[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1677 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 620
115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 1677


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 18, 2017

     Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

            October 3 (legislative day, September 28), 2018

               Reported by Mr. Corker, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
   To halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, encourage a 
 negotiated political settlement, and hold Syrian human rights abusers 
                     accountable for their crimes.

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

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Caesar 
Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
is as follows:</DELETED>

<DELETED>Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
<DELETED>Sec. 2. Sense of Congress.
<DELETED>Sec. 3. Statement of policy.
 <DELETED>TITLE I--ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATIONAL 
                    EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

<DELETED>Sec. 101. Sanctions with respect to Central Bank of Syria and 
                            foreign persons that engage in certain 
                            transactions.
<DELETED>Sec. 102. Prohibitions with respect to the transfer of arms 
                            and related materials to Syria.
<DELETED>Sec. 103. Rule of construction.
<DELETED>Sec. 104. Definitions.
<DELETED>TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS ACCOUNTABILITY ACT 
                                OF 2012

<DELETED>Sec. 201. Imposition of sanctions with respect to certain 
                            persons who are responsible for or 
                            complicit in human rights abuses committed 
                            against citizens of Syria or their family 
                            members.
<DELETED>Sec. 202. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the transfer 
                            of goods or technologies to Syria that are 
                            likely to be used to commit human rights 
                            abuses.
<DELETED>Sec. 203. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who 
                            hinder humanitarian access.
<DELETED>Sec. 204. Report on certain persons who are responsible for or 
                            complicit in certain human rights abuses in 
                            Syria.
    <DELETED>TITLE III--REPORTS AND WAIVER FOR HUMANITARIAN-RELATED 
                    ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

<DELETED>Sec. 301. Briefing on monitoring and evaluating of ongoing 
                            assistance programs in Syria and to the 
                            Syrian people.
<DELETED>Sec. 302. Assessment of potential methods to enhance the 
                            protection of civilians.
<DELETED>Sec. 303. Assistance to support entities taking actions 
                            relating to gathering evidence for 
                            investigations into war crimes or crimes 
                            against humanity in Syria since March 2011.
    <DELETED>TITLE IV--SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

<DELETED>Sec. 401. Suspension of sanctions with respect to Syria.
<DELETED>Sec. 402. Waivers and exemptions.
  <DELETED>TITLE V--REGULATORY AUTHORITY, COST LIMITATION, AND SUNSET

<DELETED>Sec. 501. Implementation and regulatory authorities.
<DELETED>Sec. 502. Cost limitation.
<DELETED>Sec. 503. Authority to consolidate reports.
<DELETED>Sec. 504. Sunset.

<DELETED>SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    It is the sense of Congress that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Bashar al-Assad's murderous actions against 
        the people of Syria have directly contributed to the deaths of 
        more than 480,000 civilians, led to the destruction of more 
        than 50 percent of Syria's critical infrastructure, and forced 
        the displacement of more than 14 million people, precipitating 
        one of the worst humanitarian crises in more than 60 
        years;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) international actions to protect vulnerable 
        populations from attack by uniformed and irregular forces 
        associated with the Assad regime, including Hezbollah, on land 
        and by air, including through the use of barrel bombs, chemical 
        weapons, mass starvation, industrial-scale torture and 
        execution of political dissidents, sniper attacks against 
        pregnant women, and the deliberate targeting of medical 
        facilities, schools, residential areas, and community gathering 
        places, including markets, have been insufficient to 
        date;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Assad's use of chemical weapons, including 
        chlorine, against the Syrian people violates the Chemical 
        Weapons Convention, to which Syria is a party;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Assad's abhorrent use of chemical weapons, 
        most recently on April 4, 2017, in an attack on the town of 
        Khan Shakhyn in which more than 90 people died, including women 
        and children, and more than 600 hundred people were injured, is 
        condemned in the strongest terms;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) violent attacks resulting in death, injury, 
        imprisonment or threat of prosecution against humanitarian aid 
        workers and diplomatic personnel, as well as attacks on 
        humanitarian supplies, facilities, transports, and assets, and 
        acts to impede the access and secure movement of all 
        humanitarian personnel are in violation of international 
        humanitarian law and impede the lifesaving work of humanitarian 
        organizations and diplomatic institutions; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Assad's continued claim of leadership and war 
        crimes in Syria have served as a rallying point for the 
        extremist ideology of the Islamic State, Jabhat al-Nusra, and 
        other terrorist organizations.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    It is the policy of the United States that all diplomatic 
and coercive economic means should be utilized to compel the government 
of Bashar al-Assad to immediately halt the wholesale slaughter of the 
Syrian people and to support an immediate transition to a democratic 
government in Syria that respects the rule of law, human rights, and 
peaceful co-existence with its neighbors.</DELETED>

