[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1327 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1327

   To improve United States humanitarian and other assistance to the 
   Syrian people, facilitate the transition of Syria to a democratic 
    government, provide for United States support to the post-Assad 
                  government, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 21, 2013

   Mr. Engel (for himself, Mr. Rogers of Michigan, and Mr. Sherman) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
    Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial 
Services and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined 
 by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as 
        fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To improve United States humanitarian and other assistance to the 
   Syrian people, facilitate the transition of Syria to a democratic 
    government, provide for United States support to the post-Assad 
                  government, 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 ``Free Syria Act of 2013''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) For decades the Syrian people have suffered under the 
        oppressive regime of Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafiz al-
        Assad. In March 2011, Syrians began peaceful protests against 
        the regime. The regime responded brutally, with murders and 
        mass arrests. During the civil war that ensued, the Assad 
        regime has specifically targeted civilian populations and 
        committed mass atrocities and other war crimes.
            (2) Over 1,000,000 Syrians have become refugees over the 
        last two years, tens of thousands of others have fled Syria, 
        and more than 2,500,000 are estimated to be displaced within 
        Syria. More than 70,000 Syrians have been killed in the 
        conflict.
            (3) The replacement of the Assad regime by a democratic 
        government that repudiates terrorism would advance the security 
        of the Syrian people and their neighbors, as well as that of 
        the United States.
            (4) The prolongation of fighting in Syria is likely to 
        enhance the strength of religious extremist forces, as well as 
        the prospect that such forces will exert significant influence 
        following Assad's fall.
            (5) The Governments of Iran and Russia continue to provide 
        the Assad regime with the advanced weapons and support 
        necessary to continue its campaign of slaughter against its own 
        people.
            (6) Syria is one of the most hazardous environments in the 
        world for humanitarian aid providers. The Syrian regime has 
        established a pattern of targeting aid distribution points, 
        including bakeries, bread lines, medical facilities, and even 
        employees of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
            (7) The course of the Syrian transition and its future 
        leadership may depend on what the United States does now to 
        save Syrian lives, alleviate suffering, and help Syrians 
        determine their own future.
            (8) Syria has been on the United States list of state 
        sponsors of terrorism since the inception of that list in 1979. 
        Under the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty 
        Restoration Act of 2003, Syria's continuing provision of 
        material support and safe haven for terrorist organizations 
        make it subject to broad legislatively mandated penalties, 
        including export sanctions and ineligibility to receive most 
        forms of United States aid or to purchase United States 
        military equipment.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the United States should increase its humanitarian 
        support for individuals affected by the brutal conflict in 
        Syria--refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and 
        others--and should urge its friends and allies to do likewise;
            (2) Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon should be commended for 
        keeping their borders open and providing other support to 
        individuals fleeing the violence and upheaval in Syria and for 
        allowing them to seek international protection;
            (3) the President should urge countries in the region to 
        keep their borders open to refugees and to comply with 
        international humanitarian and refugee law;
            (4) the President should urge the United Nations High 
        Commissioner for Refugees to expedite protection and 
        resettlement of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees;
            (5) in view of the violence and bloodshed in Syria, the 
        President should provide temporary immigration relief measures, 
        including renewal of Temporary Protected Status, expedited 
        requests for change or extension of nonimmigrant status, 
        expedited processing of immigrant petitions for Syrians in the 
        United States, and granting humanitarian parole to Syrian 
        nationals with approved immigrant petitions waiting abroad;
            (6) to the extent feasible, the United States should 
        coordinate its assistance to Syrian refugees and to individuals 
        inside Syria with the Syrian Opposition Coalition's Assistance 
        Coordination Unit;
            (7) the Assad regime has committed manifold war crimes and 
        crimes against humanity, and the individuals responsible must 
        be brought to justice;
            (8) the United States should pursue appropriate mechanisms 
        to hold accountable individuals responsible for war crimes and 
        crimes against humanity in Syria;
            (9) United States military assistance should be provided 
        only to groups that demonstrate a commitment to--
                    (A) securing and safeguarding, and ultimately 
                eliminating, Syrian chemical, biological, radiological, 
                and nuclear weapons-related materials that come under 
                their control;
                    (B) full cooperation with the United States and the 
                international community in accomplishing that goal; and
                    (C) respecting all previous international 
                agreements that have been signed by Syria, including 
                agreements reached under the auspices of the United 
                Nations;
            (10) the United States should work in cooperation with its 
        friends and allies to provide non-lethal military equipment, 
        such as helmets and body armor, to friendly Syrian opposition 
        military forces;
            (11) all countries, and especially Iraq, should deny use of 
        their airspace to Syrian-bound Iranian aircraft, unless those 
        aircraft have first been forced to land, are thoroughly 
        inspected, and found to be weapons-free; and
            (12) the United States and its international partners 
        should take concrete steps to ensure that women are full and 
        equal participants in all negotiations regarding the future of 
        Syria and in all transitional and future government 
        institutions.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means 
        the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
        Senate;
            (2) the term ``economic assistance'' means foreign 
        assistance other than assistance provided to or for the benefit 
        of foreign security forces;
            (3) the term ``entity'' means any association, partnership, 
        body, organization, unit, or group;
            (4) the term ``foreign terrorist organization'' means an 
        organization designated as a foreign terrorist organization by 
        the Secretary of State in accordance with section 219(a) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189(a));
            (5) the terms ``humanitarian assistance'' and 
        ``humanitarian accounts'' include--
                    (A) assistance under chapter 9 of Part I of the 
                Foreign Assistance Act of 1961;
                    (B) emergency food assistance under title II of the 
                Food for Peace Act (Public Law 83-480);
                    (C) refugee and migration assistance under the 
                Migration and Refugee Act of 1962; and
                    (D) any other economic assistance provided to 
                address basic human needs;
            (6) the term ``post-Assad Government of Syria'' means a 
        government of Syria that meets the requirements specified in 
        section 301(a);
            (7) the terms ``defense article'', ``defense information'', 
        ``defense service'', ``military education and training'', and 
        ``value'' have the meanings given such terms in section 644 of 
        the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2403);
            (8) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of 
        the United States Agency for International Development; and
            (9) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of State.

