[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2917 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2917

  To strengthen sanctions against the Government of Syria, to enhance 
     multilateral commitment to address the Government of Syria's 
threatening policies, to establish a program to support a transition to 
 a democratically elected government in Syria, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 24, 2008

  Mr. Cornyn introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
                  referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To strengthen sanctions against the Government of Syria, to enhance 
     multilateral commitment to address the Government of Syria's 
threatening policies, to establish a program to support a transition to 
 a democratically elected government in Syria, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Syria 
Accountability and Liberation Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
      TITLE I--STRENGTHENING UNITED STATES SANCTIONS AGAINST SYRIA

Sec. 101. Declarations of policy.
Sec. 102. Codification of existing sanctions.
Sec. 103. Sanctions against certain persons.
Sec. 104. Sanctions against certain foreign countries.
          TITLE II--SANCTIONS TARGETING SYRIA'S ENERGY SECTOR

Sec. 201. Imposition of sanctions.
Sec. 202. Advisory opinions.
Sec. 203. Termination of sanctions.
Sec. 204. Duration of sanctions; Presidential waiver.
Sec. 205. Exclusion of certain activities.
Sec. 206. Elimination of certain tax incentives for oil companies 
                            investing in Syria.
    TITLE III--DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO ISOLATE THE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA

Sec. 301. Sense of Congress relating to bilateral efforts.
Sec. 302. Opposition to Syria's membership and candidacy for leadership 
                            posts in United Nations institutions.
Sec. 303. Actions at the United Nations General Assembly.
Sec. 304. Actions at international financial institutions.
Sec. 305. Actions at the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Sec. 306. Establishment of United States and regional contact groups.
Sec. 307. Report on assistance to, and commerce with, Syria.
           TITLE IV--ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY IN SYRIA

Sec. 401. Declarations of policy.
Sec. 402. Assistance to support a transition to democracy in Syria.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives; and
                    (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) Develop; development.--The terms ``develop'' and 
        ``development'', when used in conjunction with petroleum 
        resources, means the exploration for, or the extraction, 
        refining, or transportation by pipeline of, petroleum 
        resources.
            (3) Goods and technology.--The terms ``goods'' and 
        ``technology'' have the meanings given those terms in section 
        16 of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 
        2415).
            (4) Government of syria.--The term ``Government of Syria'' 
        includes any agency or instrumentality of the Government of the 
        Syrian Arab Republic, including any entity that is controlled 
        by such government.
            (5) Investment.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``investment'' means any 
                of the following activities if the activity is 
                undertaken pursuant to an agreement, or pursuant to the 
                exercise of rights under such an agreement, which is 
                entered into with the Government of Syria or a 
                nongovernmental entity in Syria on or after the date of 
                the enactment of this Act:
                            (i) The entry into a contract that includes 
                        responsibility for the development of petroleum 
                        resources located in Syria, or the entry into a 
                        contract providing for the general supervision 
                        and guarantee of another person's performance 
                        of such a contract.
                            (ii) The purchase of a share of ownership, 
                        including an equity interest, in that 
                        development.
                            (iii) The entry into a contract providing 
                        for the participation in royalties, earnings, 
                        or profits in that development, without regard 
                        to the form of the participation.
                    (B) Exclusion.--The term ``investment'' does not 
                include the entry into, performance, or financing of a 
                contract to sell or purchase goods, services, or 
                technology.
                    (C) Amendments or modifications.--For purposes of 
                this paragraph, an amendment or other modification that 
                is made, on or after the date of the enactment of this 
                Act, to an agreement or contract shall be treated as 
                the entry of an agreement or contract.
            (6) Person.--The term ``person'' means--
                    (A) a natural person; and
                    (B) a corporation, business association, 
                partnership, society, trust, any other nongovernmental 
                entity, organization, or group, and any governmental 
                entity operating as a business enterprise.
            (7) Petroleum resources.--The term ``petroleum resources'' 
        includes petroleum and natural gas resources.
            (8) United states assistance.--The term ``United States 
        assistance'' means--
                    (A) any assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act 
                of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2251 et seq.), other than urgent 
                humanitarian assistance or medicine;
                    (B) sales and assistance under the Arms Export 
                Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.);
                    (C) financing by the Commodity Credit Corporation 
                for export sales of agricultural commodities; and
                    (D) financing under the Export-Import Bank Act of 
                1945 (12 U.S.C. 635 et seq.).