 <DELETED>TITLE I--ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATIONAL 
               EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 101. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CENTRAL BANK OF SYRIA AND 
              FOREIGN PERSONS THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN 
              TRANSACTIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Application of Certain Measures to Central Bank of 
Syria.--Except as provided in subsections (a) and (b) of section 402, 
the President shall apply the measures described in section 5318A(b)(5) 
of title 31, United States Code, to the Central Bank of 
Syria.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Blocking Property of Foreign Persons That Engage in 
Certain Transactions.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Beginning on and after the date 
        that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
        the President shall impose on a foreign person the sanctions 
        described in subsection (c) if the President determines that 
        such foreign person, on or after such date of enactment, 
        knowingly engages in an activity described in paragraph 
        (2).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Activities described.--A foreign person 
        engages in an activity described in this paragraph if the 
        foreign person--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) knowingly provides significant 
                financial, material or technological support to 
                (including engaging in or facilitating a significant 
                transaction or transactions with) or provides 
                significant financial services for--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) the Government of Syria 
                        (including government entities operating as a 
                        business enterprise) and the Central Bank of 
                        Syria, or any of its agencies or 
                        instrumentalities; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) a foreign person subject to 
                        sanctions pursuant to--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) the International 
                                Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 
                                U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) with respect to 
                                Syria or any other provision of law 
                                that imposes sanctions with respect to 
                                Syria; or</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) a resolution that is 
                                agreed to by the United Nations 
                                Security Council that imposes sanctions 
                                with respect to Syria;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) knowingly--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) sells or provides significant 
                        goods, services, technology, information, or 
                        other support that directly and significantly 
                        facilitates the maintenance or expansion of the 
                        Government of Syria's domestic production of 
                        natural gas or petroleum or petroleum products 
                        of Syrian origin in areas controlled by the 
                        Government of Syria or associated 
                        forces;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) sells or provides to the 
                        Government of Syria crude oil or condensate, 
                        refined petroleum products, liquefied natural 
                        gas, or petrochemical products that have a fair 
                        market value of $500,000 or more or that during 
                        a 12-month period have an aggregate fair market 
                        value of $2,000,000 or more in areas controlled 
                        by the Government of Syria or associated 
                        forces;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) sells or provides aircraft 
                        or spare parts, or provides significant goods, 
                        services, or technologies associated with the 
                        operation of such aircraft or air carriers to 
                        any foreign person operating in areas 
                        controlled by the Government of Syria or 
                        associated forces that are used, in whole or in 
                        part, for military purposes; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) sells or provides significant 
                        goods, services, or technology to a foreign 
                        person operating in the shipping (including 
                        ports and free trade zones), transportation, or 
                        telecommunications sectors in areas controlled 
                        by the Government of Syria or associated 
                        forces;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) knowingly facilitates efforts by a 
                foreign person to carry out an activity described in 
                subparagraph (A) or (B); or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) knowingly provides significant loans, 
                credits, including export credits, or financing to 
                carry out an activity described in subparagraph (A) or 
                (B).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Sanctions Against a Foreign Person.--The sanctions to 
be imposed on a foreign person described in subsection (b) are the 
following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The President shall exercise all 
        of the powers granted to the President under the International 
        Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the 
        extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in 
        property and interests in property of the foreign person if 
        such property and interests in property are in the United 
        States, come within the United States, or are or come within 
        the possession or control of a United States person.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or 
        parole.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien 
                who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland 
                Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) 
                knows, or has reason to believe, meets any of the 
                criteria described in subsection (a) is--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) inadmissible to the United 
                        States;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) ineligible to receive a visa 
                        or other documentation to enter the United 
                        States; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) otherwise ineligible to be 
                        admitted or paroled into the United States or 
                        to receive any other benefit under the 
                        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 
                        et seq.).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Current visas revoked.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) In general.--The issuing 
                        consular officer, the Secretary of State, or 
                        the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a 
                        designee of one of such Secretaries) shall 
                        revoke any visa or other entry documentation 
                        issued to an alien who meets any of the 
                        criteria described in subsection (a) regardless 
                        of when issued.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) Effect of revocation.--A 
                        revocation under clause (i)--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) shall take effect 
                                immediately; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) shall automatically 
                                cancel any other valid visa or entry 
                                documentation that is in the alien's 
                                possession.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Exception to comply with united nations 
        headquarters agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (2) shall 
        not apply to an alien if admitting the alien into the United 
        States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with 
        the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, 
        signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force 
        November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United 
        States, or other applicable international 
        obligations.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in 
        subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International 
        Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a 
        person that knowingly violates, attempts to violate, conspires 
        to violate, or causes a violation of regulations promulgated 
        under section 501(a) to carry out paragraph (1) of this 
        subsection to the same extent that such penalties apply to a 
        person that knowingly commits an unlawful act described in 
        section 206(a) of that Act.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 102. PROHIBITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER OF ARMS 
              AND RELATED MATERIALS TO SYRIA.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Sanctions.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Beginning on and after the date 
        that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
        the President shall impose on a foreign person the sanctions 
        described in subsection (b) if the President determines that 
        such foreign person, on or after such date of enactment, 
        knowingly exports, transfers, or provides significant 
        financial, material, or technological support to the Government 
        of Syria to--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) acquire or develop chemical, 
                biological, or nuclear weapons or related 
                technologies;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) acquire or develop ballistic or cruise 
                missile capabilities;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) acquire or develop destabilizing 
                numbers and types of advanced conventional weapons; 
                or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) acquire defense articles, defense 
                services, or defense information (as such terms are 
                defined under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 
                2751 et seq.)), if the President determines that a 
                significant type or amount of such articles, services, 
                or information has been so acquired.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Applicability to other foreign persons.--The 
        sanctions described in subsection (b) shall also be imposed on 
        any foreign person that is a successor entity to a foreign 
        person described in paragraph (1).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Sanctions Against a Foreign Person.--The sanctions to 
be imposed on a foreign person described in subsection (a) are the 
following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The President shall exercise all 
        powers granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers 
        Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to freeze 
        and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in 
        property of the foreign person if such property and interests 
        in property are in the United States, come within the United 
        States, or are or come within the possession or control of a 
        United States person.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or 
        parole.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien 
                who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland 
                Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) 
                knows, or has reason to believe, meets any of the 
                criteria described in subsection (a) is--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) inadmissible to the United 
                        States;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) ineligible to receive a visa 
                        or other documentation to enter the United 
                        States; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) otherwise ineligible to be 
                        admitted or paroled into the United States or 
                        to receive any other benefit under the 
                        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 
                        et seq.).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Current visas revoked.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) In general.--The issuing 
                        consular officer, the Secretary of State, or 
                        the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a 
                        designee of one of such Secretaries) shall 
                        revoke any visa or other entry documentation 
                        issued to an alien who meets any of the 
                        criteria described in subsection (a) regardless 
                        of when issued.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) Effect of revocation.--A 
                        revocation under clause (i)--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) shall take effect 
                                immediately; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) shall automatically 
                                cancel any other valid visa or entry 
                                documentation that is in the alien's 
                                possession.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Exception to comply with united nations 
        headquarters agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (2) shall 
        not apply to an alien if admitting the alien into the United 
        States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with 
        the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, 
        signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force 
        November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United 
        States, or other applicable international 
        obligations.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts 
        to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of any 
        regulation, license, or order issued to carry out this section 
        shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) 
        and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic 
        Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that 
        commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that 
        section.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 103. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Nothing in this title shall be construed to limit the 
authority of the President pursuant to the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 104. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this title:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Admitted; alien.--The terms ``admitted'' and 
        ``alien'' have the meanings given such terms in section 101 of 
        the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Financial, material, or technological 
        support.--The term ``financial, material, or technological 
        support'' has the meaning given such term in section 542.304 of 
        title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section was in 
        effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' 
        means any citizen or national of a foreign country, or any 
        entity not organized solely under the laws of the United States 
        or existing solely in the United States.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Government of syria.--The term ``Government of 
        Syria'' has the meaning given such term in section 542.305 of 
        title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section was in 
        effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 566.312 of title 31, Code of 
        Federal Regulations, as such section was in effect on the date 
        of the enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Person.--The term ``person'' means an 
        individual or entity.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) Petroleum or petroleum products of syrian 
        origin.--The term ``petroleum or petroleum products of Syrian 
        origin'' has the meaning given such term in section 542.314 of 
        title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section was in 
        effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) Significant transaction or transactions; 
        significant financial services.--A transaction or transactions 
        or financial services shall be determined to be a significant 
        for purposes of this section in accordance with section 566.404 
        of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section was 
        in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) Syria.--The term ``Syria'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 542.316 of title 31, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, as such section was in effect on the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (10) United states person.--The term ``United 
        States person'' means any United States citizen, permanent 
        resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United 
        States (including foreign branches), or any person in the 
        United States.</DELETED>

