate congressional committees 
of a determination made by the President that--
            (1) the Government of Syria does not provide support for 
        international terrorist groups and does not allow terrorist 
        groups, such as Hamas, Hizballah, the Popular Front for the 
        Liberation of Palestine, and the Popular Front for the 
        Liberation of Palestine--General Command to maintain facilities 
        in Syria;
            (2) the Government of Syria has withdrawn all Syrian 
        military, intelligence, and other security personnel from 
        Lebanon;
            (3) the Government of Syria has ceased the development and 
        deployment of ballistic missiles and has ceased the development 
        and production of biological and chemical weapons; and
            (4) the Government of Syria is no longer in violation of 
        United Nations Security Council Resolution 661 and subsequent 
        relevant resolutions.

SEC. 6. REPORT.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and every 12 months thereafter until the 
conditions described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 5(c) are 
satisfied, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on--
            (1) Syria's progress toward meeting the conditions 
        described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 5(c); and
            (2) connections, if any, between individual terrorists and 
        terrorist groups which maintain offices, training camps, or 
        other facilities on Syrian territory, or operate in areas of 
        Lebanon occupied by the Syrian armed forces, and the attacks 
        against the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001, 
        and other terrorist attacks on the United States or its 
        citizens, installations, or allies.
    (b) Form.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall be in 
unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

SEC. 7. DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.

    In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
means the Committee on International Relations of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
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