[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 138 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 138

To impose sanctions on persons that threaten the peace or stability of 
 Iraq or the Government of Iraq and to address the emergency in Syria, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 12, 2017

 Mr. Rubio (for himself and Mr. Casey) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
                           and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To impose sanctions on persons that threaten the peace or stability of 
 Iraq or the Government of Iraq and to address the emergency in Syria, 
                        and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing 
Destabilization of Iraq and Syria Act of 2017''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
TITLE I--MEASURES TO ADDRESS THREATS TO PEACE OR STABILITY OF IRAQ AND 
                                 SYRIA

Sec. 101. Statement of policy.
Sec. 102. Imposition of sanctions with respect to certain foreign 
                            persons threatening peace or stability in 
                            Iraq and Syria.
Sec. 103. Determinations with respect to imposition of sanctions on 
                            certain Iranian, Syrian, and Russian 
                            persons.
Sec. 104. Report on Iranian activities in Iraq and Syria.
Sec. 105. Assistance to the people of Syria.
TITLE II--ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY 
                         WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

Sec. 201. Sanctions with respect to Central Bank of Syria and foreign 
                            persons that engage in certain 
                            transactions.
Sec. 202. Sanctions with respect to the transfer of arms and related 
                            materials to Syria.
Sec. 203. Imposition, and conditional termination, of sanctions 
                            relating to significant arms sales to 
                            Syria.
Sec. 204. Rule of construction.
 TITLE III--AMENDMENTS TO SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012

Sec. 301. 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. 302. 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 IV--REPORTS AND WAIVER FOR HUMANITARIAN-RELATED ACTIVITIES WITH 
                            RESPECT TO SYRIA

Sec. 401. Report on monitoring and evaluating of ongoing assistance 
                            programs in Syria and to the Syrian people.
Sec. 402. Report on certain persons who are responsible for or 
                            complicit in certain human rights 
                            violations in Syria.
Sec. 403. Assessment of potential effectiveness of and requirements for 
                            the establishment of a no-fly zone, safe 
                            zones, or a no-bombing zone in Syria.
Sec. 404. 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. 405. Appropriate congressional committees defined.
         TITLE V--SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

Sec. 501. Suspension of sanctions with respect to Syria.
Sec. 502. Waivers and exemptions.
Sec. 503. Appropriate congressional committees defined.
               TITLE VI--REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND SUNSET

Sec. 601. Regulatory authority.
Sec. 602. Sunset.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) More than 14,000,000 Syrians have become refugees or 
        internally displaced persons over the last five years.
            (2) The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported 
        that since 2012, more than 60,000 Syrians, including children, 
        have died in Syrian prisons.
            (3) In July 2014, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
        House of Representatives heard testimony from a former Syrian 
        military photographer, alias ``Caesar'', who fled Syria and 
        smuggled out thousands of photos of tortured bodies. In 
        testimony, Caesar said, ``I have seen horrendous pictures of 
        bodies of people who had tremendous amounts of torture, deep 
        wounds and burns and strangulation.''.
            (4) The regime of Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly blocked 
        civilian access to or diverted humanitarian assistance, 
        including medical supplies, to besieged and hard-to-reach 
        areas, in violation of United Nations Security Council 
        resolutions.
            (5) The need for humanitarian assistance remains 
        significant. According to the United Nations, in 2016 only 46 
        percent of the overall humanitarian appeal for Syria was met, 
        leaving significant gaps in the response.
            (6) The course of the Syrian transition and its future 
        leadership may depend on what the United States and its 
        partners do now to save Syrian lives, alleviate suffering, and 
        help Syrians determine their own future.

TITLE I--MEASURES TO ADDRESS THREATS TO PEACE OR STABILITY OF IRAQ AND 
                                 SYRIA

SEC. 101. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    It shall be the policy of the United States to impose sanctions 
with respect to terrorist organizations and foreign countries, 
including the Government of Iran and the Government of the Russian 
Federation, that threaten the peace or stability of Iraq or Syria.

SEC. 102. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN FOREIGN 
              PERSONS THREATENING PEACE OR STABILITY IN IRAQ AND SYRIA.