<DELETED>TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS ACCOUNTABILITY ACT 
                           OF 2012</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 201. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN 
              PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT IN HUMAN 
              RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED AGAINST CITIZENS OF SYRIA OR 
              THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 702(c) of the Syria Human Rights 
Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791(c)) is amended to read as 
follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Sanctions Described.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The President shall exercise 
        all powers granted by the International Emergency Economic 
        Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to 
        freeze and prohibit all transactions in all property and 
        interests in property of a person on the list required by 
        subsection (b) if such property and interests in property are 
        in the United States, come within the United States, or are or 
        come within the possession or control of a United States 
        person.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or 
        parole.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Visas, admission, or parole.--An 
                alien who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of 
                Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such 
                Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe, meets any 
                of the criteria described in subsection (b) is--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) inadmissible to the United 
                        States;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) ineligible to receive a 
                        visa or other documentation to enter the United 
                        States; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) otherwise ineligible to be 
                        admitted or paroled into the United States or 
                        to receive any other benefit under the 
                        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 
                        et seq.).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Current visas revoked.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The issuing 
                        consular officer, the Secretary of State, or 
                        the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a 
                        designee of one of such Secretaries) shall 
                        revoke any visa or other entry documentation 
                        issued to an alien who meets any of the 
                        criteria described in subsection (b) regardless 
                        of when issued.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Effect of revocation.--A 
                        revocation under clause (i)--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) shall take effect 
                                immediately; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) shall automatically 
                                cancel any other valid visa or entry 
                                documentation that is in the alien's 
                                possession.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts 
        to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this 
        section or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry 
        out this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in 
        subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International 
        Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same 
        extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in 
        subsection (a) of that section.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Regulatory authority.--The President shall, 
        not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
        section, promulgate regulations as necessary for the 
        implementation of this section.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Exception to comply with united nations 
        headquarters agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (2) shall 
        not apply to an alien if admitting the alien into the United 
        States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with 
        the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, 
        signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force 
        November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United 
        States, or other applicable international 
        obligations.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this 
        section shall be construed to limit the authority of the 
        President pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 
        Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), relevant Executive orders, 
        regulations, or other provisions of law.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Serious Human Rights Abuses Described.--Section 702 of 
the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Serious Human Rights Abuses Described.--In 
subsection (b), the term `serious human rights abuses' includes--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the deliberate targeting of civilian 
        infrastructure to include schools, hospitals, markets, and 
        other infrastructure that is essential to human life, such as 
        power and water systems; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the deliberate diversion, hindering, or 
        blocking of access for humanitarian purposes, including access 
        across conflict lines and borders.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections 
(a) and (b) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
and shall apply with respect to the imposition of sanctions under 
section 702(a) of the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 on 
after such date of enactment.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 202. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER 
              OF GOODS OR TECHNOLOGIES TO SYRIA THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE 
              USED TO COMMIT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 703(b)(2)(C) of the Syria Human Rights 
Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8792(b)(2)(C)) is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in clause (i), by striking ``or'' at the 
        end;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the 
        end and inserting a semicolon; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) any article--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) designated by the 
                                President for purposes of the United 
                                States Munitions List under section 
                                38(a)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act 
                                (22 U.S.C. 2778(a)(1)); and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) with respect to 
                                which the President determines is 
                                significant for purposes of the 
                                imposition of sanctions under 
                                subsection (a); or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) other goods or technologies 
                        that the President determines may be used by 
                        the Government of Syria to commit human rights 
                        abuses against the people of 
                        Syria.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 203. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS WHO 
              HINDER HUMANITARIAN ACCESS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Syria Human Rights Accountability Act 
of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791 et seq.) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by redesignating sections 705 and 706 as 
        sections 706 and 707, respectively;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by inserting after section 704 the 
        following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 705. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS 
              WHO HINDER HUMANITARIAN ACCESS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--The President shall impose sanctions 
described in section 702(c) with respect to each person on the list 
required by subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) List of Persons Who Hinder Humanitarian Access.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after 
        the date of the enactment of the Caesar Syria Civilian 
        Protection Act of 2017, the President shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a list of persons that the 
        President determines have engaged in deliberate diversion, 
        hindering, or blocking of access for humanitarian purposes for 
        the United Nations, its specialized agencies and implementing 
        partners, national and international nongovernmental 
        organizations, and all other actors engaged in humanitarian 
        relief activities in Syria, including through the deliberate 
        targeting of such humanitarian actors and activities in Syria 
        and across conflict lines and borders.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Updates of list.--The President shall submit 
        to the appropriate congressional committees an updated list 
        under paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) not later than 300 days after the 
                date of the enactment of the Caesar Syria Civilian 
                Protection Act of 2017 and every 180 days thereafter; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) as new information becomes 
                available.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Form.--The list required by paragraph (1) 
        shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a 
        classified annex.''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in section 706 (as so redesignated), by 
        striking ``or 704'' and inserting ``704, or 705''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the 
Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 704 the following new 
item:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``Sec. 705. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons 
                            who hinder humanitarian access.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 204. REPORT ON CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR 
              COMPLICIT IN CERTAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN 
              SYRIA.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a detailed report with respect to 
whether each person described in subsection (c) meets the requirements 
described in section 702(b) of the Syria Human Rights Accountability 
Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791(b)) for purposes of inclusion on the list 
of persons who are responsible for or complicit in certain human rights 
abuses under such section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Justification.--The President shall include in the 
report required by subsection (a) a description of the reasons why any 
of the persons described in subsection (c) do not meet the requirements 
described in section 702(b) of the Syria Human Rights Accountability 
Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791(b)), including information on whether 
sufficient credible evidence of responsibility for such abuses was 
found or whether any of the persons described in subsection (c) have 
been designated pursuant to--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Executive Order No. 13572 of April 29, 2011 
        (76 Fed. Reg. 24787; relating to blocking property of certain 
        persons with respect to human rights abuses in 
        Syria);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Executive Order No. 13573 of May 18, 2011 (76 
        Fed. Reg. 29143; relating to blocking property of senior 
        officials of the Government of Syria);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Executive Order No. 13582 of August 17, 2011 
        (76 Fed. Reg. 52209; relating to blocking property of the 
        Government of Syria and prohibiting certain transactions with 
        respect to Syria); or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Executive Order No. 13606 of April 22, 2012 
        (77 Fed. Reg. 24571; relating to blocking the property and 
        suspending entry into the United States of certain persons with 
        respect to grave human rights abuses by the Governments of Iran 
        and Syria via information technology).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Persons Described.--The persons described in this 
subsection are the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Bashar Al-Assad.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Asma Al-Assad.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Rami Makhlouf.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Bouthayna Shaaban.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Walid Moallem.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Ali Al-Salim.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) Wael Nader Al-Halqi.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) Jamil Hassan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) Suhail Hassan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (10) Ali Mamluk.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (11) Muhammed Khadour, Deir Ez Zor Military and 
        Security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (12) Jamal Razzouq, Security Branch 243.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (13) Munzer Ghanam, Air Force 
        Intelligence.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (14) Daas Hasan Ali, Branch 327.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (15) Jassem Ali Jassem Hamad, Political 
        Security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (16) Samir Muhammad Youssef, Military 
        Intelligence.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (17) Ali Ahmad Dayoub, Air Force 
        Intelligence.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (18) Khaled Muhsen Al-Halabi, Security Branch 
        335.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (19) Mahmoud Kahila, Political Security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (20) Zuhair Ahmad Hamad, Provincial 
        Security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (21) Wafiq Nasser, Security Branch 245.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (22) Qussay Mayoub, Air Force 
        Intelligence.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (23) Muhammad Ammar Sardini, Political 
        Security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (24) Fouad Hammouda, Military Security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (25) Hasan Daaboul, Branch 261.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (26) Yahia Wahbi, Air Force 
        Intelligence.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (27) Okab Saqer, Security Branch 318.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (28) Husam Luqa, Political Security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (29) Sami Al-Hasan, Security Branch 219.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (30) Yassir Deeb, Political Security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (31) Ibrahim Darwish, Security Branch 
        220.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (32) Nasser Deeb, Political Security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (33) Abdullatif Al-Fahed, Security Branch 
        290.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (34) Adeeb Namer Salamah, Air Force 
        Intelligence.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (35) Akram Muhammed, State Security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (36) Reyad Abbas, Political Security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (37) Ali Abdullah Ayoub, Syrian Armed 
        Forces.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (38) Fahd Jassem Al-Freij, Defense 
        Ministry.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (39) Issam Halaq, Air Force.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (40) Ghassan Al-Abdullah, General Intelligence 
        Directorate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (41) Maher Al-Assad, Republican Guard.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (42) Fahad Al-Farouch.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (43) Rafiq Shahada, Military 
        Intelligence.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (44) Loay Al-Ali, Military Intelligence.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (45) Nawfal Al-Husayn, Military 
        Intelligence.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (46) Muhammad Zamrini, Military 
        Intelligence.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (47) Muhammad Mahallah, Military 
        Intelligence.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex if 
necessary.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
        Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Ways and 
        Means, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
        Representatives; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
        Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee 
        on Finance, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
        Senate.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>TITLE III--REPORTS AND WAIVER FOR HUMANITARIAN-RELATED 
               ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 301. BRIEFING ON MONITORING AND EVALUATING OF ONGOING 
              ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN SYRIA AND TO THE SYRIAN 
              PEOPLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the Administrator 
of the United States Agency for International Development shall brief 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the monitoring and 
evaluation of ongoing assistance programs in Syria and for the Syrian 
people, including assistance provided through multilateral 
organizations.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Matters To Be Included.--The briefing required by 
subsection (a) shall include--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the specific project monitoring and evaluation 
        efforts, including measurable goals and performance metrics for 
        assistance in Syria;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) a description of the memoranda of 
        understanding entered into by the Department of State, the 
        United States Agency for International Development, and their 
        respective Inspectors General and the multilateral 
        organizations through which United States assistance will be 
        delivered that formalize requirements for the sharing of 
        information between such entities for the conduct of audits, 
        investigations, and evaluations; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) the major challenges to monitoring and 
        evaluating such programs.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 302. ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL METHODS TO ENHANCE THE 
              PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, 
        and operational requirements of the establishment and 
        maintenance of a no-fly zone over part or all of Syria, 
        including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the operational and legal requirements 
                for United States and coalition air power to establish 
                a no-fly zone in Syria;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the impact a no-fly zone in Syria 
                would have on humanitarian and counterterrorism efforts 
                in Syria and the surrounding region; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the potential for force contributions 
                from other countries to establish a no-fly zone in 
                Syria;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, 
        and operational requirements for the establishment of one or 
        more safe zones in Syria for internally displaced persons or 
        for the facilitation of humanitarian assistance, including--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the operational and legal requirements 
                for United States and coalition forces to establish one 
                or more safe zones in Syria;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the impact one or more safe zones in 
                Syria would have on humanitarian and counterterrorism 
                efforts in Syria and the surrounding region; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the potential for contributions from 
                other countries and vetted non-state actor partners to 
                establish and maintain one or more safe zones in 
                Syria;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, 
        and operational requirements of other non-military means to 
        enhance the protection of civilians, especially civilians who 
        are in besieged areas, trapped at borders, or internally 
        displaced; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) describes the Administration's plan for 
        recruitment, training, and retention of partner forces, 
        including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) identification of the United States 
                partner forces operating on the ground;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the primary source of strength for 
                each armed actor engaged in hostilities;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the capabilities, requirements, and 
                vulnerabilities of each armed actor;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) the United States role in mitigating 
                vulnerabilities of partner forces; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) the Administration's measures of 
                success for partner forces, including--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) increasing Syrian civilian 
                        security; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) working toward an end to the 
                        conflict in Syria.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex if 
necessary.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Consultation.--The report required by subsection (a) 
shall be informed by consultations with the Department of State, the 
United States Agency for International Development, the Department of 
Defense, and international and local organizations operating in Syria 
or in neighboring countries to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian 
people.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
        Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
        Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 303. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT ENTITIES TAKING ACTIONS 
              RELATING TO GATHERING EVIDENCE FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO 
              WAR CRIMES OR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN SYRIA SINCE 
              MARCH 2011.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the Secretary of State, acting through the Assistant Secretary for 
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and the Assistant Secretary for 
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, is authorized to 
provide assistance to support entities that are conducting criminal 
investigations, building Syrian investigative capacity, supporting 
prosecutions in national courts, collecting evidence and preserving the 
chain of evidence for eventual prosecution against those who have 
committed war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria, including the 
aiding and abetting of such crimes by foreign governments and 
organizations supporting the Government of Syria, since March 
2011.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall brief the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate on assistance provided under subsection 
(a).</DELETED>

