[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 22 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. J. RES. 22

   To promote a diplomatic solution in Syria, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 10, 2013

  Mr. Manchin (for himself and Ms. Heitkamp) introduced the following 
joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                           Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
   To promote a diplomatic solution in Syria, and for other purposes.

Whereas the use of chemical weapons by the government of Bashar al-Assad against 
        civilians in Syria, including on August 21, 2013, in the Damascus 
        suburbs, is an abhorrent act and a serious violation of international 
        norms and the laws of war;
Whereas the goal of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, 
        Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons and on their 
        Destruction, done at Paris January 13, 1993 (commonly known as the 
        ``Chemical Weapons Convention''), to eliminate an entire category of 
        weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, 
        acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer, or use of chemical 
        weapons by States Parties is in the interest of the United States and 
        the international community; and
Whereas it is in the national interest of the United States to exhaust all 
        diplomatic options and to build a robust coalition of international 
        partners to prevent the proliferation and use of chemical weapons in 
        Syria: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. TITLE.

    This joint resolution may be cited as the ``Chemical Weapons 
Control and Accountability Resolution of 2013''.

SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    It is the policy of the United States that--
            (1) the Government of Syria must become a signatory to the 
        Chemical Weapons Convention and take concrete steps to comply 
        with the terms and conditions of the Chemical Weapons 
        Convention;
            (2) the failure by the government of Bashar al-Assad to 
        sign and comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention clearly 
        demonstrates a willful disregard of international norms on the 
        use of chemical weapons; and
            (3) if the Government of Syria does not sign and comply 
        with the Chemical Weapons Convention within 45 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this resolution, all elements of 
        national power will be considered by the United States 
        Government.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT FOR A SYRIA STRATEGY AND BUILDING AN INTERNATIONAL 
              COALITION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 45 days after the date of the 
enactment of this resolution, the President shall submit to Congress a 
long-term strategy for Syria, while concurrently using all appropriate 
diplomatic tools to develop and secure commitments from the 
international community with the shared strategic interest of 
preventing the proliferation and use of Syria's chemical weapons.
    (b) Elements of the Strategy.--The strategy required under 
subsection (a) shall include the following elements:
            (1) A statement of United States strategic goals in Syria.
            (2) Specific objectives and benchmarks to be accomplished 
        and a desired endstate.
            (3) A comprehensive review of current and planned United 
        States diplomatic, political, economic, and military policy 
        toward Syria, including--
                    (A) the provision of all forms of assistance to the 
                Syrian Supreme Military Council and other Syrian 
                entities opposed to the government of Bashar al-Assad 
                that have been properly and fully vetted and share 
                common values and interests with the United States;
                    (B) the provision of all forms of assistance to the 
                Syrian political opposition, including the Syrian 
                Opposition Coalition;
                    (C) efforts to isolate extremist and terrorist 
                groups in Syria to prevent their influence on the 
                future transitional and permanent Syrian governments;
                    (D) security coordination with allies and regional 
                partners including Israel, Jordan, and Turkey;
                    (E) efforts to limit support from the Government of 
                Iran and others for the Syrian regime;
                    (F) planning for securing existing chemical, 
                biological, and other weapons supplies;
                    (G) efforts to address the ongoing humanitarian 
                challenges presented by 2,000,000 Syrian refugees in 
                neighboring countries, 4,500,000 internally displaced 
                persons in Syria, and related humanitarian needs; and
                    (H) efforts to develop and secure commitments from 
                the international community to prevent the 
                proliferation and use of chemical weapons in Syria.
    (c) Form.--The strategy required under subsection (a) may include a 
classified annex, if necessary.
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