[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3470-H3474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NO ASSISTANCE FOR ASSAD ACT

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4681) to limit assistance for areas of Syria 
controlled by the Government of Syria or associated forces, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4681

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

[[Page H3471]]

  


     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``No Assistance for Assad 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Seven years into the conflict in Syria, over 11 million 
     Syrians have been displaced from their homes and more than 
     400,000 have been killed.
       (2) Since the conflict in Syria began, the United States 
     has provided more than $7.6 billion to meet humanitarian 
     needs of the Syrian people, making the United States the 
     world's single largest donor to the Syrian humanitarian 
     response.
       (3) It is estimated that the reconstruction of Syria could 
     cost between $200 and $350 billion.
       (4) According to the 2016 Transparency International 
     Corruption Index, Syria is among the most corrupt countries 
     in the world.
       (5) In October 2015, a visiting Russian delegation to Syria 
     announced that Russian firms would lead in the effort to 
     rebuild Syria, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad 
     reportedly said, ``Syria is ready to provide Russian 
     companies with all the contracts worth hundreds of billions 
     of dollars.''.
       (6) In August 2017, the Government of the People's Republic 
     of China hosted a trade fair in Syria, and a Chinese-Arab 
     business group announced a $2,000,000,000 commitment from the 
     Chinese government to fund the construction of industrial 
     parks in Syria.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States that United States 
     foreign assistance made available for early recovery, 
     reconstruction, or stabilization in Syria should be used only 
     in a democratic Syria or in areas of Syria not controlled by 
     a government led by Bashar al-Assad or associated forces.

     SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE FOR AREAS OF SYRIA 
                   CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA OR 
                   ASSOCIATED FORCES.

       (a) Limitation.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (c), for 
     each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2023, amounts 
     authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for 
     assistance described in paragraph (2) may not be provided, 
     directly or indirectly, for any area of Syria controlled by 
     the Government of Syria or associated forces, as determined 
     by the Secretary of State, unless a certification described 
     in subsection (b) is in effect.
       (2) Assistance described.--Assistance referred to in 
     paragraph (1) is the following:
       (A) Assistance to carry out stabilization activities for 
     the relevant area.
       (B) Assistance to carry out reconstruction activities for 
     the relevant area.
       (b) Certification.--
       (1) In general.--A certification described in this 
     subsection is a certification submitted by the President to 
     the appropriate congressional committees that contains a 
     determination that the Government of Syria--
       (A) has ceased attacks against civilians and civilian 
     infrastructure as such, including attacks against medical 
     facilities and personnel, and the indiscriminate use of 
     weapons, including through shelling and aerial bombardment, 
     as demanded in United Nations Security Council Resolution 
     2254 (2015);
       (B) is taking verifiable steps to release all political 
     prisoners and is providing full access to Syrian prisons for 
     investigations by appropriate international human rights 
     organizations;
       (C) is taking verifiable steps to remove from government 
     positions senior officials of the Government of Syria who are 
     complicit in the planning or commission of war crimes, crimes 
     against humanity, or human rights abuses, as well as any 
     government official subject to sanctions under any provision 
     of law;
       (D) is organizing free and fair elections for a new 
     government to be held in a timely manner and under the 
     supervision of United Nations observers, with all Syrians, 
     including members of the diaspora, eligible to participate, 
     as supported in United Nations Security Council Resolution 
     2254 (2015);
       (E) is making tangible progress toward establishing an 
     independent judiciary;
       (F) is demonstrating respect for and compliance with 
     internationally recognized human rights and basic freedoms as 
     specified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