             TITLE I--HUMANITARIAN AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE

SEC. 101. HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLES.

    United States humanitarian assistance to address the Syrian 
conflict shall be conducted in accordance with the following 
principles:
            (1) The central purpose of humanitarian assistance is to 
        save lives, alleviate human suffering, and protect vulnerable 
        populations wherever possible.
            (2) Humanitarian assistance should be impartial, based 
        solely on and in proportion to need, without discrimination 
        between or within affected populations, and without regard to 
        the political views, national origin, or religious affiliation 
        of the beneficiaries.
            (3) Humanitarian assistance should be neutral, without 
        furthering a political or religious agenda or favoring any side 
        in an armed conflict or other dispute where such humanitarian 
        assistance is carried out.
            (4) Humanitarian assistance should be independent, without 
        regard to the political, economic, military, or other 
        objectives that any actor may hold in relation to the affected 
        areas and populations.
            (5) Humanitarian assistance should be undertaken in 
        accordance with international human rights law, international 
        humanitarian law, refugee law, and the United Nations Guiding 
        Principles on Internal Displacement.
            (6) Humanitarian assistance includes protection of affected 
        populations from physical harm, persecution, exploitation, 
        abuse, family separation, sexual and gender-based violence, 
        forcible recruitment, and other threats to human rights.
            (7) To best ensure impartiality, neutrality, independence, 
        and the appearance thereof, humanitarian assistance should be 
        carried out by intergovernmental and nongovernmental 
        international humanitarian organizations, in partnership with 
        local communities and indigenous organizations.
            (8) To promote learning, accountability, transparency, and 
        the efficient use of resources, the United States should 
        support independent monitoring and evaluation of all 
        humanitarian assistance.