    (a) Sanctions Required.--The President shall impose the sanctions 
described in subsection (b)(1) with respect to any foreign person 
that--
            (1) is responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged 
        in, directly or indirectly--
                    (A) actions that threaten the peace, security, or 
                stability of Iraq or Syria;
                    (B) actions or policies that undermine efforts to 
                promote economic reconstruction and political reform in 
                Iraq; or
                    (C) the obstruction of the delivery or distribution 
                of, or access to, humanitarian assistance to the people 
                of Iraq or Syria;
            (2) has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided 
        financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or 
        services to or in support of, any activity described in 
        subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1); or
            (3) is owned or controlled by, or has acted or purported to 
        act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, a foreign 
        person that has carried out any activity described in 
        subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1) or paragraph 
        (2).
    (b) Sanctions Described.--
            (1) In general.--The sanctions described in this subsection 
        are the following:
                    (A) Asset blocking.--The President shall block, in 
                accordance with the International Emergency Economic 
                Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), all transactions 
                in all property and interests in property of a person 
                subject to subsection (a) 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) Exclusion from the united states.--The 
                        Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and 
                        the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
                        exclude from the United States, any person 
                        subject to subsection (a) that is an alien.
                            (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 revoke any visa or 
                                other entry documentation issued to an 
                                alien subject to subsection (a), 
                                regardless of when issued.
                                    (II) Effect of revocation.--A 
                                revocation under subclause (I) shall 
                                take effect immediately and shall 
                                automatically cancel any other valid 
                                visa or entry documentation that is in 
                                the alien's possession.
            (2) Inapplicability of national emergency requirement.--The 
        requirements of section 202 of the International Emergency 
        Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply for 
        purposes of the imposition of sanctions under this section.
            (3) 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 that paragraph 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.
            (4) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters 
        agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (1)(B) 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.
    (c) Waiver.--
            (1) In general.--The President may, on a case-by-case basis 
        and for periods not to exceed 180 days, waive the application 
        of sanctions under this section with respect to a foreign 
        person, and may renew the waiver for additional periods of not 
        more than 180 days, if the President determines and reports to 
        the appropriate congressional committees at least 15 days 
        before the waiver or renewal of the waiver is to take effect 
        that the waiver is vital to the national security interests of 
        the United States.
            (2) Form of report.--A report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a 
        classified annex.
            (3) Sunset.--The provisions of this subsection and any 
        waivers issued pursuant to this subsection shall terminate on 
        the date that is 3 years after the date of the enactment of 
        this Act.
    (d) 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 section.
    (e) Regulatory Authority.--
            (1) In general.--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 
        section.
            (2) Notification to congress.--Not less than 10 days before 
        the promulgation of regulations under paragraph (1), the 
        President shall notify and provide to the appropriate 
        congressional committees the proposed regulations and the 
        provisions of this Act and the amendments made by this Act that 
        the regulations are implementing.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Admitted; alien.--The terms ``admitted'' and ``alien'' 
        have the meanings given those terms in section 101(a) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).
            (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee 
                on the Judiciary, the Committee on Ways and Means, and 
                the Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
                Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Finance, 
                and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
                Affairs of the Senate.
            (3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means--
                    (A) an individual who is not a United States 
                person;
                    (B) a corporation, partnership, or other 
                nongovernmental entity that is not a United States 
                person; or
                    (C) any representative, agent or instrumentality 
                of, or an individual working on behalf of a foreign 
                government.
            (4) Government of iraq.--The term ``Government of Iraq'' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 576.310 of title 31, 
        Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar 
        regulation or ruling).
            (5) Government of syria.--The term ``Government of Syria'' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 542.305 of title 31, 
        Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar 
        regulation or ruling).
            (6) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'', with respect to 
        conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has 
        actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the 
        circumstance, or the result.
            (7) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or 
        entity.
            (8) Property; property interest.--The terms ``property'' 
        and ``property interest'' have the meanings given those terms 
        in section 576.312 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
        any corresponding similar regulation or ruling).
            (9) United states person.--The term ``United States 
        person'' has the meaning given that term in section 576.319 of 
        title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding 
        similar regulation or ruling).
    (g) Sunset.--This section shall cease to be effective beginning on 
January 1, 2022.