       (G) is 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 and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of 
     Nuclear Weapons, is 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, and 
     adhering to the Missile Technology Control Regime and other 
     control lists, as necessary;
       (H) has halted the development and deployment of ballistic 
     and cruise missiles;
       (I) is taking verifiable steps to remove from positions of 
     authority within the military, intelligence, and security 
     services those individuals who were in a position of 
     authority or responsibility during the conflict, or who are 
     in a position of authority or responsibility during a 
     transition, who are determined to be responsible for or 
     complicit in the torture, extrajudicial killing, or execution 
     of civilians, to include those who were involved the planning 
     or execution of plans to use chemical weapons;
       (J) is making verifiable progress in reforming the Syrian 
     military and security services so as to minimize the 
     Government of Syria's reliance on Iran and Iranian proxy 
     forces to act on behalf or in support of Syria; and
       (K) is in the process of organizing the safe and voluntary 
     return of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons to 
     their homes so that Syrians may return without fear of 
     retribution by the Government of Syria or associated forces.
       (2) Effective period.--A certification shall be in effect 
     under this subsection for a period of 90 days beginning on 
     the date on which the President submits the certification to 
     the appropriate congressional committees.
       (3) Renewal or report.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     date on which the President submits to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a certification under this 
     subsection the President shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees either--
       (A) a new certification under this subsection indicating 
     that the conditions described in paragraph (1) are continuing 
     to be met; or
       (B) a report that--
       (i) describes why the President is unable to make a new 
     certification under this subsection; and
       (ii) contains a certification that no funds will be 
     obligated or expended to provide assistance described in 
     subsection (a) in contravention of subsection (a).
       (c) Exception.--
       (1) In general.--The limitation on assistance under 
     subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to--
       (A) assistance for projects to be administered by local 
     organizations that reflect the aims, needs, and priorities of 
     local communities in Syria;
       (B) assistance for projects to meet basic human needs in 
     Syria, including--
       (i) drought relief;
       (ii) assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons, 
     and conflict victims;
       (iii) the distribution of food and medicine; and
       (iv) the provision of health services; and
       (C) assistance to carry out the activities described in 
     subsection (b)(1)(G).
       (2) Report and determination.--The President shall submit 
     to the appropriate congressional committees a report and 
     determination for each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2023 
     on each project with respect to which this subsection applies 
     during the preceding fiscal year, including--
       (A) a description of the project;
       (B) a description of how United States funds with respect 
     to the project were used;
       (C) the geographic location or locations of the project; 
     and
       (D) a determination with respect to whether the project 
     benefited an official of the Assad regime.
       (3) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, 
     to the greatest extent practicable, the United States should 
     not fund projects described in this subsection with respect 
     to which the Government of Syria, any official of the 
     Government of Syria, and any immediate family member of an 
     official of the Government of Syria have a financial or 
     material interest or are affiliated with the implementing 
     partner of the project.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate.
       (2) Associated forces.--The term ``associated forces'' 
     includes forces of the Government of the Russian Federation, 
     the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian-
     backed proxy militias, and Hezbollah.
       (3) Directly or indirectly.--The term ``directly or 
     indirectly'' includes assistance to multilateral institutions 
     and international governmental organizations, such as the 
     United Nations and related agencies, the International 
     Monetary Fund, and the World Bank.