SEC. 102. PROTECTING WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

    Of the amounts made available for any fiscal year to carry out this 
Act, the President is authorized, notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, to provide such assistance as may be necessary for protection 
of populations affected by the conflict in Syria, especially 
including--
            (1) clinical care and psychosocial support for sexual 
        violence survivors;
            (2) improving safety for women, children, and other 
        vulnerable populations, in camps and settlements for refugees 
        and internally displaced persons;
            (3) working to minimize forced marriage, domestic violence, 
        and sexual exploitation; and
            (4) case management for separated and other vulnerable 
        children.

SEC. 103. MEDICAL NEUTRALITY.

    (a) Prohibition.--No assistance may be provided under this Act to 
any entity if the Secretary of State has credible evidence that such 
entity knowingly has been involved in--
            (1) organized attacks on health care facilities, health 
        care providers, patients, medical transport, medical supplies, 
        or medical records;
            (2) preventing medical professionals from administering 
        ethical medical care to individuals in need; or
            (3) the arbitrary arrest or detention of health care 
        service providers or individuals seeking medical care.
    (b) Requirement.--Any agreement for the provision of medical or 
health-related assistance under this Act shall expressly require that 
such assistance shall be used in accordance with the principles 
established in the Geneva Conventions and the World Medical 
Association's International Code of Medical Ethics for health care 
providers.

SEC. 104. TRANSFER AUTHORITY.

    In addition to other authorities available to transfer funds, the 
Secretary of State may exercise the authority under this section to 
transfer to, and merge with, any humanitarian account such sums as may 
be necessary from amounts which have been made available to carry out 
any provision of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and which have not 
been specifically designated by law for any particular program or 
activity, to address humanitarian needs arising as a result of the 
conflict in Syria.

SEC. 105. EMERGENCY REFUGEE AND MIGRATION ASSISTANCE.

    Section 2(c) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 
(22 U.S.C. 2601(c)) is amended in paragraph (1), by striking 
``President'' and inserting ``Secretary of State''.

SEC. 106. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO OPPOSITION-ALLIED LOCAL COORDINATION 
              COMMITTEES.

    Of the amounts made available for any fiscal year to carry out this 
Act, the President is authorized to make available such assistance as 
may be necessary to enhance the capacity, performance, and 
accountability of Syrian opposition-allied local coordination 
committees, including support for--
            (1) providing basic services to civilian populations;
            (2) carrying out administrative and management functions;
            (3) improving communications, transparency, and public 
        outreach;
            (4) prevention, research, and documentation of mass 
        atrocities;
            (5) increasing understanding of and respect for 
        internationally recognized human rights and democratic 
        principles; and
            (6) preparing for a peaceful, democratic transition.

SEC. 107. CIVILIAN BROADCASTING TO SYRIA.

    (a) Authorization of United States Civilian Broadcasting to 
Syria.--In addition to amounts made available for grants for 
broadcasting in the Middle East and the International Broadcasting 
Operations of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, such sums as may be 
necessary are authorized to be appropriated for a grant to the Middle 
East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., for the purpose of providing United 
States civilian broadcasting to the people of Syria.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a detailed report on plans to 
establish the service described in subsection (a).