      <DELETED>TITLE IV--SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 
                            SYRIA</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 401. SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 
              SYRIA.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Suspension of Sanctions.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Negotiations not concluding in agreement.--If 
        the President determines that internationally recognized 
        negotiations to resolve the violence in Syria have not 
        concluded in an agreement or are likely not to conclude in an 
        agreement, the President may suspend, as appropriate, in whole 
        or in part, the imposition of sanctions otherwise required 
        under this Act or any amendment made by this Act for a period 
        not to exceed 120 days, and renewable for additional periods 
        not to exceed 120 days, if the President submits to the 
        appropriate congressional committees in writing a determination 
        and certification that the Government of Syria has ended 
        military attacks against and gross violations of the human 
        rights of the Syrian people, specifically--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the air space over Syria is no longer 
                being utilized by the Government of Syria and 
                associated forces to target civilian populations 
                through the use of incendiary devices, including barrel 
                bombs, chemical weapons, and conventional arms, 
                including air-delivered missiles and 
                explosives;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) areas besieged by the Assad regime and 
                associated forces, including Hezbollah and irregular 
                Iranian forces, are no longer cut off from 
                international aid and have regular access to 
                humanitarian assistance, freedom of travel, and medical 
                care;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the Government of Syria is releasing 
                all political prisoners forcibly held within the Assad 
                regime prison system, including the facilities 
                maintained by various security, intelligence, and 
                military elements associated with the Government of 
                Syria and allowed full access to the same facilities 
                for investigations by appropriate international human 
                rights organizations; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) the forces of the Government of Syria 
                and associated forces, including Hezbollah, irregular 
                Iranian forces, and Russian government air assets, are 
                no longer engaged in deliberate targeting of medical 
                facilities, schools, residential areas, and community 
                gathering places, including markets, in flagrant 
                violation of international norms.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Negotiations concluding in agreement.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Initial suspension of sanctions.--If 
                the President determines that internationally 
                recognized negotiations to resolve the violence in 
                Syria have concluded in an agreement or are likely to 
                conclude in an agreement, the President may suspend, as 
                appropriate, in whole or in part, the imposition of 
                sanctions otherwise required under this Act or any 
                amendment made by this Act for a period not to exceed 
                120 days if the President submits to the appropriate 
                congressional committees in writing a determination and 
                certification that--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in the case in which the 
                        negotiations are likely to conclude in an 
                        agreement--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) the Government of 
                                Syria, the Syrian High Negotiations 
                                Committee or its internationally-
                                recognized successor, and appropriate 
                                international parties are participating 
                                in direct, face-to-face negotiations; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) the suspension of 
                                sanctions under this Act or any 
                                amendment made by this Act is essential 
                                to the advancement of such 
                                negotiations; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) the Government of Syria has 
                        demonstrated a commitment to a significant and 
                        substantial reduction in attacks on and 
                        violence against the Syrian people by the 
                        Government of Syria and associated 
                        forces.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Renewal of suspension of sanctions.--
                The President may renew a suspension of sanctions under 
                subparagraph (A) for additional periods not to exceed 
                120 days if, for each such additional period, the 
                President submits to the appropriate congressional 
                committees in writing a determination and certification 
                that--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) the conditions described in 
                        clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) are 
                        continuing to be met;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) the renewal of the suspension 
                        of sanctions is essential to implementing an 
                        agreement described in subparagraph (A) or 
                        making progress toward concluding an agreement 
                        described in subparagraph (A);</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) the Government of Syria and 
                        associated forces have ceased attacks against 
                        Syrian civilians; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) the Government of Syria has 
                        publicly committed to negotiations for a 
                        transitional government in Syria and continues 
                        to demonstrate that commitment through 
                        sustained engagement in talks and substantive 
                        and verifiable progress towards the 
                        implementation of such an agreement.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Briefing and reimposition of sanctions.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Briefing.--Not later than 30 days 
                after the President submits to the appropriate 
                congressional committees a determination and 
                certification in the case of a renewal of suspension of 
                sanctions under paragraph (2)(B), and every 30 days 
                thereafter, the President shall provide a briefing to 
                the appropriate congressional committees on the status 
                and frequency of negotiations described in paragraph 
                (2).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Re-imposition of sanctions.--If the 
                President provides a briefing to the appropriate 
                congressional committees under subparagraph (A) with 
                respect to which the President indicates a lapse in 
                negotiations described in paragraph (2) for a period 
                that equals or exceeds 90 days, the sanctions that were 
                suspended under paragraph (2)(B) shall be re-imposed 
                and any further suspension of such sanctions is 
                prohibited.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
                Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Ways 
                and Means, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
                House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
                the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, 
                the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on the 
                Judiciary of the Senate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Sense of Congress To Be Considered for Determining a 
Transitional Government in Syria.--It is the sense of Congress that a 
transitional government in Syria is a government that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) is taking verifiable steps to release all 
        political prisoners and is providing full access to Syrian 
        prisons for investigations by appropriate international human 
        rights organizations;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) is taking verifiable steps to remove former 
        senior Syrian Government officials who are complicit in the 
        conception, implementation, or cover up of war crimes, crimes 
        against humanity, or human rights abuses and any person subject 
        to sanctions under any provision of law from government 
        positions;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) is in the process of organizing free and fair 
        elections for a new government--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) to be held in a timely manner and 
                scheduled while the suspension of sanctions or the 
                renewal of the suspension of sanctions under this 
                section is in effect; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) to be conducted under the supervision 
                of internationally recognized observers;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) is making tangible progress toward 
        establishing an independent judiciary;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) is demonstrating respect for and compliance 
        with internationally recognized human rights and basic freedoms 
        as specified in the Universal Declaration of Human 
        Rights;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) is taking steps to verifiably fulfill its 
        commitments under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the 
        Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and is 
        making tangible progress toward becoming a signatory to 
        Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production 
        and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin 
        Weapons and on their Destruction, entered into force March 26, 
        1975, and adhering to the Missile Technology Control Regime and 
        other control lists, as necessary;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) has halted the development and deployment of 
        ballistic and cruise missiles; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) is taking verifiable steps to remove from 
        positions of authority within the intelligence and security 
        services as well as the military those who were in a position 
        of authority or responsibility during the conflict and who 
        under the authority of their position were implicated in or 
        implicit in the torture, extrajudicial killing, or execution of 
        civilians, to include those who were involved in decisionmaking 
        or execution of plans to use chemical weapons.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 402. WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Exemptions.--The following activities and transactions 
shall be exempt from sanctions authorized under this Act or any 
amendment made by this Act:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Any activity subject to the reporting 
        requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 
        (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.), or to any authorized intelligence 
        activities of the United States.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Any transaction necessary to comply with 
        United States obligations under--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the Agreement between the United 
                Nations and the United States of America regarding the 
                Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake 
                Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 
                21, 1947;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the Convention on Consular Relations, 
                done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into force 
                March 19, 1967; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) any other international agreement to 
                which the United States is a party.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Humanitarian, Stabilization, and Democracy Assistance 
Waiver.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Statement of policy.--It shall be the policy 
        of the United States to fully utilize the waiver authority 
        under this subsection to ensure that adequate humanitarian 
        relief or support for stabilization and democracy promotion is 
        provided to the Syrian people.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Waiver.--Except as provided in paragraph (5) 
        and subsection (d), the President may waive, on a case-by-case 
        basis, for a period not to exceed 1 year, and renewable for 
        additional periods not to exceed 1 year, the application of 
        sanctions authorized under this Act with respect to a person if 
        the President submits to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a written determination that the waiver is necessary 
        for purposes of providing humanitarian or stabilization 
        assistance or support for democracy promotion to the people of 
        Syria.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Content of written determination.--A written 
        determination submitted under paragraph (2) with respect to a 
        waiver shall include a description of all notification and 
        accountability controls that have been employed in order to 
        ensure that the activities covered by the waiver are 
        humanitarian or stabilization assistance or support for 
        democracy promotion and do not entail any activities in Syria 
        or dealings with the Government of Syria not reasonably related 
        to humanitarian or stabilization assistance or support for 
        democracy promotion.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Clarification of permitted activities under 
        waiver.--The President may not impose sanctions authorized 
        under this Act against a humanitarian organization for--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) engaging in a financial transaction 
                relating to humanitarian assistance or for humanitarian 
                purposes pursuant to a waiver issued under paragraph 
                (2);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) transporting goods or services that 
                are necessary to carry out operations relating to 
                humanitarian assistance or humanitarian purposes 
                pursuant to such a waiver; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) having incidental contact, in the 
                course of providing humanitarian assistance or aid for 
                humanitarian purposes pursuant to such a waiver, with 
                individuals who are under the control of a foreign 
                person subject to sanctions under this Act or any 
                amendment made by this Act unless the organization or 
                its officers, members, representatives or employees 
                have engaged in (or the President knows or has 
                reasonable ground to believe is engaged in or is likely 
                to engage in) conduct described in section 
                212(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI) of the Immigration and Nationality 
                Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI)).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Exception to waiver authority.--The President 
        may not exercise the waiver authority under paragraph (2) with 
        respect to a foreign person who has (or whose officers, 
        members, representatives or employees have) engaged in (or the 
        President knows or has reasonable ground to believe is engaged 
        in or is likely to engage in) conduct described in section 
        212(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
        U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI)).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Waiver.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The President may, for periods 
        not to exceed 120 days, waive the application of sanctions 
        under this Act with respect to a foreign person if the 
        President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees 
        that such waiver is vital to the national security interests of 
        the United States.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Consultation.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Before waiver issued.--Not later than 
                5 days before the issuance of a waiver under paragraph 
                (1) is to take effect, the President shall notify and 
                brief the appropriate congressional committees on the 
                status of the foreign person's involvement in 
                activities described in this Act.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) After waiver issued.--Not later than 
                90 days after the issuance of a waiver under paragraph 
                (1), and every 120 days thereafter if the waiver 
                remains in effect, the President shall brief the 
                appropriate congressional committees on the status of 
                the foreign person's involvement in activities 
                described in this Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Definition.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
                Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Ways 
                and Means, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
                House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
                the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, 
                the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on the 
                Judiciary of the Senate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Codification of Certain Services in Support of 
Nongovernmental Organizations' Activities Authorized.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (2), section 542.516 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations 
        (relating to certain services in support of nongovernmental 
        organizations' activities authorized), as in effect on the day 
        before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) remain in effect on and after such 
                date of enactment; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in the case of a nongovernmental 
                organization that is authorized to export or reexport 
                services to Syria under such section on the day before 
                such date of enactment, shall apply to such 
                organization on and after such date of enactment to the 
                same extent and in the same manner as such section 
                applied to such organization on the day before such 
                date of enactment.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Exception.--Section 542.516 of title 31, Code 
        of Federal Regulations, as codified under paragraph (1), shall 
        not apply with respect to a foreign person who has (or whose 
        officers, members, representatives or employees have) engaged 
        in (or the President knows or has reasonable ground to believe 
        is engaged in or is likely to engage in) conduct described in 
        section 212(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI) of the Immigration and Nationality 
        Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv)(VI)).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Strategy Required.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit 
        to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing 
        a strategy to ensure that humanitarian organizations can access 
        financial services to ensure the safe and timely delivery of 
        assistance to communities in need in Syria.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Consideration of data from other countries and 
        nongovernmental organizations.--In preparing the strategy 
        required by paragraph (1), the President shall consider 
        credible data already obtained by other countries and 
        nongovernmental organizations, including organizations 
        operating in Syria.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Form.--The strategy required by paragraph (1) 
        shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a 
        classified annex.</DELETED>