     SEC. 5. REPORT ON DELIVERY OF UNITED STATES HUMANITARIAN 
                   ASSISTANCE TO SYRIA.

       (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 delivery of United States humanitarian 
     assistance to Syria.
       (b) Matters To Be Included.--The report required by 
     subsection (a) shall include the following:
       (1) A description of the challenges of access to areas of 
     Syria controlled by the Government of Syria or associated 
     forces for purposes of providing United States humanitarian 
     assistance, including assistance funded through multilateral 
     institutions and international governmental organizations.
       (2) A description of where such United States humanitarian 
     assistance has been able to be delivered in such areas.
       (3) A description of where such United States humanitarian 
     assistance has been denied access in such areas.

[[Page H3472]]

       (4) A description of how the United States Government is 
     working to improve access to such areas.
       (5) A description of the roles and responsibilities of 
     United States allies and partners and other countries in the 
     region in ensuring access to such areas.
       (6) A description of how such United States humanitarian 
     assistance and implementing partners of such assistance are 
     monitored and evaluated.
       (7) A description of the major challenges that the United 
     States faces in monitoring such United States humanitarian 
     assistance and how the United States is working to overcome 
     such challenges.
       (8) A description of the strategy of the United States to 
     deliver humanitarian assistance to areas of Syria controlled 
     by the Government of Syria or associated forces and in which 
     the Government of Syria or associated forces is impeding 
     access to such areas.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
     congressional committees'' and ``associated forces'' have the 
     meanings given such terms in section 4(f).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill comes at a very critical time. After 7 years 
of devastating civil war, the destruction inflicted on the Syrian 
people by the Assad regime and its allies is catastrophic. By 
catastrophic, we mean a half million dead and we mean 14 million souls 
pushed out of their homes in that civil war.
  Even now, Iranian-backed militias are engaged in sectarian cleansing. 
Ethnic cleansing was supposed to be something of the past. They are 
forcing people from their homes, and Russian warplanes continue to drop 
bombs on hospitals. Just 2 weeks ago, the regime again used chemical 
weapons outside of Damascus as part of an operation that has displaced 
55,000 people in this latest operation.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the ranking member of our committee, 
Mr. Eliot Engel, because during this period of time--and we have 
assisted in this effort--but during this period of time, he has tried 
to lead in getting a solution to the problem of that civil unrest in 
Syria, which began with people on the streets in Damascus marching, 
saying: ``Peaceful, peaceful.'' From day one, he has led an effort to 
try to focus us on trying to resolve this crisis.
  Unfortunately, as the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum noted in a 
recent report, the situation on the ground is getting even worse in 
Syria, and the worst, they say, is probably yet to come.
  At the same time as this carnage is going on, representatives of 
Syria, Iran, and Russia have spread out across the international 
community trying to gin up reconstruction money. They will not find it 
here.
  It would be unconscionable for U.S. Government function to be used 
for stabilization or reconstruction in the areas under control of the 
illegitimate Assad regime and its proxies, and I will tell you why: 
because the people in those areas that they have taken over are being 
pushed out. And the militia that are being brought in are militia--
whether it is Hezbollah or other militia--that are not indigenous to 
those communities. We are not going to support the building of 
infrastructure that is going to benefit Hezbollah, Iran's revolutionary 
guards, or foreign militias recruited and paid for by the Iranian 
regime.
  If or when the day comes that the Government of Syria is no longer 
led by Bashar al-Assad and his proxies, then the U.S. can once again 
look at the prospect for assistance, if the day comes when people are 
allowed to return to their homes. We do have an interest in seeing a 
stable and secure--and not hostile--Syria one day.
  But until then, murder, industrial level torture, starvation, 
deliberate targeting of schools, hospitals, and markets, and the 
shameless use of chemical weapons cannot be in the remotest way 
possible supported by U.S. funding.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that Members join with us to ensure no U.S. 
funding makes it into the hands of the Assad regime and his proxies.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                              Committee on Financial Services,

                                   Washington, DC, April 16, 2018.
     Hon. Ed Royce,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Royce: I am writing concerning H.R. 4681, the 
     No Assistance for Assad Act.
       As a result of your having consulted with the Committee on 
     Financial Services concerning provisions in the bill that 
     fall within our Rule X jurisdiction, I agree to forgo action 
     on the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House 
     Floor. The Committee on Financial Services takes this action 
     with our mutual understanding that, by foregoing 
     consideration of H.R. 4681, at this time, we do not waive any 
     jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or 
     similar legislation, and that our Committee will be 
     appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar 
     legislation moves forward so that we may address any 
     remaining issues that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. 
     Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of 
     an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate 
     conference involving this or similar legislation, and 
     requests your support for any such request.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 4681 and 
     would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this 
     matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration thereof.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jeb Hensarling,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                   Washington, DC, April 17, 2018.
     Hon. Jeb Hensarling,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Hensarling: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from 
     further consideration of H.R. 4681, the No Assistance for 
     Assad Act, so that the bill may proceed expeditiously to the 
     House floor.
       I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure 
     does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of 
     your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this resolution or similar legislation in the future. I 
     would support your effort to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any 
     House-Senate conference on this legislation.
       I will seek to place our letters on H.R. 4681 into the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. 
     I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and 
     look forward to continuing to work together as this measure 
     moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Edward R. Royce,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of the No Assistance for Assad Act.
  This act, H.R. 4681, was written by me. I am proud to be the lead 
sponsor in this bill. And I am proud of the bipartisan support that we 
have gotten from Chairman Royce and others on both sides of the aisle.
  Mr. Speaker, every time we think that the crisis in Syria could not 
get any worse, the Assad regime manages to plunge the country into even 
deeper depths. Children living in besieged Madaya could not get food, 
so they resort to eating leaves. A 7-year-old and her mother tweeted 
good-bye messages from Aleppo under siege. What has happened recently 
in eastern Ghouta is just unfathomable.
  The White Helmets--first responders--rushing to the scene of an 
aerial attack, have been targeted themselves once they arrived to 
render aid. And the regime has continued using chemical weapons, which 
the world swore we would never use again. But no matter how Assad's 
victims have met their ends--from nerve gas or barrel bombs or at the 
hands of Assad's Russian or Iranian patrons--the loss of innocent life 
is staggering.
  My heart really bleeds for the people of Syria. What they have had to 
endure should not be endured by anyone. The United States needs to be 
vocal and we need to take action.
  As we continue to find some way to end the bloodshed, we also need to 
start thinking about what will come down the road.