SEC. 108. MARKING AND BRANDING OF ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Requirement.--Economic assistance made available under this Act 
shall be marked as being ``From the American People'' and shall include 
a representation of the United States flag.
    (b) Applicability.--The requirement of subsection (a) shall be 
applicable to all--
            (1) articles; and
            (2) program, project, and activity sites.
    (c) Unified Brand.--The marking of assistance made available under 
this Act shall not include any logo of a particular Federal department 
or agency or division thereof.
    (d) Relationship to Other Provisions of Law and Regulations.--The 
provisions of this section shall be applicable notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, and notwithstanding any Federal regulation, 
agency guidance, or procedure to the contrary.
    (e) Ongoing Programs.--To the extent it is feasible and cost 
effective to do so, the marking or branding of articles and program, 
project, and activity sites financed pursuant to ongoing agreements, 
including grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, to address the 
conflict in Syria shall be conformed to meet the requirements of this 
section.
    (f) Exceptions.--The requirements of subsection (a) shall not 
apply--
            (1) to a project or activity if the relevant Assistant 
        Secretary of State or Assistant Administrator of the United 
        States Agency for International Development determines that the 
        marking of such project or activity would--
                    (A) jeopardize the health, safety, or human rights 
                of a partner or intended beneficiary; or
                    (B) be detrimental to the achievement of project or 
                activity objectives;
            (2) to assistance provided inside Syria if the Secretary of 
        State determines that the marking of such assistance would be 
        detrimental to the achievement of overall United States foreign 
        policy objectives in Syria;
            (3) to office space occupied by a contractor or grantee, or 
        to housing, personal vehicles, or other personal property of 
        employees thereof; or
            (4) to a project or activity for which the United States is 
        one among many donors or has contributed a small proportion of 
        the total costs.
    (g) Exemption From Determination.--A determination under subsection 
(f)(2) shall not preclude the Secretary of State from requiring that 
specific projects or activities financed by the United States be 
subject to the requirements of subsection (a).
    (h) Co-Branding.--The requirements of subsection (c) shall not 
prohibit the identification of assistance with a contractor or 
grantee's own organizational brand or logo, subject to any standards or 
regulations that the President may establish.

                     TITLE II--SECURITY ASSISTANCE

SEC. 201. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING MILITARY ASSISTANCE.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the President should provide appropriate military 
        assistance, including arms, training, and intelligence support, 
        for Syrian opposition forces that meet the requirements of 
        section 203;
            (2) a primary goal of military assistance should be to 
        integrate the disparate units of the Free Syria Army into a 
        coherent, effective fighting force under a unified command; and
            (3) the United States should take the initiative to ensure, 
        insofar as possible, that arms supplied to the Syrian 
        opposition, from whatever source, are appropriately vetted and 
        are directed only to forces that support the establishment of a 
        democratic and peaceful Syria.

SEC. 202. MILITARY ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Drawdown Authority.--The President is authorized, 
notwithstanding any other provision of law, to direct the drawdown of 
defense articles from the stocks of the Department of Defense, defense 
services from the Department of Defense, and military education and 
training for an entity operating inside Syria that is not ineligible 
under section 203. Such assistance may include the following:
            (1) Non-lethal military equipment and defense information, 
        including--
                    (A) protective gear, including flak jackets and 
                other forms of body armor;
                    (B) individual equipment, tents, and organizational 
                tool sets; and
                    (C) communications equipment.
            (2) Subject to the President making the certification 
        required under subsection (g), lethal military equipment, 
        including--
                    (A) defense articles; and
                    (B) defense services.
    (b) Restriction.--Defense articles provided pursuant to this 
section may not include anti-aircraft defensive systems.
    (c) Waiver.--The President may waive the restriction under 
subsection (b) if--
            (1) it is in the vital national security interest to do so;
            (2) the President notifies Congress not later than 15 days 
        before such waiver shall be issued;
            (3) the President transmits to the appropriate 
        congressional committees a report described in subsection (h) 
        with the certification required under subsection (g) 
        specifically with respect to anti-aircraft systems not later 
        than 15 days before the issuance of such a waiver; and
            (4) the President certifies that the United States has 
        consulted with regional allies regarding the systems provided.
    (d) Notification Requirement.--The President shall notify the 
appropriate congressional committees at least 15 days in advance of 
each obligation of assistance under this section, including a detailed 
description of the assistance to be provided, in accordance with the 
procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under section 634A 
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394-1).
    (e) Reimbursement Relating to Military Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Defense articles, defense services, and 
        military education and training provided under subsection (a) 
        shall be made available without reimbursement to the Department 
        of Defense except to the extent that funds are appropriated 
        pursuant to paragraph (2).
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to the President for fiscal year 2013 such 
        sums as may be necessary to reimburse the applicable 
        appropriation, fund, or account for the value of the defense 
        articles, defense services, or military education and training 
        provided under subsection (a) of this section.
    (f) Availability of Funds.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated 
under this section are authorized to remain available until expended, 
and are in addition to amounts otherwise available for the purposes 
described in this section.
    (g) Certification.--The President shall certify, and include in 
each notification submitted pursuant to subsection (a)(2) and (c)(3), 
that the defense articles, defense services, and military education and 
training to be provided under this section to an entity operating 
inside Syria are consistent with the maintenance of regional stability 
and with the overall security and stability of neighboring friends and 
allies.
    (h) Report.--The report referred to in subsection (c)(3) is a 
report that contains a detailed description of the following:
            (1) The intended recipients of the anti-aircraft defense 
        systems that are at issue.
            (2) The areas where such systems would be deployed.
            (3) The targets against which such systems would be 
        deployed.
            (4) An assessment of how such systems would affect the 
        military and humanitarian situation in Syria.
            (5) An assessment of the risks and benefits of the intended 
        transfer of such systems.