      TITLE I--STRENGTHENING UNITED STATES SANCTIONS AGAINST SYRIA

SEC. 101. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.

    Congress makes the following declarations of policy:
            (1) The national security interests of the United States 
        and international peace are threatened by the actions of the 
        Government of Syria, including the government's--
                    (A) support for, and facilitation of, terrorist 
                activities, including inside of Iraq;
                    (B) development of long-range missiles and weapons 
                of mass destruction programs and capabilities;
                    (C) continued interference with the internal 
                affairs of the Lebanese Republic in violation of 
                multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions 
                and of its international obligations; and
                    (D) massive, systematic, and extraordinary 
                violations of human rights of the Syrian people.
            (2) It is the policy of the United States to deny the 
        Government of Syria the ability to--
                    (A) finance, provide safe-haven, or otherwise 
                support terrorist organizations;
                    (B) develop chemical, biological, radiological, or 
                nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles;
                    (C) continue to interfere in the affairs of the 
                Government of Lebanon in contravention of multiple 
                United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and other 
                pertinent obligations; and
                    (D) continue to oppress the people of Syria.
            (3) The President should advocate for, and should instruct 
        the United States Permanent Representative to the United 
        Nations to propose and seek within the United Nations Security 
        Council, a mandatory international embargo against the 
        Government of Syria, pursuant to Article 41 of the Charter of 
        the United Nations.
            (4) Any effort by a country that is a recipient of United 
        States assistance to facilitate, directly or indirectly, the 
        development of Syria's chemical, biological, radiological, or 
        nuclear weapons capabilities, long-range ballistic missile 
        development programs, or to help make operational any nuclear 
        facility in Syria will have a detrimental impact on United 
        States assistance to, or commercial and financial relations 
        with, such country.

SEC. 102. CODIFICATION OF EXISTING SANCTIONS.

    Restrictions against the Government of Syria, and on persons by 
reason of their direction of, or contribution to, activities of the 
Government of Syria, that were imposed pursuant to the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Enhancement Act (Public Law 110-96), the 
Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 
(Public Law 108-175), the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation 
Act (Public Law 106-178), or any similar provision of law, as in effect 
on the date of the enactment of this Act, including the restrictions 
imposed under Executive Order 12938 (as amended by Executive Order 
13094), Executive Order 13338, Executive Order 13399, and any similar 
Executive Order, shall remain in effect against the Government of Syria 
and may not be lifted pursuant to such provisions of law until the 
President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that a 
government exists in Syria that--
            (1) has ceased any and all support for terrorism and has 
        not provided such support during the preceding 5-year period, 
        including support for Palestinian terrorist groups, and has not 
        been determined by the Secretary of State, for the purposes of 
        section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 
        U.S.C. App. 2405(j)), section 620A of the Foreign Assistance 
        Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371), section 40 of the Arms Export 
        Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2780), or any other provision of law, to 
        be a government that has repeatedly provided support for acts 
        of international terrorism at any time during such 5-year 
        period;
            (2) has permanently dismantled Syria's chemical, 
        biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons programs and has 
        taken demonstrable steps to combat the proliferation of such 
        weapons;
            (3) respects the boundaries, sovereignty, and right to 
        exist of all neighboring countries; and
            (4) upholds and defends the human rights and civil 
        liberties of its people.

SEC. 103. SANCTIONS AGAINST CERTAIN PERSONS.

