[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S5674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER (for herself and Mr. Santorum):
  S. 982. A bill to halt Syrian support for terrorism, end its 
occupation of Lebanon, stop its development of weapons of mass 
destruction, cease its illegal importation of Iraqi oil, and hold Syria 
accountable for its role in the Middle East, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the Syria 
Accountability Act, a bill that aims to end Syrian support for 
terrorism by diplomatic and economic means.
  It is well known that terrorist organizations like Hizballah, Hamas, 
and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine maintain offices, 
training camps, and other facilities on Syrian territory and in areas 
of Lebanon occupied by the Syrian armed forces. We must address this 
issue not with saber rattling but by confronting the Government of 
Syria in a diplomatic way that shows the seriousness of our concerns.
  The Syria Accountability Act works to achieve our foreign policy 
goals by expanding economic and diplomatic sanctions against Syria 
until the President certifies that Syria has ended its support of 
terrorism, withdrawn from Lebanon, ceased its chemical and biological 
weapons program, and no longer illegally imports Iraqi oil. The bill 
provides flexibility to the President by allowing him to choose from a 
variety of sanctions, as well as the authority to waive sanctions if it 
is in the interest of United States national security.
  I hope this legislation will receive the support of the 
Administration and Congress because it provides the President with the 
flexibility to target specific sanctions against Syria, but in no way 
threatens or condones the use of military force against Syria.
                                 ______