SEC. 103. DETERMINATIONS WITH RESPECT TO IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS ON 
              CERTAIN IRANIAN, SYRIAN, AND RUSSIAN PERSONS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Government of Iran, the Government of Syria, and the Government of the 
Russian Federation are responsible for or complicit in, or to have 
engaged in, directly or indirectly--
            (1) actions that threaten the peace, security, or stability 
        of Iraq or Syria;
            (2) actions or policies that undermine efforts to promote 
        economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq; and
            (3) actions that obstruct the delivery or distribution of 
        humanitarian assistance to, or access to such assistance by, 
        the people of Iraq or Syria.
    (b) Determinations.--
            (1) In general.--The President shall, not later than 45 
        days after the date of the enactment of this Act, determine 
        whether any Iranian person, Syrian person, or Russian person 
        has engaged in activities described in section 102(a).
            (2) Determinations with respect to certain persons.--In 
        making determinations under paragraph (1), the President shall 
        make a determination with respect to whether each of the 
        following has engaged in activities described in section 
        102(a):
                    (A) The Supreme Leader of Iran.
                    (B) The President of Iran.
                    (C) Members of the Council of Guardians of Iran.
                    (D) Members of the Expediency Council of Iran.
                    (E) The Minister of Intelligence and Security of 
                Iran.
                    (F) The Commander of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard 
                Corps.
                    (G) The Minister of Defense of Iran.
                    (H) Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.
                    (I) The President of Syria.
                    (J) The Minister of Defense of Syria.
                    (K) The President of the Russian Federation.
                    (L) The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.
                    (M) The Minister of Defense of the Russian 
                Federation.
            (3) Effect of determination.--If the President determines a 
        person has engaged in activities described in section 102(a), 
        the President shall, subject to the waiver authority provided 
        under section 102(c), impose the sanctions described in section 
        102(b) with respect to that person.
            (4) Report.--
                    (A) In general.--The President shall submit to the 
                appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
                determinations made under paragraph (1) that includes--
                            (i) the reasons for those determinations;
                            (ii) an identification of the persons that 
                        have engaged in activities described in section 
                        102(a); and
                            (iii) a statement of whether the President 
                        has imposed the sanctions described in section 
                        102(b) with respect to those persons and, if 
                        not, the reasons why the President has not 
                        imposed sanctions with respect to those 
                        persons.
                    (B) Form.--A report submitted under subparagraph 
                (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 
                include a classified annex.
            (5) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    (A) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
                ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                            (i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
                        Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee 
                        on Financial Services of the House of 
                        Representatives; and
                            (ii) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
                        the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on 
                        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
                        Senate.
                    (B) Iranian person.--The term ``Iranian person'' 
                means--
                            (i) an individual who is a citizen or 
                        national of Iran; or
                            (ii) an entity organized under the laws of 
                        Iran or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction 
                        of the Government of Iran.
                    (C) Russian person.--The term ``Russian person'' 
                means--
                            (i) an individual who is a citizen or 
                        national of the Russian Federation; or
                            (ii) an entity organized under the laws of 
                        Russia or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction 
                        of the Government of the Russian Federation.
                    (D) Syrian person.--The term ``Syrian person'' 
                means--
                            (i) an individual who is a citizen or 
                        national of Syria; or
                            (ii) an entity organized under the laws of 
                        Syria or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction 
                        of the Government of Syria.

SEC. 104. REPORT ON IRANIAN ACTIVITIES IN IRAQ AND SYRIA.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for a period not to exceed 5 
years, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report on Iranian activities in Iraq and Syria.
    (b) Matters To Be Included.--The report required by subsection (a) 
shall include--
            (1) a description of Iran's support for--
                    (A) Iraqi militias or political parties, including 
                weapons, financing, and other forms of material 
                support; and
                    (B) the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria; and
            (2) a list of referrals to the relevant United Nations 
        Security Council sanctions committees by the United States 
        Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
    (c) Form.--The President may submit the report required by 
subsection (a) in classified form if the President determines that it 
is necessary for the national security interests of the United States 
to do so.
    (d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Select 
        Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Armed Services, the 
        Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Financial 
        Services of the House of Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Select 
        Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Armed Services, the 
        Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
        and Urban Affairs of the Senate.

SEC. 105. ASSISTANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Government of Syria is in violation of numerous United Nations Security 
Council Resolutions regarding the provision of humanitarian assistance 
to the people of Syria and that the Government of the Russian 
Federation is complicit in the humanitarian crisis in Syria because of 
its failure to enforce those Resolutions.
    (b) Authority.--The President is authorized, notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, to furnish, on such terms and conditions as the 
President may determine, assistance in order to--
            (1) provide enhanced support for humanitarian activities 
        taking place in and outside Syria, including the provision of 
        food, shelter, water, health care, medical supplies, 
        livelihoods, education, and other services and support, as 
        appropriate;
            (2) promote humanitarian access to populations in need;
            (3) support efforts for a peaceful resolution of the 
        conflict in Syria as well as the establishment of an inclusive 
        representative form of government in Syria;
            (4) build the capacity of legitimate local councils and 
        leaders inside Syria to provide basic services to Syrian people 
        in territory liberated from the Islamic State of Iraq and 
        Syria;
            (5) continue to encourage the participation of all groups, 
        including women, business leaders, civil society organizations, 
        traditional and religious leaders, and minority groups in 
        efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and political 
        transition in Syria;
            (6) encourage international bodies to insist that 
        transitional and future governments are committed to multiparty 
        democracy, open and transparent governance, respect for human 
        rights and religious freedom, ending the violence throughout 
        the country, promoting peace and stability with Syria's 
        neighbors, enhancing the rule of law and combating corruption, 
        and rehabilitating and reintegrating former combatants;
            (7) contribute seed funding to establish a Syria 
        Reconstruction Fund, which would leverage contributions from 
        other international donors, including governments in the 
        region, and be used for physical reconstruction, 
        reestablishment of basic services, and civil society capacity 
        building in Syria after the cessation of the conflict and the 
        fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad;
            (8) contribute future capacity building for legitimate 
        governing institutions after a political transition takes place 
        in Syria;
            (9) expand the public awareness-raising campaign of the 
        United States Government about United States humanitarian 
        assistance efforts through both English-language and regional 
        traditional media sources, as well as social or new media 
        sources; and
            (10) develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to 
        address the primary drivers of the conflict in Syria, including 
        through peace-building and good governance programming.
    (c) Funding.--
            (1) Fiscal years 2017 and 2018.--Of the amounts made 
        available to carry out the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
        U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) for fiscal years 2017 and 2018, such sums 
        as may be necessary should be allocated for bilateral 
        assistance programs in Syria.
            (2) Future funding.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
        Department of State should submit a budget request for fiscal 
        year 2018 that contains an appropriate increase in bilateral 
        and multilateral assistance for Syria based on progress toward 
        accomplishing the policy objectives described in subsection 
        (b).
            (3) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations under paragraphs (1) and (2)--
                    (A) are authorized to remain available until 
                expended; and
                    (B) are in addition to funds otherwise available 
                for such purposes.
    (d) Coordination With Other Donor Nations.--The United States 
should work with other donor countries, on a bilateral and multilateral 
basis, to increase international contributions to the people of Syria 
and accomplish the policy objectives described in subsection (b).
    (e) Notification Requirement.--
            (1) In general.--In cases where the authority in this 
        section is relied upon to overcome applicable restrictions on 
        the provision of assistance to Syria, obligation of such funds 
        shall be subject to the notification requirement of section 
        634A(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394-
        1(a)).
            (2) Waiver.--Notification under paragraph (1) may be waived 
        if failure to do so would pose a substantial risk to human 
        health or welfare, in which case notification shall be provided 
        as early as practicable, but in no event later than 3 days 
        after taking the action to which such notification requirement 
        was applicable. The waiver shall be accompanied by an 
        explanation of the emergency circumstances necessitating the 
        waiver.