    (a) Prohibition.--The sanctions described in subsection (c) shall 
be imposed upon any person who transfers or retransfers goods or 
technology so as to contribute to the efforts by the Government of 
Syria to--
            (1) acquire or develop destabilizing numbers or types of 
        advanced conventional weapons; or
            (2) acquire, develop, produce, or stockpile biological, 
        chemical, radiological, or nuclear weapons or long-range 
        ballistic missiles.
    (b) Persons Against Whom Sanctions Are To Be Imposed.--The 
sanctions described in subsection (c) shall be imposed on--
            (1) any person the President determines has carried out the 
        activities described in subsection (a); and
            (2) any person the President determines--
                    (A) is a successor entity to the person described 
                in paragraph (1);
                    (B) is a parent or subsidiary of the person 
                referred to in paragraph (1), if that parent or 
                subsidiary engaged in the activities referred to in 
                paragraph (1); or
                    (C) is an affiliate of the person described in 
                paragraph (1) if that affiliate--
                            (i) engaged in the activities referred to 
                        in paragraph (1); and
                            (ii) is controlled in fact by the person 
                        described in paragraph (1).
    (c) Sanctions.--The sanctions described in this subsection are the 
following:
            (1) Procurement sanction.--The United States Government 
        shall not procure, or enter into any contract for the 
        procurement of, any goods or services from the sanctioned 
        person.
            (2) Export sanction.--The United States Government shall 
        not issue any license for any export by or to the sanctioned 
        person.
            (3) Import sanction.--The President shall ban the 
        importation of any article that is a product of the sanctioned 
        person.
    (d) Sanctioned Person Defined.--In this section, the term 
``sanctioned person'' means any person or entity described in 
subsection (b).

SEC. 104. SANCTIONS AGAINST CERTAIN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

    (a) Prohibition.--If the President determines that the government 
of any foreign country transfers or retransfers goods or technology, or 
provides assistance, so as to contribute to the efforts by the 
Government of Syria to acquire or develop destabilizing numbers and 
types of advanced conventional weapons, or to acquire, develop, 
produce, or stockpile chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear 
weapons and long-range ballistic missiles, the President shall impose--
            (1) 2 or more of the sanctions described in subsection (b); 
        and
            (2) the sanctions described in subsection (c).
    (b) Sanctions.--The sanctions described in this subsection are the 
following:
            (1) Suspension of united states assistance.--The United 
        States Government shall suspend United States assistance to the 
        sanctioned country.
            (2) Export sanction.--The United States Government may not 
        issue any license for any export by or to the sanctioned 
        country.
            (3) Import sanction.--The President shall ban the 
        importation of any article that is a product of the sanctioned 
        country.
            (4) International financial institution assistance.--The 
        Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States 
        Executive Director at each international financial institution 
        (as defined in section 1701(c)(2) of the International 
        Financial Institutions Act) to oppose and vote against the 
        extension by such institution of any financial or technical 
        assistance to the sanctioned country.
            (5) Suspension of codevelopment or coproduction 
        agreements.--The United States Government shall suspend 
        compliance with its obligations under any memorandum of 
        understanding with the sanctioned country for the codevelopment 
        or coproduction of any item on the United States Munitions List 
        (established under section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act 
        (22 U.S.C. 2778)), including any obligation for implementation 
        of the memorandum of understanding through the sale to the 
        sanctioned country of technical data or assistance or the 
        licensing for export to the sanctioned country of any component 
        part.
            (6) United states munitions list.--No item on the United 
        States Munitions List (established pursuant to section 38 of 
        the Arms Export Control Act) may be exported to the sanctioned 
        country.
    (c) Suspension of Military and Dual-Use Technical Exchange 
Agreements.--The United States Government shall suspend compliance with 
its obligations under any technical exchange agreement involving 
military and dual-use technology between the United States and the 
sanctioned country that does not directly contribute to the security of 
the United States. No military or dual-use technology may be exported 
from the United States to the sanctioned country pursuant to such 
agreement during such period.

          TITLE II--SANCTIONS TARGETING SYRIA'S ENERGY SECTOR

SEC. 201. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.