     <DELETED>TITLE V--REGULATORY AUTHORITY, COST LIMITATION, AND 
                            SUNSET</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 501. IMPLEMENTATION AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Implementation Authority.--The President may exercise 
all authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of 
the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 
1704) for purposes of carrying out this Act and the amendments made by 
this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Regulatory Authority.--The President shall, not later 
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, promulgate 
regulations as necessary for the implementation of this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Briefing to Congress.--Not less than 10 days before 
the promulgation of regulations under subsection (a), the President 
shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the proposed 
regulations and the provisions of this Act and the amendments made by 
this Act that the regulations are implementing.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
        Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
        Representatives; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
        Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
        Senate.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 502. COST LIMITATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    No additional funds are authorized to carry out the 
requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act. Such 
requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise 
authorized.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 503. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Any reports required to be submitted to 
the appropriate congressional committees under this Act or any 
amendment made by this Act that are subject to a deadline for 
submission consisting of the same unit of time may be consolidated into 
a single report that is submitted to appropriate congressional 
committees pursuant to such deadline. The consolidated reports shall 
contain all information required under this Act or any amendment made 
by this Act, in addition to all other elements mandated by previous 
law.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
        Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
        Representatives; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
        Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
        Senate.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 504. SUNSET.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act shall cease to be effective beginning on December 
31, 2021.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Caesar Syria 
Civilian Protection Act of 2018''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Statement of policy.

 TITLE I--ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY 
                         WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

Sec. 101. Measures with respect to Central Bank of Syria.
Sec. 102. Sanctions with respect to foreign persons that engage in 
                            certain transactions.
Sec. 103. Strategy relating to areas of Syria in which civilians are 
                            subject to forced displacement.

 TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012

Sec. 201. Imposition of sanctions with respect to certain persons who 
                            are responsible for or complicit in human 
                            rights abuses committed against citizens of 
                            Syria or their family members.
Sec. 202. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the transfer of goods 
                            or technologies to Syria that are likely to 
                            be used to commit human rights abuses.

             TITLE III--ASSISTANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA

Sec. 301. Briefing on monitoring and evaluating of ongoing assistance 
                            programs in Syria and to the Syrian people.
Sec. 302. Assessment of potential methods to enhance the protection of 
                            civilians.
Sec. 303. Assistance to support entities taking actions relating to 
                            gathering evidence for investigations into 
                            war crimes or crimes against humanity in 
                            Syria since March 2011.
Sec. 304. Codification of certain services in support of 
                            nongovernmental organizations' activities 
                            authorized.
Sec. 305. Briefing on strategy to facilitate humanitarian assistance.

                      TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 401. Suspension of sanctions.
Sec. 402. Waivers and exemptions.
Sec. 403. Implementation and regulatory authorities.
Sec. 404. Cost limitation.
Sec. 405. Authority to consolidate reports.
Sec. 406. Rule of construction.
Sec. 407. Sunset.

SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    It is the policy of the United States that diplomatic and coercive 
economic means should be utilized to compel the government of Bashar 
al-Assad to halt its murderous attacks on the Syrian people and to 
support a transition to a government in Syria that respects the rule of 
law, human rights, and peaceful co-existence with its neighbors.

 TITLE I--ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY 
                         WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

SEC. 101. MEASURES WITH RESPECT TO CENTRAL BANK OF SYRIA.

    (a) Determination Regarding Central Bank of Syria.--Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
the Treasury shall determine, under section 5318A of title 31, United 
States Code, whether reasonable grounds exist for concluding that the 
Central Bank of Syria is a financial institution of primary money 
laundering concern.
    (b) Enhanced Due Diligence and Reporting Requirements.--If the 
Secretary of the Treasury determines under subsection (a) that 
reasonable grounds exist for concluding that the Central Bank of Syria 
is a financial institution of primary money laundering concern, the 
Secretary, in consultation with the Federal functional regulators (as 
defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6809)), 
shall impose one or more of the special measures described in section 
5318A(b) of title 31, United States Code, with respect to the Central 
Bank of Syria.
    (c) Report Required.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after making a 
        determination under subsection (a) that the Central Bank of 
        Syria is a financial institution of primary money laundering 
        concern, the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the 
        reasons for the determination.
            (2) Form.--A report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
        annex.
            (3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
                Senate.

SEC. 102. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN PERSONS THAT ENGAGE IN 
              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.

    (a) Imposition of Sanctions.--
            (1) In general.--On and after the date that is 180 days 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 
        shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with 
        respect to a foreign person if the President determines that 
        the foreign person, on or after such date of enactment, 
        knowingly engages in an activity described in paragraph (2).
            (2) Activities described.--A foreign person engages in an 
        activity described in this paragraph if the foreign person--
                    (A) knowingly provides significant financial, 
                material, or technological support to, or knowingly 
                engages in a significant transaction with--
                            (i) the Government of Syria (including any 
                        entity owned or controlled by the Government of 
                        Syria) or a senior political figure of the 
                        Government of Syria;
                            (ii) a foreign person that is a military 
                        contractor, mercenary, or a paramilitary force 
                        knowingly operating in a military capacity 
                        inside Syria for or on behalf of the Government 
                        of Syria, the Government of the Russian 
                        Federation, or the Government of Iran; or
                            (iii) a foreign person subject to sanctions 
                        pursuant to the International Emergency 
                        Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) 
                        with respect to Syria or any other provision of 
                        law that imposes sanctions with respect to 
                        Syria;
                    (B) knowingly sells or provides significant goods, 
                services, technology, information, or other support 
                that significantly facilitates the maintenance or 
                expansion of the Government of Syria's domestic 
                production of natural gas, petroleum, or petroleum 
                products;
                    (C) knowingly sells or provides aircraft or spare 
                aircraft parts that are used for military purposes in 
                Syria for or on behalf of the Government of Syria to 
                any foreign person operating in an area directly or 
                indirectly controlled by the Government of Syria or 
                foreign forces associated with the Government of Syria;
                    (D) knowingly provides significant goods or 
                services associated with the operation of aircraft that 
                are used for military purposes in Syria for or on 
                behalf of the Government of Syria to any foreign person 
                operating in an area described in subparagraph (C); or
                    (E) knowingly, directly or indirectly, provides 
                significant construction or engineering services to the 
                Government of Syria.
            (3) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, 
        in implementing this section, the President should consider 
        financial support under paragraph (2)(A) to include the 
        provision of loans, credits, or export credits.
    (b) Sanctions Described.--
            (1) In general.--The sanctions to be imposed with respect 
        to a foreign person subject to subsection (a) are the 
        following:
                    (A) Blocking of property.--The President shall 
                exercise all of the powers granted to the President 
                under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 
                (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to 
                block and prohibit all transactions in property and 
                interests in property of the foreign person if such 
                property and interests in property are in the United 
                States, come within the United States, or are or come 
                within the possession or control of a United States 
                person.
                    (B) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or 
                parole.--
                            (i) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien 
                        who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of 
                        Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such 
                        Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe, 
                        has knowingly engaged in any activity described 
                        in subsection (a)(2) is--
                                    (I) inadmissible to the United 
                                States;
                                    (II) ineligible to receive a visa 
                                or other documentation to enter the 
                                United States; and
                                    (III) otherwise ineligible to be 
                                admitted or paroled into the United 
                                States or to receive any other benefit 
                                under the Immigration and Nationality 
                                Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
                            (ii) Current visas revoked.--
                                    (I) In general.--The issuing 
                                consular officer, the Secretary of 
                                State, or the Secretary of Homeland 
                                Security (or a designee of one of such 
                                Secretaries) shall, in accordance with 
                                section 221(i) of the Immigration and 
                                Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), 
                                revoke any visa or other entry 
                                documentation issued to an alien 
                                described in clause (i) regardless of 
                                when the visa or other entry 
                                documentation is issued.
                                    (II) Effect of revocation.--A 
                                revocation under subclause (I)--
                                            (aa) shall take effect 
                                        immediately; and
                                            (bb) shall automatically 
                                        cancel any other valid visa or 
                                        entry documentation that is in 
                                        the alien's possession.
            (2) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in subsections 
        (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency 
        Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person 
        that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or 
        causes a violation of regulations promulgated under section 
        403(b) to carry out paragraph (1)(A) to the same extent that 
        such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act 
        described in section 206(a) of that Act.
            (3) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters 
        agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply 
        with respect to an alien if admitting the alien into the United 
        States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with 
        the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, 
        signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force 
        November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United 
        States, or other applicable international obligations.

SEC. 103. STRATEGY RELATING TO AREAS OF SYRIA IN WHICH CIVILIANS ARE 
              SUBJECT TO FORCED DISPLACEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall--
            (1) identify the areas described in subsection (b); and
            (2) submit to the appropriate congressional committees the 
        strategy described in subsection (c).
    (b) Areas Described.--The areas described in this subsection are 
areas in Syria that the President determines--
            (1) are under the control of--
                    (A) the Government of Syria;
                    (B) the Government of the Russian Federation;
                    (C) the Government of Iran; or
                    (D) a foreign person described in section 
                102(a)(2)(A)(ii); and
            (2) are areas in which civilians have been subject to 
        forced displacement by--
                    (A) a government specified in subparagraph (A), 
                (B), or (C) of paragraph (1); or
                    (B) a foreign person described in section 
                102(a)(2)(A)(ii).
    (c) Strategy Described.--The strategy described in this subsection 
is a strategy to deter foreign persons from entering into contracts 
related to reconstruction in the areas described in subsection (b) for 
or on behalf of--
            (1) a government specified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) 
        of subsection (b)(1); or
            (2) a foreign person described in section 102(a)(2)(A)(ii).
    (d) Form.--The strategy required by subsection (a)(2) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
    (e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

 TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012

SEC. 201. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN PERSONS WHO 
              ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT IN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES 
              COMMITTED AGAINST CITIZENS OF SYRIA OR THEIR FAMILY 
              MEMBERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 702 of the Syria Human Rights 
Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 702. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN PERSONS WHO 
              ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT IN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES 
              COMMITTED AGAINST CITIZENS OF SYRIA OR THEIR FAMILY 
              MEMBERS.