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

SEC. 201. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CENTRAL BANK OF SYRIA AND FOREIGN 
              PERSONS THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.

    (a) Application of Certain Measures to Central Bank of Syria.--The 
President shall apply the measures described in section 5318A(b)(5) of 
title 31, United States Code, to the Central Bank of Syria.
    (b) Imposition of Sanctions With Respect to Foreign Persons That 
Engage in Certain Transactions.--
            (1) In general.--On and after the date that is 90 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 foreign person has knowingly engaged 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 (including 
                engaging in or facilitating a significant transaction 
                or transactions with) or provides significant financial 
                services for--
                            (i) the Government of Syria (including 
                        government entities operating as a business 
                        enterprise) and the Central Bank of Syria, 
                        including Syria's intelligence and security 
                        services or its armed forces, or any of its 
                        agents or affiliates; or
                            (ii) a foreign person subject to financial 
                        sanctions pursuant to--
                                    (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
                                    (II) a resolution that is agreed to 
                                by the United Nations Security Council 
                                that imposes sanctions with respect to 
                                Syria;
                    (B) knowingly--
                            (i) sells or provides significant goods, 
                        services, technology, information, or support 
                        that could directly and significantly 
                        facilitate the maintenance or expansion of 
                        Syria's domestic production of natural gas or 
                        petroleum or petroleum products of Syrian 
                        origin;
                            (ii) sells or provides to 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;
                            (iii) sells or otherwise provides civilian 
                        aircraft or spare parts, or provides 
                        significant goods, services, or technologies 
                        associated with the operation of aircraft or 
                        airlines to any foreign person operating in the 
                        areas controlled by the Government of Syria; or
                            (iv) sells or otherwise 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;
                    (C) knowingly engages in money laundering to carry 
                out an activity described in subparagraph (A) or (B);
                    (D) knowingly facilitates efforts by a foreign 
                person to carry out an activity described in 
                subparagraph (A) or (B);
                    (E) knowingly provides loans, credits (including 
                export credits), or financing to carry out an activity 
                described in subparagraph (A) or (B); and
                    (F) is owned or controlled by a foreign person that 
                engages in the activities described in subparagraphs 
                (A) through (D).
    (c) Sanctions Described.--
            (1) In general.--The sanctions to be imposed on a foreign 
        person described in subsection (b) are the following:
                    (A) Assets freeze.--The President shall exercise 
                all powers granted by the International Emergency 
                Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (except 
                that the requirements of section 202 of such Act (50 
                U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply) 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.
                    (B) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or 
                parole.--
                            (i) Exclusion from the united states.--If 
                        the foreign person is an individual, the 
                        Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and 
                        the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
                        exclude from the United States, the foreign 
                        person.
                            (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 revoke any visa or 
                                other entry documentation issued to the 
                                foreign person regardless of when 
                                issued.
                                    (II) Effect of revocation.--A 
                                revocation under subclause (I) shall 
                                take effect immediately and shall 
                                automatically cancel any other valid 
                                visa or entry documentation that is in 
                                the possession of the foreign person.
            (2) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters 
        agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply to 
        a foreign person if admitting the person 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.
            (3) 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 any regulation, license, or 
        order issued to carry out paragraph (1)(A) 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.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) 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 (or any corresponding similar regulation or 
        ruling).
            (2) 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 (or any corresponding similar 
        regulation or ruling).
            (3) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'', with respect to 
        conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has 
        actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the 
        circumstance, or the result.
            (4) Money laundering.--The term ``money laundering'' means 
        the movement of illicit cash or cash equivalent proceeds into, 
        out of, or through a country, or into, out of, or through a 
        financial institution.
            (5) 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 (or any corresponding similar 
        regulation or ruling).
            (6) Significant transaction or transactions; significant 
        financial services.--A transaction or transactions or financial 
        services shall be determined to be significant for purposes of 
        this section in accordance with section 566.404 of title 31, 
        Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar 
        regulation or ruling).
            (7) Syria.--The term ``Syria'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 542.316 of title 31, Code of Federal 
        Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or 
        ruling).