    (a) Imposition of Sanctions.--Except as provided under subsection 
(e) and section 203, the President shall impose the sanctions specified 
in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) and 1 of the sanctions 
specified in paragraphs (3) through (6) of subsection (b) if the 
President determines that a person has, on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, made an investment, or combination of 
investments within a 12-month period, of $5,000,000 or more that 
contributed to the enhancement of the Government of Syria's ability to 
develop petroleum resources in Syria.
    (b) Sanctions Specified.--The sanctions specified in this 
subsection are as follows:
            (1) Export-import bank assistance for exports to sanctioned 
        persons.--The President shall prohibit the Export-Import Bank 
        of the United States from approving 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 any sanctioned person.
            (2) Loans from united states financial institutions.--The 
        United States Government shall prohibit any United States 
        financial institution from making loans or providing credits 
        totaling more than $10,000,000 in any 12-month period to any 
        sanctioned person unless--
                    (A) such person is engaged in activities to relieve 
                human suffering; and
                    (B) the loans or credits are provided to carry out 
                the activities described in subparagraph (A).
            (3) Export sanction.--The President may prohibit the United 
        States Government from issuing any specific license or granting 
        any other specific permission or authority to export any goods 
        or technology to a sanctioned person under--
                    (A) the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 App. 
                2401 et seq.);
                    (B) the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et 
                seq.);
                    (C) the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 
                et seq.); or
                    (D) any other provision of law that requires the 
                prior review and approval of the United States 
                Government as a condition for the export or reexport of 
                goods or services.
            (4) Prohibitions on financial institutions.--
                    (A) In general.--A financial institution that is a 
                sanctioned person--
                            (i) may not be designated by the Board of 
                        Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the 
                        Federal Reserve Bank of New York as a primary 
                        dealer in United States Government debt 
                        instruments or permitted to continue in any 
                        such designation; and
                            (ii) may not serve as an agent of the 
                        United States Government or serve as repository 
                        for United States Government funds.
                    (B) Treatment.--For purposes of this title--
                            (i) a sanction imposed under clause (i) or 
                        (ii) of subparagraph (A) shall be treated as 1 
                        sanction; and
                            (ii) sanctions imposed under clauses (i) 
                        and (ii) of subparagraph (A) shall be treated 
                        as 2 sanctions.
            (5) Procurement sanction.--The United States Government may 
        not procure, or enter into any contract for the procurement of, 
        any goods or services from a sanctioned person.
            (6) Additional sanctions.--The President may impose 
        sanctions, as appropriate, to restrict imports with respect to 
        a sanctioned person, in accordance with the International 
        Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
    (c) Persons Against Which the Sanctions Are To Be Imposed.--The 
sanctions described in subsection (b) shall be imposed on--
            (1) any person the President determines has carried out the 
        activities described in subsection (a); and
            (2) any person the President determines--
                    (A) is a successor entity to the person described 
                in paragraph (1);
                    (B) is a parent or subsidiary of the person 
                described in paragraph (1) if that parent or subsidiary 
                engaged in the activities referred to in paragraph (1); 
                or
                    (C) is an affiliate of the person described in 
                paragraph (1), if that affiliate--
                            (i) engaged in the activities referred to 
                        in paragraph (1); and
                            (ii) is controlled in fact by the person 
                        described in paragraph (1).
    (d) Publication in Federal Register.--The President shall annually 
publish in the Federal Register--
            (1) a current list of sanctioned persons;
            (2) the persons or entities who have been removed from, or 
        added to, the list of sanctioned persons since the list was 
        last published in the Federal Register; and
            (3) a list of all the projects that have been publicly 
        tendered in the oil and gas sector in Syria.
    (e) Exceptions.--The President is not required to apply or maintain 
the sanctions described in subsection (b)--
            (1) to the procurement of defense articles or defense 
        services--
                    (A) under contracts or subcontracts existing on the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, including the 
                exercise of options for production quantities to 
                satisfy requirements essential to the national security 
                of the United States; or
                    (B) if the President determines and certifies in 
                writing to the appropriate congressional committees 
                that--
                            (i)(I) the person to which the sanctions 
                        would otherwise be applied is a sole source 
                        supplier of the defense articles or services;
                            (II) the defense articles or services are 
                        essential; and
                            (III) alternative sources are not readily 
                        or reasonably available; or
                            (ii) such articles or services are 
                        essential to the national security of the 
                        United States under defense coproduction 
                        agreements;
            (2) to the procurement of eligible products (as defined in 
        section 308(4) of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 
        2518(4))) of any foreign country or instrumentality designated 
        under section 301(b)(1) of that Act (19 U.S.C. 2511(b)(1));
            (3) to products, technology, or services provided under 
        contracts entered into before the date on which the President 
        publishes in the Federal Register the name of the person with 
        respect to whom the sanctions are to be imposed;
            (4) to spare parts or component parts, but not finished 
        products, which are essential to United States products or 
        production; and
            (5) to medicines, medical supplies, or other humanitarian 
        items.
    (f) Sanctioned Person Defined.--In this section, the term 
``sanctioned person'' means any person or entity described in 
subsection (c).
    (g) Determinations Not Reviewable.--A determination to impose 
sanctions under this section may not be subject to judicial review in 
any court.