    ``(a) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions 
described in subsection (c) with respect to each person on the list 
required by subsection (b).
    ``(b) List of Persons Who Are Responsible for or Complicit in 
Serious Human Rights Abuses.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of the enactment of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 
        2018, the President shall submit to the appropriate 
        congressional committees a list of foreign persons that the 
        President determines are knowingly responsible for or complicit 
        in serious human rights abuses committed against citizens of 
        Syria or their family members, regardless of whether such 
        abuses occurred in Syria.
            ``(2) Inclusion of certain persons.--In developing the list 
        required by paragraph (1), the President shall consider for 
        inclusion on the list, among others, the following:
                    ``(A) the President of Syria.
                    ``(B) The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister 
                of Syria.
                    ``(C) The Council of Ministers of Syria.
                    ``(D) The heads of the armed forces of Syria, 
                including the land forces, air forces, and intelligence 
                services.
                    ``(E) The heads of the Ministry of Interior of 
                Syria, including the Political Security Directorate, 
                the General Intelligence Directorate, and the National 
                Police Force.
                    ``(F) The commanders and deputy commanders of the 
                Fourth Armored Division of the armed forces of Syria.
                    ``(G) The commander of the Republican Guard of 
                Syria.
                    ``(H) The Advisor for Strategic Affairs to the 
                President of Syria.
                    ``(I) The director and deputy director of the 
                Scientific Studies and Research Center of Syria.
                    ``(J) The heads of prisons under the control of the 
                Government of Syria.
                    ``(K) The governors and other heads of the security 
                branches of the 14 provinces of Syria who are appointed 
                by the President of Syria.
            ``(3) Updates of list.--The President shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees an updated list under 
        paragraph (1) not later than 300 days after the date of the 
        enactment of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2018 
        and annually thereafter for a period of 5 years.
            ``(4) Form.--The list required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified 
        annex.
    ``(c) Sanctions Described.--
            ``(1) In general.--The sanctions to be imposed with respect 
        to a foreign person under subsection (a) are the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--The President shall exercise all 
                powers granted by the International Emergency Economic 
                Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent 
                necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all 
                property and interests in property of a person on the 
                list required by subsection (b) if such property and 
                interests in property are in the United States, come 
                within the United States, or are or come within the 
                possession or control of a United States person.
                    ``(B) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or 
                parole.--
                            ``(i) Visas, admission, or parole.--An 
                        alien who the Secretary of State or the 
                        Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee 
                        of one of such Secretaries) identifies as on 
                        the list required by subsection (b) is--
                                    ``(I) inadmissible to the United 
                                States;
                                    ``(II) ineligible to receive a visa 
                                or other documentation to enter the 
                                United States; and
                                    ``(III) otherwise ineligible to be 
                                admitted or paroled into the United 
                                States or to receive any other benefit 
                                under the Immigration and Nationality 
                                Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
                            ``(ii) Current visas revoked.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The issuing 
                                consular officer, the Secretary of 
                                State, or the Secretary of Homeland 
                                Security (or a designee of one of such 
                                Secretaries) shall, in accordance with 
                                section 221(i) of the Immigration and 
                                Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), 
                                revoke any visa or other entry 
                                documentation issued to an alien who 
                                the Secretary of State or the Secretary 
                                of Homeland Security (or a designee of 
                                one of such Secretaries) identifies as 
                                on the list required by subsection (b), 
                                regardless of when the visa or other 
                                documentation is issued.
                                    ``(II) Effect of revocation.--A 
                                revocation under subclause (I)--
                                            ``(aa) shall take effect 
                                        immediately; and
                                            ``(bb) shall automatically 
                                        cancel any other valid visa or 
                                        entry documentation that is in 
                                        the alien's possession.
            ``(2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to 
        violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of 
        paragraph (1)(A) or any regulation, license, or order issued to 
        carry out paragraph (1)(A) shall be subject to the penalties 
        set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the 
        International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to 
        the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act 
        described in subsection (a) of that section.
            ``(3) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters 
        agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply 
        with respect to an alien if admitting the alien into the United 
        States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with 
        the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, 
        signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force 
        November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United 
        States, or other applicable international agreements.
    ``(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to limit the authority of the President pursuant to the 
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), 
relevant Executive orders, regulations, or other provisions of law.''.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
President should impose sanctions under section 702 of the Syria Human 
Rights Accountability Act of 2012, as amended by subsection (a), for--
            (1) the deliberate targeting of civilian schools, 
        hospitals, or markets; and
            (2) the deliberate diversion, hindering, or blocking of 
        access for humanitarian purposes, including access across 
        borders and conflict lines, with the intent to inflict 
        suffering on civilians.

SEC. 202. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER OF GOODS 
              OR TECHNOLOGIES TO SYRIA THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE USED TO 
              COMMIT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.

    Section 703(b)(2)(C) of the Syria Human Rights Accountability Act 
of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8792(b)(2)(C)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) any article--
                                    ``(I) designated by the President 
                                for purposes of the United States 
                                Munitions List under section 38(a)(1) 
                                of the Arms Export Control Act (22 
                                U.S.C. 2778(a)(1)); and
                                    ``(II) that the President 
                                determines is significant for purposes 
                                of the imposition of sanctions under 
                                subsection (a); or
                            ``(iv) other goods or technologies that the 
                        President determines are used by the Government 
                        of Syria to commit human rights abuses against 
                        the people of Syria.''.

             TITLE III--ASSISTANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA

SEC. 301. BRIEFING ON MONITORING AND EVALUATING OF ONGOING ASSISTANCE 
              PROGRAMS IN SYRIA AND TO THE SYRIAN PEOPLE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of 
the United States Agency for International Development shall brief the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the monitoring and 
evaluation of ongoing assistance programs in Syria and for the Syrian 
people, including assistance provided through multilateral 
organizations.
    (b) Matters to Be Included.--The briefing required by subsection 
(a) shall include a description of--
            (1) the specific project monitoring and evaluation efforts, 
        including measurable goals and performance metrics for 
        assistance in Syria;
            (2) the memoranda of understanding entered into by the 
        Department of State, the United States Agency for International 
        Development, and their respective Inspectors General, and the 
        multilateral organizations through which United States 
        assistance will be delivered that formalize requirements for 
        the sharing of information between such entities for the 
        conduct of audits, investigations, and evaluations; and
            (3) the major challenges to monitoring and evaluating such 
        programs.

SEC. 302. ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL METHODS TO ENHANCE THE PROTECTION OF 
              CIVILIANS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall brief the appropriate 
congressional committees on the potential effectiveness, risks, and 
operational requirements of military and non-military means to enhance 
the protection of civilians inside Syria, especially civilians who are 
in besieged areas, trapped at borders, or internally displaced.
    (b) Consultation.--The briefing required by subsection (a) shall be 
informed by consultations with the Department of State, the United 
States Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense, 
and international and local humanitarian aid organizations operating in 
Syria.
    (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Armed Services of the Senate.

SEC. 303. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT ENTITIES TAKING ACTIONS RELATING TO 
              GATHERING EVIDENCE FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO WAR CRIMES OR 
              CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN SYRIA SINCE MARCH 2011.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the 
Secretary of State, after consultation with the Attorney General and 
the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, is authorized, 
consistent with the national interest, to provide assistance to support 
entities that are conducting criminal investigations, supporting 
prosecutions, or collecting evidence and preserving the chain of 
custody for such evidence for eventual prosecution, against those who 
have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria, 
including the aiding and abetting of such crimes by foreign governments 
and organizations supporting the Government of Syria, since March 2011.
    (b) Limitation.--No assistance may be provided under subsection (a) 
while President Bashar al-Assad remains in power--
            (1) to build the investigative or judicial capacities of 
        the Government of Syria; or
            (2) to support prosecutions in the domestic courts in 
        Syria.
    (c) Briefing.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall brief the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate on assistance provided under subsection 
(a).