SEC. 202. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER OF ARMS AND RELATED 
              MATERIALS TO SYRIA.

    (a) Imposition of Sanctions.--
            (1) In general.--The President shall impose on a foreign 
        person the sanctions described in subsection (b) if the 
        President determines that such foreign person has, on or after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, knowingly exported, 
        transferred, or otherwise provided to Syria significant 
        financial, material, or technological support that contributes 
        materially to the ability of Government of Syria to--
                    (A) acquire or develop chemical, biological, or 
                nuclear weapons or related technologies;
                    (B) acquire or develop ballistic or cruise missile 
                capabilities;
                    (C) acquire or develop destabilizing numbers and 
                types of advanced conventional weapons;
                    (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.)); 
                or
                    (E) acquire items 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)).
            (2) Applicability to other foreign persons.--The sanctions 
        described in subsection (b) shall also be imposed on any 
        foreign person that--
                    (A) is a successor entity to a foreign person 
                described in paragraph (1); or
                    (B) is owned or controlled by, or has acted or 
                purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or 
                indirectly, a foreign person described in paragraph 
                (1).
    (b) Sanctions Described.--
            (1) In general.--The sanctions to be imposed on a foreign 
        person described in subsection (a) are the following:
                    (A) Asset freeze.--The President shall exercise all 
                powers granted by the International Emergency Economic 
                Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (except that the 
                requirements of section 202 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 
                1701) shall not apply) 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.
                    (B) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or 
                parole.--
                            (i) Exclusion from the united states.--If 
                        the foreign person is an individual, the 
                        Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and 
                        the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
                        exclude from the United States, the foreign 
                        person.
                            (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 revoke any visa or 
                                other entry documentation issued to the 
                                foreign person regardless of when 
                                issued.
                                    (II) Effect of revocation.--A 
                                revocation under subclause (I) shall 
                                take effect immediately and shall 
                                automatically cancel any other valid 
                                visa or entry documentation that is in 
                                the possession of the foreign person.
            (2) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters 
        agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply to 
        a foreign person if admitting the person 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.
            (3) 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 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.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) 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 (or any corresponding similar regulation or 
        ruling).
            (2) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 594.304 of title 31, Code of 
        Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or 
        ruling).
            (3) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 566.312 of title 31, Code of Federal 
        Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or 
        ruling).
            (4) Syria.--The term ``Syria'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 542.316 of title 31, Code of Federal 
        Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or 
        ruling).
            (5) United states person.--The term ``United States 
        person'' has the meaning given such term in section 542.319 of 
        title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding 
        similar regulation or ruling).

SEC. 203. IMPOSITION, AND CONDITIONAL TERMINATION, OF SANCTIONS 
              RELATING TO SIGNIFICANT ARMS SALES TO SYRIA.