SEC. 202. ADVISORY OPINIONS.

    (a) Issuance.--Upon the request of any person, the Secretary of 
State may issue an advisory opinion to advise that person whether a 
proposed activity by that person would subject that person to sanctions 
under section 201.
    (b) Safe Harbor.--Any person who relies in good faith on an 
advisory opinion issued under subsection (a) that states that a 
proposed activity would not subject the person to sanctions under 
section 201, and any person who thereafter engages in such activity, 
shall not be subject to such sanctions on account of such activity.

SEC. 203. TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS.

    The requirement to impose sanctions under section 201 shall no 
longer have force or effect with respect to the Government of Syria if 
the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional 
committees that the Government of Syria--
            (1) has ceased its efforts to design, develop, manufacture, 
        or acquire--
                    (A) a nuclear explosive device or related materials 
                and technology;
                    (B) chemical, biological, and radiological weapons; 
                and
                    (C) ballistic missiles and ballistic missile launch 
                technology;
            (2) is no longer a government that has repeatedly provided 
        support for acts of international terrorism, as determined by 
        the Secretary of State under section 6(j) of the Export 
        Administration Act of 1979, section 620A of the Foreign 
        Assistance Act of 1961, section 40 of the Arms Export Control 
        Act, or any other provision of law;
            (3) is in compliance with all of its international 
        commitments, including pertinent United Nations Security 
        Council resolutions;
            (4) respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and 
        right to exist of neighboring countries; and
            (5) poses no threat to United States security, United 
        States interests, or United States allies in the region.

SEC. 204. DURATION OF SANCTIONS; PRESIDENTIAL WAIVER.

    (a) Duration of Sanctions.--Sanctions imposed under section 201 
shall remain in effect--
            (1) for a period of not less than 2 years from the date on 
        which it is imposed; or
            (2) for the longer of--
                    (A) a period of not less than 1 year; or
                    (B) until such time as the President determines and 
                certifies to the appropriate congressional committees 
                that--
                            (i) the person whose activities were the 
                        basis for imposing the sanction is no longer 
                        engaging in such activities; and
                            (ii) the President has received reliable 
                        assurances that such person will not engage in 
                        such activities in the future.
    (b) Delay of Sanctions.--
            (1) Consultations.--If the President determines that a 
        sanction under section 201 should be imposed with respect to a 
        foreign person, the President should immediately initiate 
        consultations with the government with primary jurisdiction 
        over the foreign person with respect to the imposition of 
        sanctions under such section.
            (2) Actions by government of jurisdiction.--
                    (A) Consultations.--The President may delay the 
                imposition of sanctions against a foreign person under 
                section 201 for up to 90 days to consult with the 
                government with primary jurisdiction over the foreign 
                person.
                    (B) Effect of consultation.--At the conclusion of 
                the consultations under subparagraph (A), the President 
                shall immediately impose sanctions against the foreign 
                person under section 201 unless the President 
                determines and certifies to the appropriate 
                congressional committees that the foreign government 
                has taken specific and effective actions, including the 
                imposition of appropriate penalties, to terminate the 
                involvement of the foreign person in the activities 
                that resulted in the determination by the President to 
                impose such sanctions against the foreign person.
    (c) Presidential Waiver.--The President may, on a case by case 
basis, waive for a single period not to exceed 6 months the application 
of a sanction imposed under section 201 with respect to a foreign 
person if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional 
committees at least 30 days before such waiver is to take effect that--
            (1) such waiver is vital to the national security of the 
        United States; and
            (2) the government of the country of which the foreign 
        person is a national has undertaken substantial measures to--
                    (A) prevent the acquisition and development of 
                weapons of mass destruction by the Government of Syria; 
                and
                    (B) deny the Government of Syria the resources and 
                capability to engage in the state-sponsorship of 
                terrorism.