SEC. 304. CODIFICATION OF CERTAIN SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF 
              NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS' ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), section 
542.516 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to certain 
services in support of nongovernmental organizations' activities 
authorized), as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment 
of this Act, shall--
            (1) remain in effect on and after such date of enactment; 
        and
            (2) in the case of a nongovernmental organization that is 
        authorized to export or reexport services to Syria under such 
        section on the day before such date of enactment, apply to such 
        organization on and after such date of enactment to the same 
        extent and in the same manner as such section applied to such 
        organization on the day before such date of enactment.
    (b) Exception.--
            (1) In general.--Section 542.516 of title 31, Code of 
        Federal Regulations, as codified under subsection (a), shall 
        not apply with respect to a foreign person that has been 
        designated as a foreign terrorist organization under section 
        219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189), or 
        otherwise designated as a terrorist organization, by the 
        Secretary of State, in consultation with or upon the request of 
        the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security.
            (2) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall apply with respect 
        to a foreign person on and after the date on which the 
        designation of that person as a terrorist organization is 
        published in the Federal Register.

SEC. 305. BRIEFING ON STRATEGY TO FACILITATE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall brief the appropriate 
congressional committees on the strategy of the President to help 
facilitate the ability of humanitarian organizations to access 
financial services to help facilitate the safe and timely delivery of 
assistance to communities in need in Syria.
    (b) Consideration of Data From Other Countries and Nongovernmental 
Organizations.--In preparing the strategy required by subsection (a), 
the President shall consider credible data already obtained by other 
countries and nongovernmental organizations, including organizations 
operating in Syria.
    (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.

                      TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 401. SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS.

    (a) In General.--The President may suspend in whole or in part the 
imposition of sanctions otherwise required under this Act or any 
amendment made by this Act for periods not to exceed 180 days if the 
President determines that the following criteria have been met in 
Syria:
            (1) The air space over Syria is no longer being utilized by 
        the Government of Syria or the Government of the Russian 
        Federation to target civilian populations through the use of 
        incendiary devices, including barrel bombs, chemical weapons, 
        and conventional arms, including air-delivered missiles and 
        explosives.
            (2) Areas besieged by the Government of Syria, the 
        Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of Iran, 
        or a foreign person described in section 102(a)(2)(A)(ii) are 
        no longer cut off from international aid and have regular 
        access to humanitarian assistance, freedom of travel, and 
        medical care.
            (3) The Government of Syria is releasing all political 
        prisoners forcibly held within the prison system of the regime 
        of Bashar al-Assad and the Government of Syria is allowing full 
        access to the same facilities for investigations by appropriate 
        international human rights organizations.
            (4) The forces of the Government of Syria, the Government 
        of the Russian Federation, the Government of Iran, and any 
        foreign person described in section 102(a)(2)(A)(ii) are no 
        longer engaged in deliberate targeting of medical facilities, 
        schools, residential areas, and community gathering places, 
        including markets, in violation of international norms.
            (5) The Government of Syria is--
                    (A) taking steps to verifiably fulfill its 
                commitments under the Convention on the Prohibition of 
                the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of 
                Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, done at 
                Geneva September 3, 1992, and entered into force April 
                29, 1997 (commonly known as the ``Chemical Weapons 
                Convention''), and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation 
                of Nuclear Weapons, done at Washington, London, and 
                Moscow July 1, 1968, and entered into force March 5, 
                1970 (21 UST 483); and
                    (B) making tangible progress toward becoming a 
                signatory to the Convention on the Prohibition of the 
                Development, Production and Stockpiling of 
                Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on 
                their Destruction, done at Washington, London, and 
                Moscow April 10, 1972, and entered into force March 26, 
                1975 (26 UST 583).
            (6) The Government of Syria is permitting the safe, 
        voluntary, and dignified return of Syrians displaced by the 
        conflict.
            (7) The Government of Syria is taking verifiable steps to 
        establish meaningful accountability for perpetrators of war 
        crimes in Syria and justice for victims of war crimes committed 
        by the Assad regime, including by participation in a credible 
        and independent truth and reconciliation process.
    (b) Briefing Required.--Not later than 30 days after the President 
makes a determination described in subsection (a), the President shall 
provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees on the 
determination and the suspension of sanctions pursuant to the 
determination.
    (c) Reimposition of Sanctions.--Any sanctions suspended under 
subsection (a) shall be reimposed if the President determines that the 
criteria described in that subsection are no longer being met.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to limit the authority of the President to terminate the 
application of sanctions under section 102 with respect to a person 
that no longer engages in activities described in subsection (a)(2) of 
that section.
    (e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
        Financial Services, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the 
        Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on the 
        Judiciary of the Senate.

SEC. 402. WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS.

    (a) Exemptions.--The following activities and transactions shall be 
exempt from sanctions authorized under this Act or any amendment made 
by this Act:
            (1) Any activity subject to the reporting requirements 
        under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 
        3091 et seq.), or to any authorized intelligence activities of 
        the United States.
            (2) Any transaction necessary to comply with United States 
        obligations under--
                    (A) the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the 
                United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, 
                and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the 
                United Nations and the United States;
                    (B) the Convention on Consular Relations, done at 
                Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 
                1967; or
                    (C) any other international agreement to which the 
                United States is a party.
    (b) Waiver.--
            (1) In general.--The President may, for periods not to 
        exceed 180 days, waive the application of any provision of this 
        Act with respect to a foreign person if the President certifies 
        to the appropriate congressional committees that such a waiver 
        is in the national security interests of the United States.
            (2) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the issuance of 
        a waiver under paragraph (1), and every 180 days thereafter 
        while the waiver remains in effect, the President shall brief 
        the appropriate congressional committees on the reasons for the 
        waiver.
    (c) Humanitarian Waiver.--
            (1) In general.--The President may waive, for renewable 
        periods not to exceed 2 years, the application of any provision 
        of this Act with respect to a nongovernmental organization 
        providing humanitarian assistance not covered by the 
        authorization described in section 304 if the President 
        certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such 
        a waiver is important to address a humanitarian need and is 
        consistent with the national security interests of the United 
        States.
            (2) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the issuance of 
        a waiver under paragraph (1), and every 180 days thereafter 
        while the waiver remains in effect, the President shall brief 
        the appropriate congressional committees on the reasons for the 
        waiver.
    (d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
        Financial Services, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the 
        Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on the 
        Judiciary of the Senate.

SEC. 403. IMPLEMENTATION AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Implementation Authority.--The President may exercise all 
authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the 
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) 
for purposes of carrying out this Act and the amendments made by this 
Act.
    (b) Regulatory Authority.--The President shall, not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, promulgate 
regulations as necessary for the implementation of this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 404. COST LIMITATION.

    No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of 
this Act and the amendments made by this Act. Such requirements shall 
be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.

SEC. 405. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS.

    (a) In General.--Any reports required to be submitted to the 
appropriate congressional committees under this Act or any amendment 
made by this Act that are subject to a deadline for submission 
consisting of the same unit of time may be consolidated into a single 
report that is submitted to the appropriate congressional committees 
pursuant to such deadline. The consolidated reports shall contain all 
information required under this Act or any amendment made by this Act, 
in addition to all other elements mandated by previous law.
    (b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.

SEC. 406. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of 
the President pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers 
Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) or any other provision of law.

SEC. 407. SUNSET.

    This Act shall cease to be effective on the date that is 5 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                                       Calendar No. 620

115th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 1677

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

   To halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, encourage a 
 negotiated political settlement, and hold Syrian human rights abusers 
                     accountable for their crimes.

_______________________________________________________________________

            October 3 (legislative day, September 28), 2018

                       Reported with an amendment