    (a) Imposition of Sanctions With Respect to the Central Bank of 
Syria and Other Syrian Financial Institutions.--
            (1) In general.--The President shall prohibit the opening, 
        and prohibit or impose strict conditions on the maintaining, in 
        the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-
        through account by a foreign financial institution that the 
        President determines has knowingly conducted any significant 
        arms sale to--
                    (A) the regime of Bashar al-Assad through the 
                Central Bank of Syria or another Syrian financial 
                institution designated by the Secretary of the Treasury 
                for the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the 
                International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
                1701 et seq.); or
                    (B) any Syrian person added after April 28, 2011, 
                and before the date of the enactment of this Act, to 
                the list of specially designated nationals and blocked 
                persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets 
                Control of the Department of the Treasury.
            (2) Exception for humanitarian transactions.--The President 
        may not impose sanctions under paragraph (1) on a foreign 
        financial institution for engaging in a transaction with the 
        Central Bank of Syria for the sale of food, medicine, medical 
        devices, donations intended to relieve human suffering, or non-
        lethal aid to the people of Syria.
            (3) Applicability.--Paragraph (1) applies with respect to 
        financial transactions commenced on or after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (4) Waiver.--
                    (A) In general.--The President may waive the 
                application of paragraph (1) with respect to a foreign 
                financial institution for a period of not more than 180 
                days, and may renew that waiver for additional periods 
                of not more than 180 days, if the President determines 
                and reports to the appropriate congressional committees 
                that the waiver is necessary to the national security 
                interest of the United States.
                    (B) Form.--A report submitted pursuant to 
                subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified 
                form, but may contain a classified annex.
    (b) Termination of Sanctions.--
            (1) In general.--The requirements under subsection (a) to 
        impose sanctions shall no longer have force or effect with 
        respect to Syria if the President determines and certifies to 
        the appropriate congressional committees that the termination 
        of such sanctions is in the national security interest of the 
        United States.
            (2) Notification requirement.--Upon making the 
        certification described in paragraph (1), the President shall 
        submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
        assessing--
                    (A) the extent to which Bashar al-Assad or members 
                of his regime control Syrian territory;
                    (B) the existence and capability of a democratic 
                transitional government to control Syrian territory and 
                provide basic services to the Syrian people;
                    (C) whether the transitional government supports 
                acts of terrorism or has committed human rights 
                violations; and
                    (D) whether the transitional government is 
                cooperating with the United States Government in 
                locating, securing, and removing conventional and 
                unconventional weapons.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Account; correspondent account; payable-through 
        account.--The terms ``account'', ``correspondent account'', and 
        ``payable-through account'' have the meanings given those terms 
        in section 5318A of title 31, United States Code.
            (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Finance, the Committee on 
                Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee 
                on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee 
                on Financial Services, and the Committee on Foreign 
                Affairs of the House of Representatives.
            (3) Foreign financial institution.--The term ``foreign 
        financial institution'' has the meaning of that term as 
        determined by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to section 
        104(i) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and 
        Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513(i)).
            (4) Syrian person.--The term ``Syrian person'' means--
                    (A) an individual who is a citizen or national of 
                Syria; or
                    (B) an entity organized under the laws of Syria or 
                otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Government 
                of Syria.

SEC. 204. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    The sanctions that are required to be imposed under this title are 
in addition to other similar or related sanctions that are required to 
be imposed under any other provision of law.

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

SEC. 301. 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(c) of the Syria Human Rights 
Accountability Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8791(c)) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(c) Sanctions Described.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President shall exercise all powers 
        granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 
        U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (except that the requirements of section 
        202 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply) 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.
            ``(2) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or parole.--
                    ``(A) Exclusion from the united states.--The 
                Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and the 
                Secretary of Homeland Security shall exclude from the 
                United States, any person on the list required by 
                subsection (b) that is an alien.
                    ``(B) 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 revoke any 
                        visa or other entry documentation issued to an 
                        alien on the list required by subsection (b).
                            ``(ii) Effect of revocation.--A revocation 
                        under subclause (I) shall take effect 
                        immediately and shall automatically cancel any 
                        other valid visa or entry documentation that is 
                        in the possession of an alien on the list 
                        required by subsection (b).
            ``(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.
            ``(4) Regulatory authority.--The President shall, not later 
        than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, 
        promulgate regulations as necessary for the implementation of 
        this section.
            ``(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.
            ``(6) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall 
        be construed to limit the authority of the President to impose 
        additional sanctions 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) 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:
    ``(d) Serious Human Rights Abuses Described.--In subsection (b), 
the term `serious human rights abuses' includes--
            ``(1) the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure 
        to include schools, hospitals, markets, and power and water 
        systems;
            ``(2) the deliberate targeting of humanitarian aid 
        facilities, convoys, materiel, and personnel; and
            ``(3) the intentional denial or obstruction of prompt and 
        safe access for humanitarian relief organizations and 
        personnel, including across conflict lines and borders.''.
    (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 or after such 
date of enactment.

SEC. 302. 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 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)); 
                        or
                            ``(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.''.

 TITLE IV--REPORTS AND WAIVER FOR HUMANITARIAN-RELATED ACTIVITIES WITH 
                            RESPECT TO SYRIA

SEC. 401. REPORT 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 submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report on the monitoring and 
evaluation of ongoing assistance programs supported by United States 
funding, including such programs implemented through multilateral 
organizations, in Syria and to the Syrian people.
    (b) Matters To Be Included.--The report required by subsection (a) 
shall include--
            (1) the specific project monitoring and evaluation plans, 
        including measurable goals and performance metrics for cross-
        border assistance in Syria; and
            (2) the major challenges to monitoring and evaluating 
        programs in Syria.

SEC. 402. REPORT ON CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR 
              COMPLICIT IN CERTAIN HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN SYRIA.