SEC. 205. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.

    Nothing in this title may be construed to apply to any activities 
subject to the reporting requirements of title V of the National 
Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 413 et seq.).

SEC. 206. ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN TAX INCENTIVES FOR OIL COMPANIES 
              INVESTING IN SYRIA.

    (a) In General.--Section 167(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 (relating to amortization of geological and geophysical 
expenditures) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Denial when syria sanctions in effect.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If sanctions are imposed under 
                the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty 
                Restoration Act of 2003 or the Syria Accountability and 
                Liberation Act on any member of an expanded affiliated 
                group the common parent of which is a foreign 
                corporation, paragraph (1) shall not apply to any 
                expense paid or incurred by any such member in any 
                period during which the sanctions are in effect.
                    ``(B) Expanded affiliated group.--In this 
                paragraph, the term `expanded affiliated group' has the 
                meaning given the term `affiliated group' under section 
                1504(a), except that--
                            ``(i) the phrase `more than 50 percent' 
                        shall be substituted for `at least 80 percent' 
                        each place it appears; and
                            ``(ii) paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of 
                        section 1504(b) shall not apply.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to expenses paid or incurred on or after January 1, 2007.

    TITLE III--DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO ISOLATE THE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA

SEC. 301. SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO BILATERAL EFFORTS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should 
ensure that United States diplomatic personnel who are stationed 
abroad--
            (1) understand and, in their contacts with foreign 
        officials, are communicating the reasons for United States 
        policy and sanctions against the Government of Syria; and
            (2) are urging foreign governments to cooperate more 
        effectively with the Government of the United States in 
        compelling the Government of Syria to cease policies and 
        activities that threaten global peace and security.

SEC. 302. OPPOSITION TO SYRIA'S MEMBERSHIP AND CANDIDACY FOR LEADERSHIP 
              POSTS IN UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTIONS.

    The President shall direct the United States Permanent 
Representative to the United Nations to continue to use the voice and 
vote of the United States to oppose Syria's membership and candidacy 
for leadership posts in such institutions, and engage in diplomatic 
efforts to secure multilateral support for such efforts.

SEC. 303. ACTIONS AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

    The President shall take the necessary steps to secure support for 
the adoption of a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly 
that--
            (1) holds the Government of Syria accountable for its 
        systematic violations of human rights of Syrian and Lebanese 
        citizens; and
            (2) calls for the appointment of a United Nations Special 
        Rapporteur to investigate such human rights violations.

SEC. 304. ACTIONS AT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

    The President shall instruct the United States Executive Director 
at each international financial institution (as defined in section 
1701(c)(2) of the International Financial Institutions Act) to use the 
voice and vote of the United States to oppose--
            (1) any loan or other assistance to Syria; and
            (2) Syria's membership in the institution.

SEC. 305. ACTIONS AT THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY.

    The President shall instruct the United States Permanent 
Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (referred to 
in this section as the ``IAEA'') to--
            (1) seek the adoption of a resolution calling on Syria to--
                    (A) declare all nuclear-related facilities;
                    (B) immediately and unconditionally suspend any 
                activity which could be used to develop nuclear-weapons 
                capability; and
                    (C) provide IAEA inspectors with full access to its 
                nuclear-related facilities;
            (2) block the allocation of funds for IAEA development, 
        environmental, or nuclear-related assistance or activity to the 
        Government of Syria or any agency or instrumentality of such 
        government until the conditions described in paragraphs (1) 
        through (4) of section 102 have been met; and
            (3) block membership of the Government of Syria on the 
        Board of Governors of the IAEA.