[[Page H3473]]

  This bill says that American assistance for reconstruction in Syria 
should be available in areas controlled by Assad only if the regime 
stops indiscriminate use of weapons, ends attacks on civilians and 
civilian facilities, releases political prisoners, allows human rights 
organizations access to the prisons, and removes senior officials 
complicit in human rights abuses.
  If Bashar al-Assad--the butcher of Syria--wants to destroy his own 
country and then expects the United States to pick up the pieces, he is 
sorely mistaken. That simply won't happen. He and Russia and Iran broke 
Syria, and now they have to buy it.
  We were careful in crafting this legislation to ensure that these 
limitations won't affect locally administered projects. And the bill 
permits humanitarian assistance to all in need.
  Recovery in Syria will be a slow and painful process. But we cannot 
allow those responsible for hundreds of thousands of murders to control 
American dollars meant to help the country rebuild.
  Who in the Foreign Affairs Committee can forget those horrendous 
pictures taken of all these dead corpses lying one by one right next to 
each other? Who could ever forget those atrocities that are being put 
up with by the people of Syria each and every day?
  I am grateful for the bipartisan support this bill has already 
received. I particularly want to thank Congressman Kinzinger, 
Congressman Boyle, and Chairman Royce for their partnership in crafting 
this legislation.
  This legislation sends a message--particularly after the Assad regime 
again used chemical weapons--that we are closely watching the 
developments in Syria and that the United States will not assist those 
who are party to such heinous war crimes.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger), the primary Republican 
cosponsor of this bill.
  Mr. KINZINGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce, Ranking Member 
Engel, and the co-chair of the Friends of a Free, Stable, and 
Democratic Syria Caucus with me, Representative Boyle, for their work 
on this bill.
  In the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, we thought it was going 
to be peaceful. Since then, 500,000 Syrians are dead--50,000 of which 
are children--at the hands of the brutal Assad regime.
  Assad, his regime, Russia, and Iran have committed genocide across 
Syria. They have targeted hospitals and schools, and they have 
destroyed critical infrastructure with indiscriminate barrel bombs and 
airstrikes. They reduced much of the country to rubble. As long as 
Assad is in power, they should be fully responsible for rebuilding.
  The No Assistance for Assad Act would place conditions on American 
non-humanitarian assistance in Syrian territories controlled by the 
Assad regime or their allies.
  By limiting our reconstruction assistance to Assad, we send a strong 
message that the American people will not support any efforts to 
legitimize or bolster the barbaric Assad regime--a regime that uses 
chemical weapons on its own innocent civilians, as we saw especially 
recently.
  We have seen far too many horrifying images of the bloody and 
besieged children across Syria, suffering at the hands of an evil war 
criminal.
  As of January 2018, the United States has provided more than $7.7 
billion in humanitarian assistance to the people of Syria. We will 
continue to support the innocent victims with emergency food, safe 
drinking water, shelter, and other vital resources that they 
desperately need.
  Separately, this legislation places strict conditions on the non-
humanitarian assistance for things like early recovery, stabilization, 
and reconstruction in the Assad-controlled Syrian territories.
  The release of all political prisoners and providing full access to 
Syrian prisoners for human rights investigations and removing those 
human rights abusers from positions of authority are just two of the 
conditions included in this bill. The Syrian Government must also end 
all attacks against civilians and halt the development and deployment 
of ballistic and cruise missiles.
  For our own national security and that of our allies, we must do all 
we can now to prevent the next generation of terrorists down the road.