SEC. 203. VETTING OF ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Ineligible Entities.--Assistance under this title may not be 
provided to an entity that fails to demonstrate a commitment to--
            (1) opposing and defeating the Assad regime;
            (2) establishing a democratic, pluralistic, and peaceful 
        Syria; and
            (3) securing and safeguarding chemical and biological 
        weapons, their precursor and constituent parts, and associated 
        equipment.
    (b) Prohibition.--No assistance may be provided under this title to 
an entity that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization 
in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1189), or as a Specially Designated Terrorist Organization 
under the terms and authorities of the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)
    (c) Requirement.--To the maximum extent practicable, assistance 
under this Act shall be provided in accordance with section 620M of the 
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378d).

SEC. 204. AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM TO FACILITATE SYRIAN CHEMICAL AND 
              BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS DESTRUCTION.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
President may establish a program described in subsection (b) to assist 
the securing, disabling, dismantling, removal, and destruction of 
Syrian chemical and biological weapons and all other weapons of mass 
destruction, their precursor and constituent parts, and associated 
equipment.
    (b) Type of Program.--A program established under this section 
shall be limited to cooperation between the United States and a Syrian 
entity to--
            (1) secure, safeguard, disable, dismantle, transport out of 
        Syria, or destroy chemical and biological weapons, their 
        precursor and constituent parts and associated equipment, and
            (2) establish verifiable safeguards against the 
        proliferation of such weapons.
Any such program may involve assistance in planning and resolving 
technical problems associated with the purposes of the program. Any 
such program may also involve the funding of critical short-term 
requirements related to weapons destruction and should, to the extent 
feasible, draw upon United States technology and United States 
technicians.
    (c) Funding.--
            (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal 
        year 2013, to be available until expended, for the activities 
        of the program described in this section.
            (2) Drawdown authority.--The President may direct, in order 
        to meet the goals of the program described in this section, the 
        drawdown of articles and services from any Federal department 
        or agency in any fiscal year, in addition to any other drawdown 
        authority available to the President.
            (3) Transfer authority.--In addition to any other transfer 
        authority available to the President, the President may 
        exercise the authority of this paragraph to transfer to, and 
        merge with, funds made available to carry out this section such 
        sums as may be necessary which have been made available to 
        carry out any other provision of law.
            (4) Report on proposed obligations.--Not less than 15 days 
        before obligating any funds, drawing down any articles or 
        services from a Federal department or agency, or transferring 
        any appropriated funds from another account, for the program 
        described in this section, the President shall transmit to 
        Congress a report on such proposed obligation, drawdown, or 
        transfer. Each such report shall specify--
                    (A) the account, budget activity, and particular 
                program or programs from which the funds proposed to be 
                obligated, drawndown, or transferred are to be derived, 
                and the amount of such proposed obligation, drawdown, 
                or transfer; and
                    (B) the activities and forms of assistance for 
                which the President plans to obligate such funds.
    (d) Quarterly Reports on Program.--Not later than 30 days after the 
end of each quarter during which the United States has been engaged in 
activities pursuant to a program established under this section, the 
President shall transmit to Congress a report on such activities. Each 
such report shall specify, for the preceding quarter and cumulatively, 
at a minimum a description of the following:
            (1) The activities carried out.
            (2) The types and amounts of assistance provided for such 
        activities.
            (3) The entities receiving such assistance.
            (4) The sources of funds and authorities under which they 
        were provided.
            (5) The United States departments or agencies providing 
        such assistance.