SEC. 306. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES AND REGIONAL CONTACT GROUPS.

    The President shall seek to establish contact groups with relevant 
countries in the Middle East to provide forums in which United States 
officials who are responsible for counter-proliferation efforts are 
able to meet, at least twice each year, with their counterpart from 
such countries to--
            (1) discuss the global threats presented by Syrian nuclear 
        proliferation and sponsorship of international terrorism; and
            (2) develop strategies to effectively address such threats.

SEC. 307. REPORT ON ASSISTANCE TO, AND COMMERCE WITH, SYRIA.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit a 
report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the 
assistance to, and commerce with, Syria by other foreign countries 
during the preceding 12-month period.
    (b) Contents.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall, 
for the period covered by the report and to the extent available--
            (1) describe all bilateral assistance provided to Syria by 
        other foreign countries, including humanitarian assistance;
            (2) describe Syria's commerce with foreign countries, 
        including an identification of Syria's trading partners and the 
        extent of such trade;
            (3) describe the joint ventures completed, or under 
        consideration, by foreign nationals and business firms 
        involving facilities in Syria, including--
                    (A) the location of the facilities involved;
                    (B) a description of the terms of agreement of the 
                joint ventures; and
                    (C) the names of the parties that are involved;
            (4) report the amount of debt of the Government of Syria 
        that is owed to each foreign country, including--
                    (A) the amount of debt exchanged, forgiven, or 
                reduced under the terms of each investment or operation 
                in Syria involving foreign nationals; and
                    (B) the amount of debt owed to the foreign country 
                that has been exchanged, forgiven, or reduced in return 
                for a grant by the Government of Syria of an equity 
                interest in a property, investment, or operation of the 
                Syrian Government or of a Syrian national;
            (5) describe the steps taken to assure that raw materials 
        and semifinished or finished goods produced by facilities in 
        Syria involving foreign nationals do not enter the United 
        States market, either directly or through third countries or 
        parties;
            (6) identify the countries and entities that provide, or 
        have provided, arms or military supplies from Syria or that 
        otherwise have entered into agreements with Syria that could 
        have a military application; and
            (7) contain, for the countries and entities identified 
        under paragraph (6)--
                    (A) a description of the military supplies, 
                equipment, or other material sold, bartered, or 
                exchanged between Syria and such countries or entities;
                    (B) a listing of the goods, services, credits, or 
                other consideration received by Syria in exchange for 
                military supplies, equipment, or material; and
                    (C) the terms or conditions of any agreement 
                described in paragraph (6).
    (c) Form.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall be in 
unclassified form and may include a classified annex.

           TITLE IV--ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY IN SYRIA

SEC. 401. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.

    It shall be the policy of the United States to support independent 
human rights and pro-democracy forces in Syria to promote the emergence 
of a democratic government in Syria that will--
            (1) denounce and combat terrorism;
            (2) dismantle its chemical, biological, radiological, and 
        nuclear weapons programs and commit to combating the 
        proliferation of such weapons;
            (3) respect the boundaries, sovereignty, and right to exist 
        of its neighbors and live in peace and security with all the 
        countries in the region; and
            (4) uphold and defend the human rights and civil liberties 
        of its citizens.

SEC. 402. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT A TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY IN SYRIA.

    (a) Authorization.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
President is authorized to provide assistance and other support for 
individuals and independent nongovernmental organizations to support a 
transition to a freely elected, internationally recognized democratic 
government in Syria.
    (b) Activities Supported.--Assistance provided pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be used to 
carry out--
            (1) democracy-building and civil society efforts in Syria, 
        including the provision of assistance to organizations 
        certified by the President to be independent democratic 
        organizations, victims of political repression and their 
        families, and prisoners of conscience and their families; and
            (2) radio and television broadcasting to Syria to support 
        democracy-building and civil society efforts in Syria.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the President, for fiscal year 2008 and for each 
subsequent fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
section.
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