[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 87 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 87

 Expressing the sense of the Senate concerning the ongoing conflict in 
      Syria as it reaches its six-year mark in March, the ensuing 
 humanitarian crisis in Syria and neighboring countries, the resulting 
humanitarian and national security challenges, and the urgent need for 
                  a political solution to the crisis.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 15, 2017

    Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Rubio, and Mr. Murphy) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate concerning the ongoing conflict in 
      Syria as it reaches its six-year mark in March, the ensuing 
 humanitarian crisis in Syria and neighboring countries, the resulting 
humanitarian and national security challenges, and the urgent need for 
                  a political solution to the crisis.

Whereas the transnational Salafi-jihadi organizations ISIL and al Qaeda are 
        utilizing the conflict in Syria and the actions of the Assad regime to 
        recruit and mobilize fighter and popular support;
Whereas the crisis in Syria has led to the creation of terrorist safe havens 
        controlled by ISIL and al Qaeda, along with other extremist groups, 
        which have become bases from which to plan, direct, and inspire attacks 
        against the United States and its allies and partners;
Whereas the spread of violence perpetuated by the Syrian conflict and the flow 
        of refugees is a threat to the security of United States allies in the 
        Middle East and Europe, placing immense domestic and humanitarian 
        burdens on Syria's neighbors, most notably Lebanon and Jordan, as well 
        as Turkey and Iraq;
Whereas the Syrian conflict has allowed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 
        and its proxies to increase their influence in parts of Syria and 
        potentially threaten Israel's borders;
Whereas United Nations Security Council resolutions 2332 (2016), 2268 (2016), 
        and 2139 (2014) call for the implementation of a cessation of 
        hostilities in Syria and reaffirm the international community's support 
        for the immediate, direct, and uninhibited access of humanitarian 
        workers throughout the Syrian Arab Republic;
Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that the 
        Syrian conflict has created 4,800,000 refugees and 6,600,000 internally 
        displaced persons;
Whereas widespread and systematic attacks on civilians, schools, hospitals, and 
        other civilian infrastructure, in violation of international 
        humanitarian law, continue in Syria, in particular as result of the 
        actions of the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian supporters;
Whereas widespread and systematic violations of the human rights of the people 
        of Syria continue to be perpetrated by the Assad regime;
Whereas, according to Amnesty International, the Assad regime has a documented 
        record of committing mass human rights abuses against detainees, 
        including 5,000 to 13,000 detainees summarily executed by hanging 
        between September 2011 through December 2015;
Whereas the regime of Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly blocked civilian access to 
        or diverted humanitarian assistance, including medical supplies, from 
        besieged and hard-to-reach areas, in violation of United Nations 
        Security Council resolutions;
Whereas the Assad regime is subject to and in violation of both United Nations 
        Security Council Resolution 2118 (2013) on the Framework for Elimination 
        of Syrian Chemical Weapons and United Nations Security Council 
        Resolution 2209 (2015) Condemning the Use of Chlorine Gas in Syria;
Whereas the Governments of the Russian Federation and Iran have supported the 
        Assad regime, perpetuated the conflict, and deployed tactics and 
        strategies that have caused grave harm to civilians, including their 
        conduct in the siege of eastern Aleppo, constituting war crimes and 
        crimes against humanity;
Whereas there exists sufficient documentation, as well as credible, clear, and 
        convincing reporting, to charge Bashar al-Assad with war crimes and 
        crimes against humanity due to the Assad regime's confirmed use of 
        chemical weapons, use of barrel bombs against noncombatants, widespread 
        use of torture, summary executions, prolonged sieges, forcible 
        relocations, and indiscriminate targeting of civilians and humanitarian 
        actors;
Whereas the United States Government has provided over $5,800,000 since 2011 in 
        humanitarian assistance to communities and people directly impacted by 
        the Syrian conflict, including $364,000,000 that will be provided in 
        fiscal year 2017 for refugees and other people displaced by the Syrian 
        conflict; and
Whereas the United States Armed Forces are leading the Global Coalition to 
        Counter ISIL and are deployed with Coalition allies within the territory 
        of Syria and are working by, with, and through local Syrian partner 
        forces to defeat ISIL and stabilize territory taken from it: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) strongly condemns the regime of Bashar al-Assad for 
        committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 
        Syrian conflict, including the use of chemical weapons, in 
        violation of its obligations as required by United Nations 
        Security Council Resolutions 2118 (2013) and 2209 (2015), and 
        for the widespread use of torture, summary executions, 
        prolonged sieges, forcible relocations, and indiscriminate 
        targeting of civilians and humanitarian actors;
            (2) condemns the Assad regime and the Government of the 
        Russian Federation for using indiscriminate cluster munitions 
        on civilian areas and infrastructure and for the deliberate 
        targeting of United Nations humanitarian aid convoys;
            (3) urges all parties to the conflict, particularly the 
        Russian Federation, Iran, and Iranian-backed militias, to 
        immediately halt indiscriminate attacks, the imposition of 
        starvation sieges, and other forms of warfare directed against 
        civilians and civilian infrastructure;
            (4) strongly urges all parties to the conflict to allow for 
        and facilitate immediate, unfettered access to humanitarian 
        assistance throughout Syria, respecting the safety, security, 
        independence, and impartiality of humanitarian workers and 
        ensuring freedom of movement to deliver aid, particularly in 
        areas of Syria controlled by opposition forces;
            (5) affirms the neutrality of medical professionals 
        providing humanitarian assistance and health care on a non-
        political basis, and condemns attacks against such personnel or 
        interference in the provision of medical care, particularly in 
        areas of Syria controlled by opposition forces;
            (6) encourages the President to make it the policy of the 
        United States Government to continue to coordinate a 
        comprehensive and generous response to the Syrian humanitarian 
        crisis, including assistance and development, and protection of 
        human rights inside Syria and in the region;
            (7) urges all parties in Syria to support the immediate and 
        full implementation of United Nations Security Council 
        Resolution 2268 (2016), which calls for a cessation of 
        hostilities in the conflict, except with ISIL and al Qaeda and 
        their affiliated organizations, to facilitate the provision of 
        humanitarian assistance and reconstruction of war-affected 
        communities in Syria;
            (8) affirms that the elimination of al Qaeda and ISIS safe 
        havens in Syria, from which those organizations can plan and 
        launch attacks against the United States and its partners, is a 
        vital national security interest of the United States;
            (9) commends the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Syrian Arab 
        Coalition, and other local, Syrian partner forces for their 
        support of Operation Inherent Resolve and the efforts of the 
        Global Coalition to Counter ISIL;
            (10) affirms that the stability of key European and Middle 
        Eastern partners is vital to the national security of the 
        United States and preventing the Syrian conflict from 
        undermining that stability is a top priority for the United 
        States;
            (11) calls on the international community to continue to 
        support neighboring countries and host communities who are 
        generously supporting refugees and internally displaced persons 
        fleeing the conflict in Syria;
            (12) calls on the President to continue the active 
        participation of the United States Government in a robust and 
        effective diplomatic process to achieve a political agreement 
        to the Syrian conflict; and
            (13) urges the President to develop and submit to the 
        Committees on Foreign Relations and Armed Services of the 
        Senate within 90 days a strategy for providing long-term 
        stability and security in areas seized from ISIL.
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