SEC. 205. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize the use of 
military force in Syria by the United States Armed Forces.

                    TITLE III--TRANSITION ASSISTANCE

SEC. 301. POST-ASSAD TRANSITION ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--The President is authorized, after making a 
determination described in subsection (b) and notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, to--
            (1) provide assistance;
            (2) make contributions; and
            (3) use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States 
        in international financial institutions for the purposes 
        described in subsection (c).
    (b) Determination.--The determination referred to in subsection (a) 
is a determination by the President, which shall be transmitted in 
writing to the appropriate congressional committees, that--
            (1) the regime of Bashar al-Assad is no longer in power;
            (2) the United States has recognized a transitional 
        government; and
            (3) such transitional government is not controlled by an 
        organization designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 
        accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality 
        Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
    (c) Purposes.--Assistance under this section may be made available 
for the following purposes:
            (1) Developing or strengthening democratic institutions and 
        processes.
            (2) Short-term economic and political stabilization.
            (3) Reconstructing or revitalizing basic infrastructure.
            (4) Fostering reconciliation and the peaceful resolution of 
        conflict.

SEC. 302. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS.

    (a) Suspension of Sanctions.--The President may suspend in 
furtherance of this Act the requirements of the Syria Accountability 
and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-175), 
section 7007 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 
112-74), and any other provision of law relating to assistance, trade, 
finance, the provision of defense articles and defense services, and 
the issuance of visas to nationals of Syria for a period not to exceed 
three months if the President transmits to the appropriate 
congressional committees in writing a determination that the post-Assad 
government of Syria is demonstrating a verifiable commitment to--
            (1) ceasing support for terrorists, including Hizballah;
            (2) preventing the illegal transfer of missile or nuclear 
        technology to any other country or entity;
            (3) halting all support, including training, safe haven, 
        supplies, and financing, for--
                    (A) Hamas, Hizballah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, 
                the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the 
                Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General 
                Command, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of 
                Palestine, Fatah al-Intifada, Fatah al-Islam, or the 
                Jabhat al-Nusra;
                    (B) any other organization designated by the 
                Secretary of State as a foreign terrorist organization 
                in accordance with section 219(a) of the Immigration 
                and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189(a));
                    (C) any person included on the Annex to Executive 
                Order 13224 (September 23, 2001) and any other person 
                identified under section 1 of such Executive Order 
                whose property and interests in property are blocked by 
                such section (commonly known as a ``specially 
                designated global terrorist'');
                    (D) any person designated under section 3 of 
                Executive Order 13338 (May 13, 2004) or under section 1 
                of Executive Order 13438 (July 17, 2007);
                    (E) the Syrian Social Nationalist Party; or
                    (F) any agency, instrumentality, affiliate, or 
                successor organization of the organizations specified 
                in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E);
            (4) dismantling Syria's chemical, biological, radiological, 
        and nuclear weapons programs and fully cooperating with the 
        United States and other relevant parties to achieve such 
        result;
            (5) ceasing all 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; and
            (6) taking demonstrable steps to combat the proliferation 
        of the weapons described in paragraph (5);
            (7) refraining from presenting a threat to United States 
        national security, United States interests, or United States 
        allies in the region;
            (8) respecting the boundaries and sovereignty of all 
        neighboring countries and rejecting interference in their 
        internal affairs; and
            (9) upholding and defending the human rights, civil 
        liberties, and political freedoms of all its people, including 
        minorities.
    (b) Renewal.--The President may renew the suspension of sanctions 
under this section for up to two consecutive six-month periods if the 
President transmits to the appropriate congressional committees in 
writing a determination that the post-Assad government of Syria is 
making substantial progress toward satisfying the conditions in 
specified in subsection (a).
    (c) Further Renewal.--If the maximum number of suspension renewals 
specified in subsection (b) has been reached, the President may further 
renew the suspension of sanctions under this section for additional 
six-month periods if the President transmits to the appropriate 
congressional committees in writing a determination that the post-Assad 
government has substantially satisfied the conditions specified in 
paragraphs (1) through (8) of subsection (a) and is continuing to make 
substantial progress toward satisfying the conditions specified in 
paragraph (9) of such subsection.