    (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 (b) is a person that 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. For any such person 
who is not included in such report, the President should include in the 
report a description of the reasons why the person was not included, 
including information on whether sufficient credible evidence of 
responsibility for such abuses was found.
    (b) Persons Described.--The persons described in this subsection 
are the following:
            (1) Bashar Al-Assad.
            (2) Asma Al-Assad.
            (3) Rami Makhlouf.
            (4) Bouthayna Shaaban.
            (5) Walid Moallem.
            (6) Ali Al-Salim.
            (7) Wael Nader Al-Halqi.
            (8) Jamil Hassan.
            (9) Suhail Hassan.
            (10) Ali Mamluk.
            (11) Muhammed Khadour, Deir Ez Zor Military and Security.
            (12) Jamal Razzouq, Security Branch 243.
            (13) Munzer Ghanam, Air Force Intelligence.
            (14) Daas Hasan Ali, Branch 327.
            (15) Jassem Ali Jassem Hamad, Political Security.
            (16) Samir Muhammad Youssef, Military Intelligence.
            (17) Ali Ahmad Dayoub, Air Force Intelligence.
            (18) Khaled Muhsen Al-Halabi, Security Branch 335.
            (19) Mahmoud Kahila, Political Security.
            (20) Zuhair Ahmad Hamad, Provincial Security.
            (21) Wafiq Nasser, Security Branch 245.
            (22) Qussay Mayoub, Air Force Intelligence.
            (23) Muhammad Ammar Sardini, Political Security.
            (24) Fouad Hammouda, Military Security.
            (25) Hasan Daaboul, Branch 261.
            (26) Yahia Wahbi, Air Force Intelligence.
            (27) Okab Saqer, Security Branch 318.
            (28) Husam Luqa, Political Security.
            (29) Sami Al-Hasan, Security Branch 219.
            (30) Yassir Deeb, Political Security.
            (31) Ibrahim Darwish, Security Branch 220.
            (32) Nasser Deeb, Political Security.
            (33) Abdullatif Al-Fahed, Security Branch 290.
            (34) Adeeb Namer Salamah, Air Force Intelligence.
            (35) Akram Muhammed, State Security.
            (36) Reyad Abbas, Political Security.
            (37) Ali Abdullah Ayoub, Syrian Armed Forces.
            (38) Fahd Jassem Al-Freij, Defense Ministry.
            (39) Issam Halaq, Air Force.
            (40) Ghassan Al-Abdullah, General Intelligence Directorate.
            (41) Maher Al-Assad, Republican Guard.
            (42) Fahad Al-Farouch.
            (43) Rafiq Shahada, Military Intelligence.
            (44) Loay Al-Ali, Military Intelligence.
            (45) Nawfal Al-Husayn, Military Intelligence.
            (46) Muhammad Zamrini, Military Intelligence.
            (47) Muhammad Mahallah, Military Intelligence.
    (c) Form of Report; Public Availability.--
            (1) Form.--The list required by subsection (a) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
        annex if necessary.
            (2) Public availability.--The unclassified portion of the 
        list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available to the 
        public and posted on the websites of the Department of the 
        Treasury and the Department of State.

SEC. 403. ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF AND REQUIREMENTS FOR 
              THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NO-FLY ZONE, SAFE ZONES, OR A NO-
              BOMBING ZONE IN SYRIA.

    (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--
            (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--
                    (A) the operational and legal requirements for 
                United States and coalition air power to establish a 
                no-fly zone over all or part of Syria;
                    (B) the impact a no-fly zone over all or part of 
                Syria would have on humanitarian and counterterrorism 
                efforts in Syria and the surrounding region; and
                    (C) the potential for force contributions from 
                other countries to establish a no-fly zone over all or 
                part of Syria;
            (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--
                    (A) the operational and legal requirements for 
                United States and coalition forces to establish one or 
                more safe zones in Syria;
                    (B) the impact one or more safe zones in Syria 
                would have on humanitarian and counterterrorism efforts 
                in Syria and the surrounding region; and
                    (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; 
                and
            (3) assesses the potential effectiveness, risks, and 
        operational requirements of the establishment and maintenance 
        of a no-bombing zone over all or part of Syria, including--
                    (A) the operational and legal requirements for 
                United States and coalition air power to establish a 
                no-bombing zone over all or part of Syria;
                    (B) the impact a no-bombing zone over all or part 
                of Syria would have on humanitarian and 
                counterterrorism efforts in Syria and the surrounding 
                region; and
                    (C) the potential for force contributions from 
                other countries to establish a no-bombing zone over all 
                or part of Syria.
    (b) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted 
to the appropriate congressional committees in unclassified form, but 
may contain a classified annex if necessary.
    (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, in the 
development of the report required by subsection (a), the President, or 
the President's designees, should consult with humanitarian 
organizations operating in the region.
    (d) Public Availability of Information.--The unclassified 
information referred to in subsections (a) and (b) shall be made 
available on a publicly available Internet website of the Federal 
Government.

SEC. 404. 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.--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 since March 2011.
    (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a detailed report on assistance 
provided under subsection (a).

SEC. 405. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

    In this title, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
means--
            (1) the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on 
        Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
            (2) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the 
        Committee on Financial Services, and the Committee on Foreign 
        Affairs of the House of Representatives.

         TITLE V--SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

SEC. 501. SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA.

