[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8212 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8212

 To provide for nonapplicability of a policy of denial for exports, re-
exports, or transfers of defense articles and defense services destined 
             for or originating in the Republic of Cyprus.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 1, 2024

Mr. Pappas (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Ms. Titus, and Ms. Malliotakis) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                            Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for nonapplicability of a policy of denial for exports, re-
exports, or transfers of defense articles and defense services destined 
             for or originating in the Republic of Cyprus.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``End the Cyprus Embargo Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) allowing for the export, re-export, or transfer of arms 
        subject to the United States Munitions List to the Republic of 
        Cyprus would advance United States security interests in Europe 
        by helping to reduce the dependence of the Government of the 
        Republic of Cyprus on other countries, including countries that 
        pose challenges to United States interests around the world, 
        for defense-related materiel;
            (2) the Republic of Cyprus has successfully complied with 
        the conditions set forth in the Eastern Mediterranean Security 
        and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 (title X of division J of 
        Public Law 116-94) for the purposes of modifying the 
        prohibitions of the sale or other provisions of any defense 
        article or defense service to the Government of the Republic of 
        Cyprus and modifying the policy of denial for exports, re-
        exports, or transfers of defense articles on the United States 
        Munitions List to the Republic of Cyprus; and
            (3) it is in the interest of the United States--
                    (A) to continue to support United Nations-
                facilitated efforts toward a comprehensive solution to 
                the division of Cyprus;
                    (B) to enhance the strategic partnership and 
                security relationship between the United States and 
                Republic of Cyprus as provided for in the Eastern 
                Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 
                2019;
                    (C) to enhance the cooperation between the United 
                States Armed Forces and the National Guard of the 
                Republic of Cyprus and to enhance existing programs 
                such as the joint training between the National Guards 
                of the Republic of Cyprus and the State of New Jersey 
                under the auspices of the Department of Defense's State 
                Partnership Program; and
                    (D) for the Republic of Cyprus to join NATO's 
                Partnership for Peace program.

SEC. 3. NONAPPLICABILITY OF A POLICY OF DENIAL FOR EXPORTS, RE-EXPORTS, 
              OR TRANSFERS OF DEFENSE ARTICLES AND DEFENSE SERVICES 
              DESTINED FOR OR ORIGINATING IN THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (d) and except as provided 
in subsection (b), beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of State shall not apply a policy of denial for exports, 
re-exports, or transfers of defense articles and defense services 
destined for or originating in the Republic of Cyprus if--
            (1) the request is made by or on behalf of the Government 
        of the Republic of Cyprus; and
            (2) the end-user of such defense articles or defense 
        services is the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
    (b) Exception.--The exclusion provided for in subsection (a) shall 
not apply with respect to the application of a policy of denial based 
upon credible human rights concerns.
    (c) Waiver.--The President may waive the exclusion provided for in 
subsection (a) for a period of one fiscal year if the President 
determines that it is essential to the national security interests of 
the United States to do so.
    (d) Termination.--
            (1) In general.--The President may terminate the exclusion 
        provided for in subsection (a) for the 5-year period beginning 
        on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of 
        this Act, and may renew such termination for subsequent 5-year 
        periods, if, prior to each such 5-year period, the President 
        submits to the appropriate congressional committees a 
        certification that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is 
        no longer--
                    (A) cooperating with the United States Government 
                in efforts to implement reforms on anti-money 
                laundering regulations and financial regulatory 
                oversight; and
                    (B) denying Russian military vessels access to 
                ports for refueling and servicing.
            (2) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.
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