                              {time}  1700

  Without hope and opportunity, the people of Syria and those across 
the Middle East will become prime recruits for groups like ISIS, 
Hezbollah, and others.
  The United States of America must take a stand against the genocide 
in Syria, the inhumane war crimes against the innocent people of Syria, 
and the oppressive strongmen, those like Assad.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4681, 
the No Assistance for Assad Act.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), the chairman of the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I also want to thank and express my support for Ranking Member 
Engel's bill, H.R. 4681, the No Assistance for Assad Act. As he said, 
Assad is a butcher, a butcher of his own people.
  Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad continues to murder the Syrians en 
masse and destroy what was once a great ancient land. Because of the 
world's inaction, he is close to victory. He has proven that evil 
triumphs when good men and women do nothing.
  Now Syria is in ruins and it must be rebuilt, but in the lands that 
Assad and his thugs control, we should play no part in helping his 
regime look like the saviors of the country. He and his Russian and 
Iranian backers must foot the bill for the destruction they brought 
upon Syria. Assad and his murderous supporters will try to use any 
reconstruction to cover up for their crimes.
  That is why it is important we pass H.R. 4681, to restrict any U.S.-
funded reconstruction assistance to areas the Syrian regime controls.
  The American people are kind; they are generous and will always help 
those in need. We always have--history proves it--but we will not pay 
for a propaganda win for brutal dictators like Assad.
  Let Assad and his buddies, the Iranians and the Russians, rebuild 
Assad's territory. His regime has weaponized humanitarian aid 
throughout the war, and we can only expect him to continue to do so as 
he tries to retake territory.
  So, for now, let Assad rule over the ruins of the old Syria, the 
Syria he destroyed, and no U.S. money should ever go to Assad. One day, 
the Assads will be gone, but until then, we should not provide a dime 
of American money to strengthen his rule and grip over that land.
  And that is just the way it is.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, reconstruction and stabilization of a post-
ISIS Syria is estimated to cost in the neighborhood of $300 billion.
  And, by the way, I wish I could say a post-Assad Syria, because he is 
the one who really should go.
  The Syrian regime has spent the last 6 years destroying civilian 
infrastructure and driving people from their homes. It is simply not 
the role of the United States to support reconstruction in Syria, 
especially if the Assad regime continues to suppress the Syrian people 
and there is no accountability for his war crimes.
  For those who are considering investing in Syrian reconstruction in 
Assad-controlled territories, just know that Syria is one of the most 
corrupt countries in the world. Therefore, it should be expected that 
reconstruction money would be syphoned off to those who have 
perpetrated war crimes and those who facilitate terrorism. We must 
prevent this.
  Again, we must not forget the plight of the Syrian people. We must 
continue to stand with the Syrian people. We must demand that there is 
an end to all chemical weapons and all weapons killing civilians with 
barrel bombs, with people trying to get out of the way, little children 
dying with their mothers, in their mother's hands. This cannot 
continue.

[[Page H3474]]

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  In closing, I would like to thank Ranking Member Engel and 
Representative Kinzinger for their exceptional work on this important 
bill. This bill will keep taxpayer dollars out of the hands of a 
murderous regime and its proxies.
  Time and again, Mr. Eliot Engel has been this body's conscience on 
the issue of Syria. We have acted many times, passing the Caesar Syria 
Civilian Protection Act twice; adopting H. Con. Res. 121, which 
expressed the sense of the Congress supporting the establishment of a 
tribunal in Syria to try Assad's war crimes, another measure we had 
passed.
  While we have made important progress in the military campaign 
against ISIS, there is no end in sight to the misery inflicted on the 
people of Syria by Assad and his proxies. Now is not the time to turn 
away. As we engage, we cannot allow U.S. taxpayer money to reward war 
crimes.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4681, 
the No Assistance for Assad Act, introduced by my good friend Rep. 
Engel, the Ranking Member of our committee. I commend Rep. Engel and 
Rep. Kinzinger for advancing this important measure in a bipartisan 
manner to demonstrate the broad agreement in this House that Syrian 
President Bashar al-Assad has no future as the legitimate leader of the 
Syrian people.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill would effectively block most categories of 
U.S. assistance to areas of Syria controlled by the Assad regime unless 
it is delivered through trusted local partners or serves basic 
humanitarian needs. In creating strict conditions for the provisions of 
U.S. assistance to regime-controlled areas, this bill ensures that the 
United States will not help those responsible for destroying Syria to 
profit from rebuilding it.
  Mr. Speaker, the Syrian regime, Russia, and Iran have played both 
arsonist and firefighter in Syria's devastating civil war--and now they 
want to play the role of predatory developer, sopping up reconstruction 
contracts to pad their pockets and further determine Syria's future in 
line with their narrow political agendas.
  Mr. Speaker, Assad long ago surrendered his last shred of legitimacy 
as president of Syria. His regime's horrific chemical attack this month 
in Douma placed this fact once again in high relief. The Trump 
Administration was right to respond decisively to this barbaric attack 
with targeted strikes to punish and deter such atrocities perpetrated 
with chemical weapons.
  Mr. Speaker, I have long advocated concrete steps that would ensure 
the Assad regime, jihadi groups, and others responsible for mass 
atrocities in Syria face justice for their crimes. This bill rightly 
insists on the removal of war criminals from the Syrian government as 
one condition among many for releasing U.S. aid to the regime.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this timely and 
important measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4681, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________