    (a) Suspension of Sanctions.--
            (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 people of Syria, specifically--
                    (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;
                    (B) areas besieged by the regime of Bashar al-Assad 
                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;
                    (C) the Government of Syria is releasing all 
                political prisoners forcibly held within the prison 
                system of the regime of Bashar al-Assad, 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
                    (D) the forces of the Government of Syria and 
                associated forces, including Hezbollah, irregular 
                Iranian forces, and air assets of the Government of the 
                Russian Federation, 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.
            (2) Negotiations concluding in agreement.--
                    (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--
                            (i) in the case in which the negotiations 
                        are likely to conclude in an agreement--
                                    (I) the Government of Syria, the 
                                Syrian High Negotiations Committee or 
                                its successor, and appropriate 
                                international parties are participating 
                                in direct, face-to-face negotiations; 
                                and
                                    (II) the suspension of sanctions 
                                under this Act or any amendment made by 
                                this Act is essential to the 
                                advancement of such negotiations; and
                            (ii) the Government of Syria has 
                        demonstrated a commitment to a significant and 
                        substantial reduction in attacks on and 
                        violence against the people of Syria by the 
                        Government of Syria and associated forces.
                    (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--
                            (i) the conditions described in clauses (i) 
                        and (ii) of subparagraph (A) are continuing to 
                        be met;
                            (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);
                            (iii) the Government of Syria and 
                        associated forces have ceased attacks against 
                        Syrian civilians; and
                            (iv) the Government of Syria has publically 
                        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.
            (3) Briefing and reimposition of sanctions.--
                    (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).
                    (B) Reimposition 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 reimposed and any 
                further suspension of such sanctions is prohibited.
    (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--
            (1) is taking verifiable steps to release all political 
        prisoners and provided full access to Syrian prisons for 
        investigations by appropriate international human rights 
        organizations;
            (2) is taking verifiable steps to remove former senior 
        Syrian government officials who are complicit in the 
        conception, implementation, or coverup of war crimes, crimes 
        against humanity, or human rights abuses from government 
        positions and any person subject to sanctions under any 
        provision of law;
            (3) is in the process of organizing free and fair elections 
        for a new government--
                    (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
                    (B) to be conducted under the supervision of 
                internationally recognized observers;
            (4) is making tangible progress toward establishing an 
        independent judiciary;
            (5) is demonstrating respect for and compliance with 
        internationally recognized human rights and basic freedoms as 
        specified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
            (6) 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 
                Paris January 13, 1993, 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 (21 UST 483) (commonly referred to 
                as the ``Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty'');
                    (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 (commonly known as the ``Biological Weapons 
                Convention''); and
                    (C) adhering to the Missile Technology Control 
                Regime and other control lists, as necessary;
            (7) has halted the development and deployment of ballistic 
        and cruise missiles; and
            (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.

SEC. 502. WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS.

    (a) Exemptions.--The following activities and transactions shall be 
exempt from sanctions authorized under this Act and amendments 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 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; or
                    (B) the Convention on Consular Relations, done at 
                Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 
                1967.
    (b) Humanitarian and Democracy Assistance Waiver.--
            (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 democracy promotion is provided to the people of 
        Syria.
            (2) Waiver.--The President may waive, on a case-by-case 
        basis, for a period not to exceed 180 days, and renewable for 
        additional periods not to exceed 120 days, the application of 
        sanctions authorized under this Act or amendments made by this 
        Act if the President submits to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a written determination that the waiver is necessary 
        for purposes of providing humanitarian assistance or support 
        for democracy promotion to the people of Syria.
            (3) Content of written determination.--A written 
        determination submitted under paragraph (1) 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 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 
        assistance or support for democracy promotion.
            (4) Clarification of permitted activities under waiver.--
        The President may not impose sanctions authorized under this 
        Act or amendments made by this Act against an internationally 
        recognized humanitarian organization for--
                    (A) engaging in a financial transaction relating to 
                humanitarian assistance or for humanitarian purposes 
                pursuant to a waiver issued under paragraph (1);
                    (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
                    (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.
    (c) National Security Waiver.--
            (1) In general.--The President may, on a case-by-case basis 
        and for periods not to exceed 120 days, waive the application 
        of sanctions under this Act or amendments made by 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.
            (2) Consultation.--
                    (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 or amendments made by this Act.
                    (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 or amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 503. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

    In this title, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
means--
            (1) the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on 
        Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
            (2) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the 
        Committee on Financial Services, and the Committee on Foreign 
        Affairs of the House of Representatives.

               TITLE VI--REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND SUNSET

SEC. 601. REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--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.
    (b) Notification to Congress.--Not less than 10 days before the 
promulgation of regulations under subsection (a), the President shall 
notify and provide to the appropriate congressional committees the 
proposed regulations and the provisions of this Act and the amendments 
made by this Act that the regulations are implementing.
    (c) Definition.--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. 602. SUNSET.

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