SEC. 303. TEMPORARY PERSONNEL AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Conditional Authority.--If the President makes the 
determination described in section 301(b), the following authorities 
shall apply:
            (1) Limited career appointments.--The Secretary and the 
        Administrator may extend for a period of time not to exceed 12 
        months a limited appointment under section 309(a) of the 
        Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3949(a)), and may 
        reappoint a non-career Foreign Service employee who has served 
        five consecutive years under a limited appointment, to a 
        subsequent limited appointment in order to facilitate the 
        assignment of qualified employees to Syria or to posts vacated 
        by employees assigned to Syria.
            (2) Reemployment of annuitants.--The Secretary and the 
        Administrator may waive the application of subsections (a) 
        through (d) of section 824 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 
        (22 U.S.C. 4064), and may grant authority to the head of an 
        executive agency to waive the application of such subsections, 
        on a case-by-case basis for an annuitant reemployed on a 
        temporary basis, if and for so long as such waiver is necessary 
        to facilitate the assignment of qualified employees to Syria or 
        to posts vacated by employees assigned to Syria.
            (3) Personal services contractors.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary of State and the 
                Administrator of the United States Agency for 
                International Development may each hire a total of up 
                to 50 United States citizens or aliens as personal 
                services contractors, for service in the United States, 
                or for service both in the United States and abroad, 
                subject to the following conditions:
                            (i) The Secretary or the Administrator, as 
                        the case may be, determines that existing 
                        personnel resources are insufficient.
                            (ii) The contract length, including 
                        options, may not exceed two years, unless the 
                        Secretary or the Administrator, as the case may 
                        be, makes a finding that exceptional 
                        circumstances justify an extension of up to one 
                        additional year.
                            (iii) The authority provided in this 
                        paragraph may only be used to obtain 
                        specialized skills or experience relevant to, 
                        or to respond to urgent needs resulting from, 
                        the transition in Syria.
                    (B) Authority.--The authority provided in this 
                paragraph shall be in addition to any other authorities 
                available to the Secretary or the Administrator to hire 
                personal service contractors.
    (b) Status of Personal Services Contractors.--
            (1) In general.--An individual hired as a personal services 
        contractor pursuant to subsection (a)(3) shall not, by virtue 
        of such hiring, be considered to be an employee of the United 
        States Government for purposes of any law administered by the 
        Office of Personnel Management.
            (2) Applicable laws.--An individual hired as a personal 
        services contractor pursuant to subsection (a)(3) shall be 
        covered, in the same manner as a similarly situated employee, 
        by--
                    (A) the Ethics in Government Act of 1978;
                    (B) chapter 73 of title 5, United States Code;
                    (C) sections 201, 203, 205, 207, 208, and 209 of 
                title 18, United States Code;
                    (D) section 1346 and chapter 171 of title 28, 
                United States Code; and
                    (E) chapter 21 of title 41, United States Code.
            (3) Exception.--This subsection shall not affect the 
        determination as to whether an individual hired as a personal 
        services contractor pursuant to this section is an employee of 
        the United States Government for purposes of any Federal law 
        not specified in paragraphs (1) and (2).
    (c) General Authority.--The administrative authorities provided in 
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 shall apply to assistance made 
available under this Act.
    (d) Termination of Authority.--The authorities provided under 
subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is three years after 
the date on which a determination is made under section 301(a), except 
that a contract entered into under such subsection (a) may remain in 
effect until expiration.
                                 <all>